Comparison between .17 & .22 rifles please ?

[Robie Nood]

I know it's been asked before, so please excuse my asking again. My FAC Application is being held pending my final choice, so time is of the essence.

 

I'm just getting back into shooting after a few years lay off.

I am just learning about the .17 calibre & had virtually made my mind up to go for that.

 

The visiting police officer put me off slightly by saying that the bullet shatters on impact, so may not be the best thing for shooting rabbits etc for eating purposes.

I will be using a shot-gun for actual vermin control, where things have to be killed.

I'm hoping that most of my shooting will be for food. Obviously I intend clean head shots,,,, but once in the field, things might turn out different.

 

Generally: what are the pro's and co'ns for .17 & .22, for my purpose ?

 

All help & advice appreciated.

thanks for reading.

[Dekers]

You are right in that there is a lot of history on this, some quite recent, have a look back.

 

It all depends on the land, neighbours, quarry, distance, noise, cost, etc, etc, I have BOTH, so do many others.

 

Rabbit head shots are pretty straightforward with a HMR at 100 yards once you get the hang of it, so don't be too concerned about meat damage, think of all the other differences!

[jay222]

Why not get both

[Shropshire_Lad]

I've had both .22lr and hmr and a low shot at range will put a splendid bruise on a Rabbit with a .22lr, as will a wobble with a hmr knock quite a hole in one! The hmr is much easier to shoot though out to a 100yds and is why my .22 had to go, that and because of ricochet's. I eat/sell all my Rabbits and for me the hmr is the kiddie!

 

atvb Paul.

[Colster]

I have both and like Dekers said it depends on a lot of factors which comes out of the cabinet first but if I could only have one, it would be the LR. It does everything the HMR does, just costs less to shoot and it's much much quieter.

 

The HMR will work over a longer range but getting within 60-80yards of a rabbit isn't that hard, for me an LR is THE ultimate bunny gun.

 

As for ricochets, they will both bounce in the wrong conditions, yes the LR is more prone to it but don't go thinking the HMR is immune to it. You should always consider what is to the side of your shot rather than just behind it.

[wildfowler.250]

A quick answer: put down both. If I am shooting a lot of rabbits then the lr is cheaper to use. My last purchase was £66 for a thousand Winchester subs v's £100 for 500 hmr blue,(supposed to be cheaper) tips. HMR very easy to shoot accurately at the 100 yard mark. .22lr you have to think about holdover. .17 is a bit louder than .22 but would only make much difference where people are likely to complain.

 

Saying that if I had one...it would be the .22lr

 

 

 

 

Oh and if it's your thing, you can't get a semi auto HMR

[willy1]

Nobody has mentioned the .22WMR, it's better than a .22lr, and with the right ammo does very well.I'm using CCi MAXI-MAG HP+V 30gn jacketed hollow point, muzzle velocity is quoted at 2200fps,It's accounted for many rabbits and a few foxes (best one at 120yards).

Just my take on it.

 

Alan

[Ian750]

I would definately put in for both, they both have their situations where you'll be reaching for one in particular over the other. I must admit, I couldn't imagine not having both now!!

 

Edited to say - However if out of necessity I was limited to just one, as has been said already it would be the .22LR, mainly for the reason of noise, even with a moderator on the .17HMR still makes a fair old crack.

Edited December 16, 2010 by Ian750

[Beardo]

both are useful tools - the .22lr is very quiet / cheap to run - the .17hmr is a flat shooting little rocket that rarely ricochets.

I mostly use the .17hmr personally, but i'm pleased i have both

[Devon Fox]

I had both - and stuck with the 17hmr as it suited me best, as everyone else said if your main objective is rabbits alone I think the 22lr sounds right for you. If you want to be able to take the odd fox (check with you fao 1st for approval) then the 17 gives you another option out to 100yards.

 

Both are excellent tools.

[wildfowler.250]

Nobody has mentioned the .22WMR, it's better than a .22lr, and with the right ammo does very well.I'm using CCi MAXI-MAG HP+V 30gn jacketed hollow point, muzzle velocity is quoted at 2200fps,It's accounted for many rabbits and a few foxes (best one at 120yards).

Just my take on it.

 

Alan

 

I wouldn't say it is better. It is better for larger quarry however it is again more noisey and more expensive to shoot. If you are lamping I would say noise isn't great. As for foxes,(this is just an opinion)I would class them as vermin and just pop away if you see the odd one, rather than the possibility of getting told your not allowed to shoot them. It's very unlikely anyone would check up on it anyway

[al4x]

on the original question you are both partly right, the round is pretty devastating but that is good, it ensures a fast humane kill. personally if I'm eating them I'll shoot rabbits in the head or front end as most of the meat is on the back end so unaffected. The HMR lets you shoot to 125 yards with ease without worrying about holdover which is useful particularly under the lamp. I got rid of my .22 as it didn't suit our ground with far too many ricochets and why take something out which has a real effective range of 70 yards when you have something that will go to 125 plus with ease.

Cost keeps getting mentioned but for me its comparable to using a shotgun and the kill ratio is far better. Its well worth the money and you'd have to have a serious appetite before it became much of an issue as £20 to shoot the thick end of 100 rabbits is money well spent IMHO