50-125yards, 17HMR or .223?

Z

Z400ACDC

New member
I have a Howa 1500 hunter in 223, would a 17 be more accurate at that distance? Tree rats are taking over and I got to thin them out. THANKS!!!
 
Are you eating those tree rats? I wouldn't use either of those calibers for game that I was eating. Especially the .17HMR. Those little bullets are explosive and shatter pretty easily. Bits of jacket material would be all through the meat.

I also don't think I'd shoot either of those calibers into the air. There is no telling where they'd come down, and unless you've got a huge impact area, you might be putting someone at risk.

Which is more accurate? That's a toss-up.
 
The 17 is ideally suited for your needs. Cheaper than the 223 (over the counter) and safer relative to missed shots in my opinion. I would think the 223 falls into the overkill category (if there is such a thing.)
 
I am sure they are both effective at the range you specified, the .223 may be over kill. What is a tree rat ?
 
I don't want to eat them. I just want them to STOP chewing on my deck. I don't have to worry about where the lead goes.
 
+1 on the .22. Cheaper rifle, cheaper ammo. I would get a lever or bolt action so you can shoot sub-sonic ammo (to keep noise down to a minimum). The semi-autos available don't really like the sub-sonic stuff.
 
BTW, I had the same problem, and since we have a "no firearm discharge" law within city limits, I went out to Academy and picked up a pellet rifle and a tin of 200 pellets. I spent two pellets fiddling with the sights, and 6 more on the family or tree rats in the tree in the front yard. No more problem. That was four years ago, and I still have 192 pellets.
 
jsimmons

If you really mean subsonic (under 1100 fps), then your semis might have some problems.
If you mean the colibiri rounds that only have a primer and no powder, I agree completely.

All of the semi-auto 10-22s that I have love subsonic match ammo.
Most of their favorite ammos average under 0.4 inches.
The Kidd averages 0.336 to 0.372 with its favorites.

I just shot 1800 rounds of subsonic match ammo without one misfeed.
I wouldn't bother trying with colibiri.
 
OP was 50-125 yards. A little out of range for pellet rifle. Could be done with a 22 but my vote still goes to the 17 HMR
 
Generally a 223 is flatter shooting, but only by a fraction of an inch (.3" +/-) within the range you are considering. 17HMR is flatter shooting than the 22lr
 
I was hoping the 223 would be a flatter shooter. I have read that if you set a 223 up at 1.85 inches high at 100, it's a flat shooter pu to 200.
 
You shouldn't have any problem at all with a .223. Even at 250 yards, it's just starting to drop (and that's if you're using a 55-grain M193 cartridge).

However, unless you're shooting at something bigger than a chihuahua, a .223/5.56 would be WAY overkill. I've easily taken out squirrels and rabbits at between 75 and 100 yards with a 22LR. I've hit pigeons with a .17 pellet rifle at 75 yards.

BTW, a 40-grain 22WMR (Magnum) has more energy than a .17 at comparable distances. I think you'd be happier with the knock-down power of the .22WMR.
 
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.17hmr has my vote, I regularly pick squirrels of my deer feeder at 100 yards with a henry lever action... A .223 is a bit much.
 
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I don't care what it does to those DAG GUM Tree Rats! I know a man that had to rake over a couple of grand to replace wiring in his home were they chewed the insulation off.
 
"I don't care what it does to those DAG GUM Tree Rats!" when I said a "bit much" here's what I meant a .223 puts out around 1200 ft/lbs at the muzzle. A 17hmr puts out around 250 ft/lbs at the muzzle. And you only need around 15-17 ft/lbs to kill a squirrel. see a .223 is a bit much.
 
Both are overkill and expensive rifles. Get yourself a 22 Mag rimfire. I shoot 100 yard bulleyes with it. It will take care of your problem without spendng a lot for the rifle or ammo ($9-$12 per 50) I spent about $250 on my Marlin.

Jim
 
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