.22 Magnum. Is it in its' last days or not?

[.308 Win.]

The local gunshop owners tell me the .17 HMR has nearly put the last nail in the coffin of the .22 Winchester Mag.  I have read less than rave reviews about the .17 needing follow-up shots on rabbits and similar game.  I like the .22 WMR and the 40 grain bullets but I have concerns if what I have been told about its' demise is true or not.  If it is, will ammo. be available for years to come?  Also, I have never been able to find a rifle so chambered that is as accurate as it needs to be, given the small nature of game for which it is intended.   Any thoughts would be appreciated.   

[quickdtoo]

Dunno, but Cabelas carries no 22mag ammo in their catalog or online, but I think they still carry it in their stores, FWIW.

I've never needed a follow up shot on gray diggers with a 17hmr, in fact, the longest distance I've shot one was 158yds, it blew a quarter sized hole out on exit. At 100yds, it doesn't cause red mist like a center varmint rifle, but it tears em up good. Most tree squirrel hunters don't like em cuz they ruin too much meat unless they make head shots only.

Tim

[myarmor]

Last days for the 22Mag? I personally don't think so. There are too many out there and too many being manufactured. The best thing for 22Mag shooters I believe was the introduction of the little 17's. As all the 22WMR ammo I have seen has gone down in price. But phased out? I don't believe that will happen. It's just another tool for hunting.

[.308 Win.]

I've never owned anything in the HMR line but it just seems to me that a 17 grain bullet wouldn't be all that devastating.  I like to hunt tree squirrels and I like to shoot them in the head.  Have the Sportsters got a good reputation for accuracy in the .22 Mag.?

[EVOC ONE]

Mine shoots very well at 100 yds.  It will keep each shot in the ten ring ring using a variety of ammo.  Currently it is zeroed with Winchester Dynapoints. They are usually the least expensive ammo I can find.  I've tried Winchester Supreme and CCI Maxi Mag's.  Each performed as well as the other.

EVOC ONE

[jack19512]

I've never owned anything in the HMR line but it just seems to me that a 17 grain bullet wouldn't be all that devastating. 

Oh yea, just ask this rabbit what hit him.  17 HMR at a little over 100 yards.

[myarmor]

I've never owned anything in the HMR line but it just seems to me that a 17 grain bullet wouldn't be all that devastating........

Thats what I use to think before I began using one. I was really amazed how destructive it can be thanks to the V-Max. Around the barn, It will disintegrate birds. And does a number on other small game as Jack just brought out. If you get a chance, try one out. You'll be surprised what it can do.

[Graybeard]

The .22 WMR will still be going strong when the .17 HMR is dead and forgotten.

[Piney]

I'm with Graybeard with that thought!

[hellacatcher]

there are way too many 22 mags out there for them to be forgotten.

[Victor3]

The .22 WMR will still be going strong when the .17 HMR is dead and forgotten.

 With all due respect, I don't agree.

 The 5mm RRM was the answer to a question that had not really been asked (By many) at the time it was introduced and just didn't catch on. IMO, it was not marketed (Or maybe not "hyped" some woud say) properly. It was a good round though.

 The 17 HMR is here to stay, I believe. Enough "hype" (As well as real-world documented performance) has been accepted by many (Including myself), enough rifles by multiple manufacturers have been sold, and enough people love it. In other words, it has "stuck" now.

Some said that the .40 S&W would die in its infancy because it was so close to the ill-fated 10mm.

Didn't happen...

[jack19512]

The .22 WMR will still be going strong when the .17 HMR is dead and forgotten.

 With all due respect, I don't agree.

 
 The 17 HMR is here to stay, I believe. Enough "hype" (As well as real-world documented performance) has been accepted by many (Including myself), enough rifles by multiple manufacturers have been sold, and enough people love it. In other words, it has "stuck" now.

I agree.  I don't think either will be going anywhere.  I have a 22 mag and a 17 HMR and I like them both.  But if I had to give one of them up, and I hope I never have to,  it would be the 22 mag.

[RemingtonMagnum]

Time will tell. There are some ammo that has and will stand the test of time. Then you have the marketing curve. Some ammo will hit bottom but stand when the hype ammo has bottomed out in the market. Some ammo just holds on when the market drops.

I will keep one for sporting use while shooting Squirrel in the head. Love squirrel fried and in dumplings. That make me look at the 17 HMR differently. How long can and will Prairie Dogs shoots last before a band is placed on them? If the band is very long how will it affect/effect the 17 HMR?

I could have another 20 years shooting and using my rifles. As long as I am in the woods a 22 WMR will be cleaned and shot occasionally. Today I would trade my 17 HMR. But then that is just one opinion.

Don Jackson Remington Magnum/Ultramag

[Robert]

The 17 is certainly fun, but if I had to choose between them I would definately take the 22.  In my opinion, the only way they would stop offering 22Mag ammo or rifles is if the WORLD ENDED.  Your 'children's children will be using the 22 Mags.  The firearm industry might be fickle, but not THAT exteme.  They do not drop a popular cartidge just because Hornady comes out with a new 'NOVELTY'. Come on here....Let's get real.
  Hey 308 Win, have you tried the Marlin Bolt action in 22 WMR?  I believe it has the 'micro-groove' and they can usually be bought new for about 175 bucks.  The one that I had was an absolute tack-driver.

[Pecci]

Over the past few years, I've come to realize that many gunshop owners, know nothing.   They are stubburn in their ways. --- The 17HMR if anything has made the WMR more popular.  The owners that tell you these self- induced stories about the WMR's demise, are only shooting themselves in the foot.  If he isn't stocking any, he's not going to sell any.   They simply don't keep up on the industry.  A few months back, I asked an owner about the HM2.  He said, "it's a sissy round", and that he won't carry them.  How ignorant can one be.  Not only is he foolish not to carry it, he is also foolish for not knowing anything about it.  He could simply brush-up on it and actually help get this new cartridge off to a better start.  If he were smart, he would realize that if he sold these rifles and the ammo, his business would be benefitting from it as we ::)ll.

[jack19512]

The 17HMR if anything has made the WMR more popular. 

How is that?  Before the 17HMR came along myself and a lot of others shot the 22 WMR.  Now I pretty much just shoot the 17HMR.  I am willing to learn.   

[jack19512]

Over the past few years, I've come to realize that many gunshop owners, know nothing.   

I can't argue with you on that one.   

[Pecci]

The 17HMR if anything has made the WMR more popular. 

How is that?  Before the 17HMR came along myself and a lot of others shot the 22 WMR.  Now I pretty much just shoot the 17HMR.  I am willing to learn.   

Many Rimfire lovers want to have both. --- I think they compliment each other.  Their 2 different rounds, mean't for 2 different applications, for many of us.   Niether is a do all round.  After the HMR came out, I started reading the comparisons and became interested in shooting again.  Since, I have bought another 22Mag.  I now have 4.

The main reason, though, for believing the HMR helped the WMR is by simply looking at all the new WMR ammo that has become available.  Their are now more than 20 different WMR rounds available, from 30gr. to 50gr.  They are also made of higher quality nowadays. That stimulates interest, although not neccesarily yours. 
,
The HMR is, on average a little more accurate, but on average it is also a little more expensive.  The Mag is more powerful, and Hummer is flatter shooting, and on and on.  I don't want to beat a dead horse, and I'm sure you now wish you hadn't sold your Wummer.  All kidding aside, I do not have a HMR yet, but will someday.  Right now I have no use for it.  I've gone with the HM2 instead.  If I want to go furhter out, I use my hornet or .223.

[.308 Win.]

I appreciate all the responses and differing views.  Hey Jack1952.  That rabbit looks rough!!!  Jesus, so much for the 17 gr. bullet not being destructive enough! 

Robert, no I have not tried the Marlin but it's been my experience that anything with the Marlin name on it, particularly in rimfire, has always been a shooter.  Years ago I had a little Model 60 (the really inexpensive one) and even it was a shooter.  I know that was a .22 LR but 'm sure the bolt gun in WMR would be a shooter as well.  I might give it a try.     

[jack19512]

  Hey Jack1952.  That rabbit looks rough!!!  Jesus, so much for the 17 gr. bullet not being destructive enough! 

     

I could have easily taken a head shot but I was new to the 17 HMR myself and wanted to find out what the 17 HMR would do.

Just as soon as I pulled the trigger I heard a "whop".  The rabbit fell over and never moved, he was dead before he hit the ground.

I normally do not like to post pics like that but it was the only way for me to show others that do not have any experience with the 17 HMR what it is capable of.

And the rabbit was not wasted.  I ate it, it was tough, but I ate it.   

[.308 Win.]

I'm sure you did.  The back legs weren't trashed but you very nearly didn't have to clean this rabbit.  I was really surprised by what that little 17 grain bullet would do.  The pic didn't bother me and it did illustrate how well this round can take out an animals the size of a rabbit. 

I don't know what it is that makes one rabbit really tender and another one from the same spot be like rubber.  The only difference as I recall, was that the tender ones I cleaned as soon as I killed them and the others I didn't. 

Seeing this rabbit makes me wonder if I shouldn't just stick with a .22 LR or a .17M2. Most of my rimfire hunting is done on tree squirrels so it looks like the 17HMR might just ruin way too much meat on an animal that doesn't have much anyway.  Thanks for the pic and the post.  Good hunting.   

[myarmor]

In the end, and if you can swing it, thats 1 thing great about a Handi...the price. If you want to experiment with a 17HMR, 17M2 22LR or 22Mag then the cost of a new barrel fitted isn't much.
http://www.hr1871.com/Support/accessoryProgram.aspx
And if you do not like it, then you can always sale it here on the H&R/NEF Classifieds.
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/board,142.0.html
Win, Win situation

[.308 Win.]

  I've been giving that very thing a lot of thought.  For the money, you just can't beat these little guns.  They will shoot with most anything sitting on the dealer shelves. 

[shaner]

i feel the 22wmr and 17 will both be around a long time, i think the mach2 will be the firstto vanish  if i hadto choose one of the rimfire,

[mag-check]

5mm magnum? Now there was a joke! Two years on the market and then gone!!!

[Swampman]

"The .22 WMR will still be going strong when the .17 HMR is dead and forgotten."

Yep!

[351 power]

i haven't had a chance to try the 17 yet but ithink that it seems to have a good base for sales. i do think that alot of people are taking the.22 mag for granted. it is a good option for people who don't reload. from coyotes on down, within 100 yds., it has the power level to work at a good price. that covers alot of hunting.

[B_Koes]

I believe that the stories regarding the demise of the .22 WMR have been greatly exaggerated.

[Coastwatcher]

.22wmr or .17hmr.........Tough choice, so I got both.   The beauty  of the Handi is that they are affordable. 

[Sourdough]

I do not own a .22mag, but have been looking at them for quite a while.  Wife gave me a .17HMR Sportster and I love it.  I can hit 20oz soda bottles all day at 25 and 300 yards or anywhere in between.  I haven't used it yet on game since the bears are still out and it's a little small for them, and I don't feel like carrying two guns when I go walking.  After snow flies I'll carry it on the handlebars of the snow machine for foxes.  Did shoot a Red Squirrel (our red squirrels are about the size of a chipmunk) at about 15 feet, messy lots of red mist.  Everything from the neck to the hind quarters disappeared.  I was using Speer TNT bullet in Federal ammo.