Better small game cartridge? .22mag/wmr or .17hmr17

[BigFatGuy]

with lead free .22LR sucking so bad, and .17HMR bolt action rifles being so inexpensive, I'm thinking about moving to a new round for small game hunting.

The TNT Green .17HMR round gets good reviews, so I'm leaning that way...

I've looked into the other flavors of .22 rimfire, and haven't found them to be as inexpensive or the ammo to be reviewed so well... however, there's always a chance I missed something.

Did I miss something? Am I crazy for thinking .17 might be a good small game round?

[elk hunter]

.22 magnum

[Mesa Defense]

Better small game cartridge? .22mag/wmr or .17hmr17

I hunt the **** out of my 22 mags. Hornady 45 GN. critical defense and the Gold Dots work really well in my semi rifle.

I just got 2 cases of lead free. Tried em on a couple fox, worked well so far.

Good Luck BFG.

[elk hunter]

For hunting varmints they both work very well. I said the .22 magnum as I assumed you were referring to shooting animals for eating. They both will tear stuff up if you hit the animal wrong/body hits. I believe the 17 HMR would be more destructive but the magnum will really tear stuff up to. I think fmj's are available for both but I have not shot game animals with the 17 fmj in a side by side comparison. I still hold with the .22lr 40 gr solids for shooting eating small game but you guys are stuck with chit loads for that.

[taperxz]

17 HMR for the win

[BillyGoatCrawler]

I’m a .17HMR fan. It’s generally more accurate and absolutely flatter shooting. Zero at 150 yards and you’re about 1.5” high at 100 yards and 5” low at 200 yards... as long as the wind isn’t blowing, it’s great.

Rabbits try to sit still to avoid prey. They also stop and look back after being spooked. This makes for easy headshots if you’re a patient hunter, so meat damage isn’t a problem in my experience.

Biggest thing I’ve taken with mine was about a 35 lb yote.

[BigFatGuy]

IZero at 150 yards

Jesus... I've got a long way to go before I can hit a rabbit at 150 yards. :-(

[Bisley]

I was a die-hard .22mag guy until I got coaxed into trying the 17HMR. It is one of those rounds that performs way better than it ever should by looking at it. And with the way it shot lead free, I became an even bigger fan. The CCI TNT Green shoot great in both, but mine really prefers the 17gr Hornady NTX. I just changed scopes and dialed it in yesterday. It only confirmed my choice to let the .22mag retire.

As for meat damage, same as the .22mag with CCI 40gr HP's. If you do blow out both sides of it simply take the four shoulders and bacstraps. And if you hit a shoulder with either just take the remaining three legs and backstraps.

[taperxz]

I’m a .17HMR fan. It’s generally more accurate and absolutely flatter shooting. Zero at 150 yards and you’re about 1.5” high at 100 yards and 5” low at 200 yards... as long as the wind isn’t blowing, it’s great.

Rabbits try to sit still to avoid prey. They also stop and look back after being spooked. This makes for easy headshots if you’re a patient hunter, so meat damage isn’t a problem in my experience.

Biggest thing I’ve taken with mine was about a 35 lb yote.

I’m killing ground squirrel at 100 yards. “Mostly” head shots. My zero at 100 yards

Tree squirrel is a bit closer. Head shots are great for meat preservation. I only shoot them when there’s nothing in the fridge for dinner. Live refrigerator

[deckhandmike]

I never want to shoot a .22 again after getting into .17hmr. That round is amazing.

[BillyGoatCrawler]

Jesus... I've got a long way to go before I can hit a rabbit at 150 yards. :-(

[taperxz]

I never want to shoot a .22 again after getting into .17hmr. That round is amazing.

Same here. My .17 is always next to my back slider and ready

[JackEllis]

I never want to shoot a .22 again after getting into .17hmr. That round is amazing.

Gee thanks. Just what I needed to hear.

I shoot ground squirrels. .22lr out to perhaps 70 yards. .223 beyond that. A friend who's gone with me once has a Henry Golden Boy in .17hmr and she loves it.

[taperxz]

Gee thanks. Just what I needed to hear.

I shoot ground squirrels. .22lr out to perhaps 70 yards. .223 beyond that. A friend who's gone with me once has a Henry Golden Boy in .17hmr and she loves it.

[silvertriple]

Another vote for 17 hmr.