.22Mag vs .17 hmr

[waterninja]

If you had a choice betweet a .22 mag rimfire and a .17 hmr which would you choose? Un till recently I didn't even know that you could get a rimfire in anythng other then your standard .22.
What I want is the rifle that has the best accuarcy and stopping power at longer distances, say 250-300 yds. I know there are a lot of things ot consider which is why I am asking the real experts before I talk ti the fellow at the gun counter (yes I realise there are some very knowledgeable
people working at gun counteres).
Bottom line is that I will be going on a turkey hunt in april and i want the best rimfire rifle that will take out that shy goobler, coyote or wolf at 250 yds or better.

[MOAhunter]

I barely ever shoot my 22LRs much anymore because I enjoy shooting my 17HMR so much.
IMO and experience the HMR and WMR lose so much energy beyond 200 yards and are affected by wind so much I don't even bother with shots beyond 200 yards on small game.
Unless you have gobs of time to analyze trajectory and wind doping, you'd be better served by a light centerfire varmint caliber.
No doubt 250 yards on a turkey is doable with an HMR, but it sure wouldn't be my first choice.

Are you troll baiting? How does a guy with 10'000 plus posts not know that trying to shoot any sort of dog with the above mentioned calibers beyond 100 yards goes into an ethics issue.

[FishOutOfWater]

I think you'll find that neither of those calibers are sufficient for putting down anything bigger than a gopher at more than 200 yards.
And if you can hit a gopher at 200yds with a rimfire, you're doing pretty good. It's just not enough kinetic energy for coyotes/wolves at 250-300.
At 200yds, the .22mag 30gr Hornady Vmax is traveling at 1002 fps with 67 ft/lbs of energy left. It left the muzzle (of a 24" test barrel) @ 2200 fps & 322 ft/lbs.

Their 17HMR isn't much better,

muzzle=2375fps/250ft/lbs
@100yds=1776fps/140ft/lbs
@200yds=1304fps/75ft/lbs.

http://www.hornady.com/store/22-WMR-30gr-VMAX/

http://www.hornady.com/store/17hmr-20gr-hp-xtp-box/

The 17WSM may be your only saving grace, for a 200yd-plus coyote rimfire round. Hornadys ammo is travelling at 2040fps with 184ft/lbs of energy @ 200yds.

[southernman]

I have both the .22 mag and .17 Hmr, have owned a .22mag for three decades, shoot thousands of small game, and a few deer, goats and pigs, (Not in Canada) with in sensible ranges, and with heavy for cal bullets(50g federal softpoint) the .22 mag, can be used for lightly built, game animals at close range,

The .17 is more accurate, shoots flatter and is less affected buy wind, it's really only a small game round, I have been very happy, with one on gophers, but find it lacking on rabbits, possums, turkeys and hares, it's doesn't have enough bullet weight, to full penrtertae a 15-20 lb hare, when both the humble .22 and .22 mag will.

Really depends on what your using it for, I take a .17 Hmr for gophers any day of the week, over both the .22 and .22 mag.
But I would have a .22 mag, if game like, hares, fox, rabbits, feral cats, coyotes or beavers are likely.

Personal choice, neither are better that the other, each has its own strength, and weakness, I would check ammo price and aviablity, as both these rounds, have been spotty in supply, the last few years.

[trackrig]

A coyote or wolf at 200+ yards with a .22 mag or .17 - you're dreaming, wake up.

Bill

[elkhunter11]

Shooting at coyotes at 250 yards with a 17hmr or 22mag would be stretching things beyond reason, but shooting at a wolf at 250 yards with a 17hmr or 22mag would be nothing short of stupidity. I also wouldn't feel comfortable shooting at a turkey at 300 yards with either of those cartridges.

[wally338]

17 HMR hands down. 1727f is my preferred 17hmr

[waterninja]

Originally Posted by MOAhunter

I barely ever shoot my 22LRs much anymore because I enjoy shooting my 17HMR so much.
IMO and experience the HMR and WMR lose so much energy beyond 200 yards and are affected by wind so much I don't even bother with shots beyond 200 yards on small game.
Unless you have gobs of time to analyze trajectory and wind doping, you'd be better served by a light centerfire varmint caliber.
No doubt 250 yards on a turkey is doable with an HMR, but it sure wouldn't be my first choice.

Are you troll baiting? How does a guy with 10'000 plus posts not know that trying to shoot any sort of dog with the above mentioned calibers beyond 100 yards goes into an ethics issue.

Not trolling at all. You are only allowed a rimfire rifle to hunt Turkey's where I will be in April. I want the one that has the best accuarcy at 200 yds or more.Turkey heads are not that big.
As for the dogs, They are ussualy seen at closer range's but I've shot a nunber of Coyotes at 50-60 yds with a .22, so I just figured a larger round like the .22 mag, or the .17 would do the job at 150-200 yds.
Quite honestly it's the Turkey I'm really after, and thats the advice I'm really after. Iv'e shot Grouse in the head at around 50 yds, but thats about the limit I wuould feel comfortable with. With a good scope and some practice I should be able to shoot a turkey in the head at 200-250Yds? And if a Wolf Or Coyote steps out of a cutline at 100 yds, you know the crosshairs will be on his fore head.

[mgvande]

If I was to do it again I would buy the 22 mag and not the 17 hmr. If I was going into the market for either in the present I would go 223 Rem as the rim fire ammo is in the same price range.

[waterninja]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Shooting at coyotes at 250 yards with a 17hmr or 22mag would be stretching things beyond reason, but shooting at a wolf at 250 yards with a 17hmr or 22mag would be nothing short of stupidity. I also wouldn't feel comfortable shooting at a turkey at 300 yards with either of those cartridges.

And this is exactly why I asked about both of these rifles on this forum. I didn't even know they made other rimfires besides the trusty .22. I expect rude comments from 11, though if a .17 or .22 is stretching it for a coyote, it would be the same stretch for a wolf. Anyways, it's unlikely I would attempt either shot on a dog, but would a .17 have the reach for a Turkey? The more I think about it, the more I think that a 200 yds. shot would probably be about as far as I would be shooting. Heck, I have to wear these stupid dollar store glasses just to type on my computer.
I'm really leanng towards the .17

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by waterninja

And this is exactly why I asked about both of these rifles on this forum. I didn't even know they made other rimfires besides the trusty .22. I expect rude comments from 11, though if a .17 or .22 is stretching it for a coyote, it would be the same stretch for a wolf. Anyways, it's unlikely I would attempt either shot on a dog, but would a .17 have the reach for a Turkey? The more I think about it, the more I think that a 200 yds. shot would probably be about as far as I would be shooting
I'm really leanng towards the .17

A wolf is considerably larger than a coyote, so it is more of a stretch for a wolf.

[waterninja]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

A wolf is considerably larger than a coyote, so it is more of a stretch for a wolf.

AHHHHHHHHHHH But a head or heart shot should be easier to make. Doesn,t matter, at 300 yds I probably couldn't tell if it was wild or someones farm dog. lol But a bearded Turkey would raise my heart rate. I would have to give it a try, but would the caliber be enough?

[north american hunter]

I wouldnt use a 17 hmr or 22 mag on a wolf at all, maybe look at the 17 hornet, I know its a centerfire but a better opion than 17 hmr for coyote and turkey. still not for wolf though.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by waterninja

AHHHHHHHHHHH But a head or heart shot should be easier to make. Doesn,t matter, at 300 yds I probably couldn't tell if it was wild or someones farm dog. lol But a bearded Turkey would raise my heart rate. I would have to give it a try, but would the caliber be enough?

Comparing a coyote to a wolf is like comparing a deer to an elk. A cartridge that is borderline for the smaller animal, is a poor choice for the larger animal. The larger animal has a larger vital zone, but the ribs and shoulders are larger, and the skull is likely thicker as well.

[mgvande]

I would not use a 17 hmr on a wolf ever. A 22mag would be a 50yrd Max on a wolf in my opinion. But no one listens to me.

[waterninja]

Originally Posted by mgvande

I would not use a 17 hmr on a wolf ever. A 22mag would be a 50yrd Max on a wolf in my opinion. But no one listens to me.

Believe me, I am listening. my biggest mistake was mentioning the wolf . I only threw that in there because as a non-resident I am only allowed to hunt a bearded Turkey, grouse, coyote or wolf. Not sure about rabbit.
Another thing that became important to me was the fact that I could use a rim fired rifle. Thats when I found out about the .17 and the.22mag.
TURKEY is my priority. I have never shot one and already have plans for the DIY mount. If a Wolf crosses my path while I'm out stalking a Turkey you can bet I'll try my best to put him/her down.

[waterninja]

Originally Posted by wally338

17 HMR hands down. 1727f is my preferred 17hmr

Sending P.M.

[pikergolf]

I don't think any rimfire is minute of Turkey head at two or three hundred yards.

[waterninja]

Originally Posted by wally338

17 HMR hands down. 1727f is my preferred 17hmr

Sending pm

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by wally338

17 HMR hands down. 1727f is my preferred 17hmr

And for around $3500, it should be one of the best rifles in 17hmr.

[waterninja]

Originally Posted by mgvande

If I was to do it again I would buy the 22 mag and not the 17 hmr. If I was going into the market for either in the present I would go 223 Rem as the rim fire ammo is in the same price range.

I own a .223, but it is a centerfire.

[vcmm]

22 Mag.

[MOAhunter]

Originally Posted by waterninja

Not trolling at all. You are only allowed a rimfire rifle to hunt Turkey's where I will be in April. I want the one that has the best accuarcy at 200 yds or more.Turkey heads are not that big.
As for the dogs, They are ussualy seen at closer range's but I've shot a nunber of Coyotes at 50-60 yds with a .22, so I just figured a larger round like the .22 mag, or the .17 would do the job at 150-200 yds.
Quite honestly it's the Turkey I'm really after, and thats the advice I'm really after. Iv'e shot Grouse in the head at around 50 yds, but thats about the limit I wuould feel comfortable with. With a good scope and some practice I should be able to shoot a turkey in the head at 200-250Yds? And if a Wolf Or Coyote steps out of a cutline at 100 yds, you know the crosshairs will be on his fore head.

Given that only rimfire is allowed, I think most of us would take a 17HMR for turkey. 17WSM would be king in this instance but there is still a fairly limited choice of rifles chambered for this newer rimfire round, and I've yet to see shooting reports proving greater accuracy than 17HMR
Most of us seasoned gopher shooters can hit them out to 100 yards in 40km winds and with favourable shooting circumstances well beyond 100 happens regularly.
If you're an exceptional shot and there's no wind,a headshot turkey will fall at 200.
I'd just try to get closer myself, last a heard they're not as clever as mature WT bucks.

[waterninja]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

And for around $3500, it should be one of the best rifles in 17hmr.

3500.00 dollars??? My goodness. Guess the trusty .22lr will have to do the trick for me
And just to show you it can be done, perhaps I'll harvest a spring wolf with my trusty .22lr, though I'll check the regs on that first. My biggest concern about this entire trip is the very real possibility of meeting up wiyh a Grizzly. If he want's my Turkey, he'll get no arguments from me.

[roper1]

.22 Mag

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by waterninja

3500.00 dollars??? My goodness. Guess the trusty .22lr will have to do the trick for me
And just to show you it can be done, perhaps I'll harvest a spring wolf with my trusty .22lr, though I'll check the regs on that first. My biggest concern about this entire trip is the very real possibility of meeting up wiyh a Grizzly. If he want's my Turkey, he'll get no arguments from me.

Only centerfires can legally be used to hunt wolf in B.C..

[waterninja]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Only centerfires can legally be used to hunt wolf in B.C..

Thanks for that little tidbit. Theres always something. Now I'll have to carry 3 guns. lol

[1 eye]

If your looking at stopping power at 250-300 yards a rimfire is not a very good choice. Just my opinion.

[CNP]

I'm going for turkey in BC this spring too. Taking my extra full turkey choked 20 gauge.

Read this: http://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_17HMR_22WMR.htm

[bb356]

22 mag ... 0nly one I got ... Hundred yard's max on coyote's and wolve's ...