I have and shoot both the HMR and .17 Hornet. Mule Deer is spot on with his info as usual. For your intended purpose of light carry-around for winged predators and pigeon, you'd like the HMR. My son keeps one handy to keep starlings and sparrows away from his purple martin colony. Every HMR gun I've shot has been incredibly accurate once you find the right factory ammo. Miy Savage, for example, is deadly with 20 gr. loads but not so much with 17 gr loads. Others I've shot have been just the opposite.
Hearing protection is recommended because they do have a crack to them.
Another good option if you reload is to buy the lighter CZ as Ingwe suggested and download it to HMR velocities. Great excuse to buy another quality gun. 😀
