This several advantages AND disadvantages to both the .17s. I lean more toward the .22lr for hunting squirrels becausethe ammo cost is a LOT less so you can practice until you are really proficent. Also,the bullets in the .17s are too small for bigger varmits but too destructive on edible small game. I learned this by shootingcoyotes and rabbits. One thing that I learned almost by accident is that the .22magnum solid point bullets(fmj) leave exactly the same wound channel as a .22lr hollowpoint,but with more range and penetration.

I have a bull barreled Savage in HMR.

That gun will shoot the spent primers out of shotgun shell hulls at 100 yards one after another. Far better than I can shoot for sure.

I have killed everything from small game, to one bobcat, andright up to three deer with it. No problems at all.

If I were just hunting small game, I'd go with a .22lr and some Eley Subsonic Hollowpoints. Nice and quiet, cheap, and won't tear up game. If you hit a squirrel anywhere but in the head with that .17, it will look like he jumped on a grenade to save his buddies.

Where do you live that you can shoot deer with a 17 caliber rimfire?

Paul

I was wondering the same thing Paul. I don't know of any where where a .17 bullet would be legal, or ethical.