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Thinking of getting a .17 HMR and need some advice.


NickB65
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Absolute piffle, there are plenty of opportunities after .22lr when the HMR comes into its own and a centrefire is superfluous,.

 

Just because you don't get out enough and find those situations it doesn't mean others don't.

 

I have a lot of rifles and calibres, because I have a use/need for them all, I'm not a collector, if I didn't need them I wouldn't have them!

 

+1.

 

When I put in my variation for c/f, I tried a .22lr for about 6 months, and really hoped it would cover all my rimfire needs with the added bonus of being quieter for lamping with. But it didn't tick as many boxes as the hmr does. That doesn't make .22lr a bad round, it just does suit me.

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+1.

 

When I put in my variation for c/f, I tried a .22lr for about 6 months, and really hoped it would cover all my rimfire needs with the added bonus of being quieter for lamping with. But it didn't tick as many boxes as the hmr does. That doesn't make .22lr a bad round, it just doesn't suit me.

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It's interesting just how divisive HMR threads (eventually) become, a bit like cable threads on hifi forums! :lol:

 

Simple truth is that it is a tiny little calibre of high velocity which makes for a useful medium range small vermin control round. On a still day a reasonable shot should be able to take a rabbit at 150 to 200 yds with one every time or a crow at 150 yds. That makes it more useful in some ways than a 22LR especially where the distance cannot accurately be determined. For those of us who use rangefinders, I'd argue that for rabbiting a good shot with a 22LR on a still day could or should be able to bowl a rabbit over up to 150 yds with ease and a lot more silently to boot.

 

Loads of urban myth and interweb folk-lore nonsense has sprung up mostly from those new to shooting who claim kills at miraculous distances but as a tool, most responsible vermin controllers or hunters I know wouldn't use one much over 150 to 200 yds on small quarry. In winds...forget it (I'm not a bad shot but I know that at 150 yds say in a gusty day it's a waste of time playing "guess the impact point"). Ammo had been contentious to say the least, and unlike 22LR, it does require more thorough cleaning to keep accuracy.

 

Those are the pros and cons as I see them. A useful tool for longer range vermin control in the right conditions whose most useful asset is that range estimation is less important within MPBR confines than that of 22LR. By comparison, 22LR used with range finders is just as capable for small quarry (for a decent shot), is quieter with subs & mod, cheaper to shoot and lower maintenance.

 

Despite claims to the contrary, HMR does ricochet. I've heard it many times making me wonder how many times it's happened where I haven't heard it, especially when using 20g hollow points. The ballistic tips, perhaps much less prone. Its a dangerous thing to point anyone to wards a calibre for "safety" grounds when all rimfires ought to be treated with equal respect in terms of assessing every shot for things like ricochet potential, decent backstop, proximity of public paths etc. For that one time your HMR ricochets and catches someone 100 yds away, it's not much of an excuse to offer "well the FEO said it was safer than 22LR". One of my personal bugbears when people talk about the HMR!

 

I would not recommend one as a primary foxing round. I just think that's unethical but that's my personal view and no-one has to agree with it. I use a .223 for fox. HMR makes a useful stand in if nothing else is to hand, and within reasonable ranges. Within 100m I'd take WMR every day of the week over HMR for fox.

Off topic but boy do i remember those discussions. QED 79 strand followed by the flat earthers who rated twin 7 earth.... :lol::lol:

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