What to do

[njc110381]

I'm sure someone else asked this not long ago, but I'm a bit stuck on this one. I've just recieved an e-mail from my FEO saying a .223 is accepteble for Vermin and Fox. So, do I keep the HMR or trade it in? I'll be reloading so the cost of ammo shouldn't be too much of an issue. I'll also be running fast flat loads with it (probably 35grn V-Max). At the moment I'm thinking I'll keep the HMR, but I'll probably sell it later. I don't know what to do, mainly because my cabinet is getting full

[CharlieT]

For the sake of £26 keep it. You can always sell it later if you find you don't use it. I find that although I have half a dozen or so different calibers I can use I get lots of fun from the hmr on summer evenings.

 

Charlie

[Dave-G]

I don't have a centre fire so could be talking out my '***** - but I'd be a lot less comfortable knowing that the CF bullet won't even slow down as it passes through small vermin that a HMR pill might get destroyed in. I'm sure you'd consider the backstop ok but there's a chance of a rock or something to take into consideration.

 

How much do figure the overall cost of a 223 bullet is out of interest? I've been told if you factor in the cost of shells, how few times you use them etc they'd be something like 70~80p each?

[lock&load]

i have both and would not part with either they both have their place in the sceem of things i run 55gn ballistic tip in the 223 for fox great round,as for the .17hmr great fast flat round for vermin and fox out to 100yrd but alass it is affected greatly by the wind factor,love it or hate it for what they cost keep it,but it is your choice

[casts_by_fly]

I have both for the same or similar reasons as you probably do. For me, the HMR is a perfect round for <150 yd. It is highly frangible. It does great damage on whatever you hit with it and there is little chance of riccochet. It is plain fun to shoot. The 223 is a workhorse round. With reloading you can load from the 35 gr v-max up to whatever bullet your twist barrel will stabilize. Load velocities up or down. It is a perfect fox round if you don't save pelts. It makes a decent rabbit round with head shots if you don't mind the extra noise (or have a moderator).

 

If you reload the 223, then the rounds overlap a good bit. However, the 223 would not be my choice of round for frequent shooting under 100 yd. The 22LR isn't my choice for shooting over 50 yd. The HMR fills that gap nicely. The 22 hornet would also to some extent.

 

The only way I am considering getting rid of my HMR is if I decide to get a 17 hornet. Then I can load it to HMR levels or up to 223 speeds with lower weight bullets. Otherwise the HMR isn't going anywhere.

 

Thanks,

Rick

[tulkyuk]

- this is about the best advise your gonna get

 

You also have seen my reasons for keeping both on the UK Varminting site

Edited February 26, 2008 by tulkyuk

[Baldrick]

I'd keep the HMR and buy a .223, if I was you.

 

I'm going to buy myself an HMR to use where my .223 and .22-250 aren't applicable. I'd always pick up a centrefire for using on fox, but as CharlieT says, the HMR is a valuable and productive tool for rabbit control on a summer's evening.

[al4x]

yep that says most of it, if you shoot many rabbits keep the HMR as realistically I'd not want to be using a lot of .223 rounds while lamping rabbits. Personally i use my HMR in a lot of places I wouldn't use a centrefire or .22lr so I can always see keeping mine

[markbivvy]

For the sake of £26 keep it.

[Dirty Harry]

I don't know what to do, mainly because my cabinet is getting full

 

Buy a bigger cabinet

 

Harry