Kidney505 Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 I think I might be stepping into yet another mine field but here goes... I have permission to shot over a good bit of land with air rifle and 12 gauge but i'm looking into getting a FAC and I'm torn between .22 LR and .17 HMR. I will hopefuly be doing some lamping (but mostly day light shooting) which I know .22 LR is probably more suited to due to its near silent shots, but I like the .17HMR's extended range as I am use to 50 yards or less and would like to try my hand at longer ranges. So from experience can anyone tell me if they have had much sucsess with a .17HMR at night? and how effective moderators are on .17 comared to .22? Thanks for your time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckyshot Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 (edited) Two nights lamping the same farm shooting from the Landrover. First pic is the night with the hmr second pic is with the 22 lr not much difference at all. The hmr is always going to be way louder but the rabbits don't seem to mind Edited May 26, 2011 by Luckyshot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 As a newbie to rifle shooting I don't think you can beat a HMR. Trajectory is very flat and it's easy to use. A .22lr is more like a powerful air rifle, the HMR like a baby centrefire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docholiday Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 I think I can predict the next 10 pages of post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beretta28g Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 Apply for both. I will cost the same to apply for them, and yo cold try both that way. Just one thought the land may only support a .17 if you are a beginner though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 90 Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 (edited) I bought Brand new CZ 452's in both .17Hmr & .22lr when I first got my FAC - I sold the .22lr last year as it was just stood in my cabinet not been used. However we're all different Edited May 26, 2011 by V8 90 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 .22 and .17 hmr are very different. Hmr is not a little centrefire it only produces about a third of the muzzle energy of the very smallest c/fires. It is roughly double the .22 (depending on what you use in the .22). The .22 sub is about three times the energy of a normal precharge air rifle on FAC (normally these are around 28-30 ftlb). They are all very different If your leaning towards more sit and wait and longer range targets of opertunity get the HMR but forget the hype about trajectory, its the windage calls not drop that make those 100yds + shots harder than they sound. .22 rf will never ever be displaced ammo is cheap, you can use it on indoor 50 mtr ranges, almost silent with subs and moderator (you will hear more reflected noise from your bullet strike) interestingly up to 100 yds thier aint much in it windage wise between a .22 sub and a HMR though the hmr is way flatter. a heavilly moderated hmr sounds like an unmoderated .22 sub to my ears. I can normally expect to shoot multiples with the moddied .22 sub but with the hmr with moderator they are more of a bonus than an expectation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 If money is a factor, .22lr. If it is not so much of a consideration, .17. If I was forced to choose, I would probably go with the .22. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shropshire_Lad Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 Hi, I shoot with Salop Sniper off here and we both use hmr and have both sold our.22's. When we shoot together one of us does the donkey work while the other shoots. One evening while I was the donkey he shot 7 Rabbits with the hummer as fast as we could walk alongside some buildings where he works. 7 shots, 7 Rabbits in no more than a couple of minutes. Both bend the same in the wind, hmr flatter, .22 way cheaper and quieter but bounces and the impact of a hit does spook them. + and - for both, depends on your ground. For lamping the hmr is so forgiving though. atvb Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davies8990 Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 i had to choose between the 17hmr and 22. a year ago and after a lot of thought i went for the 22. long shots can be made with practice,but 80yards normal. cheap to use can just keep pulling trigger, silent, will ricochet sorry about spelling, 17 long range,can shoot fox with practice, loud, not so cheap, cant sell rabbits with body shots thought i might buy 1... but got 243 instead both cover rabbit fox and deer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 .22 and .17 hmr are very different. Hmr is not a little centrefire it only produces about a third of the muzzle energy of the very smallest c/fires. It is roughly double the .22 (depending on what you use in the .22). The .22 sub is about three times the energy of a normal precharge air rifle on FAC (normally these are around 28-30 ftlb). They are all very different I still recon the HMR is like a little centrefire and the .22lr is similar to an air rifle. Not in the power stakes, but to shoot them I mean. The .22 needs a lot of thought put into range - not unlike the air rifle this chap is used to using. This can I suppose make them easy to be unsafe with as they seem so mild - they're not. Then there's the HMR. It's like a mini centrefire! It shoots flat like one, makes a bit of a crack and makes a real mess of body shots. All traits of the centrefires wouldn't you agree? I'm not saying you don't have to be more careful with a .22lr than an air rifle and I'm not saying you should expect the HMR to be a .223, but they both have similarities in trajectory and disturbance when fired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shropshire_Lad Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 should of said we sell all our Rabbits, no complaints from our butcher. atvb Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian750 Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 Sorry, I just can't get past that in my own opinion they both have they're place, I have both and will definitely be keeping both! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shropshire_Lad Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 Hi Ian, If it was my post you were refering to I should state that every other field we shoot over has cattle, sheep or horses in, or so it seems. would have loved to have kept the .22 but fac air and hmr are all that I need. atvb Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian750 Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 Hi Ian, If it was my post you were refering to I should state that every other field we shoot over has cattle, sheep or horses in, or so it seems. would have loved to have kept the .22 but fac air and hmr are all that I need. atvb Paul. Hi Paul, no not at all, you have obviously established the correct tool for your own environment, just my own opinion for my own purposes, I just couldn't favour one over the other. ATB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidney505 Posted May 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 Well thank you for all of you help. I shoot a .22 Air Arms S400 but have always found the flatter trajectory offered by a .177 appealing so hell I think I'll put .22 LR .17 HMR and .223 on my aplication form and maybe a few more calibers just so that have have a bit more choice if I ever want it (at the end of the day the worst the FA officer can so is no) but for my first rifle I think i'll go .17 HMR as I've always got my air rifle and 12g for closer range work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shropshire_Lad Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 Hi Paul, no not at all, you have obviously established the correct tool for your own environment, just my own opinion for my own purposes, I just couldn't favour one over the other. ATB Lol, thats good then. My .22 went to a Lincolnshire man! he is over the moon with it so you must be all veg and no meat county?lol. atvb Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian750 Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 Lol, thats good then. My .22 went to a Lincolnshire man! he is over the moon with it so you must be all veg and no meat county?lol. atvb Paul. No no no, we grow the veg, therefore have to shoot enough meat to go with it, lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colster Posted May 27, 2011 Report Share Posted May 27, 2011 Well thank you for all of you help. I shoot a .22 Air Arms S400 but have always found the flatter trajectory offered by a .177 appealing so hell I think I'll put .22 LR .17 HMR and .223 on my aplication form and maybe a few more calibers just so that have have a bit more choice if I ever want it (at the end of the day the worst the FA officer can so is no) but for my first rifle I think i'll go .17 HMR as I've always got my air rifle and 12g for closer range work. Bear in mind, if you're used to a .22 Air-rifles trajectory, the LR will seem very flat in comparison. I zero mine at about 52yards and it's pretty much flat until around 60yards. OK so the HMR is a laser in comparison but as said above they both have their strengths and weaknesses - get both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted May 27, 2011 Report Share Posted May 27, 2011 I still recon the HMR is like a little centrefire and the .22lr is similar to an air rifle. Not in the power stakes, but to shoot them I mean. The .22 needs a lot of thought put into range - not unlike the air rifle this chap is used to using. This can I suppose make them easy to be unsafe with as they seem so mild - they're not. Then there's the HMR. It's like a mini centrefire! It shoots flat like one, makes a bit of a crack and makes a real mess of body shots. All traits of the centrefires wouldn't you agree? I'm not saying you don't have to be more careful with a .22lr than an air rifle and I'm not saying you should expect the HMR to be a .223, but they both have similarities in trajectory and disturbance when fired. i do agree that the .22 lr often feels weak and underpowered due to the lack of recoil and noise and this can make the unwary complacent. I can't say i agree with your other comments. One thing i have definatly found is when you stretch the hmr out to say 150 yds or so it makes a lovely neat job of bunnies with body shots. At short range is just too much for them to take in the body and it can blow up too much. On larger harder targets like a hares head mostly failing to get what i consider adequate penetration for total bang flop reactions at these shorter ranges. 80-150 is were the HMR comes in and under that the .22. To be honest out to 60 yds with a well set up .22 its point and shoot, thereafter to 80 its pretty much progressive holdover and way easier to shoot than air because of the increased stopping power and reduced windage. The .22 handles all under that 80yds, i realy can't see why people like it for the lamp- the whole idea of the lamp is to get closer than you can in the day. If you cant get within 60 yds, might i suggest those people practice a little stealth your post seems to contradict itself, how can you not expect it to be a .223 yet at the same time describe it like a mini centrefire? Is it that which is described in the advertising trade as "puff" seriously i know what you mean but for those who have never used both its very confusing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted May 27, 2011 Report Share Posted May 27, 2011 Bear in mind, if you're used to a .22 Air-rifles trajectory, the LR will seem very flat in comparison. I zero mine at about 52yards and it's pretty much flat until around 60yards. OK so the HMR is a laser in comparison but as said above they both have their strengths and weaknesses - get both. the lack of windage allowance and terminal performance will convert him away from the pop gun towards the .22 in the end, just needs to try one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimlet Posted May 28, 2011 Report Share Posted May 28, 2011 I think I might be stepping into yet another mine field but here goes... I have permission to shot over a good bit of land with air rifle and 12 gauge but i'm looking into getting a FAC and I'm torn between .22 LR and .17 HMR. I will hopefuly be doing some lamping (but mostly day light shooting) which I know .22 LR is probably more suited to due to its near silent shots, but I like the .17HMR's extended range as I am use to 50 yards or less and would like to try my hand at longer ranges. So from experience can anyone tell me if they have had much sucsess with a .17HMR at night? and how effective moderators are on .17 comared to .22? Thanks for your time. Apply for both but also put in for an FAC air rifle. On my ground there are several footpaths and places near buildings where using a noisey or ricochet prone cartridge rifle is out of the question. Also you can shoot squirrels and corvids out of trees with air, very rarely can you with a rimfire. Don't worry about asking the firearms officer for too much, just tell him the truth,that you need the guns to control rabbits properly and the 3 guns will give you scope to cover most situations you will encounter on your ground. Make sure you understand the limitations and risks of each gun though, and make sure he knows you understand. Which is best? You'll have to decide for yourself. i wouldn't be without either. .22 is my favourite ambush and lamping rifle, .17hmr is a brilliant general purpose walking-round gun. Also superb for long range sniping across empty fields in winter, taking out next years adult stock before they start to breed. I have learned not to ambush the same buries to regularly with the .17. They soon learn to associate that crack with a lethal threat,even underground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12borejimbo Posted May 28, 2011 Report Share Posted May 28, 2011 When I got my FAC I applied for both, my FEO is a tight bu99er and said I could only have one, so I chose the .17hmr, 6 months later I told him I really needed a .22, so I got one, I use both as much as each other, for my all rounder everyday one its the .22, For other things like distance bunnies, 150 yards max its the HMR, close range foxes, crows ect. They both have there purpose on my ticket, so im sure they will yours, just get it and dont be a wimp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted May 28, 2011 Report Share Posted May 28, 2011 Another vote for both, ill never get rid off my .22lr BUT the hmr is far more versatile and SAFER imo, very few richochets and none if you leave the metAL JACKETS ALONE. Defo if i had to have one be the hmr....hands down, learn to be accurate and only do head shots if you eat the bunnies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnum Posted May 28, 2011 Report Share Posted May 28, 2011 I GOT THE TWO AND I TAKE THE 22LR OUT MORE THAN THE 17HMR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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