Why the .17hmr is one of the best rimfire calibers around

F23Blackwidow2

New member
As we all know, any serious match or target shooter worth their salt reloads their own ammo. But since reloading rimfire ammo is impossible, so we are stuck buying highly priced Elly ammo if we want to shoot great groups at anything over 50 yards. But that ammo is both expensive and hard to find! Heck, regular .22 is hard to find!! And if you're hunting, anything over 75 yards is not a shot you should be taking, and even that's a stretch.

So, what happens if your squirrel (or bud light mix-a-rita in my case) is past 100? How about 125? Or even 150? Well, if you're me, you put down your Mossberg .22lr, and pick up with your Marlin VRX-17. Rack the bolt, aim, pull the trigger, repeat 4x. 2 at 125y and 2 at 150y. And the most impressive part? They exploded just like they did at 50 yards. A tin can noticeably smaller than a soda can hit at 150y with a gun sighted for 50y. Pretty impressive. With neasured sub .5 inch groups at 50y all day thanks to the bull barrel I have, this gun is the most accurate stock gun I have ever fired. Period.

Another great thing about .17hmr is its availability. Yup, you read that right. It's available in almost every store I go to, and I believe it's because people aren't hoarding it like we tend to hoard .22 and .556/.223. The people who shoot .17 are few and far between, but there's enough of us to make enough shops carry it. And all of the ammo is top of the line, pretty much match grade. Tolerances are incredibly tight, as shown by the accuracy. And at ~$16 a box of 50, for the grade of ammo you're getting, it's a steal.

And it is devastating when it makes contact. The damage a hollow point .22 does at 25y to a soda can is noticeably less compared to the damage on the cans at 150y with the .17hmr. Remember, KE=.5mv^2. Velocity is more important (to a point), than mass. And a .17hmr has the same velocity at 200y that a .22 at the muzzle (per back of the box of of Hornady .17hmr 17grain varmint rounds and CCI mini mags).

Which brings me to my last point. Whatever you do, don't buy a .17hmr. I need all the ammo I can't get!!!!!

F23
 
Yes

Yes agreed love my savage.

I reload for every gun I own but love taking mine out to the ranch and hitting targets at 100-150 yards easy with no recoil at all.
 
...So, what happens if your squirrel (or bud light mix-a-rita in my case) is past 100? How about 125? Or even 150? Well, if you're me, you put down your Mossberg .22lr, and pick up with your Marlin VRX-17. Rack the bolt, aim, pull the trigger, repeat 4x. 2 at 125y and 2 at 150y. And the most impressive part? They exploded just like they did at 50 yards. ...
And what about those people that don't want their small game blown up?
 
Those of us the don't hunt as much as we used to (two problems: lack of time and wife that refuses to cook game, so what I shoot is given away), do like to punch holes, thought my "Thumbhole Savage .17" makes it very easy to make me look far better than I am!
 
I'm a new convert. If one simply LOOKS at the tiny hole at the end of that RELATIVELY FAT barrel, it's no wonder they're so darn flat-shooting and accurate. Nice fun-factor for me.
 
actually I don't own a 17 HMR... so it's not best for me :p

I do however love the 17 Mach 2 ( 22 LR necked to 17 caliber ) it's also a laser in my converted old Marlin bolt action, head shooting pidgins at 100 yards is not that difficult... wish those cartridges were as available as the HMR's... because I expected difficulties finding ammo, I bought 4 bricks of Mach 2's the day I finished my rifle... & at my house, the 17 Mach 2 has killed more "game" & varmints than all other rifles combined... MRS uses it to drop coons out of the trees the outside doggie runs them up, during the night... & he's quite good... one day he had 5 coons up the same small tree :)

however I'm a major reloader, so the rimfires just don't hold the same interest for me... so I also will not likely buy the new 17 "super" rimfire... but the 17 Hornady Hornet does hold my interest :)
 
The 17 HMR is accurate and fun to shoot. My Hornet is more fun to shoot and I can reload for it. I can load hot N fast 35gr. or slower 45gr. I can shoot the eye out of a squirrel at 100yds or take a crow at 200 yds. I can stock up on components and not worry about not having ammo. Whare it is legal I can take much larger game with the proper bullet than the explosive 17 can. I can load much slower bullets that don't explode and reduce the noise whare the 17 HMR is only screaming POW. I don't want it, You can have it. It's to fast for me.
 
I'm waiting for a 5mm or 22cal rim fire based on the 17 WSM case.
The 20gr 17 HMR doesn't hit hard at distance, I rather use my 22 WMR.
 
Mine drops about 1/4" from 50 yards to 100 and hitting a dime at 100 isn't a problem. Its by far the best firearm choice I've made in a long time.
 
Which brings me to my last point. Whatever you do, don't buy a .17hmr. I need all the ammo I can't get!!!!!

With that said. (above) Those of us who are pleased with our rifle calibers (22lr -22 mag) will some how manage to endure.

No sir. You won't see me depleting your market place reserves of 17 HMR or shooting squirrels at 150 yards. In both instances neither appeals to me.

But since reloading rimfire ammo is impossible

Oopsie Daisy:eek: you may want to check out this littl video OP._:)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxh6cvWk09g

No need to get excited sir. I was just pulling on you're chain a little. :D
 
The .17 HMR was recommended to me by gun buddies for my use on the farm...
Besides all the aforementioned, one thing kept being brought up, that being lack of ricochet.

Granted 90 acres of farm gives one some room, still I had to be safe, and "know my target and beyond". A ricochet could cause severe problems with horses, cattle, other livestock, not to mention farm houses, barns, and equipment.

Savage 93R17, nicknamed Killswitch ;)
 
Started out with a Henry Golden Boy in .17hmr and really liked it. Have added a CZ 455fs and a Winchester 1885 low wall. All are extremely accurate. Love the caliber. Fun to shoot and affordable.
 
I have only one .17, Henry lever with a octagon barrel. It is one of the most accurate rifles I own. With only iron sights I can't seem to miss. Love the round and yes I can get bricks of 500 when needed locally. Looking to get a bolt gun with optic soon!
 
Have not even seen 17hmr sold in bricks. Does your local source ship? I love shooting my savage 93r17 as well. Came with wood stock and scope for less than 250 shipped to my lgs.
 
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