22 Magnum Vs. .17 HMR

[Jarhead]

Been thinking seriously of picking up a "Golden Boy." Have three 22s, so will probably pick up a 22 mag or .17 HMR. Don't care about the cost to shoot either one. I will mainly be shooting small varmits and a quail or two on my farm to eat. Anyone have experience with both calibers? Which one do you think is better?

Thanks in advance for you experience and wisdom on this matter.

[HEAD0001]

22 Magnum. No doubt, 22 Magnum. I am not much of a chart watcher, but if you look at the charts there is no comparison. They did a great job marketing the 17. They made a lot of money by trying to push something new. Heck I bought 2 of them. The 17 has poor performance on game when compared to the 22 magnum. Tom.

[Jeeps]

I don't have experience with a levergun in .17 hmr, but I have a Stevens Favorite
in .17 hmr and a Marlin 917v in .17 mach2. I can tell ya that the .17's are like
lazers out to 100 yds. Or maybe a bit farther.

Since the crows don't like to come near my house anymore It's allot
easier to "reach out" and touch em with the .17's.

[Old Ironsights]

I have a real hard time paying the extra money for 22WMR or any of the .17s when .22LR is so cheap.

If I need more than .22LR it's time for the .357.

[Jarhead]

[quote="Jeeps"]I don't have experience with a levergun in .17 hmr, but I have a Stevens Favorite
in .17 hmr and a Marlin 917v in .17 mach2. I can tell ya that the .17's are like
lazers out to 100 yds. Or maybe a bit farther.

Since the crows don't like to come near my house anymore It's allot
easier to "reach out" and touch em with the .17's.

OHHRA! "One Shot..One Kill"

[deerwhacker444]

Don't have any experience with the .22, but the .17 does shoot like a laser. MOA groups @100 yards are the norm.

I shot a crow with mine a week back @ 80 yards with the 17gr V-Max bullet. Crow was devastated and I don't think there was an exit. Crow fell like a stone.

I would think that the .22 would penetrate deeper than the .17 if you shoot anything bigger than a housecat. But for birds, the .17 is a killer.

[Jeeps]

OHHRA! "One Shot..One Kill"

Nothing satisfies more

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/

If ya slide on over here they have tons of info and even a forum for Henry's.

I myself have only owned one 22mag, it was a H&R with a laminated stock.
Very nice lookin rifle but I could never get it to group good so I sold it off.

I've always told myself one day I'd get a pump in 22mag, maybe this year.

[JReed]

I prefer the 22WMR how could you not love it. It makes a bigger hole and looks like a mini 45-70

[Jeeps]

I prefer the 22WMR how could you not love it. It makes a bigger hole and looks like a mini 45-70

I feel silly that I didn't notice the scaled down 45/70 look of the 22mag

[JReed]

I prefer the 22WMR how could you not love it. It makes a bigger hole and looks like a mini 45-70

I feel silly that I didn't notice the scaled down 45/70 look of the 22mag

Its ok your forgiven that minor oversight

[Scott Young]

i owned both and ended up selling the .17 to a friend. it was fun to shoot and it did kill what i was shooting at. i just kept going back to the .22 wmr.

i will say that there was two very distinct bullets for the .17 that gave radical penetration differences. the tnt bullets penetrated much deeper than the vmax bullets. the vmax expanded almost immediately. i shot a 20 water bottle many times and collected the fragments out of the bottom.

i may end up getting another .17 hmr, but there are several other guns on the list in front of it.

[Rusty]

That good Jeremy, I like that. a scaled down .45-70.

Back when the 17HMR first came out I read an article comparing the two in some state wildlife magazine of all places. The conclusion was the .17 was OK as long as there's no wind. If you throw a little wind into the mix, the .22 mag is the hands down winner.
MY Stevens favorite in in .22 mag.

Rusty <><


PS. I know it's not a good practice but in a pinch, my .22 mag will chamber and fire a .22 LR.

[Jeeps]

PS. I know it's not a good practice but in a pinch, my .22 mag will chamber and fire a .22 LR.

I found that out about the HMR and the Mach2. Had both of them out on the
bench one day with some other rifles, a friend slipped a round in the Stevens
Favorite and I heard a weird "POP". Well, he chambered a Mach2 in there and
it fired, hit the target, but had a split right down the side of the case.

Because of the split, you could get a face full of hot gasses.

So, just so no one gets the wrong idea. It's not like .357/.38spl or any of the
other reasonable match-ups.

In case there are any younger lurkers, ONLY USE AMMO THATS STAMPED ON
THE OUTSIDE OF THE FIREARM. To do otherwise is literally"playing with fire".

[Jarhead]

I prefer the 22WMR how could you not love it. It makes a bigger hole and looks like a mini 45-70

I feel silly that I didn't notice the scaled down 45/70 look of the 22mag

Its ok your forgiven that minor oversight

Is that the Winchester or Golden Boy that looks like the 45-70 scaled down?

[Jeeps]

I prefer the 22WMR how could you not love it. It makes a bigger hole and looks like a mini 45-70

I feel silly that I didn't notice the scaled down 45/70 look of the 22mag

Its ok your forgiven that minor oversight

Is that the Winchester or Golden Boy that looks like the 45-70 scaled down?

No no, it's the cartridge. although probably more like a 45/90 or 45/120.

Silly leatherneck

[Jarhead]

I feel silly that I didn't notice the scaled down 45/70 look of the 22mag

Its ok your forgiven that minor oversight

Is that the Winchester or Golden Boy that looks like the 45-70 scaled down?

No no, it's the cartridge. although probably more like a 45/90 or 45/120.

Silly leatherneck

Oh...no wonder I was an 0311

[JReed]

Its ok your forgiven that minor oversight

Is that the Winchester or Golden Boy that looks like the 45-70 scaled down?

No no, it's the cartridge. although probably more like a 45/90 or 45/120.

Silly leatherneck

Oh...no wonder I was an 0311

ROFL

I meant the cartridge. Put the 45-70 and the 22WMR side by side some time its a cool comparison. The 17HMR looks kind of like a 307 with pointy bullets.

[pharmseller]

Okay, no inside Marine jokes, what's an 0311?

Quinn

[Jeeps]

0311 is the MOS for our basic rifleman/grunt.

Every Marine is a 0311 at heart, but if your MOS really is 0311 then your one
hard mother.

I was 2531 radio operator, so I did the same stuff as a grunt but with a 25 lb.
radio on my back

Next time you see the movie Full Metal Jacket pay attention to when Gunny reads
off everyones MOS's.

[Paco]

I HAVE THE RUGER BOLT ACTION IN 17 MAG... IT IS ONE OF THE MOST ACCURATE RIFLES I HAVE EVER HAD... TOO BAD IT DOESN'T KILL ANYTHING BUT VERY SMALL VERMIN VERY WELL... I HAVE SEVERAL 22 MAGNUMS AND THEY ARE EXCELLENT BOTH IN ACCURACY AND KILLING POWER UP TO ABOUT 60 LB ANIMALS.... I ALSO HAVE SEVERAL PISTOLS AND A REVOLVER IN 22 MAG... ALL KNOW THE STORY OF THE TIME I TOOK A KNIFE WELDING IDIOT OUT WITH 22 MAG PISTOL (SHOT HIS KNEE CAP OUT)... THE HANDGUNS ARE ALSO VERY GOOD AT LIMITED RANGE LIKE 100 YARDS TOPS IN MY OPINION..... I ALSO HAVE A REVOLVER IN 17 MAG.. GOT IT ON A LARK... ACCURATE... BUT DEADLY ONLY AT 1 OR TWO FEET !!!! MAYHAPS.... PACO

[Nath]

Howdy Paco, good to hear you. Paco I have heard about the knifer losing his knee cap but how did you end up shooting the knee? Were you grapling with him or was it a well aimed shot?
Nath.
PS Best wishes to Mrs Paco.

[Swampman]

The .22 Magnum is a great 100 yard cartridge. I think the .17 HMR doesn't buck the wind well enough for much of anything. I wouldn't use either on quail. There won't be anything left to eat.

[Jarhead]

0311 is the MOS for our basic rifleman/grunt.

Every Marine is a 0311 at heart, but if your MOS really is 0311 then your one
hard mother.

I was 2531 radio operator, so I did the same stuff as a grunt but with a 25 lb.
radio on my back

Next time you see the movie Full Metal Jacket pay attention to when Gunny reads
off everyones MOS's.

I was an 0311..India Company, 3rd Btn, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Div.
USMC 1971-1974....I was the 2nd Squad Leader in 2nd Platoon. My Radio Man was one tough Marine from LA.
Served in RVN in 1972 with ComPhipGruOne7thflt. Flew in country with the 9th MAB during the Easter Offensive.
I went through boot with the M14 and trained/stayed in the Quonset Huts...not the Motels

Semper Fi

[Jarhead]

The .22 Magnum is a great 100 yard cartridge. I think the .17 HMR doesn't buck the wind well enough for much of anything. I wouldn't use either on quail. There won't be anything left to eat.

Sounds like I will be gettin' the .22 Magnum. Thanks I kinda was leaning that direction anyway. A 22 short works for quail very well. I shoot a lot of ground hogs too, but I like using my M14 with tracer rounds The 22 Mag would just be another fun rifle to shoot and add to my collection. I sure like the looks of the "Golden Boy." And already have three 22s...

[Swampman]

I want a Marlin M-1894 in .22 Mag. For now I have this Marlin 882 which I've since mounted a Simmons 3-9X40. It's a sub-MOA rifle at 100 yards.

[Jarhead]

I want a Marlin M-1894 in .22 Mag. For now I have this Marlin 882 which I've since mounted a Simmons 3-9X40. It's a sub-MOA rifle at 100 yards.

Nice lookin' rifle

[Lefty Dude]

I shoot 22 mag's in my Ruger single-six, also have the 22LR cylinder. The 22 mag is a very accurate round. Ya gotta keep that .17 clean to keep it's accuracy.

I shoot 22 hornet's in a rifle and it is one very accurate round.

The 22 hornet looks like a miniature 30-06 & a very tiny 50BMG

My vote goes to the 22 mag.

[salvo]

I like em both! .22 Mag in my Winchester 9422M with iron sights and Single Sixes.
Marlin 917V with a scope for the far off crows and ground squirrels.
It would be nice if the ammo was cheaper, but I don't mind buying it knowing I don't have to think about reloading it and chasing the brass.

[bigbore442001]

I have owned both calibers and like the 22 WRM better. The only advatage I see with the 17 HRM is one of legality. Some of our southern New England states do not allow rifles or handguns larger than 22 long rifle to be used at night for raccoons, oppossums and other varmints. It does give you some ballistic advantage. I do know of people here who have killed a number of coyotes at night with that round that would have walked away with a 22 lr wound.

[Jeeps]

0311 is the MOS for our basic rifleman/grunt.

Every Marine is a 0311 at heart, but if your MOS really is 0311 then your one
hard mother.

I was 2531 radio operator, so I did the same stuff as a grunt but with a 25 lb.
radio on my back

Next time you see the movie Full Metal Jacket pay attention to when Gunny reads
off everyones MOS's.

I was an 0311..India Company, 3rd Btn, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Div.
USMC 1971-1974....I was the 2nd Squad Leader in 2nd Platoon. My Radio Man was one tough Marine from LA.
Served in RVN in 1972 with ComPhipGruOne7thflt. Flew in country with the 9th MAB during the Easter Offensive.
I went through boot with the M14 and trained/stayed in the Quonset Huts...not the Motels

Semper Fi

My older brother (by 16 years) who recently passed away was in from 71-74.
I'm gonna have to dig out his platoon "yearbook" from Parris Island.

I served from 86-90 and when in Okinawa was with Hq Battery 12th Marines
and while in Lejeune was with Hq Company 8th Marines.

[Jeeps]

I shoot 22 hornet's in a rifle and it is one very accurate round.

The 22 hornet looks like a miniature 30-06 & a very tiny 50BMG

My CZ 527 Hornet is my coyote goto rifle, it's SCARY accurate.

[Jarhead]

0311 is the MOS for our basic rifleman/grunt.

Every Marine is a 0311 at heart, but if your MOS really is 0311 then your one
hard mother.

I was 2531 radio operator, so I did the same stuff as a grunt but with a 25 lb.
radio on my back

Next time you see the movie Full Metal Jacket pay attention to when Gunny reads
off everyones MOS's.

I was an 0311..India Company, 3rd Btn, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Div.
USMC 1971-1974....I was the 2nd Squad Leader in 2nd Platoon. My Radio Man was one tough Marine from LA.
Served in RVN in 1972 with ComPhipGruOne7thflt. Flew in country with the 9th MAB during the Easter Offensive.
I went through boot with the M14 and trained/stayed in the Quonset Huts...not the Motels

Semper Fi

My older brother (by 16 years) who recently passed away was in from 71-74.
I'm gonna have to dig out his platoon "yearbook" from Parris Island.

I served from 86-90 and when in Okinawa was with Hq Battery 12th Marines
and while in Lejeune was with Hq Company 8th Marines.

Sorry to hear about your/our Brother I was a Hollywood Marine (MCRD San Diego) May he rest in Peace. I'm sure he's up in Heaven guarding the gates of entry. Anyway, always an honor to meet a fellow Marine, and as you know, you have to be a Marine to understand what that means. "The Few, The Proud, The Marines!"

Semper Fi Brother

[Jarhead]

I shoot 22 hornet's in a rifle and it is one very accurate round.

The 22 hornet looks like a miniature 30-06 & a very tiny 50BMG

My CZ 527 Hornet is my coyote goto rifle, it's SCARY accurate.

What's a CZ 527 Hornet....compared to a .243. My coyote rifle is a Belgium BLR .243 with a VariX 2 Leupold 2-7. Very accurate too.

[Jarhead]

I shoot 22 hornet's in a rifle and it is one very accurate round.

The 22 hornet looks like a miniature 30-06 & a very tiny 50BMG

My CZ 527 Hornet is my coyote goto rifle, it's SCARY accurate.

What's a CZ 527 Hornet....compared to a .243. My coyote rifle is a Belgium BLR .243 with a VariX 2 Leupold 2-7. Very accurate too.

Belay my last request...I went on their web site WWW.CZ-USA.COM. They look like well made rifles. I know their big game Safari Rifles are very good quality. Never shot a Hornet myself so don't know how they perform...

[20cows]

...or was it a well aimed shot?

Uh, we're talkin' Paco, right?

[Nath]

20cows, I meant was Paco meaning to incapacitate him or was he in a hand to hand fight and when he drew was the only shot the one to the knee??
Jarhead, hornet is sweet. Low report and no recoil. With a 100yd zero you get approx -6" @200yds. Some varmint bullets explode as we all know but when used in the hornet can penertrate a little better being that less intense. At around 10gr's of powder you get roughly 700 shots to the pound. Check my recent post headed "take a look at this bullet" for more economy
Nath.

[Nath]

Err Jarhead, I can't find that post I think I'm having one of my moments
Any way it was aFMJ with the tip filed back to the lead core to make a cheap expanding bullet. Involved making my own die to poke the tip through etc.
Nath.

[SJPrice]

I prefer the 22WMR how could you not love it. It makes a bigger hole and looks like a mini 45-70

Now if someone would just load them with a hard cast lead "Keith" style bullet.

[bigbore442001]

I think a Keith style bullet in a 22 WRM would be wonderful. It would make an effective bullet for tougher varmints but the thing is that speed sells. I don't think the majority of the shooting public would go for it.

[2row]

well I owned 3 of the 17 before I finly got smart one was a henry lever I've still got 3 22 mags one of them is the golden boy one 700 H&R an aNEF no more 17's for me

[JReed]

I prefer the 22WMR how could you not love it. It makes a bigger hole and looks like a mini 45-70

Now if someone would just load them with a hard cast lead "Keith" style bullet.

How about a 60grn postell design? It would have a simillar flight path to its big brother.

[JReed]

I think a Keith style bullet in a 22 WRM would be wonderful. It would make an effective bullet for tougher varmints but the thing is that speed sells. I don't think the majority of the shooting public would go for it.

We shoot leverguns I think that shows that we dont stand with conventional wisdom.

[Jarhead]

Err Jarhead, I can't find that post I think I'm having one of my moments
Any way it was aFMJ with the tip filed back to the lead core to make a cheap expanding bullet. Involved making my own die to poke the tip through etc.
Nath.

Nath,

I found your post...interesting.

[handirifle]

One thing they are uncovering about the 17's is throat erosion. Coming much earlier than they anticipated. Barrel cleaning is more critical the the WMR as well.

I have owned both, and both in Savage bolt guns. I still have the WMR and it won't go away. My WMR is just as accurate as as my HMR was, at 100yds. I've shot honest to goodness 3/4" groups (3 shot) with the 40gr HP's.

It packs a lot more whallop. I've killed coyotes with the 17, but it was a neck shot at 15yds, with the 20gr Gamegetter bullet.

AND the WMR busks wind far better than the HMR ever did. Out here wind is a constant, and I've watched the bullet impact 3" off center, when shooting ground squirrels, at 60yds with out 15-20 mph winds we always have. The WMR just flips them backwards.

With bullets ranging from 30gr to 50gr in weight, you have a better selection to pick from as well.

One 17 was enough for me. I'll keep the WMR.

[mescalero1]

OK, now listen to me
I DO NOT PARTICIPATE!
But in rural N.M. the .22 magnum ( from a rifle ) is the poachers choice of calibers.
Keep in mind, these are rural people, harvesting meat; to feed families.
I know it goes on & I do not condone it, try telling a hungry child you have moral objections to his dad's method of gathering meat.
I will NOT do it.

[Jeeps]

OK, now listen to me
I DO NOT PARTICIPATE!
But in rural N.M. the .22 magnum ( from a rifle ) is the poachers choice of calibers.
Keep in mind, these are rural people, harvesting meat; to feed families.
I know it goes on & I do not condone it, try telling a hungry child you have moral objections to his dad's method of gathering meat.
I will NOT do it.

+1

If it's some jackbutt trying to look cool taking deer out of season, then hang
him high

If it's someone who is honestly trying to keep food in his families bellies, I didn't
see anything.

Although between taking deer legally and having a trapline at the proper times
of the year along with plenty of small game and using a freezer, I would
think you really didn't need to take out of season.

[Jarhead]

OK, now listen to me
I DO NOT PARTICIPATE!
But in rural N.M. the .22 magnum ( from a rifle ) is the poachers choice of calibers.
Keep in mind, these are rural people, harvesting meat; to feed families.
I know it goes on & I do not condone it, try telling a hungry child you have moral objections to his dad's method of gathering meat.
I will NOT do it.

+1

If it's some jackbutt trying to look cool taking deer out of season, then hang
him high

If it's someone who is honestly trying to keep food in his families bellies, I didn't
see anything.

Although between taking deer legally and having a trapline at the proper times
of the year along with plenty of small game and using a freezer, I would
think you really didn't need to take out of season.

10-4 I own a 28.4 acre farm in Eastern Oregon...I take one or two deer a year for food and don't really care if it's deer season or not. They can eat all the food they want in my hay fields and I leave them alone.

It's my land and I feed them. I don't care what others think. Nobody screws with me on my farm...Ya just don't go around telling everybody...that's what fish and game told me when they come by for a cup of coffee. You are allowed to take out deer that have become pests...just don't go around telling all the local folks..and I don't. It's my business. Screw them "flatlanders!" Don't mean to offend anyone Now if I catch some "city boy" poaching deer on my land, he's in for a big surprize.

[colo native]

jarhead n jeeps, I grew up on a fair sized ranch in colo,45 miles from most small towns, and if we fed em we ate em, most were taken with a histandard 22 mod b, one shot drop like a rock... thro a rock over a cap rock in the am most shots 10 to 20 feet... most outa season as well... damm good eatin, and if we still leved on the land we would do it to this day, still family land...

[Jarhead]

jarhead n jeeps, I grew up on a fair sized ranch in colo,45 miles from most small towns, and if we fed em we ate em, most were taken with a histandard 22 mod b, one shot drop like a rock... thro a rock over a cap rock in the am most shots 10 to 20 feet... most outa season as well... damm good eatin, and if we still leved on the land we would do it to this day, still family land...

I spent some time on 36,000 acre cattle ranch myself growing up. I know exactly what you are talking about. We had a Crab Apple tree behind the old farm house and sometimes we would have 10-12 deer out there eating. My Dad would slide open the bath room window and shoot one right between the eyes from 10 feet We would put 'em in the wheel barrow and haul them to the barn. We could dress one out in about 20 minutes and be back in the kitchen playing cards and drinking whiskey.

[tman]

if your gonna eat it, .22lr. solid to the head, try to give it a third eyehole. if you don't eat it anything else will work