17hmr or 22lr??

crunchiespg · #1 02-14-2008, 04:58 PM

im thinking of getting a CZ452 American.
but i cant decide on 22lr or 17hmr..

i already have an old marlin .22lr and dont plan on buying many rifles. i only want one more rimfire and then an Accuracy international AW in .308 for long range target stuff.. and thats it. i wont be shooting deer or anything like that. (plus the AI is going to cost me so much i cant/wont spend anymore on others!)

the only things other than targets i will be shooting are gophers.

so the 17hmr appeals as its a nice accurate gun to improve my target shooting leading up to the AI .308. but a .22lr is nice as the ammo is so cheap..

my marlin is an OK shooter, about 1 inch groups at 50m with a bipod.. but i definately want another rimfire so my dad or wife can shoot the marlin with me when getting gophers.

so what do you suggest? i could shoot a .22lr all day for the price of 50 rounds for the 17hmr. and the 22 CZ's are so accurate i could still do some good shooting... but maybe the 17hmr will be good to shoot up to say 150m to improve my shooting a lot more than the 22.... and then use the marlin for plinking?? am i silly wanting another 22? my concern is i end up liking the CZ a lot more than my marlin, and then having to spend loads on ammo if i got a 17hmr, cos i no longer want to shoot the marlin much..

help me in my dilemma! thanks!
whichever i buy im going to mount a Schmidt Bender 6x42 on it.

TheClash · #2 02-14-2008, 05:05 PM

if you are going to shoot it a lot...i mean a lot....and price gets to be a concern....hard to beat the .22lr....but...that .17 is a fuuuuun gun to shoot. it absolutely destroys gophers...but it is pricey. but if it isn't going to be your "everyday" gun...and you want to mix it up....the .17 is a blast (pun intended)

mud slug · #3 02-14-2008, 05:14 PM

i picked up a marlin 17HMR last month, its a fun little rifle 200yard shots are no problem. cann't wait to ty it on gophers this summer.

270dale · #4 02-14-2008, 06:48 PM

The 17 hrm is fun to shoot . I have both 17 and 22lr. But at 15$ pre 50 shells it is a little costly .BUT IT WILL EXPLODE Gofers . If you want to play you have to pay

Versatile · #5 02-14-2008, 08:27 PM

My theory is for 17 dollars you can buy 50 rounds of UMC 223 ammo so why not just shoot 223? You get 3 or 4 times the range and knockdown power than a 17hmr and its darn near the same price to shoot.

IMO I would buy another 22 and a 223 later on if you wanted a long range gopher plinker.

roger · #6 02-14-2008, 08:38 PM

17hmr 17hmr 17hmr 17hmr 17hmr 17hmr
17hmr 17hmr 17hmr 17hmr 17hmr 17hmr
17hmr 17hmr 17hmr 17hmr 17hmr 17hmr
17hmr 17hmr 17hmr 17hmr 17hmr 17hmr
17hmr 17hmr 17hmr 17hmr 17hmr 17hmr
17hmr 17hmr 17hmr 17hmr 17hmr 17hmr
17hmr 17hmr 17hmr 17hmr 17hmr 17hmr
its the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

CiscoStu · #7 02-14-2008, 09:03 PM

I totally agree with Roger... I have the CZ452 in a Varmint barrel, and it's a load of fun.

I am also going to go .308 for long-distance target stuff, and deer, but love shooting the hmr into 2" groups from 120 yards. That 2" is slowly getting smaller as I figure out which ammo it likes to eat.

sako1 · #8 02-14-2008, 11:40 PM

x10 on the 17hmr!!!!!!!!!!!
speed and accuracy are incredible for somthing that is so quiet!!

Okotokian · #9 02-15-2008, 10:39 AM

Split the difference! I got a CZ in 22WMR.

From wikipedia:
Since the .22 WMR generally uses the same weight bullets as the .22 Long Rifle, it is generally used in similar situations. The 40 grain .22 WMR at 100 yards still retains the velocity of a .22 LR at the muzzle, which can provide improved penetration at all ranges, and more reliable expansion at longer ranges with expanding bullets.

If sighted in for maximum point blank range on a 3 inch high target, the 40 grain .22 WMR can reach ranges of nearly 125 yards. This makes the .22 WMR an effective short to medium range varmint rifle cartridge. The relatively quiet sound of firing and negligible recoil also make it a very pleasant rifle to shoot for extended periods of time. It is less expensive to shoot than its nearest competitiors, the centerfire .22 Hornet, the .17 HMR, and the new 5.7 x 28 mm.

Twisty · #10 02-15-2008, 12:14 PM

I have two CZ Varmints .17HMR and .22LR. I also have a 10-22 and an old Mossberg .22. I have a single shot Cooey .22 and a Savage .410/.22 O/U.
I don't find the CZ .22 to be any more accurate than the 10-22 and its hard to say how much more accurate it would be than your old Marlin. While the .17 is fun to shoot gophers with, for general plinking I seem to always go to one of the .22's.
For me it isn't a cost thing I just enjoy the challenge of the .22.
A good compromise might be a CZ in .17 MACH2. I am thinking of one in the 452 American.

crunchiespg · #11 02-16-2008, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twisty

I have two CZ Varmints .17HMR and .22LR. I also have a 10-22 and an old Mossberg .22. I have a single shot Cooey .22 and a Savage .410/.22 O/U.
I don't find the CZ .22 to be any more accurate than the 10-22 and its hard to say how much more accurate it would be than your old Marlin. While the .17 is fun to shoot gophers with, for general plinking I seem to always go to one of the .22's.
For me it isn't a cost thing I just enjoy the challenge of the .22.
A good compromise might be a CZ in .17 MACH2. I am thinking of one in the 452 American.

hmm, not keen on mach2 to be honest. ammo availability would be an issue then. and i feel its a pretty poor round. a 22 mag is a consideration, especially with the new 30 grain vmax rounds..

im surprised you dont find the CZ more accurate than your 10/22. the ones ive shot i have found to be super accurate, as have everyone ive spoken to about them who owns one.. i know they can be picky on ammo though.

TreeGuy · #12 02-16-2008, 11:42 PM

I'm with Oko on this one. I love my .22mag. I haven't shot a .17 yet, but will probably end up with one once I do..........ergo, I haven't shot one yet. The mag is a very accurate and lethal little weapon. I wish I could shoot it more.

Tree

SHORTMAG · #13 02-17-2008, 08:58 PM

Once I got my first 17hmr, and shot it ,I IMMEDIATELY sold ALL my .22's ! ! There is NO comparison whatsoever(IMHO).I bought a Savage / blued/heavy bbl/accutrigger...and for a hat, I put a bushnell 6-18x50. MAN, what a TACKDRIVER......It will DRILL the center of a skeet @ 100yds, 5 or 6 times WITHOUT BREAKING THE SKEET ! ! 1/4 inch aluminum plate...no problem.....looks like DRILL BIT HOLES @ 100 yds also.....2550 fps....dead on @ 100yds and STILL DEAD ON @ 155 yds....and only 4.5 inches low @ 200yds. I put 22 out of 25 shots into a 1 " shoot'n'see @ 100yds, with my first gun.......$115.00 for a brick of ammo(taxes in). I sold that one and bought the Savage Pepper/Laminate/Stainless, with the Accutrigger...It's a beautiful piece of wood.......I haven't played with this one enough YET to put 22 shots into an inch.....YET!!! 2 of my friends got the Stainles Savage, with the Thumbhole stock,Pepper Laminate....ALL GREAT shooters with an adjustable trigger TO BOOT! I think you'll be AWED when you shoot one and see what I'm Yakkin about....ps...Me thinks them "Prairie dogs" are gonna be in for some good ol "SLOBBER NOCKIN" !!! Best of Luck with your Dilemma.....KEVIN

nekred · #14 02-20-2008, 04:21 PM

.17 HMR all the way since you already have a .22

I have two of them and one is for sale. I bought a savage regular one and loved it, now I have another savege with the Bull Barrell nice stock and accutrigger. at 225 yards I can hit a 4x4 post all day long!.

It absolutely destroys gophers and is awesome on yotes!.

crunchiespg · #15 02-21-2008, 08:07 AM

wel, after a lot of thought and research im going to get a CZ 452 American in 22lr. and then a CZ 527 in .223...

ive discounted the 17hmr, it is neither cheap enough to shoot all day, nor is it that long range..

i can buy .223 ammo for the same price as 17hmr. and i can reload it in the future. and the .223 will have 3x the range..

nekred · #16 02-21-2008, 08:26 AM

The advantage of a .17 is that it is a rimfire and can be used in rimfire zones!.... which is why I have one!

Good choices though.

My advice would be to try a .17 and see what you think!... You may be pleasantly surprised by the reach on a gopher!....

crunchiespg · #17 02-21-2008, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nekred

The advantage of a .17 is that it is a rimfire and can be used in rimfire zones!.... which is why I have one!

Good choices though.

My advice would be to try a .17 and see what you think!... You may be pleasantly surprised by the reach on a gopher!....

whats a rimfire zone? never heard of such a thing, so i cant see if affecting me.. everywhere near my place people use CF rifles.

and its not really the gophers im bothered about. as its easy to get well within 100m of a gopher.. more the long range target stuff. see i want a practice rifle for when i get my AI.308, so ive got something cheaper to shoot but still able to go a fair distance out... and i also want a good accurate cheap all day shooter, which the CZ in .22 will do nicely..

Versatile · #18 02-21-2008, 09:20 AM

Good choice exactly why I dont own one. If you want a 17 Remington just brought out the 17 Remington Fireball lastyear and its getting good results. Coyotes inside 300 and gophers inside 500.

willy · #19 02-21-2008, 09:27 AM

I would say you need both .17 fun but expensive have a cz 452 american used it lots 1st year now kinda back to the 22lr because of cost and the number of ground squirrels we have to thin out. Hope to get a new 22lr this spring probly another cz or browning.

Deki10 · #20 02-21-2008, 02:09 PM

here in Calgary there has not been a lot of .223 ammo kicking around since the military had demanded most of the production so i have heard!

CiscoStu · #21 02-23-2008, 10:28 AM

Deki10 - I thought so too, until I asked around - Wholesale, Russell, ProLine.* They all have lots.* I think the things that are hard to find right now are the actual bullets and brass if you are a reloader.

crunchiespg · #22 02-23-2008, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deki10

here in Calgary there has not been a lot of .223 ammo kicking around since the military had demanded most of the production so i have heard!

yes there is plenty. Can tire on mcleod has lots, as does WSS..

shelves full of the stuff...

is .223 slightly different to 5.56 anyway? different necking or something?