Yes, I know that .223 isn't rimfire, but it *is* a .22 caliber projectile, and one I'm considering
I've shot a .17HMR before (one of the guys at the range let me try his Savage 93R17 BTVS) and really liked the accuracy of the .17HMR round, it basically *vaporized* a baseball-sized apple (lots of fun, and nothing left to clean up, as it was pulverized by the round), I like the fact that the round tends to disintegrate once it hits the target, lessening the chances of ricochet, but I don't like how affected by wind the 17 and 20 grain bullets are, I would expect that the .17 caliber bullet also carries less kinetic energy into the target, based solely on the weight of the projectile itself, 17 grains is not going to transfer as much energy to the target as would 40 grains, I also am not a fan of the "high" price of ammo ($12-15 per box of 50 in my area, that price gets me within $5 of a brick of .22LR)
I had a .22LR Sporter but had to sell it when money got tight (extended unemployment sucks
, thankfully I have a full time job again now...), and I liked the gun, but I already have a couple nice .22LR rifles already (Marlin Model 25 which is an absolute tack-driver, and a 10/22 that shoots almost as well as the Marlin, it's also bone stock, amazingly enough) and really don't need another LR chambered gun, as the Marlin 25 eats whatever I feed it with no complaints, yes, even a mag with a random mix of S, L, and LR in it...
I've always considered the LR's "Bigger Brother", the .22 Mag, Dad has a Ruger Single Six that has both LR and Mag cylinders, and whenever I want to borrow it for a range trip, I can use it (Dad thinks he's "too old" to go shooting anymore
) so there's the advantage of ammo commonality there, ammo is also cheaper than .17HMR,and carries more mass to the target, "hitting harder", but from what I've read, the Mag has a "rainbow" trajectory when compared against the flat-shooting .17HMR, checking the ballistics table on Chuckhawks website, yes, the Mag has a curvier trajectory than the HMR, but nowhere near as bad as the LR, and since the maximum distance shot I'd feel comfortable taking is 100 yards (not too many long-range shots here in seacoastal Maine), that's well within the accurate trajectory of both Mag and HMR, in fact, at 100 yards, according to Chuck Hawks, the HMR would print 1.5" higher than POA, and the Mag would only print .5 above POA, since most of my shooting is done at 50 yards anyway, all three cartridges would do equally well
Then of course, the third variable, if I'm going to be shooting a hotter/faster .22 caliber bullet anyway, why not step up to the .223, it's flatter shooting than even the .17HMR, ammo is inexpensive, commonly available, *AND* the brass is reloadable, giving me plenty of bullet/powder options for working up powderpuff plinkers all the way to absolute screamers, problem is, I'd have to get another set of dies, stock some small rifle primers, and have yet another stash of bullets on hand
I like to try and keep my ammo/components supplies as common as possible...
I can use the same primers, powder, and bullets in both my .45 ACP and .45 Colt reloads (200Gr LSWC are my current favorites), so I only have to stock Large Pistol primers (Large Rifle primers work quite well when used in my BCC .45 Colt rifle) and can just vary what bullets i load into the primed cases
I'm getting into reloading for my 20 gauge (20G TDC), and I can also load for my 12G when I get around to it, and only need the 12G "dies" for my press and 12G wads, the primers and powder can be shared between them
at the moment, I only need to stock .22 rimfire ammo (a random mix of S, L, and LR, mostly LR, but a few boxes of CB Longs as well), if I went with .22 Mag or .17HMR, I'd have to add that caliber to the ammo stores as well, the advantage of rimfire is that I wouldn't need more reloading gear for it....
of the three, going .223 makes the most sense, so I tend to resist that, as it makes too much sense
, but there's something to be said for the simplicity of rimfire as well, no brass to worry about reloading....
So, between the two remaining options, for someone who mainly shoots at around 50Y with the occasional 100Y shots, which would be the better choice for Magnum Rimfire
