Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires 17 HMR or 22 WMR

A month ago a graybeard at the range was shooting an A17 and did not know the trajectory. I pointed out that the information may be on the box and I would shoot it over the chrony to see how close it was to reality.

I fired three shots at 200 and I was quite surprised, a perfect 3/4" group. That was my first and only experience with any 17 and it gave me the bug.

Right now I have a Single Six convertible and a few boxes of CCI WMR, I expect that far more 22 LR will be fired than WMR. I bought a Predator WMR from SAS but sold it due to the WMR shortage and picked up a RAR 22 LR threaded Compact.

I searched Midway this morning for the Hornady 30gr WMR and noticed 2 out of 25 options were on hand, both CCI so I figure the shortage is still an issue.

I want another RAR compact, maybe two but one for now.

The purchase has nothing to do with need, just a want.

What do ya'll suggest, WMR or HMR?

Just me, but the only .17 I shoot is the Rem. 17 centerfire..

I've had a number of customers come in with issues re: the .17 HMR ignition; too many duds.. I hope the ammo-makers have fixed THAT.

Part of your answer may ride with what you're using it for. Small varmints at closer ranges? P-dogs? Calling in Fox/Coyotes?

Also - what ammo is plentiful there? .22WMR has been truly scarce for some time, although S&G had a hundred+ boxes of one type a few days ago. ( http://www.sgammo.com/product/22-ma...ter-30-grain-v-max-ammo-s22m2pt-limit-20 )

On the other hand, I've been shooting the .17 HMR from a CZ 452 since 2003. Cannot remember a dud round, but have experienced a bunch of FTF's with various .22 rimfires in that time.. And I shoot the CZ considerably on ground squirrels and prairie dogs every year.

For such varminting it's about ideal, and it works all right on somewhat larger varmints too, up to about 10 pounds. But I still prefer the .22 Magnum for those, and they don't use up nearly as much ammo.

The 17 HMR is a far more accurate round, but I prefer the WMR for hunting anything larger than squirrels.

Better bullets in the HMR and more accurate.

RDW: No question - go with the 17 HMR!
I have now killed three Coyotes with my 17 HMR's all with one shot apiece!
I have also killed Wild Turkey, Badgers, Fox, large Rock Chucks and large Porcupines with the 17 HMR along with all manor of smaller game and Varmints.
I have used 22 Magnums in all varieties for decades and began using the 17 HMR in 2,003 - the 17 HMR is more lethal and more accurate for me.
Plus the trajectory is better in the 17 HMR out to the ranges I shoot Ground Squirrels and prairie Dogs with them anyway.
The 17 HMR (A17!) is a VERY impressive rimfire cartridge!
Try one I am sure you'll like it.
By the way how was the velocity of that A17 ammo?
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

17 HMR for me

I would not hesitate to go .17 HMR.




Dave

I like both.. Haven't shot the 17that much. Killed a big jack with it tonight.. Good job.. I didn't have mine for last years gopher shooting, but killed quite a few p. dogs with it.. I feel the 40 gr. 22mag has a bit more thump on dogs, but the 17 killed well.

I was leaning towards the HMR based on WMR availability. I am buying WMR as I find it but I bet buying a case of HMR would not be a problem today.

VG, not one of the three rounds registered on the chrony.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth.../1/Hang_fires_with_Hornady_17HMR_#UNREAD


Note that the ammo he used was about 5 yrs old.. IIRC, it was about then and for a time after that I had noted ignition issues with the .17 HMR.. Roughly 20% would FTF.

I'm hoping (but have zero knowledge of) that the manufacturers of the ammo have solved that problem..

I have owned a bunch or rifles chambered in both the 17 HMR and 22 WMR.

The 17 is definitely the more accurate of the two. It shoots flatter and bucks the wind better as well. The downside is the 17 is a bit much for edible small game and not nearly as a reliable killer for varmints much over 10 pounds. One time a groundhog or raccoon will drop like rock, the next time they shake it off and run. The 17 hmr is just about perfect for ground squirrels and prairie dogs though, I think.

The 22 mag is a shorter range proposition but anchors bigger varmints with more authority than the 17 out to 125 yards or so.

That pretty much sums it up

+2

Same experience here. For yotes a 40-50gr JHP beats a 17-20gr every time

RDW,

This is a side issue: I'm guessing is you were using an actual Shooting Chrony, and not using "chrony" as a generic term for chronograph, as so many do these days. Shooting Chronys are notorious for "missing" shots, especially with smaller calibers--one reason I haven't owned one in years. I cannot remember any of my other chronographs (including Oehler, ProChrono or Magnetospeed) missing a .17 caliber bullet.

One other thing about .17 HMR's: I've yet to encounter any ammo that wasn't accurate in my CZ, and the same is true of everybody else I know that owns any brand of .17 HMR. Not saying it can't happen, but the odds are low. This isn't true of .22 Magnums: Many only prefer a couple specific types of ammo, and those brands may not be the one you find. It took me quite a while to find a .22 Magnum rifle that shoots just about any ammunition reasonably accurately, but even then it doesn't shoot as well as my .17 HMR with ANY ammo.

My Annie .17 HMR is super accurate, CCI, TNT's shooting best. Even with other ammo it's still sub MOA, mostly near half MOA.

IME, the .22 WMR generally won't group with the .17 HMR. But, in my case, it's a .22 WMR "T" bolt against a 1717 Annie, probably not a level playing field.

The .17 HMR uses center fire type bullets, the .22 WMR uses rimfire type bullets. That may make a difference.

The .17 HMR wins on LR, the .22 WMR has more whallop on bigger critters. The .17 HMR with FMJ bullets, however, is a pretty good hog killer, better than one would think. You can get FMJ .22 WMR ammo, too. Haven't tried those on hogs, yet...

DF

It's a great little round for the gray fox here in Arizona.

Fun little jack rabbit gun too.


I've never had a single issue with a failure to fire.

Mule Deer, it's a Pro Chronograph and did begin to act up recently, something is loose inside, the case may be glued together and I have not had time to cut it apart to make the repair.

I will probably buy both with the HMR first picking up WMR ammo as it becomes available. The RAR is cheap and threaded, I have the money and love to shoot even if I don't have a lot of time.

I'm a huge .22 WMR guy. With that said, go with the .17 HMR. It's more fun.

Exactly. Since we don't have any little varmints like ground squirrels, gophers or prarie dogs here in the Norteast I didn't find the HMR terribly useful. Good for crows and that's about it.

Your experience is a mirror image of mine. The 17HMR is great for animals that are under 10+/- pounds or lightly constructed, like 'cats, while the 22MRF is (IMO) a better choice for larger animals because there are less fragile bullets available. The 40, 45, and 50 grain JSP/JHP bullets hold together and penetrate deeper than any of the plastic tipped or JHP 17HMR bullets that I've shot.

The only time that I use light, 30 grain VMax, bullets in my 22MRF is when I call cats in tight cover and use the Remington 597.

17 HMR ammo is alot more accessible around my parts then 22 WMR. I have a 17 HMR and newly acquired 17 WSM and would not give em up!!!

I agree with your post. I also feel for you guys that can't find 22WMR. It's very plentiful here. Can always find it at the LGS...

Was just in my LGS yesterday and the shelves were loaded with .22WMR ammo. Had a big stack of Hornady 30 gr. V-Max, CCI Maxi-Mag 40 gr HP, Maxi-Mag +V 30 gr.HP and Hornady critical defense 45 gr.. Also a bunch of the 200 rd boxes of CCI A-22.

.17HMR for me also. Shot a couple hundred Jack Rabbits with my CZ 455 this winter (so far) probably that many Rock Chucks last spring and summer also. Ammo is a little spendy (same or less than a .22 mag) but still about $0.22/round. Worth it when shooting vermin, little spendy for punching paper.

The rimfire eagle took a big schit and hopefully it's enough to bring things back to normal.

But in the meantime, the .17 HMR and 22LR are a hot commodity. The .22WMR, not so much.


Dave

I approached this from a different angle. I rebarreled an Anschutz 1434 to .17 Ackley Hornet 20 years ago (before there was an HMR) and found it to be great for coyotes I had called close, if I got good shot placement. It kills them, and well at times, but not enough umph at longer ranges for my taste. So I already knew the 17 HMR would be a rabbit and squirrel gun when I bought one. And it's great at that. Really great.

The 22 mag is better for coyotes IMO. I'm sure someone will want to argue about it, but that's where it's at for me. Love them both, for different reasons.

For pigs the 22 wmr gets my nod consistantly. I do admire the 17 WSM though but in the end owning 3k rounds of 22 wmr it just doesn't make sense.

This 140lb boar was dropped with one pop to the cabeza at 85 yards last week. CCI FMJ 40 grains is hard to beat for penetrating thick skull. Buddy runs the HMR and has had several run off with chunks of head mead flopping from the frangibles. Doesn't happen with the WMR.

Having both, I have some 22 Mag rifles I've had for going on 40 years now.. use to be one of my favorite rounds...

I probably hold onto the rifles because they mean something to me.. not due to the love of the 22 Mag cartridge anymore...

I've replace Rimfire Mag use to the 17 version...

and if I need 22 Mag velocities, with a 22 caliber.... I load up one of my lightweight 223s to those speeds and specs, with the bullet of my choice...for about the price of a 22 Mag round...

and as referenced above, if I still could use the 22 Mag with a box of rounds for $5.99 still, the 40 grain FMJ, or HP.. I'd still be shooting those two 22 Mag rifles a lot..

but that ship has sadly sailed...

I've sold my .223s (too mundane and common) and use a .22 Hornet, which is even cheaper to load for. I use those Midsouth 34gr. HPs and load them mildly, which ain't much different than the WMR, and in my case, shoots better than my WMR, too. My 455 WMR barrel doesn't really excite me in any way.

I own 3 rifles and 2 pistols in 22 Mag. No 17's of any kind. Probably want change a thing. 22 Mag has worked extremely well on hogs and smaller for years for me. Best rifle I ever had , when you run into a covey of hogs or coyotes was a Brno 611. Hasbeen

I have a very early Marlin HMR that I flat-out love, it shoots like a sumbuck. Regularly shoots 5/8" groups at 100 yards, not once-in-awhile, regularly. With a good lot of ammo, they are even better.

The WMR barrel I have in a CZ455, with it's best ammo (Hornady 30gr. VMax) can't hold a candle to it, but for some uses, I can understand that the WMR might be a bit better, on bigger vermin, for example.

Still, everything I've shot at, with that Marlin, died. You might try one, just for giggles, I had no idea how much fun they could be until I tried one.

I have one of those Marlins too. It almost feels like I'm cheating, the thing is so accurate. Haven't shot it over 100 yards, just have no need to, where I hunt. Sure would like to see how it does at 200. If I do my part, it will darn near shoot one hole 5 shot groups at 50. Incredible.

They shoot great, even at 200 yards, but they run out of gas pretty fast once you get past about 175. I've shot ONE prairie dog at 250 yards, he tipped over and kicked around for a good long while.
Even a prairie dog deserves better than that, so I decided to keep the distances for shots with the HMR below 200 yards.
MY WMR would be lucky to even hit a prairie dog at 150 yards, though no doubt it would kill a fuzz better, IF I hit it.
I think I'll just use that Hornet I mentioned earlier, though, OR my .17 Hornet, which has velocity, punch, and accuracy all in one package, that kicks like those WMRs.........

just as an FYI....

I tested my old Marlin 25MN years ago from 100 to 200 yds in 25 yd increments...using a basic Leupold 4 Power with a dot reticle...and CCI 40 gr FMJs

the target was a prairie dog silhouette on a 8.5 x 14 sheet of copy paper...

anyway, it was real predictable out to 200... at least on a prairie dog silhouette...

zeroed at 100 yds, raise your zero 2 inches every 25 yds, right out to 200...

so up 2 for 125 yds, 4 for 150 yds, 6 for 175 and 8 for 200...

was dropping them right in there, that if it had been in the field, I am certain each would have been a kill shot...


Ran that 220 Mag Marlin as a truck gun for 30 years...

dispatched about a dozen deer over that time period that had been hit by cars in rural areas... usually out in a field off the road and in shock...

bullet right between the eyes and dropped them like a sack of potatoes....from 50 out to about 150 yds... worked every time, first shot...

Doubt if a 17 Mag would have done that well...

Depends on what you're shooting and how far away. I've had both. I'd be very happy with an accurate rifle chambered for either.

Definitely for the smaller fuzzies, the extra speed / flatter trajectory / typically better accuracy of the HMR are all advantages. Ammo availability still favors the HMR.

For things a little bigger than a jackrabbit, the extra weight of a .22 mag bullet is an advantage though the trajectory points towards reducing the range a bit.

It's possible that for things the HMR won't handle very well, a step up to a centerfire is called for rather than .22 magnum though I'm awfully fond of .22 magnum.

Tom

The last few weeks I have taken the RAR Compact 22LR to the range while shooting centerfires at 100-200, it is accurate and so much fun suppressed. This past Saturday after the range trip I was in Academy and the shelf was loaded with WMR ammo, I got back in the truck and called the local shop and ordered a Compact WMR, It should be in today or tomorrow so I will have a new toy for the weekend and a reason to stock up on ammo.