Poll: .22 LR vs .17 HM2

[ericire12]

Shooting Times did an article on this very question back in their March '08 issue, and I though it would be a fun topic for discussion here.


My vote is for the .22LR - mainly for the cost benefit. The biggest advantage of the 17 Mach 2 is by far velocity (about 2100 fps), but you can get high end .22 LR velocity up in the range of 1600 fps with CCI's 32 grain Stinger. I think that the .22 LR is all the short to medium range varmint control that I will ever need. For anything out much farther then 100 yards it might be best to step up to something like a .204 or perhaps a .223 - you know, more serious varmint calibers.

[alfsauve]

The biggest advantage of the 17 Mach 2 is by far velocity (about 2100 fps)

There are other advantages.  Shooting Times recently did a story on the two. http://www.shootingtimes.com/ammunition/st_17lr_200803/index.html

I'd always thought of the .22lr bullet as a "slug".  Not terribly aerodynamic.  Turns out, what I never realized is that the .22lr is also a stepped bullet with the base smaller than the rest of the bullet.  This adds to it's unstableness.

Sure, sure if we're talking "end times" I'd want a .22lr, but assuming an "on-going" society, I choose a .17M2.   Oh, wait, I did.  I sold all my .22lr rifles and bought a CZ452.

Alf
(Okay, I did keep my dad's Winchester 77, but that's more history/nostalgia.)

[CybScryb]

While I love my .17 HM2...the .22 LR provides a full day of fun for less than $20 if you shop wisely.  Maybe when more and more .17's are sold, we'll see some additional manufacturing efficiencies that'll let a kid mow a few lawns and spend his recreational time learning to shoot accurately.  But for now, the venerable .22 is still the undisputed champion.

[tombogan03884]

The .17 will never acheive the same level of acceptance or versatility as the .22.
The .22 has 100 years head start in development. Huge advantage in cost, and can not be beat for ammo availability.
On top of that the .22 has the historical/ nostalgia advantage, No one has grown up hearing about Dad, or GrandDad putting food on the table during the Depression with a .17.

[TAB]

I'd rather have a 22 mag then a 17 hmr/17hm2

[Sponsor]

[ericire12]

I'd rather have a 22 mag then a 17 hmr/17hm2

Very good point. Only given the choice of one out of the three, I would still take the .22 LR

[ccd]

The 22LR got my vote, just because of the incredible variety of loads available. That and the fact I really LOVE the 60gr. SSS load(just wish the fast twist barrels were more commonly available.) Shot loads, CB's, the SGB, various subsonic loads, match target ammo from Eley and Lapua, Stingers, etc. and bulk boxes of 550 rds for 12.50 @ your nearest Walmart make it an easy choice.