Hey!

Which do you prefer in general: .22mag or .17HMR?

Hey!

Which do you prefer in general: .22mag or .17HMR?

In general, I prefer the 17HMR. It's a flatter shooting, and in my experience, more accurate round than the 22Mag. However, there's things the 17HMR doesn't do as well as the 22Mag, so I have both (a couple of both, as a matter of fact!). It's like any other comparison between two cartridges: each have their strong points; each their weak points. The solution is to have both of them available, sighted in, and to then use the caliber that most fits your particular application at the time you need to shoot them. There isn't a caliber out there that fits all our needs all the time. If there were, we'd have only the 30-06 or 308! My solution is to buy 'em all (that I can afford, of course!), test 'em all, and use 'em where/when their particular characteristics are applicable. Most of the discussion about the performance of two similar cartridges is just hot air. The fact is, each needs to be measured on its own merits. If a person has no need for a particular caliber, so be it. No need to slam it, just because it doesn't meet that person's requirements.

gunwriter

Like gunwritter, use them both. The .17 seems best a small non-eating type critters at longer ranges...the .22mag. seems to do better on heavier critters (and with the FMJ gives an option of eating the small ones).

To me, considering they have the same base case, it's a 22/250 vs. 250savage anaolgy.

I'll go with the flow here and say both are great. But if for some reason I really had to choose between one or the other, I'd keep the .22 Mag. Sure it's not as flat shooting, but think it's a better all-arounder than the .17. With the V-Max bullets the .22 can be pretty explosive on little critters or apples, water jugs, egg-plants (I HATES egg-plant!!) and any other suitable test subject.
Now I'm waiting on the new little .17 based on the .22LR case and am sure that will bring up the same subject. :)

Hey!

Which do you prefer in general: .22mag or .17HMR?

My apologies to Hornaday for they have put in great effort to develop this neat little round. Every gun manufacturer seems to want to get on the .17 bandwagon. There are some really cool guns in this little caliber. But in the end I think it is a fun toy but not essential.
.22 is larger and with most lead bigger is really better. The .22 is also cheaper by far and that is always a plus unless you are in a higher tax bracket than I am. Finally you get distance.
The .17 has a reputation of being explosive at closer ranges. What this means is that at close range your game is destroyed. Killing non-edible varmits? Who cares. But many of us feel that a squirrel is just fine eating and I can take the head off a squirrel and still get a meal - I hate to waste god's creatures.
Overall I think the .22 is the better choice. On the other hand, kid's have toys and who's to say that adults can't have toys also? I shoot several air guns and have a blast (no pun intended). The .17 is accurate at close ranges and it's lots of fun to drive tacks. If you have the cash and can feed the beast this is a fun gun with which to play.