How loud are the 17 rimfires?

[silver]

Talking to a guy the other day about shooting gophers in an area where there are people around. I was thinking the 22 lr would be the best, maybe even go to the quiets or subsonics.

He was angling towards a 17 rimfire, probably the hmr. I don't have any experience with the cartridge, but I was wondering about the noise level. I was thinking the 17 hmr would be as loud as the small centerfires like a hornet or a bee.

Anyone?

[shooter12]

Its pretty loud, more like normal centerfire round.

[elkhunter11]

The 17mach 2 is a little louder than a 22lr, a 17hmr is significantly louder.

[Husty]

My 17hmr seems about as loud as my 22wmr.

[bobtodrick]

About the same as a .22WMR.
Which is to say...fairly loud. A couple years back I got to the range with my Savage WMR and had forgotten my ear pro. Figure since it was rimfire it wouldn't hurt to not wear them once. Proceeded to go through a box of ammo (50 rounds) with no ill effect.
I thought. When I got home I opened the front door and figured I'd forgot to set the alarm as it wasn't beeping. Then one of the kids asked if I was going to shut the alarm off.
I was lucky...a couple of days later everything back to normal.
Now always have a backup pair of ear pro in the back of the truck.

[Dean2]

The 17 HMR is a little louder than a 22 RF but at 200 yards you wold be hard pressed to tell the difference. The great advantage to the 17 HMR is it uses a very frangible bullet so you almost never get a ricochet. I much prefer the 17 HMR if there is livestock or buildings in the area. The 17 HMR are definitely no where near as loud as the centre fire 17 Hornet, and I have the 17 HMR, 17 Hornet and 17 FB.

The quietest of the centre fire rounds is the 22 Hornet and it also has the advantage that you almost never get ricochets. The Hornet is about the same noise factor as a 22 Mag rimfire.

22lr Subsonic 140.5 db. 22 High Velocity 149.2 db, 17HMR 156.1 db. 22WMR 155.7 db 18" barrel 22 Hornet 162.5 db 223 Rem 164.6 db 20" barrel

[sillyak]

Originally Posted by Dean2

The 17 HMR is a little louder than a 22 RF but at 200 yards you wold be hard pressed to tell the difference. The great advantage to the 17 HMR is it uses a very frangible bullet so you almost never get a ricochet. I much prefer the 17 HMR if there is livestock or buildings in the area. The 17 HMR are definitely no where near as loud as the centre fire 17 Hornet, and I have the 17 HMR, 17 Hornet and 17 FB.

The quietest of the centre fire rounds is the 22 Hornet and it also has the advantage that you almost never get ricochets. The Hornet is about the same noise factor as a 22 Mag rimfire.

22lr Subsonic 140.5 db. 22 High Velocity 149.2 db, 17HMR 156.1 db. 22WMR 155.7 db 18" barrel 22 Hornet 162.5 db 223 Rem 164.6 db 20" barrel

This. The much more frangible bullet is an asset in built up areas. It's definitely louder than a .22lr, but not near as loud as a .223.

[Flieguy]

17 hmr is similar to a target load from a long barrel shotgun

[pikergolf]

17HMR is quite a bit louder than a .22 Rimfire. We had permission to hunt gophers on a pasture close to cattle and told the landowner we would be using rimfires. His house was a good 3/4 of a mile away. Well a few shots with my .17 brought him out on his quad. After showing him the round and explaining the fraility of the .17 projectile he was good, but he certainly heard it from his breakfast table.

[HankBC]

I find they’re deceptively loud. Such a tiny cartridge shouldn’t make so much bang, but it does! Well worth it IMO


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[Groundhogger]

17HMR is definitely louder than 22LR, but I'd say nowhere near what centerfire like .223/.204 is. I'd also add that while the case is the same size as 22WMR, I don't find it to be AS loud as 22WMR. The 17s just have a different-sounding report overall, hard to describe...but I've always imagined that it's the result of so much gas blowing out such a small bore.

Anyhow, I'd venture a guess that anywhere you could use a 22...a 17HMR wouldn't really be shockingly different. 17HMR hits gophers like the hammer of Thor, good 22LR (high velocity HPs) are a close second...but 22 solids and 22 low-velocity rounds are not super effective. A hit will result in their demise, but it's seldom an instant result like HMR or my nasty 22LR hollow-points. Heck, even the sound of the impact is telling. An audible "slap"/"pop" sound.

Wait...what was the question..?

When I travel out to Alberta for gophers..I have both 22LR and 17HMR ammo on hand. 22 will out-number the 17 by at least 5-1, but allot of that has to do with economy.

[6.5 shooter]

My .17 HMR is reasonably quiet and more punch then the .22 CCI mini mags from my other varmint rifle.

At .40+ cents a round, I only use it once I get over 100 yds. or so but have far less walking wounded than with the .22 at .08 per round.

Love the .17 hornet,,, at nearly a $1.00 a round you have to aim small, miss small

They all serve a purpose, never had any complaints from the ranchers...but have had a few come check me out when using the .204 or .222....But if I warn them before hand that I will using the bigger center fires all is good.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by 6.5 shooter

My .17 HMR is reasonably quiet and more punch then the .22 CCI mini mags from my other varmint rifle.

At .40+ cents a round, I only use it once I get over 100 yds. or so but have far less walking wounded than with the .22 at .08 per round.

Love the .17 hornet,,, at nearly a $1.00 a round you have to aim small, miss small

They all serve a purpose, never had any complaints from the ranchers...but have had a few come check me out when using the .204 or .222....But if I warn them before hand that I will using the bigger center fires all is good.

I am loading the 17 Hornet for the same cost as 17HMR ammunition. It is well worth the loading time.

[6.5 shooter]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

I am loading the 17 Hornet for the same cost as 17HMR ammunition. It is well worth the loading time.

I load the 25 gr. bullet, H4198 I tried the 20gr. bullets but had to many walking wounded so switched.....Tried Lil Gun but don't like the smell or the quick pressure curve, but it did shoot well. (Hornady bullets).

I had some real issues with my first set of Hornady dies...had to have a machinist friend of mine build an expander ball die for me so I could seat the bullets with out crushing the necks....then the seater die stem bent like a willow in the wind.......Sent emails to Hornady.....nothing ...my local gun store sent the dies back....nothing...finally bought a set of RCBS off a friend and another set of Hornady off the internet....just in case..both seem to be working fine....but not sure I will EVER buy Hornady stuff ever again....other then bullets....I am not amused...

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by 6.5 shooter

I load the 25 gr. bullet, H4198 I tried the 20gr. bullets but had to many walking wounded so switched.....Tried Lil Gun but don't like the smell or the quick pressure curve, but it did shoot well. (Hornady bullets).

I had some real issues with my first set of Hornady dies...had to have a machinist friend of mine build an expander ball die for me so I could seat the bullets with out crushing the necks....then the seater die stem bent like a willow in the wind.......Sent emails to Hornady.....nothing ...my local gun store sent the dies back....nothing...finally bought a set of RCBS off a friend and another set of Hornady off the internet....just in case..both seem to be working fine....but not sure I will EVER buy Hornady stuff ever again....other then bullets....I am not amused...

I am using Lil Gun now, and it works well in my rifle, but I intend to try CFE-BLK next spring, as some people are seeing great results. As far as walking wounded are concerned, the OP is asking about ground squirrels, and even at over 200 yards, the 20 gr v-max blows them apart.

[6.5 shooter]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

I am using Lil Gun now, and it works well in my rifle, but I intend to try CFE-BLK next spring, as some people are seeing great results. As far as walking wounded are concerned, the OP is asking about ground squirrels, and even at over 200 yards, the 20 gr v-max blows them apart.

25's work better...prairie gophers

[YoteStopper]

CCI makes a sub-sonic fragmenting load for the .22 long rifle; having used them a fair bit out of a bolt .22 they are very quiet, literally quieter than a high power airgun. However, you do lose a bit of range and kill power with them due to the low FPS.

[coyoteman]

Originally Posted by Dean2

The 17 HMR is a little louder than a 22 RF but at 200 yards you wold be hard pressed to tell the difference. The great advantage to the 17 HMR is it uses a very frangible bullet so you almost never get a ricochet. I much prefer the 17 HMR if there is livestock or buildings in the area. The 17 HMR are definitely no where near as loud as the centre fire 17 Hornet, and I have the 17 HMR, 17 Hornet and 17 FB.

The quietest of the centre fire rounds is the 22 Hornet and it also has the advantage that you almost never get ricochets. The Hornet is about the same noise factor as a 22 Mag rimfire.

22lr Subsonic 140.5 db. 22 High Velocity 149.2 db, 17HMR 156.1 db. 22WMR 155.7 db 18" barrel 22 Hornet 162.5 db 223 Rem 164.6 db 20" barrel

the 17 super mag got a nice crack to it,the 17 hmr are costly, but deadly accurate with no wind,my bread and butter rd the 36gr lr the most cost effective,the hp,not so bad as the solid and much to often you hear them whineing across the prairie,dont seem to be any ill effect on the ears,
i have "reduced" the gopher pop on many farms just over 7000 this pass 2 years,i keep records for farmer compensation-----pro-line sports 550lr36ers
now under $40 if you want to stock up-----
"

[Digger1]

Depends a lot on barrel length.

[wolf308]

Super loud. About 27% louder than a 50 bmg with muzzy . Better wear earplugs under your earmuffs.

And only shoot at the most 12 rounds or you'll slowwwwwwwly go deaf