Advantages of 17. over 22lr

[Friar5119]

I have been offered a 17 between friends....but curious if I even have a need for it.

I understand that the .17hmr travels at a higher velocity and has a flatter trajectory, but outside of nailing squirrel sized game past 100 yards do you find a legitimate purpose to own both calibers if hunting small game within 50 yards or so?

Sure, the occasional coyote or bobcat is always an interesting proposition but ethics does come into play of course.

I have read through pages of .17hmr vs coyote, bobcat, amoeba, squirrel, feral iguana, chupacabra, et al. and don't really want to go that route. But I am curious if the .17 is another "club" in the bag (uh oh) or if it is a void filling caliber.

I suppose I am contemplating the idea of owning a 17hmr but not sure if the round is a massive upgrade to a 22lr as I can't imagine it being used as a dedicated varmint, coon, bobcat, and coyote round.

Just curious to know your uses of such a round be it hunting or paper punching.

[as_rocketman]

.17 HMR will reach out farther than any HV .22 LR round, and will go just as far with less sight adjustment than SV .22 LR.

However this effect will only happen beyond about 75 meters. Even the worst .22 LR will reach 75 meters before transonic effects ruin your accuracy, and after that it depends. In contrast .17 HMR is a true 200 meter cartridge so long as the wind cooperates, whether you're after small game or paper.

I would use neither on game larger than groundhogs at any distance. But for certain situations .17 HMR does offer a significant advantage. Most of those situations will be beyond 50 meters.

There are other rimfire choices as well. They all seem useful to me. It's more a question of whether their uses fit you so well as to justify the price.

[G21Shooter]

It really all depends on what you want to do with it. I find a mostly stock 10/22 with a Nikon BDC 150 is all I need to hunt ground squirrels out to 175 yards. With a little practice with hold overs .22 lr can be a effective long range varmint hunting round.
I see no reason to get a 17 HMR as I don't think for my needs it offers a advantage. I am waiting for a decent bolt gun to come out in the new 17 WSM round. That round offers significant advantages over the .22 lr and to me those advantages are worth it.

[mkane]

Long range varmint round meaning ground squirrels.

[GrapesOfWrath]

I have experience with a CZ 455 .17hmr devastating expansion in rabbit skulls. I would not hesitate to us it on an Bobcat... Coyote with a headshot, yes. But its all about what you find you can do with the frame and what you are comfortable with.

[BroncoBob]

17HMR is an awesome round. Whole new meaning to red vapor

[trob]

Absolutely annihilates anything it hits, with no recoil. I like hunting with my HMR much more than my 22's. It doesn't always exit, but makes jelly on the inside

[TRAP55]

Trob, what part of Idaho is that? Looks like the lava beds near Shelley? Good marmot shooting out there around the alfalfa fields!
I-15 runs through the middle of our cattle ranch in Malad City. The state used poison grain to kill off the ground rat population that was burrowing into the side of the highway, and wiped out the marmots with them.

EricT, I never had any interest in a .17HMR, until I got one in a deal I couldn't pass on. They shoot like a laser. They don't make bullet holes, they make mini explosions. With scope powers 16x and higher, you can watch the bullet hit. It's not hard to get dime size groups at 100yrds.
Only two cons I can think of, they don't do well with a crosswind, or a fouled bore. After 30-50rnds, I run a bore brush and a patch through it to keep it on the X.

[2shotjoe]

17 is in stock, 22 aint

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[leadstorm]

Consider the following since AB 711 is now CA law:

Lead-free .22LR ain't worth a damn, and is rare.

Hornady NTX (lead free) .17HMR nukes ground squirrels quite well.

I don't hunt with my .22s anymore - they only see daylight at the range.

[SOAR79]

17HMR for the win!

[trob]

Trob, what part of Idaho is that? Looks like the lava beds near Shelley? Good marmot shooting out there around the alfalfa fields!

southeast.

what you said is right. Don't take it out in the wind, Dont let it get dirty, and they make mini explosions. also, i wouldnt take it past about 150 yards. They tend to pencil through without much damage on rock chucks past that.

[TRAP55]

southeast.

what you said is right. Don't take it out in the wind, Dont let it get dirty, and they make mini explosions. also, i wouldnt take it past about 150 yards. They tend to pencil through without much damage on rock chucks past that.

Were you using the ballistic tips, or the hollow points?

[OldShooter32]

Around here, it's .17 HMR! This is Horse country and ground squirrels make horse traps!
The big argument is the ricochet (or lack of it) of .17 vs .22. Much safer!
Accuracy, effectiveness and explosive hits... Go for it!

[trob]

Were you using the ballistic tips, or the hollow points?

I tend to only shoot hornady vmax 17gr.

I lasered a couple last year at 170-175 and was disappointed with how well they were able to run away after the hits. Im not sure if they penciled through, but it sure seemed like it. each had multiple hits when i got up to them. But at < 150, you can definitely tell they are stunned on impact. Most of my shots are 60-120y