17 HMR - Is it worth it?

[newshooter650]

I've been kicking around getting a 17 HMR rifle. I already have a Marlin 795 22LR which i really like. However, finding ammo is still a pain to find, whereas I always see 17 HMR in stock. If I could get ammo for the 795 I'd be satisfied with what I have and not even be considering another rifle.

That said, do you think the cost of a 17 HMR rifle is worth it for the more widely available ammo? Should I just wait for the 22LR crunch to ease up?

I have read that 17 HMR is a great round.

Any takes or advice is appreciated!

[HAVOC5150]

I work in a gun shop and we have .22 LR coming out of our ears. Can’t find HMR anywhere. I have a CZ In HMR, the cartridge is amazing. Shoots flat, it’s basically a necked down 22 mag. My buddy smoked at yote at 250 yards with his 17.

[newshooter650]

I wish I were near you. Everywhere I check in the east bay is always still sold out =(

[Calif Hunter]

The .17 HMR is great for hunting small game, and it is pretty accurate in a good rifle to 100 yards or more. It depends on what you want to use it for.

[I Swan]

I've been kicking around getting a 17 HMR rifle. I already have a Marlin 795 22LR which i really like. However, finding ammo is still a pain to find, whereas I always see 17 HMR in stock. If I could get ammo for the 795 I'd be satisfied with what I have and not even be considering another rifle.

That said, do you think the cost of a 17 HMR rifle is worth it for the more widely available ammo? Should I just wait for the 22LR crunch to ease up?

I have read that 17 HMR is a great round.

Any takes or advice is appreciated!

17HMR ammo costs exceed 22lr unless you have a need for a 17HMR I'd stick with 22lr. 17HMR is not really a general plinking around or target round.

[Imageview]

If you want to hunt with it in CA, 17 hmr is no brainer. Tends to be a bit explosive at close ranges if you don't place your shots well. If just for target shooting, then it's fun but more expensive.

[newshooter650]

I would be using it more for range shooting and plinking. I feel like in normal times it would be overkill for that but right now my main concern is even being able to get ammo at all.

[M76]

It’s absolutely great for rodent extermination, but not a plinking round

[woolybugger]

Its a really fun round and still holds pretty decent accuracy past 100yds. Can get expensive to plink with compared to .22lr but i love plinking with it.

[FeuerFrei]

Yes the 17hmr is great for hunting and culling gnd squirrels, but when it comes to target shooting the tiny hole it makes in paper becomes a real challenge to see from the bench.

[wweigle]

I was told the other day that non lead 17HMR ammo is difficult to find. Not sure if its true, but something to look into if you live in California.

[Calif Hunter]

I am glad I stocked up on a couple bricks of the CCI green ammo. My CZ shoots that very well but does not like the 15 gr Hornady green ammo.

[AR22]

I had one 17HMR in my life..I did not shoot it a whole lot..Nothing inherently wrong with the round..But I went all 17HM2..I have three Firearms chambered in that round..A semi auto Rifle, a Semi auto handgun, and a Single shot Rifle..I really like the little 17HM2 better than the 17 HMR..Little cheaper to shoot, the HM2 serves my use better..I have a couple 22 WMRs that replaced the .17 HMR..I like the 22 mag over the 17HMR too..

[rsrocket1]

Be a *little* more patient. 22LR really IS coming back. Granted, I am now living in a free state, but I just bought 3 boxes of Win 333 for two weeks straight at the local Walmart for $18 each for the past 2 weeks in a row. They still have 50 and 100 round boxes but at worse prices. The local Cabelas have 22LR coming out of their ears but prices them at $40-$50 per 500 so it's still coming in.

Good luck and remember this shortage when you have the opportunity to buy a little more ammo than you really need during the good times.

[ar15barrels]

If you want to hunt with it in CA, 17 hmr is no brainer.
Tends to be a bit explosive at close ranges if you don't place your shots well.
If just for target shooting, then it's fun but more expensive.

17hmr tends to be very accurate too.
So much so that most rimfire competitions have had to make a separate class for 17hmr because 17hmr's were beating all the 22lr match guns.