Re: 17 mach2 or 17 HMR
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Greg Langelius *</div><div class="ubbcode-body">17HMR and 17HM2, (as well as .22HMR), are expensive attempts to make the .22LR into something it never really needed to be.</div></div>
Maybe you meant to make a 22WMR into something it never intended to be?
I have heard the .223 reloaded being comparable in ammo cost to the 17 HMR. True. The advantage of the 17 HMR is low startup costs. $300 for the gun $300 for the scope, go to Wal-mart and buy a box of ammo for $13 and you are ready to go.
Reloading is another argument. Get your gun and your scope. Now buy bullets. Now buy brass. Now buy primers. Now buy gunpowder. Buy them all in bulk to bring the cost per shot down. Oh... and now buy a press, dies, tumbler, chamferer, charger, etc, etc, etc. Now read at least 3 books on reloading, seek advice. 6 months and over a grand later you are ready to start saving money.
For someone who wanted to go buy a gun and go plinking or varmint hunting, the 17HMR is a very cheap way to get in the game. It is accurate at ranges that the 22LR cant get to. Off-the-shelf centerfires are still more expensive than a box of 17HMR shells.
Based on the OP's comments, it did not really sound like he was interested in reloading for his son's gun. I might be mistaken.
If you are already in the reloading game, adding a .223 to the collection is not tough. In that case, sure, sub out some of the center-fire 22 variants for HMR. If you are interesting at getting sub-MOA out of the box at 100 yards and an effective range of 250 - 300 yards for $300 and aren't really interested in reloading for it, I am trying to figure out how it is deficient.
Don't get me wrong. I have a .22LR and love to shoot it. I also have a 17HMR and love to shoot it. Apart from being ignited by striking the rim, there is not a lot that these two cartridges share in common. It is like comparing 308WIN to 338LM. Different cartridges for different purposes. Go beyond 1,000 yards and my money is on 338LM. Below that, 308 holds its own.