.22lr or a .17hmr to upgrade?

SkyScrapin

SkyScrapin

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#1
Right now I have both a Remington 597 .22lr and a Marlin bolt gun in .17hmr. I'm trying to figure out which one would be better for a trainer. If we disregard the price of ammo, which one would be a better option for up to 300 yards?

The 17 because it shoots flatter, or the .22 because it carries more momentum?

Any feedback helps.

SS

Edit: removed that the .22lr "bucks" the wind better. Meant to say it has a heavier bullet and <span style="text-decoration: underline">potentially</span> more knock down..
 
#2
Re: .22lr or a .17hmr to upgrade?

There was a thread on this recently. .22 does not buck wind better than the 17, in my experience. Especially for long range.

If it is a strict trainer, you want crappy ballistics because it will teach you to range and read wind better. If that is the case, my vote is for 22. If you are using it for hunting or anything else, you can get a 100 yard sub-MOA 17 for about $350.

My 22 outshoots my 17 out to 100 yards, then the superior ballistics of the 17 kick in... but I spent $1500 on that gun versus $350 for my Marlin 17 and $850 for my Annie 17. I buy Eley match for my 22LR, so ammo costs are comparable for me, but a lot of people are running cheaper 22 ammo, so the cost of feeding might be another consideration.
 
#5
Re: .22lr or a .17hmr to upgrade?

If you never intend on ever reloading ammo, or just want the king of rimfire cartridges then go the 17hmr.

It beats other performers hands down, however the only con when compared to the 22 rimfires, is the price of ammo.

If your a handloader, and arent too fussy on a rimfire or centre, i would go a centrefire and reload for it as its probably cheaper.

I love my 17hmr regardless
 
#7
Re: .22lr or a .17hmr to upgrade?

I didn't see the 200 yards part... the 22LR can't get there effectively. But the point of the trainer is to be able to turn a short range into a long range. 200 yards with a 22 is like 600-800 yards with a 308.
 
#8
#11
Re: .22lr or a .17hmr to upgrade?

Hehehe if its between a 22mag and a 17hmr then I would say the 17hmr wins hands down... small price difference aside, the hmr is just a good round

Put it this way, If Im not going into a shop with the intention of walking out with powder, primers or a new rifle... its with the intention of buying 17hmr ammo.

Once you use a 17hmr and stretch its legs out, and I mean really stretch them out, you will then look back at the other rimfires and see less in them besides obviously being cheaper to shoot.
 
#12
Re: .22lr or a .17hmr to upgrade?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: vman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Once you use a 17hmr and stretch its legs out, and I mean really stretch them out, you will then look back at the other rimfires and see less in them besides obviously being cheaper to shoot. </div></div>

Guess I know which route I'll be going. Thanks!

SS
 
#13
Re: .22lr or a .17hmr to upgrade?

If the purpose of a "trainer" is to train, I'd go for the .22. Its more arcuate trajectory will require better range estimation and more precise holdover.
 
#14
Re: .22lr or a .17hmr to upgrade?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SkyScrapin</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: vman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Once you use a 17hmr and stretch its legs out, and I mean really stretch them out, you will then look back at the other rimfires and see less in them besides obviously being cheaper to shoot. </div></div>

Guess I know which route I'll be going. Thanks!

SS </div></div>

That simply is how it goes. Trust me.
 
#15
#16
Re: .22lr or a .17hmr to upgrade?

the BSA has some nice features, however, from experience, i'll put money on it not holding a zero or returning to zero or greying up in about 2.5 years.

i don't have any first hand experience with the vortex, but alot of folks talk well of them.

i don't know why you would want to take the leopold off other than to put it on something else.

check out the mueller too, they see to have many of the same options as the bsa, and would even go with barska for the same options over bsa.
 
#17
Re: .22lr or a .17hmr to upgrade?

I'm taking the leupold off because it doesn't have external wind/elevation adjustments. I'd have to pull the caps off and use a coin to adjust. Are there any options for swapping it over to external adjustments? If no, I think I'll be going for a BSA/Vortex soon.

SS
 
#18
#19
Re: .22lr or a .17hmr to upgrade?

i have the hmr but i just ordered a 17mach2 i think for under 80 yards it will do just aswell as the hmr plus i got the magnum reaserch semi auto with the houge stock for the fun factor . the hmr i have is a savage 93 very accurate bolt gun
 
#20
Re: .22lr or a .17hmr to upgrade?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DFOOSKING</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For the cost of a cheap scope you can send your vx-3 into leupold and have them install either competition or Mark 4 style turrets. Just add an elevation turret or both. </div></div>

I hope your right. Monday, I'll give Leupold a call and see what they can do for me. If they can't do it, then I'll go with kentonindustries turrets.

A little update: I shot a crow at 150yards with the .17hmr. It was zero'd for 100yards. At 150, the bullet dropped about 1.5"... Needless to say, I WILL be upgrading the .17hmr.

Thanks for all the helps folks.
SS
 
#21
Re: .22lr or a .17hmr to upgrade?

Called Leupold today, they said they would put m1 turrets on my VX-3 3.5-10x40mm. $130 and a three week wait time. I'll have my optic in the mail tomorrow!

Just thought I'd say thanks to those of you that have given me pointers along the way. I'm stoked to get the optic back already and I haven't even shipped it off yet!

SS
 
#22
Re: .22lr or a .17hmr to upgrade?

for the 26-30 cents a round that 17HMR is i can nearly reload, if not, shoot a 223 as a trainer. hence the reason while despite its ballistic differences the 22LR is still my rimfire of choice

hell if money wasn't a object then we would all practice with 338 wouldn't we? the trainer serves a purpose and that is to cut costs and on average a decent box of 50 22lr round noses is 4-8 dollars verses 12-14
 
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