.17 magnum rimfire versus .22 magnum rimfire for hunting?

[His lordship.]

I initially had set this question in terms of longevity for all-around use on the rimfire forum.  The problem here is that the .22 magnum has been around since 1959 and lots of people have experience with it, while the .17 is so new, I have seen lots of activity on it with guns being bought.  Fortunately the ammo is now easier to get compared to just 6 months ago, I see it at the gunshows and the local gunshops, with some variety in loadings too!  I have heard of 2 guys who have used the .17 HMR to take a sizeable number of coyotes, and I have taken a crow, really tore it up on the exit wound at 90 yards using the .17 HMR!

Now that it is late August and some of us varmint hunters have seen some action, has anyone seen any difference between the .22 magnum and the .17 HMR?  Punching paper at 100 yards is a different story from use in the field.  The idea of having a flat shooting rifle cartridge is nice when you don't know the range, and the .22 magnum does have a trajectory drop in comparison to the .17.  Do you think that the .22 magnum will decline in popularity once the .17 gets more wide spread?

CCI has also come out with some really nice hypervelocity light bullet .22 LR cartridges that hit hard and have a flatter trajectory over the old 40 grain lead bullets, like the "Velociter" and "Quickshock", do you think this could delay people from getting into the more powerful rimfire cartridges?  

As a cartridge collector I see so many obsolete cartridges that have hit the dust over the years, and I believe it will take time to know for sure as the .17 HMR is new.  But with all the great reviews I have heard on the .17 HMR compared to the .22 magnum rimfire.  Has anyone had experiences with both where they could see a trend, taking into account similar range, animals hit, location hit, distance animal moved before dropping?  Do you find that you hit the target more with the .17 HMR, etc?  Likes/dislikes, etc?

Thanks

[KN]

I have to dissagree with cknight, After seeing how well and easily it knocks down prarie dogs at 200yds I gotta go with the 17HMR. Yes their expensive, but their just sooooo much fun.  KN

[jhm]

KN :  At about what weight would you guess a animal needed to be b-4 the 17 was a little light?  Do you feel it is better than the 22 mag. on coyote sized animals?   JIM

[KN]

I wouldn't think the 17HMR would be much good at all on coyote sized animals. Unless you were within 50yds or so. 17gr bullets are not designed for large animals. I hope no one thought I was advocating its use for coyotes. Its a small varment/rodent round. My comparison was geared more toward the 200yd usefullness of the cartrige compared to the 22mag. If I were hunting anything bigger than a coon I would take more gun. and if I were hunting coons at 200yds I would take a 223. I hope no on thinks I'm bashing the 22mag, I'm not. I just think for 200yd prairie dog sized animals the 17HMR is better. Just my $.02   KN

[redial]

I'm one of the big fans of the .17, but KN's absolutely right - nuttin' bigger'n skunks for me!

The 17 grain bullet only penetrates 2.5 - 3" in tissue, from what I've seen. Not enough for animals bigger than 10 lbs or so, certainly not for reliable coyote killing. A premier rat-smacker it surely is, but I'll pull something else off the rack for 'yotes.

Just my two cents.

Redial

[KN]

I don't get to do as much as I'd like. We don't have prairie dogs in missouri, gotta go about 8 hours northwest to get at them. But it's worth it at least once a year.  KN

[His lordship.]

I think you guys hit it on the nail, it is the size of the varmint that becomes the issue.  I originally bought the .17 HMR for some distance shooting in wooded areas (100-200 yards) on crows.  If my planned target was a coyote I would want my .223 or even my 30-06.  But I might consider a brain shot if the dog was sitting still and the range did not seem too far with the .17 HMR at hand.

If I had my .17 HMR rifle and saw a ground hog I would want to get inside of 100 yards and place the shot well, however, this comment reflects my ignorance on what the .17 HMR can do without first hand experience.  There is a guy on the web (I don't remember the address) who did some tests showing how powerful the .17 HMR is on wood blocks, etc., I was impressed.  If I do get some ground hogs at the above distance and find I have more room for a humane kill, then I might increase the range option.

[ddivers]

Yes their expensive, but their just sooooo much fun.

I just bought a NEF single shot, 22" bull barrel, black synthetic stock .17hmr for $155, brand new. I love it, especially at the price.