WHICH ONE ?

[Birdboy]

Hi

 

Im nearly there, i think. Had my FEO meeting a week ago so hope to be shopping soon for my new rifles. Verbally, ive been granted a .22, .17HMR and a .223 (with mentor). I thought getting my FAC was hard, however, trying to convince my Mrs that i need 3 new rifles was the harder part !!

 

What i plan to do is buy 2 rifles at this stage. Definatley going to buy a .223 immediately so i can clock up some hours with the mentor, so that leaves me with the choice of the .22 and the .17HMR.

 

I know this always gets debated on here and up until a few days ago i was to buy a .22 until i went shooting with an experienced chap in the week who slightly put me off the .22 due to richochets (1 in every 4 shots) and lack of range compared to the HMR. The rifles will be used mainly for rabbits and my .223 for foxes.

 

I know i could sell it or trade it in later if i didnt get on with it, but i would really like to make the right choice first time round.

 

Please let me know what you think and to put it another way, if you could only have one rifle for the rest of your life of either .22 or HMR which would it be and why ? !!

 

Cheers

 

Gaz

[Pagey]

I have slot for 22, but wouldn't ever go back to it since getting hmr, lovely little round, flat shooting, accurate, good range easy 150yds, i've never had that horrible little wizzing sound from it! On the other hand the ammo is a bit more expensive than 22, and as its supersonic you'l never get it as quiet, good out weigh the bad for me though..

[casts_by_fly]

since you have both on your ticket, I assume you intend to get both eventually.

 

What are your opportunities at this time? You say rabbits. Are you shooting small horse pastures and around buildings or wide open fields? Is noise a concern (do you have moderators for both or either)?

 

If you are shooting smaller pastures where you're shooting 50 yd ranges most of the time, then the 22 gets the vote. If you are shooting around horses or houses where noise is a concern, then again the 22 gets the vote. If you are shooting wide open fields (as I am) and noise is less of a concern then the extra range of the HMR wins. For me, I shoot a lot of 100 yd shots and could shoot a bit further on a lot of them. You don't get much closer though in the big open fields I'm in. In those cases, the HMR wins as I can hold on fur and pull the trigger. If I were to shoot closer to the animals or farm building where there is a lot more hedgerow to sneak around, then I'd take the moderated 22.

 

Thanks

Rick

[silver_fox]

I had exactly the same decision last year and I went for the .22lr (and the .223) and I am really glad I did. The .22 is so quiet you can get hundreds of (cheap) rounds down the barrel without annoying the neighbours. If you're like me you just want to shoot your gun, and if there aint a rabbit around then just put up a target and plink away - it's great fun. I thought that with a .17hmr as a first gun I probably wouldn't shoot it as much because of the noise factor. After six months with a .22lr and a .223 I have fired over 1000 rounds through the .22lr and about 200 through the .223, I doubt that I could afford to plink away that much with a .17hmr. This morning I put a deposit on a CZ 452 American .17hmr and should hopefully pick it up next weekend.

I'll let you know what it's like.

[Birdboy]

Good advice, cheers.

 

Are you happy with the range of the .22 ? Do you think that on an average days shooting rabbits, you would bag as many as your mate with an HMR ?

 

Cheers

 

Gaz

[Baldrick]

I am happy shooting out to 100 yards with my .22s. I use .22 centrefires for long-range rabbit shooting, having shelved my plan to buy a .17HMR.

 

You need to think about the scenarios in which you'll be shooting rabbits and vermin. Also the land itself: is the soil very stony (therefore awful for ricochets)? What's the topograpy like: are there plenty of hedges, undulations and patches of woodland to aid your stalking? You need to match the gun to the situation.

 

I've just got back from a morning's rabbit shooting today. There is something really satisfying about crawling around in the mud, or creeping through woodland, clutching my .22 and in search of rabbits. Well, I find it satisfying. I wouldn't want to use an HMR or a centrefire at that time of the morning, when the silent approach would bag me more rabbits.

 

Edited to add: I very rarely get problems with richochets with a .22. Certainly nothing like the '1 in 4 shots' claim. More like 1 in 500, if that.

Edited April 20, 2008 by Baldrick

[Dead-Eyed Duck]

No contest at all.

 

Go for the 22, as there is a lot more satisfaction than when using the hmr.

 

The group size up to 80 yards is just the same, and all you have to do is to allow for the bullet drop.

 

You can't beat stalking the countryside with a 22 knowing that no-one else knows that you are there because of the lack of noise and peace and quiet

 

I have both, and whilst the extra range of the hmr may be useful now and again, I much prefer the 22.

 

Don.

[Mungler]

The .223 will do anything rangey and more. My recommendation would be a Steyr Scout but I am bias (see signature) - it's the little things like:

 

1. comes with 2 x 5 shot mags and the spare tucks away in the butt

2. comes with integral weaver rail

3. comes screw cut

4. comes with integral bi-pod

 

Getting a basic .223 with none of the above and then adding them later will cost you £150 upwards.

 

Obviously the rifle is amazingly accurate and the trigger and safety are top drawer.

 

Get the .22. If you can find a Ruger 10/22 where someone else has done all the necessary to get the damn things to work then buy that - there is one on the forum right now in the sales section I recall.

 

http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/ind...c=57152&hl=

 

A Ruger 10/22 is the most fun you can have shooting. Get lots of spare magazines (the Ruger own made factory ones work best but do chance your arm with one of those mad "banana" mags that hold 25 rounds upwards).

 

I got mine fully toyed up and it is surprisingly accurate.

 

Mind you, as StuartP said to me when he was messing about with his single shot bolt action .22LR "you 10/22 boys don't need to be accurate do you? You see the Rabbit, start shooting at the head and just work your way back".

 

If you can get to hold 750 .22 rounds (or more) on your application / ticket then you can bulk buy and the rounds are pennies.

Edited April 20, 2008 by Mungler

[Birdboy]

Thanks Guys,

 

Hey Mungler, theat Streyr is very sweet - 2 questions - How much and where !

 

Im sold on a CZ Style .22 and following everyones advice, i wont turn to the dark side just yet and buy a 17 HMR !! I will stick to the .22 so thanks everyone.

 

I havent really thought about whcih .223 to go for so the Streyr looks ideal. Can you tell me more about it and what it is like 'out of the box'. Costings would be good too,

 

Cheers

 

Gaz

[luckytrigger]

No contest at all.

 

Go for the 22, as there is a lot more satisfaction than when using the hmr.

 

The group size up to 80 yards is just the same, and all you have to do is to allow for the bullet drop.

 

You can't beat stalking the countryside with a 22 knowing that no-one else knows that you are there because of the lack of noise and peace and quiet

 

I have both, and whilst the extra range of the hmr may be useful now and again, I much prefer the 22.

 

Don.

 

I totally agree with you Don,

i sold my hmr due to lack of use and got another slot for 22lr. So much cheaper to run and muss less noisy than the hmr which is a factor on my shoots. Ive also started to do a lot more 'plinking' and at £15 per 500 rounds i can have a right old cabbie with my semi auto and not worry too much about the cost.

Mick