17 vs 22 LR vs 22 mag

[YabaDabaDoo]

Title says it all. I am looking to buy a bolt action with a heavy barrel in one of these 3 calibers.

Strictly a plinking gun up to 100 yards, maybe once a month when I go to the range. Which caliber? Why? Any recommendations on rifles? Also how does the Savage 17 compare to the Marlin 17??


Thanks!

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[Lonewulf]

myself I have them all and prefer the 17 at 100yds
bad words but mine is a Marlin HB 17, tach driver

[Yukonjon]

I have the savage mako .17 and my neighbor has the savage mako .22lr. Both of us prefer the .17. No real reason, but it seems the .17 is more accurate and enjoyable. I shoot it almost every time I go out. Works well on gophers as well.

I don't have any experience with the 22 mag. I have a marlin 22lr but the savage seems smoother and better built. Personal preference for me is savage in .17

[Newsshooter]

I like the .17 HMR and have shot 1/2 moa groups at 100 yards, but my nephews and I regularly shoot .22's out to 225 yards at steel chickens. Sub 2 inch is pretty easy with the 22 at a 100 yards. Still trying to get a sub moa group with the .22 at 100, been close but not less than one inch yet with the Savage or 10/22.

[Doc S]

My 93R17 will do dime - to - nickel sized groups easily at 100 yards. My Ruger American 22 mag groups a little bigger, and my poor little Marlin 60 .22 LR is a 50 yard gun. I'd take the .17 HMR for one major reason - ammo is plentiful and easy to get. .22 Mag is a bit of a bear to get right now for some reason.

[MoriCNC]

I agree. If it's a plinker your after and want to shoot once a month or so, get the 17. I have a savage E series switch barrel and shoot all of them including a Mach 2 barrel. The 17HMR is the most accurate for sure and the ammo is plentiful. Personally I like to shoot the 22 mag and can't explain why, I just like it. Buying ammo for it is hit and miss so my receiver wears the 17 barrel more often than the others.

[fr3db3ar]

In your case I would choose the 17 for a good shooter and ammo is everywhere.

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[Dennis]

I have all three. With no wind, give me the HMR 17, with ANY wind what-so-ever, I will use my 22 mag in a second. I have had it for 30 years and still love it. It will cut the wind better than the HMR 17.

At 100 yards, the 22 mag is deadly if you do your job.

Dennis

[stomp442]

Couldn't agree more with Dennis on this one. I had twin marlins at one time, one 917V and a 922M. I shoot a lot of jack rabbits while out and about in the hills and I gave both these calibers a fair shake because I really wanted the best accuracy and terminal performance I could get. Both shot extremely well with the ammo they preferred, both were 3/4 inch shooters at 100 yards in most conditions. If the wind was blowing though the 17 was all over the place, very hard to hold a good zero. As far as terminal performace the .22 mag won hands down, there was really no comparrison. So the 17HMR went on down the road not nessisarily because I didn't like it or becasue it was a bad rig but because at the time 17HMR was $17/box while the .22WMR was $9/box and the 17 didn't really do anything better or different than the .22WMR. However, I was finally able to find a couple of boxes of .22WMR about three weeks ago at $12/box and thats the first ammo I have been able to find in almost four years, while the .17HMR is in just about any sporting goods store I walk into. Looking back I wish I would have kept the .17HMR just because I can find ammo for it.

[Uncle]

I agree with stomp and dennis I have all 3 in several different platforms for accurate shooting at 100 yards the 17 can't be beat but all round the 22 mag will do every thing I ask it to do. If you are shooting cans and light steel flipping targets up to 50 yards the 22 long rifle is the only choice--reason low ammo cost easy to maintain ,always a good seller. Some people may not agree with me but the 17 loves to be cleaned and is not nearly as easy to clean as the 22's. Between the 22mag and 17 the choice of cal is not as important as the choice of rifle. good luck

[JCalhoun]

The .17HMR has the advantage of ammo availability. .22LR is bit pricey when you can find and I can't tell you last time I saw .22 Mag

[Lonewulf]

22 Mag Ammo

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/browse/rimfire-ammunition/_/N-1100192+4294752619/Ne-4294752619/Ns-CATEGORY_SEQ_104536080?WTz_st=GuidedNav&WTz_stype=GNU


http://www.gunbot.net/ammo/rimfire/22wmr/


http://ammoseek.com/ammo/22-magnum?from=resultspage

[Newsshooter]

I can find ammo for all three locally or online all the time these days. For plinking I'll take the .22 out to 100 yards, for game I'll take the .17 or .22 mag, my .17 is the most accurate, but doesn't thump as hard at distance.

[SavRimfire]

I think a CZ 455 Combo 22LR/17HMR would be the best choice if I was looking for something in a bolt gun, but I'd also toss the A17 in there as something to consider as well.

The A17 Sporter Laminate Stock with a couple two or three Butler Creek 25rnd mags will make for a fun day of shootin. I'm sure Vista Outdoor will love that idea. Especially, since they own Savage, Butler Creek, and CCI. LOL

[handirifle]

I too, have owned both the 17 HMR and 22 WMR. I still have the WMR. I just keep my eyes out for the ammo it likes, and with a good rest, ground squirrels are NOT safe even at 150yds. I shot one at 125yds and he was on all 4's facing me, slightly uphill from me. At the shot, it hit him square in the chest, and it literally lifted him back over on his back, where he promptly started the circular tail swing of death.

The 17 was accurate, but even a 10 mpg breeze would blow the bullets all over the place. It got too frustrating for me. Sure ammo is easier to get for the 17, but the WMR is worth it to me.

While 22LR may be able to hit the targets way out there, if the target is alive, I would go bigger if the range is beyond 50yds.

[dranrab]

I own a Marlin 17 Mach 2 bolt action heavy barrel and Savage heavy barrel 17 HMR and 22 Magnum. I also own several 22 LR rifles. If you want ammo for any of them you can find it. Every store I go into has 22LR and 17HMR. Magnum and Mach 2 is not as easy to find. For 100 yard plinking with accuracy as a goal, I'd go with the 17HMR. When it gets windy those little pills get blown around more, but when the wind is light, every one I have dealt with from either Marlin or Savage was just silly accurate. I have yet to encounter any 22 magnum that was nearly as accurate. They exist, but in my experience, they are harder to find. When you find them they are more particular about their ammo.

The verdict? 17HMR due to ammo availability and cost and nearly universal accuracy with almost any ammo.

[handirifle]

My model 93 WMR absolutely LOVES the CCI TNT Green 30gr ammo. With a solid rest I can regularly pop ground squirrels at 125yds. Hit's em like a ton of bricks. Not like a 223 mind you but if they are on all fours facing me, a chest shot will lift them up and flip them on their back.

I had a bull barrel Savage 17 HMR and if the wind was anything of 5 mph, which was most of the time, it would easily miss a squirrel at 50yds plus. That was too bad because I loved the idea of the explosive little 17gr pill, and not being as concerned with ricochets.

My 17 did drop a nice yote at near point blank range, with the 20gr Gamepoint ammo. But that was a neck shot and a 22LR MIGHT have done the same. The WMR for sure would.

Like all guns, find the ammo it likes and stay with it. My 22LR loves the Blazer plain lead ammo. other brands will be 1" at 25yds, and Blazer ammo groups are one enlarged hole.

[Grandoug]

I've not had problems finding ammo on-line, as opposed to local stores. I can get some locally but pricey. When you can find your choice with free shipping, get it. THAT being said, I plink with .22 for the economics, but will shoot my .17 WSM on long range days.

[Kilroy]

I have a BTVLSS in .22lr and a pre accu-trigger Mk II GL in .17M2. They are both very accurate. The 22 is a little more challenging at 100 yards while the 17 is almost boring at that range.

[handirifle]

I have a BTVLSS in .22lr and a pre accu-trigger Mk II GL in .17M2. They are both very accurate. The 22 is a little more challenging at 100 yards while the 17 is almost boring at that range.

Unless there is a breeze! When I had my heavy barreled 17 HMR, it was nice and accurate, UNTIL the wind picked up. Throws those little bullets every where but on target. My WMR is way more resistant to bullet drift. I'm talking 10-15 mph wind, not gale force, and ranges of 50-100yds.