Newbe has rimfire fever

[mrlizzzard]

I'm a new Handiholic and I want to buy a rmfire Handi other than 22LR.Of all the rimfires 17's,22 cal.,which provides most accuracy,range and economy of shooting,with the longest punch?
thx so much,
lizzzard

[quickdtoo]

This is a much debated topic at RFC. My take on it is some 22mags are as accurate or almost as accurate as 17hmrs, but that can take a lot of ammo to produce results to find a round that shoots as good in a particular rifle and some it just won't happen. The 17hmr with the 20gr XTP or Gamepoint rounds will provide almost the same energy and more at longer ranges than the 22Mag, yet deliver better accuracy and flatter trajectory at those ranges. Here are just a few of the threads at RFC ....

http://rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85455

http://rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84273

http://rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85560

[Leftoverdj]

My take is that the effective range of both the .17 HMR and the .22 WMR is about 150 yards. Past that the .17 has too little energy and the Mag is dropping too rapidly. The .17 might have a slight accuracy advantage but a Mag will still shoot within 2" at 150 yards with ammo it likes. That's good enough since that is the max effective range.

The big advantage of the Mag is for stuff you are gonna eat. There is good small game ammo for the mag, but none for the .17.