Gun selection 22 magnum or 17 hmr

[Harold Money jr]

I have a .17 and have hunted with guys shooting a .22 magnum. Ive killed several wild hogs, ground hogs, crows, and coyotes. The .17 is a bigger killer in person than it is on paper for some reason. I do use 20 gr xtp's exclusively on anything larger than squirrels and limit shots to 100yds. The magnum kills great too, I'm not going to say anything bad about it. The .17 will kill anything from a 200+ lb wild hogs to coyotes like a dream from 100yds on in.

 

[stik]

Can you use a shotgun on your WMA (most allow). My slug gun shoots sub moa. Not sure what the effective range of a 17 or 22 mag is.

slugs would not be legal.

 

[rrhoghead]

just make good shot placement

 

[Genetime]

I own both the seventeen hmr is more accurate and you can find ammo all day both are awesome guns

 

[Inkstainz]

I say 22 mag but if your choosing pick the one that you can find ammo for

 

[mike243]

The 17hmr is very accurate for a long distance imo, My marlin 22 mag will flat out carry the mail out to 150y & ruin a crows day lol, my Nef 17hmr is just a tack driver, I shot a 3 shot group at the Norris range some years ago that could have been covered with a 1/4 at 220y ,putting the metal where it needs to be means more than horse power again just my .02

 

[calledin]

I shoot a .17 her but you have to get the 20 grain bullets not the 17 gr. you also need to check the wma and make sure you can't use center fire. They change the law couple years back on some of the open wma so you can use center fire for yotes ... If you go with 22 or 17 her try to make head shots. Not big enough to dust roll one. Howl!!!!!!!

 

[260rem]

If you use the 17 use the 20xtp but some guns don't handle the 20gr as well as the 17gr. you should get about 50yds farther with the 17hmr. 150yds is a good max for the 22mag 30 or 40gr. shot placement is key with any gun. if possible use the center fire.

 

[fredfred]

.22 mag with 33 gr Vmax is hard to beat. I got rid of my .17 HMR because the .22 mag did everything the .17 would but better. Now the newer .17 Winchester Super Magnum seems to be the ticket for rimfire fire power.

 

[jaybird62]

Shot more than a dozen each with both calibers and the 22 mag is a better killer. The 17 HMR doesn't penetrate as well and the bullets blow up.

 

[pastorofgrace]

Great information. Thank you all for the comments.

 

[BuckHunter511]

The .17 has killed totes and hogs for me, but used the 20 grain hollow points, the 17 grain ballistics blow up.

 

[Buzzard Breath]

I started hunting coyote on WMA's with a .17, then switched to a .22 mag. I still wasn't satisfied with its performance, so I switched to a 12 gauge and have never looked back. Winchester 1300, turkey choke, dead coyote shells. Doubles are a piece of cake and happen often. I like the shotgun so much, I use it on 75% of my private land hunts now.

 

[Rockhound]

You better check the regulations, if a wma is "open to statewide seasons" you CAN use a centerfire

 

[Rockhound]

I wouldn't use either if I was going out to hunt them, I would use a center fire.

not legal on wma's.

It is if there isn't any specific restrictions against it

 

[Lou358]

i have a new 17 wsm but have not shot anything with it! It pushes a 25 grain 2600fps. It should be a good combination i think!

 

[Wildcat]

I used to use the Hornady 30 gr V-max but ever pushing the bullet at 2200 fps I still had a hard time nailing down a coyote under 100 yards without having to shoot it several times.

Today I use the Hornady Critical Defense 22 WMR. It has the heaver 45 gr FTX bullet and gets them going at 1700 fps. So far every single coyote I have used it on out to 100 yards has dropped with one shot.

Before anybody gets on me the vast majority of my shots are under 100 yards with the 22 mag but with the Critical Defense two of them dropped dead at 100 years.

 

[444 Fan]

If buying a new rifle, Savage chambered in 17 Winchester Super Mag would do wonders on a yote....

 

[TNDeerHunter270]

I bought a Ruger 77 in 17hmr last year and it has been a blast to shoot. I can consistently shoot 1/2 inch groups out to 150 yards. The ammo is easy to find locally and is not too expensive.


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[7mm08]

Saw a friend absolutely roll a coyote at 90 yards two years ago with a .17. I was amazed how it took down that coyote.