22 magnum vs. 17 hmr
 

i have a marlin bolt action 22 magnum with synthetic stock and stainless barrell....i love this gun and i am considering getting the same gun in a .17...is there enough differences to justify buying this gun or will they perform very similar? thanks for any help, thoughts, comments.

RE: 22 magnum vs. 17 hmr
 

I think that in terms of ballistics, the .17 is about 25% more powerful than the .22 mag.Once you get beyond the 75 to 100 yard range, the .17 is hands down a better gun. In my personal experience with squirrel hunting, the .17 doesn't do significantly more damage to the hide or meat than a 22mag.

RE: 22 magnum vs. 17 hmr
 

The .17 hmr's casing is the same size as a .22 magnum's and the .17 has a muzzle velocity of about 2500 feet per second. A .22 lr has a muzzle velocity of 1350 feet per second. The .17 hmr has a longer killing range with very small game, but the .17 hmr has such a small bullet wounded game can happen too easily. Also the .22 lr cost about 3 cents a shot, the .17 hmr 25 cent a shot. The .22 magnum might be a good pick over both since it has almost the same velocity as the .17 hmr, more killing power and the .22 magnum doesn't get deflected by wind as much as either of the other two. The cost for the .22 magnums are about 15 to 25 cent a shot.

RE: 22 magnum vs. 17 hmr
 

Te biggest difference you will find between the marlin 22 mag and 17 HMR is the accuracy, the 17 HMR will almost always shoot under 1 MOA at 100 yards while ive found the 22 mags shoot about 2- 3 moa at the same distance. and also the 17 HMR has a flatter trajectory compared to the 22 mag. so i belive the 17 HMRhas a large advantage over the 22 magnum as long as deep penetration is not an issue. just my opinion.

RE: 22 magnum vs. 17 hmr
 

This is a question, not an attempt to start an argument with Ole Rebel Hog. Comparatively speaking, how much of a factor will wind drift be for the .17 and 22mag, for example,up to 50 yards, 50-100 yards, and 100 yards and greater.I would think (and i couldwell be wrong) that wind drift will be the greatest atdistances wherethe .22 would have already lost much of its accuracycompared to what the .17 can do. This is of interest to me, notonly in terms ofaddressing the original question, but also in terms of other posts that were comparing very light bullets like the 204 to heavier calibers in terms of wind drift and accuracy.

RE: 22 magnum vs. 17 hmr
 

Nah! No argument here Cuz. I normally shoot squirrels at 25-35ft, have no need for 50-100yd shot's.:)

RE: 22 magnum vs. 17 hmr
 

Rebel,

Me too, but I like to at least fantasize about putting a round thru Mr. Bushytales eye at 100 paces on a windy day[8D]

RE: 22 magnum vs. 17 hmr
 

with my roomates .17 hmr, i killed like 6-7 groundhogs and a crow. The crow was 100+ yards, the hogs were between 40-212 yards with an average shot of about 125 yards. 212 i had to hit um twice. got another one at 178 yards. its plenty of gun, but beyond 200 i prefer my .22-250....and dropping them at 400 yards:D

RE: 22 magnum vs. 17 hmr
 

Here ya go, a good article comparing the two.

17HMR and .22WMR compared, by Chuck Hawks


Keep in mind they list velocities for the 17 at 2550 for the 17 grn and 2375 or so for the 20 grn. However in most rifles they actually shoot closer to 2650 for the 17 grn and around 2500 I think for the 20 grn. They under rate them compared to what they actually chrono out of most rifles.

And actually a 17 is better in the wind at longer ranges than a .22 mag is. When I put it in a ballistics calculator for your average 40 grn 22 mag round it shows it being off around 25 inches at 200 yards with a 10 mile an hour cross wind and dropping 21 inches with a 100 yards sight in. The 17 HMR is off by 14 inches at the same distance and only drops 7.5 inches.

Also out to 175 yards the HMR has slighty more energy than the .22 mag, but the .22 has slightly more momentum. However the 17 has the better bullet design. I think if you compared the 17 to the newer 30 grn TNT rounds for the .22 mag though it would be much closer. I might do it for the heck of it if I can find some real velocities for them.

There is really no comparison to the .17HMR and the 22LR, even the hyper velocity rounds. I shot my 17 against several different 22 rounds from target loads to the fastest stuff I could find (shot like crap!). The .17 blows it away in every department except the 22lr is quieter. I fired all the ammo at 50,75 and 100 yards and checked for drop and accuracy. With the .22 ammo I fired two 3 round groups at each range with each brand of ammo. With the 17 I just fired three rounds at each distance at the same target.

The best .22 ammo I shot was the CCI Velicitors for all around accuracy and flatness. I think they were 4 or 5 inches low at 100 yards and shot all six rounds into about a 1 inch group at at the same distance (50 yards sight in for the .22's). A few others were just as accurate, one a bit better, but with considerably more drop.

The 17 put all nine rounds, 3 from 50, 3 from 75 and three from 100 in a hole a dime could cover. That is accurate and flat!

I will admit that beyond 50 yards the wind plays heck on the little 17. However according to the numbers it is better than a .22 or a .22 mag.

The nice thing about the 17's is they are pretty accurate right of the box in almost any gun you buy. I'm not saying the .22 mag can't be, but it's the norm for the 17 to shoot 1 inch or better groups at 100 yards out of the box with a 200 dollar marlin or savage rifle and a decent scope. While a .22 mag can do it, I think it's more an exception rather than the norm, at least from what I read on the internet.

Here two more links for you if you want to know enough info about the 17HMR to make your head explode;).

Rimfirecentral

Varmint Al's

I will admit I don't nor have I ever owned a .22 mag rifle. I did own an AMT automag in .22WMR and a Ruger Single six convertable, but they don't really apply to this. I have a few friends that own .22 mag rifles though.

I own a Savage heavy barrel 17HMR with an Alaskan Guide 6.5-20x44 A/0 scope. I'm pretty happy with it. And the newer Savages come with the Accutrigger, which is nice considering the triggers pretty much blow out of the box. What do you want for 200 bucks though.

Good luck,
Paul

RE: 22 magnum vs. 17 hmr
 

i wasn trying to start an argument. i was just stating what i know along with my opinion.

RE: 22 magnum vs. 17 hmr
 

I have both and I would take the .22mag anyday over the .17hmr. That little pill just isnt my cup of tea. I have shot manycoyotes with my deuce deuce and they fell over dead. The two with the .17 ran off to be finished later with another round.I chronyed my .22 and it was around 2200fps and the .17 averaged 2500 not bad but that is a 40gr .22 and 17gr -.17 . Like I said i'll take my .22mag.

RE: 22 magnum vs. 17 hmr
 

That's odd that you are off the scale in the opposite direction on both loads. Almost everything I read or hear about when someone chronoes either round is the 17 is between 2600 and 2650 and most 40 grn 22mag stuff is closer to 1800 fps.

Not all guns are the same though, so your findings are not shocking. just not the norm I would venture to guess. My 17 for sure shoots faster than 2500 fps because the trajectory is flatter than that speed would suggest.

The 17 grn V-max bullets really were not meant for medium sized game like dogs, so I'm not suprised when I hear stories about them not working on them. Perfect shot placement would have to be must. The 20 grn XTPs probably work a bit better. I shot a cat with my 17 with the vmax ammo and it ran about 40 yards before dropping over.

Paul

RE: 22 magnum vs. 17 hmr
 

LMFAO ! how true !

RE: 22 magnum vs. 17 hmr
 

I had Savage heavy barrel .22 magnum and sold it to buy a Savage heavy barrel in .17 HMR. It was the best thing I ever did. The 17 will shoot a ten shot group at 100 yards inside an inch. The .22 wouldnt. I saw a guy hunting wild boars on one of the outdoor channels with a savage .17 hmr. He shot it at about 20 yards and it got up and he hit it between the eyes and dropped it like it had been hit with a .458 magnum. This hog was about 200 to 250 pounds. Ill stick with my .17hmr. Looking to get a .17mach2 in a semi auto rifle and see what it can do.

RE: 22 magnum vs. 17 hmr
 

Quote:

---

I saw a guy hunting wild boars on one of the outdoor channels with a savage .17 hmr. He shot it at about 20 yards and it got up and he hit it between the eyes and dropped it like it had been hit with a .458 magnum.

---

I'll killa 2000 pound bullthe same way with any .22:)

RE: 22 magnum vs. 17 hmr
 

This same thing was posted on another forum the other day, wonder if its by the same person. Anyways.

When I looked on the Winchester web site, there is only one bullet that they load for the .22mag that has less energy than the .17 at 100yds and its only about five ft lbs more. ( i can't remember excatly what it was). All of the other .22mag rounds were listed to have more energy at 100 yards than the .17hmr.

Not saying one is better. Just posting what i read.

RE: 22 magnum vs. 17 hmr
 

Well, one of these days, you can come over and blast any ground squirrel at 100 yards or more. I don't limit my shots to 25 yards or less for those rodents of the earth, I will take them out at 160 yards with the .17 HMR and what the open up with Federal BTs. And when the wind gusts more than 10 mph, I don't go and borrow a .22 magnum, I whip out my .204 and the varmint of the earth that eats my oat and forage hay is taken apart celebrated by a evil grin of a satisfied customer.

RE: 22 magnum vs. 17 hmr
 

Now that sounds more reasonable. When someone states that there 17HMR is good to 300 yards, talk about stretching the truth...

RE: 22 magnum vs. 17 hmr
 

And I agree. And whoever says that the .17 HMR can take down a yote or even badger at that yardage, must of been biten by a rattler, and is now hallucinating[8D]....I am sure it could wound it to the point of making a bleeding shot, but no reliable in my book. I have hit a ground squirrel with the .17 HMR close to 200 yards, at it was a luck shot I have to admit ( I don't admit those rarely ), but I don't rely on it like I said past 160 yards. The .17 HMR is really a fun cartridge, and I have taken head shots at yotes under 120 yards or so, and have had success ( it was the only rifle I had at the time when doing the daily chores on the ranch and nursery), yet when I truly go out yote hunting, I take my trusty .308 Tikka T3. No complaints.

RE: 22 magnum vs. 17 hmr
 

Some guys just have all the fun jobs...;)

RE: 22 magnum vs. 17 hmr
 

For anything bigger than a prairie dog, give me the 22 mag every time.

RE: 22 magnum vs. 17 hmr
 

A little target practice with the predators presents a chance to tighten my skills as well. And fun jobs, my job entails both fun, enough labor to make some people cry, and its boring moments too, but I do have to say I love being my own boss.

RE: 22 magnum vs. 17 hmr
 

I PICKED UP A MARLIN 17HMR LAST YEAR NICE GUN VERY ACC.,NOT SHOT AT ANYTHING LIVE YET.BUT WOULD LIKE TO GET A 22 MAG IN SOMETHING CLOSE TO THE ACCURACY OF THE .17 ANY RECS.?