Birx Posted May 25, 2011 Report Share Posted May 25, 2011 Hi everyone. I'm new to rimfires and would like the benefit of your experiences. I'm sure this topic has been covered many times before, but I'm in the process of buying my first Rimfire and have been bamboozled by the choice between .22lr and .17HMR. I will mostly be shooting rabbits, rooks, crows and pigeons on golf courses and on 2000 hectares of farmland. My question is: If you were asked to choose only ONE of these to have in your gun cabinet, which would you choose? I apologise if this is covering very well trodden old ground, but a I said, I'm new to this. Thanks in advance for your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted May 25, 2011 Report Share Posted May 25, 2011 Welcome to the forum mate. I have never owned a 17HMR, however, I think the main advantage is that this round is very flat shooting and adds a bit of range to what the LR can offer. Also there is less chance or richochet with the HMR and this makes it a popular choice. I do own a .22lr and I know that I would never be without one, although they do have the risk of richochet, if they are used sensibly with the appropriate back stop this shouldn't be a problem. one of the main advantages with the LR is that the ammo is so cheap; therefore, you don't mind missing the odd shot and also if you want to go and do a bit of plinking or target shooting it is not gonna cost a fortune. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daz2202 Posted May 25, 2011 Report Share Posted May 25, 2011 Choice of just one , then hmr gets the call as can do a lot more with it, however I have both as they do different jobs differently or the same job differently not sure which way round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remmy1100 Posted May 25, 2011 Report Share Posted May 25, 2011 have both and love the hmr but if only could have one it would be .22lr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted May 25, 2011 Report Share Posted May 25, 2011 have both and love the hmr but if only could have one it would be .22lr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted May 25, 2011 Report Share Posted May 25, 2011 .22 every time. Silent and deadly oh and cheap to run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted May 25, 2011 Report Share Posted May 25, 2011 I would buy the HMR, the 22LR is great but it takes more skill to use effectively and you are a beginner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the enigma Posted May 25, 2011 Report Share Posted May 25, 2011 I would buy the HMR, the 22LR is great but it takes more skill to use effectively and you are a beginner. As above. I've had this dilemma and recently went for the hmr. .22lr is quiet and cheap to run but for longer shots your range estimation needs to be pretty good. .17hmr is flat shooting out past 100yds and is less likely to riccochet. Really comes down to what sort of shots you'll be taking most often, and if you'll be using it purely for pest control or if you fancy a bit of plinking as well. For me,hmr ticked more of the boxes in my circumstances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_in_the_midlands Posted May 25, 2011 Report Share Posted May 25, 2011 Is the extra noise of a supersonic crack of the faster bullet going to be a problem? If not the HMR is an option. If however noise is a potential issue then go for the LR. The HMR is far less likely to bounce that the 22LR but it can still happen so to my mind there is no difference in the choice of shots that can be taken from a safety point of view. What ranges are you planning to be shooting at? If many shots are to be taken over 70 yards the HMR is probably the tool for the job. Are you going to eat what you shoot? The HMR makes a mess. I sold the 22LR for an HMR last year and do not regret it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vampire Posted May 25, 2011 Report Share Posted May 25, 2011 (edited) As above. I've had this dilemma and recently went for the hmr. .22lr is quiet and cheap to run but for longer shots your range estimation needs to be pretty good. .17hmr is flat shooting out past 100yds and is less likely to riccochet. Really comes down to what sort of shots you'll be taking most often, and if you'll be using it purely for pest control or if you fancy a bit of plinking as well. For me,hmr ticked more of the boxes in my circumstances. Good advice For me its a cz .22lr a pure bred rabbit rifle,ONLY downside is the richochets,if you are not eating/selling what you shoot then i would go for a hmr,a highly versatile rifle calibre. Edited May 25, 2011 by vampire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted May 25, 2011 Report Share Posted May 25, 2011 please be aware if your shooting crows rooks and pigeons you cant shoot either of them into the air :no: colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colster Posted May 25, 2011 Report Share Posted May 25, 2011 (edited) Just got in from a lovely evening with my HMR. We were on an old overgrown estate of about 12 acres on which the landowner is currently building a house so I spent all evening laying on a scaffold tower. Pretty much every shot was around the 90yard mark so it was the better tool for the job. Having said that if I could only have one, the LR would just clinch it. If you know your scope and can estimate range well the LR would have done the job tonight as well but with the HMR I could just aim at everything. ..also shooting a pigeon with an HMR would be a bit of a waste. I say that as pan-fried wood pigeon is one of my fave meals so the FAC Air is the preferred option there, although the LR will do them without too much mess/waste. Edited May 25, 2011 by Colster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted May 25, 2011 Report Share Posted May 25, 2011 .22 no question. Many people substitute the .22 with a hmr but they realy are different beasts. ricochet wise they can both bounce and there is no safe shot with one that isn't with the other, although the hmr does it less often it also carries a fair amount of extra energy and potentially range. up to 80yds and for lamping a .22 sub from a moderated rifle is unbeatable but for bunnies at 100 yds and beyond the hmr is the tool but the play off is noise / expence on ammo etc and its still no centrefire. as a guy who is new to rifles you generally won't get the best out of the hmr's extended range until you learn to read the wind anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 .22 no question. Many people substitute the .22 with a hmr but they realy are different beasts. ricochet wise they can both bounce and there is no safe shot with one that isn't with the other, although the hmr does it less often it also carries a fair amount of extra energy and potentially range. up to 80yds and for lamping a .22 sub from a moderated rifle is unbeatable but for bunnies at 100 yds and beyond the hmr is the tool but the play off is noise / expence on ammo etc and its still no centrefire. as a guy who is new to rifles you generally won't get the best out of the hmr's extended range until you learn to read the wind anyway This is your definitive reply. Countless thousands of people have learnt to shoot using a 22LR. You have struck lucky with an amount of ground most can't imagine having, but as a beginner, you still have to learn. Think of the two calibres that you detail as the performance figures of a motor car; "no, I haven't passed my test yet but I'm going to drive that Ferrari now". Whatever you choose, good luck, be safe and enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 I started with a .22LR (Semi Auto) and got some pretty fair results with it. As much of my shooting is over 70 yards I did a One for one and got the 17HMR. I haven't looked back and wouldn't dream of going back to the .22LR! Having said that I have to admit that both calibres have their advantages and their disadvantages - The two main disadvantages of the HMR is the price of feeding it compared with the .22LR and the "Sonic Crack" that accompanies every shot - The disadvantages that I found with the .22LR was really the lack of range unless you are good at estimating the range and calculating your hold over correctly, however it is a great calibre to "cut your teeth on", with a moderator fitted it is quieter than a moderated HMR and it is so much cheaper to feed! At the end of the day others can advise and offer their opinions but only you can make the decision, whichever you chose enjoy it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 (edited) I'd be asking "What's the easiest to shoot safely and humanely" . It's the HMR. Starting on the more difficult calibre makes no sense to me. By all means graduate to a 22LR when your skill increases, if you find that on 5000 acres you have noise issues or that the cost of feeding the HMR is too much. Ignore meat damage claims, unless you plan to eat the rabbits head. Edited May 26, 2011 by Catweazle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 had a lovely evening out last night taking a beginner, had 9 rabbits he missed one out of the 6 he shot at ranges from 20 to about 120 yards all stone dead. On our ground I won't use a .22lr and can't be bothered taking 3 guns so just take the HMR and .243 What I can say is for corvids and rabbits you won't beat the HMR for clean kills and flat shooting ability. We shot 5 in one paddock as fast as we could reload they don't run from the noise so the only real concern is Horses and people, in reality having used it in horse fields they do get used to it very fast. Try the two back to back one is an uprated air gun and the other half way to a small centrefire. What I can say is we had no ricochets which would have happened every shot with a .22lr bearing in mind its not rained here for months and the ground is absolutely rock solid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 I have had a few .22LR's (a Southern Gun Company M4 copy, a Walther GSP and tricked up Ruger 10/22). The most useful .22LR was the Ruger. However, my .17HMR knocks spots of the .22LR, and I have since got rid of and closed my .22LR slot because I just don't see the point any more. The .22LR doesn't give me the range I need on the bunnies, the trajactory is like a banana and the ricochets are a nightmare on hard ground. So, in summary if you are going to buy just one rifle go with the an HMR - a much much better round. This discussion comes up frequently when we are lamping and what we like about the HMR is that it's pretty flat to 125 yards - it really is point and shoot. Yes it's got a crack to it, but at the ranges we have to shoot bunnies they don't quite work out what is going on. With a .22LR we just can't get close enough to them before they scarper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 Just seen Alex's post and can see it mirrors my post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 HMR every time. The old .22s are a very old fashioned rifle and I'm sure if the HMR had been around when they were first introduced they'd never have become so popular. Without exception everyone I've ever introduced to the HMR wants one, even die hard .22 users. Once bitten you never go back unless ammo cost is a real issue! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 Totally agree with Highlander but surely the cost of ammo for the HMR while "bunny bashing" only comes into force if you are wasting the meat by taking body shots! When you have had a bit of practice with and mastered the HMR (Even with a cheap set of scopes - Mine is now fitted with a set of Tasco World Class 3-9 X 50 which cost me £25.00 posted) it is quite capable of head shot rabbits at 100 yards with ease! By chosing the head shot whenever possible it means that there is no meat damage and the bunnies can be sold for a minimum of £1.00 a piece (Much more in some places) so you are in fact showing a minimum profit of at least 70 - 80 pence per shot with the price of HMR ammunition around our way being somewhere about £10 - £11 per box of 50! I also believe that the HMR is easier (And safer) for a new commer to learn on with greater success as it is so much flatter shooting than the .22LR! I personally wouldn't part with mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birx Posted May 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 Thanks to everyone for taking the time to reply. It seems I've stumbled on quite an emotive subject. At the moment it looks like a 50/50 split. Not quite the definitive result I was hoping for, but it appears they are different tools for different jobs. I guess I just need to work out what jobs I'll be using it for most (or get both). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 see if you can find someone local with both who can take you out, you'll soon work out which is best for your situation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 (edited) Thanks to everyone for taking the time to reply. It seems I've stumbled on quite an emotive subject. At the moment it looks like a 50/50 split. Not quite the definitive result I was hoping for, but it appears they are different tools for different jobs. I guess I just need to work out what jobs I'll be using it for most (or get both). Difficult choice, ain't it? You could settle it for once and for all, even tossing fox into the equation, by learning the easy art of reloading and getting yourself a 22 Hornet. OK, OK I'm going for my coat! Edited May 26, 2011 by wymberley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 It's a can of worms. I've had both, and can see the benefits of each. For the minute I'm using the 17HMR, that said - I know I'm going to miss the 22lr for close range, quiet work. As a new shooter - get a 22lr, it will teach you a lot about rifle shooting and can be used on ranges and clubs up and down the land - Something 17HMR can't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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