Comments on: What is better for small game hunting 17 HMR or .22 Mag?

By: zoyks

zoyks — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:15:48 +0000

in some states the 17 hmr is not a legal hunting caliber. you can only use it as a vermin gun on private land. the 22 mag is good for just about any varmint but from what i’ve experienced, the 17hmr is more deadly when shooting further distances. where i shoot ground squirrels at, the 22mag will flip flop the squirrels across the dirt while the 17hmr blows them apart where they stand.

By: PeachPie

PeachPie — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:05:21 +0000

.22

By: Second Amendment Defender

Second Amendment Defender — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:28:15 +0000

I use both.
The 17 is better at log range shots where the 22 is better close in.

The 17 will destroy a pelt on a rabbit where a 22 will not.

As for stopping power as it where.
Both are good if your shot is well placed.

I took a 300# hog down with a 17 at 120 meters last fall with a behind the ear shot.

As for the wind issue. Both the 22 and the 17 are affected by the wind. The 17 is affected more than the 22.

I found that I like the 17 better for the larger small game.
Rabbits, Coyotes and feral dogs that chase the live stock.

I use the 22 mag on rabbits and smaller if I want to keep the pelts.

By: Kestrel

Kestrel — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:46:48 +0000

I have both..the reason is that in the Marlin,the magazines interchange…so i just pack a small belt pack with a half doz mags and a box of each claiber…then no matter what gun i grab,Im ready…..I like the 17 for cats and ground squirrels and the mag for most anything else…i shoot a lot of snakes and the mag works better for that too

By: CIH(Ret)

CIH(Ret) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:02:01 +0000

The .22 mag is a very good round for small game like squirrels and rabbits but for game that you will be shooting at longer ranges such as crows, the .17 is a bit better. The bullet of the .17 HMR is much smaller but is moving at a higher velocity so it will remain accurate at a longer range. This with one proviso, there is not much wind. While the .17 is a longer range caliber, it is also affected by wind more than the .22 mag.

So, if you are going to be shooting at relatively short ranges (75 yards or less) I’d select the .22 mag. If you will be shooting small game at longer ranges (50 yards or more) I might select the .17 HMR. As you will notice, there is an overlap in the ranges that I have suggested. What that means is that between 50 and 75 yards, it doesn’t make much difference which cartridge you choose.

As for which gun to buy, you won’t do any better than one of the Savage Mark II rifles. They are, without a doubt, one of the most accurate out of the box rifles that you can buy. The kicker is that they are also one of the most reasonably priced rifles on the market.

By: Neville Humpworthy

Neville Humpworthy — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:39:27 +0000

I would go with the .22 mag. It’s accurate, it makes a larger hole, is a little heavier – all qualities you want in a hunting round. Ammo is more available, too.

By: dca2003311@yahoo.com

dca2003311@yahoo.com — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:00:44 +0000

Your best choice is the 22 Magnum.*

By: chris w

chris w — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:16:27 +0000

i have to go with the 22 mag,have have used mine for years and i see no need to trade it in for the 17

By: First L

First L — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:33:46 +0000

i like the 22. perhaps, check your state regulations for the game that you want to kill may require a particular load.