22 Mag vs 17 HMR....does anyone choose a 22 Mag anymore?

hh76 said:
Just bought a 22mag after considering both. My main reason was I already had a pistol chambered in 22m so I could avoid needing another caliber.

I watched a lot of videos and reviews, and the 22 seems to be accurate enough for my needs.
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This! PMR30 is my farm gun...it will kill a hog...always on my hip..2lbs 30rds....so naturally I picked up a A22mag. As far as ammo on my shelf....I will probably die before I shoot up my supply.
 
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Sccritterkiller said:
This! PMR30 is my farm gun...it will kill a hog...always on my hip..2lbs 30rds....so naturally I picked up a A22mag. As far as ammo on my shelf....I will probably die before I shoot up my supply.
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What are you shooting with the PMR30? I've found it's rather finicky with cycling various ammo. I've tried the 3 reccomended ones in the manual.
 
TSAMP said:
What are you shooting with the PMR30? I've found it's rather finicky with cycling various ammo. I've tried the 3 reccomended ones in the manual.
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Cci or winchester 40gr HP..it was little picky at first but after 500 or so rounds its fine...I have more issues keeping the front site on it than anything. Make sure the mag is loaded properly...thats usually the issue. Load from the rim window not the front or before it. You have to roll them in and then slide them the rest of the way back.
 
Buckhead said:
I have two .17 HMRs (CZ 452 Varming, Tikka T1x) and one .22 Mag (CZ 452 American). Have used both calibers extensively for hunting and pest control. While I enjoy using the .17 HMR, it definitely doesn't have the anchoring power of the .22 mag when using 35 grain or 40 grain bullets. On predators the 17 grain vmax bullets lack penetration and while 20 grain bullets are better, they still don't match the thump of the .22 mag. The .22 mag has a 100 ft pound energy advantage at the muzzle with superior penetration and expansion.

Attached is a photo of a coyote that I called in and shot with my CZ in .17 HMR. The coyote was hit in the boileroom at about 50 yards. When hit, it did a spin and ran about 75 yards and piled up. No exit, no blood trail, was lucky to recover. Typical result with the HMR, have also lost a couple. Using the .22 mag, they usually drop within sight if a good shot is made.

View attachment 584325
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Exact same rifle I used and results, only a single experience tho. Hence the thread. Mine is supremely accurate.
 
I own both and for me it's just whatever I'm feeling that day or is first in line in the safe. Both will do the job as long as I do my part, im kind of partial to my 17hmr just due to the fact that it's just got some trigger work but other than that I think either will do the job.
 
A positive for the 17 HMR that I haven't seen mentioned is ricochets. The 17gr bullets work great in more populated or flat areas. For me the 17 works great because I don't have to worry quite as much about out buildings and equipment. You really don't hear the "twang" of a ricochet compared to a 22 LR or mag.
 
I have a Savage A22 in 22 Mag. That I absolutely love. I bought the A22 because its semi auto. If ruger ever reintroduces the 10/22 22 mag I will go buy one the day it comes out. I dont own a 17 and dont have any plans to in the future as my 22 mag does everything i need it to. I typically use it for rabbit and squirrels but i would feel comfortable shooting a forest puppy with it under 100 yards. I use Speer TNT green lead free bullet (I'm in California) and that runs thru the rifle great and leaves great wound channels. Im getting 1-1.5 inch groups at 100 yards which is good enough for me with what im doing with it.
 
huntingislife said:
I have a Savage A22 in 22 Mag. That I absolutely love. I bought the A22 because its semi auto. If ruger ever reintroduces the 10/22 22 mag I will go buy one the day it comes out. I dont own a 17 and dont have any plans to in the future as my 22 mag does everything i need it to. I typically use it for rabbit and squirrels but i would feel comfortable shooting a forest puppy with it under 100 yards. I use Speer TNT green lead free bullet (I'm in California) and that runs thru the rifle great and leaves great wound channels. Im getting 1-1.5 inch groups at 100 yards which is good enough for me with what im doing with it.
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You say that now! .17 HMR is CRAZY accurate man!

When I first took my Savage 93R17 Heavy Barrel I bought on sale for $249 (in Commiefornia, mind you) I found a spent 12ga casing... set it on a log.... paced off 80yds LRF'd, and with the Kiwk Stix... proceeded to hit it first try!

That thing is flat-out "Surgical" with the Hornady NTX 15.5gr!

And dig this! One time coming back to the vehicle, near last lite... there was a Rabbit like maybe 50-60yds out, had to take the shot standing freehand.... so decided to allow myself to aim more into body of the rabbit (Which you DON'T normally wanna do because it will make a MESS!) but since it was freehand, I needed a little more wiggle-room.

Anyway.. the shot entered jus below his diaphragm and LITERALLY... split him open... from the diaphragm downwards.. even splitting the pelvis apart! ... and gutted him... completely!!

Poor lil guy then was trying to drag himself away with his fronts. :*( so I had to hurry up and run over there to finish him.

But I share that story to convey how crazy the round is!
 
I have a marlin bolt action heavy barrel 17 hmr that rides in my truck nearly year round. It is beat up, surface rust, dusty, dirty basically just a truck gun. It has killed close to 100 pigs, 5 or 6 Coyotes, several dozen armadillos, a few skunks and several crows. I bought it for a good deal 6 or 7 years ago and it's been a truck gun since day 1. My 22 mag does seem to hit animals harder than the 17hmr but my 22 mag won't ride around like my 17 😂 my brother is a die hard 22 mag guy and loves all of his.
 
I’ve got a Volquartsen Lightweight in 22mag that I adore. I like to shoot it 50-300yds and in my experience it just does better in the wind.
 
hrhunter said:
I would give the accuracy advantage to the 17 HMR based on my experience.
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No denying that, as long as it isn’t windy the 17 is awesome.


Also, you HMR guys should check out 17WSM, now THAT is the king, especially when you can find the ammo. My shop recently had 40 boxes of brand new production 25gr 17WSM.. kinda wish I bought a bunch of it and rifle for it.
 
Vortex just released a podcast (and a video on YouTube) comparing the two with multiple parameters, including ballistics gel. It’s worth the listen.
 
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