.22 vs. .17
 

I usually hunt squirls with a .22. Lately there has been a bunch of talk about the .17. What are the good and bad about the .17. Is it worth buying instead of using the .22.

Thanks

RE: .22 vs. .17
 

I've never fired the .17 HMR before, but I've seen the results on squirrel. Tiny entrance wound, the entire back on the animal blown away. It has great velocity and energy for such a small round. The .22 LR really can't compare to the .17's ballistics.

RE: .22 vs. .17
 

That is a lot of FPS for squirrel.

The .17 round creates a dime size dent with a center raised point in the dent at 50m on a .22 hanging metal target! The .22 leaves a grey circle with no physical mark at .50m.

A buddy uses his savage .17 at 300 yards for coyotes with one shot results. Probably to hot of a round for squirrels.

RE: .22 vs. .17
 

m2fin...you mean the 17HMR or the center-fire 17 Remington? The 17HMR hardly has enough energy at 300yds to kill a squirrel. At 200yds, the energy is around 70 foot pounds, and at 300 is less than 50. That's less than a 22-short has at 50yds.

I own a 17 and love it, but don't reccommend it for coyotes. It'll do the job at reasonable ranges if you hit them right.

As far as squirrels go, it'll work. Just don't hit em in the body or your gravy will be boney. LOL

RE: .22 vs. .17
 

I agree with Pro-Line not enough gun for coyotes past 100 yards and maybe not even that. As for squirrels I wont take a shot with either my 22 or 17 unless I can head shoot them. Also factor in cost of ammo. Abox of 17s is going to run you eight to ten dooars for a box of fifty.

RE: .22 vs. .17
 

17 hummer (rimfire) blows away and .22 out there. The only downside to shooting the 17 hmr is 1) price, you can order the bullets around 7.50 a box, or pay 10$ localy. 2) Headshots only, not realy a downside but you'll ruin anything u plan on eating without a headshot. Now besides having great ballistics the 17 seems to be very accurate round. My gun loves the hornady 17hmr, shoots the cci nearly as well, having shot the remington. You can get the savage 17hmr blued, for 183$ at wal-mart. And walmart carries 17 hummer ammo. Also the 17 shouldnt be used on coyotes, just my opinion but i think they deserve better.

RE: .22 vs. .17
 

Proline -
Referring to the 17hmr rimfire shooting boat tail Hornady rounds. This round has a lot of power, necked down 22mag brass going +2800 fps. It goes out to 275m easily with much to spare. As I said, my buddy drops coyotes with ease. Something I would never try with a .22....

As I stated earlier this is way above a .22 in fps and ability. It dents the steel swinging target at 50m, the .22 leaves a grey mark.

RE: .22 vs. .17
 

Coyotes at 300 yards with a 17 HMR? I believe you are confused as a pet duck in a well. The 17 HMR was never designed for coyotes at any range.

RE: .22 vs. .17
 

With a 17gr bullet, a coyote is going to have to be the un-luckiest dog on earth to fall to a 17HMR at 300yds.

I have a 17, and have shot the 3 different types of bullets. None penetrate anything, and this is go be expected with the pill it's shooting for a bullet.

It's not a coyote gun. If you haven't seen your friend do this personally, you might want to smell his breath.

RE: .22 vs. .17
 

Even with a perfect shot angle it would be unethical imho to shoot at a coyote sized animal with a .17hmr. Its not desighned for large predators. 300 yard one shot kills on coyotes is hilarious.

RE: .22 vs. .17
 

in your question you ask if a .22 or .17 is best if you comparethe .17 to a .22wmr its faster with little ftlbs i have shoot a .17 many times and find it to be very accurate with my ruger bolt action. it has taken a few rabbits and crows and that is where i stop. nothing bigger !!! as far as coyotes i would be very surprised if it would make a humane kill on them at any range

RE: .22 vs. .17
 

I owm a 17HMR and have shot groundhogs at 158 yards,and geese at 100 yards,all on com day's not even a breeze. I find it hard to believe he shoots coyotes at 300 yards,and hits his mark ,and kills them?

RE: .22 vs. .17
 

I agree that the 17 HMR is an accurate round in my contender and it is sure to be as accurate in a rifle but, the only thing I'd attemt to kill with mine is a piece of paper. I know a county trapper that uses one to dispatch errant coyotes but not at 300 yds more like 300 feet or less.

RE: .22 vs. .17
 

The 17hmr has a stated muzzle velocity of 2550 fps not 2800 most tests show about 2600 fps sighted in to zero at 100 yds you are 34 inches low at 300 yds and have roughly 40 ftpds of energy any ehthical person would not be trying to kill a coyote at that distance with so little energy.