.17hmr vs. .22 magnum

[handirifle]

Keith L,

You got bad ammo or you need to have your crono checked.

Sorry, but the ammo(both boxes) was brand new Remington ammo that hadn't been in the store for more than a couple of weeks.  Blame it on the Remington ammo?   :?:   The velocity is an average that was taken from two different chronographs.  By the way I have my chronograph tested against others every few months.  I like to make sure it’s readings are accurate.  Lawdog
 

I just fired my Savage 93 heavy barrel for the first time yesterday AM using Federal Vshock 17's and CCI 20 Gamepoint ammo.  BOTH were well above published data and very accurate (one inch or less at 100yds).  The Federals were showing and AVERAGE 2740fps and the CCI's averaged 2540fps, checked about 8ft off the muzzle.  Some of the Federal rounds were over 2790fps.  This is the only ammo I have shot so far so I cannot speak about other brands.

I cannot speak for other guns but most folks at RimfireCentral are getting well above the published 2550.  Maybe they've stoked them up a bit since early releases?

[Keith L]

Maybe they've stoked them up a bit since early releases?

No, they have always been hot.  Some guys are intimidated by new rounds, and feel they have to defend what they own.  Sometimes this leads to funny numbers.

There is a place for both guys.  .22 mags are not going to dissapear, and neither are 17HMRs.  They are both neat, and we should be celebrating them, not trying to compete.

[Paul Mohr]

Well for one thing the 17 was not designed to be a penitration round. So it is no big suprise that a solid 22 LR or 22 mag will out penitrate it. Even the .22 hollow points are just a solid lead bullet with a little pin hole in them. However they do have an XTP and FMJ round out now for the .17.

The v-max's are made to explode on impact, especially with anything wet. The are designed to work of hydrostatic shock like a varmint bullet, not penitration.

However I did a test with a 3/4 inch piece of cherry at 100 yards. The v-max zipped right thru it and exploded a can of water on the other side. That is plenty of penitration for small game to me.

And almost everything I have read shows the HMR exceeding the listed specs, not being lower. This is in print and on various other forums and sites dedicated to varmint hunting and the 17's. Those sound like pistol speeds to me. I have heard a lot of complaints about the rugers though.

I don't own a 22 mag rifle so I can't comment on it. I have shot a few though and they were not nearly as accurate as the little 17 is. Personally if I was going to shoot anything bigger than a woodchuck I would get a .223.

I mostly target shoot with mine though.  I shot a nine shot group with mine. 3 rounds at 50 yards, 3 rounds at 75, and another 3 at 100. All nine rounds went in a hole a dime would cover! Now that is accurate and flat shooting in my opinion. And that with a 200 dollar heavy barreled savage. I do have a nice scope though with 20X and a parallex adjustment.

Paul

[Keith L]

I have a heavy barrel savage as well, with a BSA Sweet 17 scope and it is a shooter as well.  I also have a Contender carbine barrel with a 5-15 Bushnell Elite 3200 and a Super 14 pistol barrel with a 2-7 Burres and they all are shooters.

I have a 77-22 Ruger .22 mag, a Winchester 9422M and a Super 14 Contender barrel in .22 mag as well.  None are nearly as accurate, but do have more punch.  The 9422M is great for coon hunting, and I shoot some chucks with the 77-22.  But for yotes and such I really like my .204 Ruger Contender carbine.  It is like shooting a laser, and really drills them.