Have 22LR and 17HMR—Does 22 Mag bring anything to the table?

[dh1633pm]

For me it didn’t matter. I wanted to have a rifle in every rimfire offered. I do think that both the 17 and 22 mag have their place. If choosing one over the other, I would choose the .17.

 

[JEBruns]

In my case, I really wasn't "varmint hunting" but "varmint shooting" on the farm. Just have to take shots when I have an opportunity, so I feel like the 22 WMR does a better job bucking the wind in those situations.

Mac

Same use on my Ozark acreage. But I find the .17HMR to be better in the wind.

17 HMR vs 22: Caliber Comparison by Experts at Ammo.com

17 HMR vs 22 is a rimfire cartridge comparison many varmint hunters debate. Can the long range 17 HMR trajectory best the eternal plinking ammo 22LR?

ammo.com

Assuming a 10-mph cross wind, at 150 yards the 22 LR will have drifted an average of 12” compared to 8” for 17 HMR. The high velocity of the 17 HMR means that its bullet will reach the target faster, meaning the wind will have less time to affect its flight path.

Watch: How Does the Wind Affect 17 HMR vs. 22 WMR? - AllOutdoor.com

In this newly-uploaded video, we see a test to see which speedy rimfire round is more or less susceptible to wind drift, the 17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire (HMR) or the venerable 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (WMR), a.k.a. 22 magnum. Adherents of the 22 mag sometimes claim that their heavier bullets...

www.alloutdoor.com

 

[dranrab]

Same use on my Ozark acreage. But I find the .17HMR to be better in the wind.

17 HMR vs 22: Caliber Comparison by Experts at Ammo.com

17 HMR vs 22 is a rimfire cartridge comparison many varmint hunters debate. Can the long range 17 HMR trajectory best the eternal plinking ammo 22LR?

ammo.com

Watch: How Does the Wind Affect 17 HMR vs. 22 WMR? - AllOutdoor.com

In this newly-uploaded video, we see a test to see which speedy rimfire round is more or less susceptible to wind drift, the 17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire (HMR) or the venerable 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (WMR), a.k.a. 22 magnum. Adherents of the 22 mag sometimes claim that their heavier bullets...

www.alloutdoor.com

That's not a very good test. The HMR does have less wind drift, but it's primarily a function of the bullet ballistic coefficient. You can find a wind drift calculator based on the bullet's launch velocity and BC to see the real difference.

 

[MacAR]

Same use on my Ozark acreage. But I find the .17HMR to be better in the wind.

That really hasn't been my experience.

You can find a wind drift calculator based on the bullet's launch velocity and BC to see the real difference.

What he said ^^

Not knocking the 17, but as the famous Canadian singer-songwriter Shania Twain once said: "it don't impress me much".

Mac

 

[crestoncowboy]

I carry the PMR30 when out on the trails in the winter, Nordic skiing or snowmobile riding. I have both moose and wolves sharing the trail. I worry about the dog tangling with the wolves and the moose stomping on me! That 22mag pmr is LOUD!!!

I carry a 5.7 fn some too and it's even worse. Ear ringing beast. Lol. Usually if I'm fencing or anything serious I use my 329 pd. As light as the pmr or fn but 44 mag.

I always wanted a 17 hmr tracker with a 6 inch barrel but never found one when I wanted it

 

[mavracer]

I have been using 22 Mag since we'll before the 17 was a thing, dad bought a 17 when it came out. I've shot both a bit for accuracy and have hunted side by side.
I don't really see a need for both unless having both is the need lol.

 

[CraigC]

I'll be the voice of dissention here. A few years ago, I bought a Savage 17hmr. It shot very, very well with 20gr CCI ammo, and I really liked it for a varmint gun. But I felt like the wind affected it quite a bit more than a 22 WMR. So I let it go, and went back to my 22 mag and have been happy with it. I didn't shoot either much over 100 yards, 125 being about the max. At that distance, I felt like the magnum with it's 40 grain bullet was better suited to my purposes. Several folks have stated the 22lr would be suitable with the right ammo, and I'd agree with that to a point; in my opinion, the LR looses a lot after 50-75 yards. The magnum is still doing pretty good at that distance and even further. Of course, the whole thing became moot when I bought my 222. It does just fine on critters out to 275 and is legal for larger game in Arkansas; the rimfires aren't.

Mac

After spending a good bit of time with both, I've always contended that the .22Mag was better on larger varmints but the .17 had a greater effective range. It was no big deal to pop crows at 250yds with the .17 but on coyotes, I always felt like the .22Mag hit them harder. With the .17, I had to match the bullet to the game. Which is to say, 17gr for smaller critters and the 20gr XTP for larger ones. With the .22Mag, it was 40gr JHP's for everything.

 

[crestoncowboy]

After spending a good bit of time with both, I've always contended that the .22Mag was better on larger varmints but the .17 had a greater effective range. It was no big deal to pop crows at 250yds with the .17 but on coyotes, I always felt like the .22Mag hit them harder. With the .17, I had to match the bullet to the game. Which is to say, 17gr for smaller critters and the 20gr XTP for larger ones. With the .22Mag, it was 40gr JHP's for everything.

For years I wanted a vmax like the 40 gr for 223 for my 22 mag. I pre-ordered the Remington ballistic tips. I thought jd get the explosion reminisce of the 222 with the 40. And I thought it would load better in the p-30 Grendel and amt.

It did neither. Lol. And I never found a rifle that shot them very well. Marlin 25 nor Winchester 94.

 

[doubleh]

I know little about moose as I live too far south of where they range. From stories I have heard from people that do know something about them shooting one with a 22 mag would probably just make it stomp even harder.

 

[CraigC]

For years I wanted a vmax like the 40 gr for 223 for my 22 mag. I pre-ordered the Remington ballistic tips. I thought jd get the explosion reminisce of the 222 with the 40. And I thought it would load better in the p-30 Grendel and amt.

It did neither. Lol. And I never found a rifle that shot them very well. Marlin 25 nor Winchester 94.

I've never had any results with them worth mentioning either. If I recall, the Winchester 34gr JHP was one of the first sub-40gr bullets in the .22Mag. They did okay and seemed to be more explosive but just weren't worth the trouble of finding them. The Federal 30gr loads I'm using in the Bergara right now are pretty accurate but I'm not seeing any improvement over the 40's on game.

 

[Mako2023]

The HMR does have less wind drift, but it's primarily a function of the bullet ballistic coefficient. You can find a wind drift calculator based on the bullet's launch velocity and BC to see the real difference.

I'm not sure that is the case.

Ballistic Factors that Most Affect Bullet Wind Drift

Wind is a fact of life when shooting long distances. To combat the wind, do I need another rifle, a more streamlined bullet or a higher muzzle velocity?

www.backcountrychronicles.com

I think he might have a few things off, but in terms of wind drift affect it's clear (given same wind and same target distance) flight time has the most impact. In that regard...It seems bullet velocity has a bigger impact on flight time than ballistic coefficient in the case of 22 LR vs. 22WMR vs. 17 HMR. Even as target distance increases, for 22 LR vs. 22WMR vs. 17 HMR, I still think bullet velocity plays a bigger role in wind drift than BC. I may be reading the numbers wrong

 

[MacAR]

I've always contended that the .22Mag was better on larger varmints but the .17 had a greater effective range.

I agree with that statement. For me, I think my biggest problem was (is?) that I didn't, and still don't, have much faith in that little tiny bullet. There were times I was certain I had a varmint dead to rights with the 17, only for an unseen blade of grass to deflect the bullet, or a sudden gust of wind blow me just off target. That's not a problem I've really had with the 22 WMR and it's 40 grain bullets. I will say again, that once I got my 222 the rimfires really don't see much use other than to either ride in the truck or for close range varmints in my garden (50 yards and less). Otherwise, the Deuce usually does the honors.

For years I wanted a vmax like the 40 gr for 223 for my 22 mag. I pre-ordered the Remington ballistic tips. I thought jd get the explosion reminisce of the 222 with the 40. And I thought it would load better in the p-30 Grendel and amt.

It did neither. Lol. And I never found a rifle that shot them very well. Marlin 25 nor Winchester 94.

A few years ago I tried some of the Remington ballistic tips, and again, they didn't impress me much. I will contend until the day I die that the best, bar none, 22WMR ammo is Winchester's 40gr JHP. Hard to find these days, but those are true jacketed hollow points and will do some impressive damage on varmints and even some larger critters. Unfortunately, my stock is running low and I'm using CCI MaxiMag hp's; they're decently accurate and perform fairly well. They also do not mushroom in the tube mag of my Henry, which is the only downfall of the Winchester ammo in my opinion.

Mac

 

[dranrab]

I know little about moose as I live too far south of where they range. From stories I have heard from people that do know something about them shooting one with a 22 mag would probably just make it stomp even harder.

My 380 seemed a bit small when I hiked into the middle of this group.

 

[crestoncowboy]

. I will say again, that once I got my 222 the rimfires really don't see much use other than to either ride in the truck or for close range varmints in my garden (50 yards and less). Otherwise, the Deuce usually does the honors.

I pretty much did the same with 223. But I keep my 17 cz hanging over the door for chicken defense. Hence the bobcat in the picture. I've never lost a coyote or bobcat I shot with the 17.



As far as ammo i use those now. They cycle my semi autos and groups well enough. Still not near as accurate as my 17 with the Hornady or Winchester ballistic tips though

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I enjoy all 3 rounds. Taking 17HMR out to 300 yards is a lot of fun. I like the little ding sound they make on the steel.

 

[doubleh]

I pretty much did the same with 223. But I keep my 17 cz hanging over the door for chicken defense. Hence the bobcat in the picture. I've never lost a coyote or bobcat I shot with the 17.

View attachment 1183143

As far as ammo i use those now. They cycle my semi autos and groups well enough. Still not near as accurate as my 17 with the Hornady or Winchester ballistic tips

I tried those in my RIA pistol. Fire a shot, then rack the slide by hand to fire another as they wouldn't even eject the empty.

 

[mavracer]

As far as ammo i use those now. They cycle my semi autos and groups well enough.

My Marlin shoots those OKish, at least well enough to burn the rest of what I have. My Ruger doesn't like them much, both guns shoot the 33gr Remington accu tips much better. With the Remington ammo the Ruger is on par with Dad's 17 HMR Savage accuracy wise.

 

[crestoncowboy]

My Marlin shoots those OKish, at least well enough to burn the rest of what I have. My Ruger doesn't like them much, both guns shoot the 33gr Remington accu tips much better. With the Remington ammo the Ruger is on par with Dad's 17 HMR Savage accuracy wise.

My old marlin shot 1.5 inch at 100 with Maxi mags and dynapoint. used it all through the 90s as a kid with its sorry scope.( Id guess simmons or weaver. Lol) Then the Remington ballistics came out and those shot several inches... like 4 at 100. Lol. I shot them up in my handguns though. They chronoed super fast too.

The Hornady do 2 inches at 100 with my lever gun. I honestly haven't seen my marlin in 15 or 20 years since I left it for dad to kill groundhog, after getting my 17s.

The actual v- max in my 223-220 swift or 17 Rem sold me on ballistic tips but the 17hmr is about the minimum speed to make them work imo. They didn't seem to do much in the magnum. Damage looked like any fmj. The hmr leaves a nasty wound on small critter to 200 yards or so

 

[JEBruns]

That's not a very good test. The HMR does have less wind drift, but it's primarily a function of the bullet ballistic coefficient. You can find a wind drift calculator based on the bullet's launch velocity and BC to see the real difference.

Yeah, I know it was not very scientific. Found in a quick search. It does however go to the point you are making, the BC is better on the .17, making it better in the wind.

 

[gnappi]

I don't have either in a rifle, and down here .17 is more common to find and less expensive to feed my revolvers than my Colt .22 mag so I use it instead of the Colt. That said if I did have both in a rifle I'd still shoot the .17

 

[mavracer]

My old marlin shot 1.5 inch at 100 with Maxi mags and dynapoint. used it all through the 90s as a kid with its sorry scope.( Id guess simmons or weaver. Lol) Then the Remington ballistics came out and those shot several inches... like 4 at 100. Lol. I shot them up in my handguns though. They chronoed super fast too.

Sometimes there's just no rhyme or reason with rimfire.
About the only thing that seems to make sense to me and aligns with my experiences is that the 30ish grain pointy bullets are jump sensitive and variations in throat dimensions results in a guns preference.
CCI maxi mags have always shot OK in everything I've shot them in, not outstanding but OK.

 

[dranrab]

Sometimes there's just no rhyme or reason with rimfire.
About the only thing that seems to make sense to me and aligns with my experiences is that the 30ish grain pointy bullets are jump sensitive and variations in throat dimensions results in a guns preference.
CCI maxi mags have always shot OK in everything I've shot them in, not outstanding but OK.

That is interesting. I have never had the 30 grain plastic tips perform poorly in any of the 22 magnums I have had. They are mediocre in some guns. Excellent in others. Maxi mags are much like their Mini mag siblings. They seem to work pretty well in most guns.

 

[MacAR]

If you ever want to be a poacher, .22 WMR is a great choice.

This is very true. Not that I know that first-hand mind you, but it seems that every poacher that I've ever known used a 22 magnum as his weapon of choice. Apparently they work just fine.

Mac

 

[mavracer]

That is interesting. I have never had the 30 grain plastic tips perform poorly in any of the 22 magnums I have had. They are mediocre in some guns. Excellent in others. Maxi mags are much like their Mini mag siblings. They seem to work pretty well in most guns.

My Ruger with the 30gr Hornady shot like 1" at 25 yards, I didn't see any sense in wasting them further out. The Remington 33s were a jagged hole at 25 and around 1" at 100.