Birx Posted May 26, 2011 Author 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 That was the start of my dilemma. I've been out with a friend a few times using .22Lr / .17HMR for rabbits, rooks etc., and foxing with .243. If I'd only been introduced to one, I think my decision would have been much simpler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 bet you missed more with the .22lr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birx Posted May 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 bet you missed more with the .22lr Missed a few, but picked up over 60 rabbits from a golf course on my first outing with the .22. I've been spoilt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 .17 HMR is easier to shoot,(better trajectory and accuracy further out), it has better range and hits home hard. I also find it more enjoyable to shoot. .22lr is handy for situations requiring silence and for firing lots of shots. All of the above has probably been mentioned. I have both but if it came down to one gun...I'd keep the hmr...probably Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent 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 My earlier post in this thread says it all, but i will say a bit more further in the light of later posts choosing one over the other is daft in all respects other than "your use" it is this that should dictate you choice and this alone, if you can use both get both (i saw a nice number 1 Bruno for £90 in a dealers yesterday) I bet if i cleaned and serviced the thing it would shoot just fine! you don't need to spend a fortune on the .22 you can't shoot them out in a lifetime, the fact that the gun in question wasn't in the bin years back was maybee because it still worked fine . If you can get within 80yds and mostly closer the .22 if not go .17hmr. Forget the whole ricochet thing as a desider as you just cannot shoot either differently in this respect although the 17 might do it less that should never change the shots taken, sooner or later someones gonna come a cropper with this attitude. My hmr is a sit in a good area and wait for targets of opertunity gun, the .22 a go and find them sort of gun To compare the FAC air to .22 lr is equally or even worse an error. 20 grain pellets at say 30 ft lb are a heck of a deal different than 40 grains at 80+. The fact that they will both do a bunny effectively at 50 yds is the only real link, but then again so will a .22 Hornet, K hornet, 17 ack hornet and a HMR. Get your use and range sorted and get the right gun for you One realy isn't better than the other, just like a landrover isn't better than a porsche - just different. No point buying a 911 to carry your fencing gear out into the fields and i don't fancy i should enjoy a track day with the landrover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 Wortha look for anyone using/considering .22/.17HMR Ammo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 Indeed... I've just bought 300 Hornady red tips with not much change from £85 500 22lr Subsonics would of been about £45-50 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 give me time to get a 1 for 1 when you flog that new rifle at a discounted rate its so expensive to use Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 If you have the 22lr and want to shoot a bit further, faster and louder, Can't you use High Velocity rounds in 22lr ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 If you have the 22lr and want to shoot a bit further, faster and louder, Can't you use High Velocity rounds in 22lr ? actually hv are less accurate at 100yds, even though they are a bit flatter this trajectory advantage is generally lost in reduced long range accuraccy. It's a lot to do with the bullet in the "transonic" zone which not only has a destabilising effect it also happens to individual rounds from the same box at slightly different points on thier flightpath to target. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shotgunspud Posted May 27, 2011 Report Share Posted May 27, 2011 Mark, Around are way 22lr all the way mate trust me!!! 17hrm fine! have one good bit of kit as you have seen!! but the land you will be shooting over with me mate 22lr every day of the week, We take up to 150 rabbits a weekend it will cost the earth for you mate in 17hrm,but if you have the money by both by all means get a 17hrm as well it would be spot on for when you are stalking on your own walking, but on the golf course when you have that rabbit at 15yards off the buggy 17hrm is a bit much!! if i was you and knowing you get the 22lr first cut your teeth and then by a 17hrm... Now stop talking about which one to bye and get round here rabbiting at 7:45 tonight. SGS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birx Posted May 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2011 (edited) We went rabbiting on one of the golf courses last night (best use of a golf course in my opinion, hitting those silly white balls into long grass seems like a ridiculous idea to me), and took the .22lr and .17HMR for comparison. It was a very bright and cold night, so not ideal and we only managed to harvest 23 coney. We started with the .17, shot three then put it away and used the .22. As someone just getting into the sport, it appears to me that if you want a nights sport shooting rabbits, .22lr is the way to go. Having to allow a little hold-over and learning to judge distance is what shooting's all about for me, and it can only improve your knowledge of the sport. If however you want a night exterminating rabbits without the element of sport, .17HMR every time, or just set Claymores for the poor little blighters! I'm as interested in the fieldcraft as I am in pulling the trigger, and I strongly believe that you should have respect for any animal you're going to shoot, rodent or otherwise. For me, and this is ONLY MY OPINION, the .17HMR removes both when lamping for rabbits. When shooting Rooks, Crows and Magpies who seem to have evolved the uncanny knowledge of .22lr ballistics however, it's another story and the .17HMR fills the role perfectly! Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply. You're comments and opinions have all been appreciated and taken on board. As lots of you have said, it's horses for courses, and the .22lr is perfect for my course. Edited May 28, 2011 by Birx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamie g Posted May 28, 2011 Report Share Posted May 28, 2011 hmr for sure as you know its hard to get close to a crow sometimes. so they will be border line for 22lr ranges the hmr will be better for the job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted May 28, 2011 Report Share Posted May 28, 2011 We went rabbiting on one of the golf courses last night (best use of a golf course in my opinion, hitting those silly white balls into long grass seems like a ridiculous idea to me), and took the .22lr and .17HMR for comparison. It was a very bright and cold night, so not ideal and we only managed to harvest 23 coney. We started with the .17, shot three then put it away and used the .22. As someone just getting into the sport, it appears to me that if you want a nights sport shooting rabbits, .22lr is the way to go. Having to allow a little hold-over and learning to judge distance is what shooting's all about for me, and it can only improve your knowledge of the sport. If however you want a night exterminating rabbits without the element of sport, .17HMR every time, or just set Claymores for the poor little blighters! I'm as interested in the fieldcraft as I am in pulling the trigger, and I strongly believe that you should have respect for any animal you're going to shoot, rodent or otherwise. For me, and this is ONLY MY OPINION, the .17HMR removes both when lamping for rabbits. When shooting Rooks, Crows and Magpies who seem to have evolved the uncanny knowledge of .22lr ballistics however, it's another story and the .17HMR fills the role perfectly! Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply. You're comments and opinions have all been appreciated and taken on board. As lots of you have said, it's horses for courses, and the .22lr is perfect for my course. Sounds fair enough! Just remember the HMR will drop off as well past 150 yards so the is still a trajectory to learn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted May 28, 2011 Report Share Posted May 28, 2011 *there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shotgunspud Posted May 28, 2011 Report Share Posted May 28, 2011 We went rabbiting on one of the golf courses last night (best use of a golf course in my opinion, hitting those silly white balls into long grass seems like a ridiculous idea to me), and took the .22lr and .17HMR for comparison. It was a very bright and cold night, so not ideal and we only managed to harvest 23 coney. We started with the .17, shot three then put it away and used the .22. As someone just getting into the sport, it appears to me that if you want a nights sport shooting rabbits, .22lr is the way to go. Having to allow a little hold-over and learning to judge distance is what shooting's all about for me, and it can only improve your knowledge of the sport. If however you want a night exterminating rabbits without the element of sport, .17HMR every time, or just set Claymores for the poor little blighters! I'm as interested in the fieldcraft as I am in pulling the trigger, and I strongly believe that you should have respect for any animal you're going to shoot, rodent or otherwise. For me, and this is ONLY MY OPINION, the .17HMR removes both when lamping for rabbits. When shooting Rooks, Crows and Magpies who seem to have evolved the uncanny knowledge of .22lr ballistics however, it's another story and the .17HMR fills the role perfectly! Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply. You're comments and opinions have all been appreciated and taken on board. As lots of you have said, it's horses for courses, and the .22lr is perfect for my course. WHAT HAVE I MADE WELL PUT MATE!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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