Most "varminting" around here (east) is groundhogs aka - woodchucks, chucks, hogs, whistlepigs, et al. Took my wife once and she enjoyed it but her .22LR didn't give the consistant results desired - they frequently got down the hole before dying. I bought her a .22WMR but the first game it saw was two red foxes I shot with it. First (about 75 yards, headshot) was DRT the second took mutiple body hits before hitting the ground. During the fusilade to kill the 2nd fox I heard more than one bullet "zing" off the hard soil. Things are getting too settled around here wounded game running around and stray bullets!

Result - I re-lined the barrel and re-chambered to 17HMR. All hogs shot with the hummer have been DRT and the only fox shot so far (122 yards, center of throat) went down in his tracks without so much as flicking his tail. I've never heard a ricochett from it. Particularly nice from the "fur hunting aspect" was the miniscule entry wound and NO exist wound as would be had from a CF .22.

Now, a couple groundhogs had large wounds (entry) where a bone was struck just under the skin. The result was the same DRT but its caused me to wonder... after all, I've had em crawl off after being hit with a .243. Anyone care to comment on larger vermin - 15lb & up - and the hummer? How about the .17M2? I also re-lined an old Mossberg with a pitted bore to this caliber for (tree) squirrel hunting but wonder if it'd do for hogs and how far?

I have a 17hmr that I've used quite a bit on small game.

I would say that, in the real world, fox sized game is about the limit for that little round.
Yeah it will kill bigger stuff for sure but I wouldn't rely on it to do so and I'm not so sure about the ethics involved either.

Use a bigger calibre for larger game than this.
There is near to zero penetration with that tiny and fragile .17 proj for larger game.

The 22mag has more "wop" factor IMO but loses out in the accuracy and trajectory departments.

My biggest concern with the .22WMR was ricochetts. Those two I heard whine off the hardpan got my attention right now! Since then I've heard other people comment on the caliber doing the same. Anyone else experience it? Perhpas some combo of bullet/velocity making it prone?

Just curious if the HMR is up for consistant use on groundhogs out to say 150 yards? Fox are "softer" but shot placement more critical due to ability to put a lot of ground behind them fast - even on three legs! Anyway, I wouldn't think of using the HMR for anything larger. I usually use one of several CF rifles but this is a fun little rifle! Don't want the missus getting discouraged by losing critters either.

Riccochets, I would attribute to the bullet design than the round... maybe you need to get a different kind of bullet on your 22 WinMag...

the 17 HMR.. and the 22 Win Mag, I can't see one replacing the need for the other... both have their strong points, but not enough to replace the other, in my opinion at least...

I have both.. just the 17 HMR is too spendy for high volume sage rat shooting in my opinion...

Oupa: You have proven for yourself what "MOST" "non-17HMR detracters" know as well - the 17 HMR is more lethal on Varmints than the 22 Magnum!
I have been shooting the 22 Magnum on Varmints for many decades - in many makes and many models - and in the relatively short time (4 years) I have been shooting ALL sizes of Varmints (from Weasels to Coyotes!) with my 17 HMR's TWO things have proved up for me regarding the 17 HMR vs. 22 Magnum. #1 = The 17 HMR is DISTINCTLY more accurate than the 22 Magnum! #2 = The 17 HMR is DISTINCTLY more lethal on Varmints, small game and Wild Turkeys than the 22 Magnum is!
In the four years I have been using my 17 HMR's I have killt Coyotes, Badgers, Porcupines, Crows, Rock Chucks, Snowshoe Hares, feral cats, Skunks, Weasels, Tree Squirrels, Jack Rabbits, Prairie Dogs, Cottontail Rabbits, Ground Squirrels, Rattlesnakes, Wild Turkeys and probably several other species I have forgotten - in EVERY case the experiences with the lethality of the 17 HMR being superior to the 22 Magnum!
The Coyotes I have shot with my 17 HMR were both one shot kills. I have killt Badgers with the 17 HMR that weighed in excess of 20 pounds and several of the Porcupines I have shot weighed in excess of 20 pounds!
The 17 HMR's lethality and pinpoint accuracy make it a deadly combo on Varmints and small game.
I have no experience with the 17 M2 at all - never shot one and never seen one shot at game!
But the 17 HMR vs. 22 Magnum debate has LONG ago been settled and the 17 HMR is far superior (in virtually EVERY respect!) to the 22 Magnum!
I know a ton (I mean that literally a - TON!) of guys who have sold off or foresaken their 22 Mags in favor of the 17 HMR, but you are the first I have heard of that "relined" a 22 Magnum barrel to 17 HMR in order to step up to the better rimfire round!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Thanks Varmintguy. I guess I was just looking for a little schmoozing on what I've already decided. You sure did that!

As far as the re-lining job it's pretty straight forward. Smae as re-lining any .22, which is done pretty often. I did break the first reamer but it was MY mistake... I knew better but it happened. I held my breath when firing the first group. It was perfect! Most impresive was the perfect little starburst of powder residue on the new crown! Sort of like * too cool! Around $35 for the liner and another $65 or so for the reamer isn't bad compared to the cost of a new rifle. If you do several the reamer pays for itself on the second job!

VG and oupa...

Just thought I would toss this in here...

I had a Marlin 22 Mag, sythetic stock and stainless barrel that was just pathetic out of the box, brand new.. I sent Marlin the targets where it was shooting 8 inch groups at 50 yds...

They told me to send it back in for repair....

Well,I boxed it up, but took the stock off to save shipping charges via UPS...and put in a few more targets...

While it was back there, I called them and told them that I had purchased another Marlin 22 Mag, and that I knew a handicapped person, who didn't have a lot of money, but was wanting a 17 HMR so bad, she couldn't see straight...she was a former police officer, and a friend of the family...

So I asked Marlin's repair shop if they could put on a 17 HMR barrel instead... and I would be happy to pay for the difference...They told me NO Problem...

What I got back from them, was something else...

NOT only did Marlin replace the barrel with a heavy barreled 17 HMR stainless... they put a new gray laminate stock on the rifle... they also did a trigger job on it!!! at no request to do so...plus they sent me several targets that they had fired with the new barrel.. all one hole groups...at various distances...

I called them letting them know I had received it, but told them that their was no invoice in there for all they had done... and when could I expect it, or I would be happy to give them a credit card number right then for the work...

I got transferred to the repair dept, and got the dept head... I asked about the charge for the work...

He mentioned my call about getting it set up for the HMR and my plans to give it to a former police officer that was now handicapped.. and who wanted one badly, but did not have the money to get one...

I acknowledged that, and his response was.. that Marlin thought I was being so generous to her, and that since I had bought a Marlin 22 Mag to replace the one I had sent in, that they were going to contribute the barrel, the trigger job, and the new stock at NO Charge!

they were complimenting me on my generosity to the former police officer, and telling me that it was more than their pleasure to help assist in her getting a 17 HMR.. and the trigger job and the targets were so that they could make sure that it was a superb shooter for her!!!!

This was 3 yrs ago.. but you really have to give Marlin big kudos for the generosity and customer service that they extended...The receipient really cherishes that 17 HMR of her's...

Seafire, that's a great story! Its the sort of thing that should be said anywhere it can be. Marlin (and YOU) deserve a HUGE pat on the back for such actions.


BTW - I don't feel the HMR "replaces" the WMR in every application. In my own limited scope of use though, it does fill the need the rifle was originally bought for. Paticularly since my wife is such an infrequent hunter the flat shooting little 17 will virtually eliminate the need for range estimation and sighting adjustment within the useful range of the rifle. I too feel the ricochett problem is one of bullet design and perhaps our local soil conditions during summer. A bullet more frangible at WMR velocities would solve it for sure.

GREAT story and a HUGE thumbs up to you and Marlin. Thanks for posting.

seafire/B17G==Good one. Thanks

Marlin did me right on a new 45-70 Cowboy.
Had speed bumps in the barrel where ever there
was a dove tail cut.
They rebarreled and test target sent with it
Gregg

Thanks for the Kudos guys....

But I think the real credit goes to Marlin here.. the recipient of the rifle was a family friend, so I don't feel I deserve that big of a pat on the back... however Marlin does, as they really went WAAAAY past the extra mile on that one....


seafire

seafire-that was a genuine extension of generosity on BOTH parts. It's good to see that this type of selflessness still exists.