.17 HMR vs .22 HMR
 

.17 HMR vs .22 WMR

.17 HMR
17@2550
20@2375

.22 WMR
30@2200
40@1910

What's your preference?

Any reason to get one over the other?

I figure both will plink/kill squirrels, and what can the .22 WMR kill that the .17 HMR won't?
So go with velocity?

The .17 is fine for very small varmits- i.e. groundhogs and smaller. But for all-around use I would pick the .22 mag. That way, if a coyote (which, by the way is the most common varmit in my parts) comes around, you can pop him too....

I dont have alot of experience with a 22 mag but I have spent alittle time shooting both thru a chronograph. Lots with the 17HMR.

In my rifles the quoted fps for the 17 HMR was actually considerably lower than what I got. My 17 gr. Vmaxs were going 2650 and more. I love the accuracy of the 17 providing there is no wind...like a dart.

I never had that kind of accuracy with either of my 22 mags and normally the bullet speeds were not up to specs falling 100-120 fps short of what it says on the box for 40 gr. bullets.

With all that I would still rather have the 22 mag if I thought I would be shooting anything over 12 lbs or so.

i love my hmr, but its really destructive on small game like squirrel. I think if squirrel and rabbit and plinking are your main plans for the gun, go 17hm2...less destructive, cheaper ammo, nice flat shooting round out to 100 yards.

For accuracy and speed, hard to beat the .17HMR out to 100-150 yards.

I agree that it's intended for varmint & small game under +/- 10 lbs.


BTW - I rarely see coyotes walking through the area where I'm shooting (ground squirrels in my case) my .17HMR/.22lr or my .204 - for those long shots !

I've personally watched my buddy kill several hogs at over 100 yards with his .17. If I ever get a second rifle that will be my caliber.

My opinion, fwiw. The .22mag can definately handle larger game, but if I had that need I would probably get a .22 hornet. Anyone who hunts small game with a rifle NEEDS a .17hmr. Yes it does quite a bit of damage to squirrels, but I don't eat the heads or ribs anyway. It's just awesome to be able to snipe at squirrels out to 150+ yards away. A lot of guys will balk at the cost of ammo, but it's not fair to compare the .17 with a .22LR. The .17hmr performs more like a centerfire that you can't reload, and they're no more expensive than buying a box of .38 special or 9mm rounds.