22.mag vs. 17.HMR?
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22.mag vs. 17.HMR?
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Here's what I think.
A 17 is probably more versatile. It can be used from squirrels to coyotes. The problem is cost of ammunition. If your a handloader that's ok. Ammunition for the 17 is just too pricey.It usually shoots a 17 or 20 grain bullet.
A .22 mag is also versatile, but not as much. Some say that a .22 mag will tear up rabbit and squirrel meat too much to eat. It can be used from fox to coyote thought. It's accurate to about 125 yards and shoots a 30 or 40 grain bullet commonly.
From that little bit of information it's kind of hard to decide.
Overall I think I pick the .22 mag because ammunition is cheaper and you can just use .22 long for rabbits and squirrels. It could also probably bring down a coyote much easier.
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I have a Ruger M77/22M (stainless) with composite stock that shoots so well at 100 yards that I'm considering selling my .22 Hornet, since the .22 Mag fills its niche so well. I'm delighted with the .22 Mag.
I haven't purchased a .17 HMR, but a friend permitted me to try his Marlin 917V (?), a handsome rifle with a stainless barrel that printed very accurately while the 4X scope was being zeroed at 50 yards, but we ran out of time before we could set up our targets at 100 yards.
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For hunting any game larger than a ground squirrel the 22 Mag. is the vastly superior round. The 17 hmr is a very accurate round and a pleasure to hit with at reasonably long range but it's record of solid hits and not recovered animals is well known to hunters. The 22 mag. on the other hand is not as accurate and is not a long range round but is by far the better killers at ranges out to about 75-90 yards. I have taken many deer from a tree stand and seven coyote out to the 80 yard mark with the 22 mag. and the Win. 40 gr. hp bullet. I can't ask for better performance from a very small cartridge. None of the animals that I've shot with this cartridge have gone anyplace. The 17 hmr has failed me on woodchucks and horrible performance on a raccoon that I eventually was able to catch up to. My brother in law, an excellent shot and hunter, has given up on the 17 hmr altogether because of the poor performance on small game. The members of the local coyote hunting group will no longer use the 17 hmr for the same reason but will use the 22 mag. If anyone wants a accurate target rifle and a pretty good crow rifle the 17 hmr is for you but for anything larger I personally will not use it.
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