Gentlemen,

I would be grateful if anyone has owned and used both of these calibres for general vermin shooting to let me know how they compare and also where they are in comparison to for example the .22 using stingers and a .22 hornet on the same.

I have some experience with the .22LR with subs and stingers and a bit with the 17 HMR but none with the .22 Wmr and hornet.

TIA,

A

Ghubert I will not address the ballistics, but as far as accuracy goes I believe the following holds:
17HMR seems to have developed a reputation for accuracy. Higher than the 22 mag. Ammo is expensive though and others can comment on the outlook for the caliber.
The 22 mag is so so for accuracy, however the newer ammo with bullets less than the old 40 grain standard seems to be more accurate but still ammo dependent. I posted 50 yard targets some time back (on this forum) and some ammo was very good, however, groups opened up at 100 yards.
22 Hornet in the Ruger variety is hit and miss, literally. So, if you want to get one, be prepared to spend some money! In an accurate rifle this is a genuine 150 yard caliber I would think. The 22mag is not.
Link to previous post on 22 mag:

http://forums.accuratereloadin...=283107138#283107138


Peter.

this article pretty much sums it up--

http://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_17HMR_22WMR.htm

BTW, I have given my 22WMR away, I have both rifle and pistol in 17HMR now.

The 20gr solid I have used to take pigs with head shots.

For the most part the problem with the 22 WMR is the cheap rifles.

The hornet is a real rifle.

22 LR the 17 HRM struggle to kill jack rabbits.

I do not think much of Stingers for anything unless you are at inside of the barn ranges.

Thank you for the comments and links guys, much appreciated.

At the moment I am shooting Canada geese that are wreaking havoc with a friend's golf course green with a shotgun and .22RF. the golf course is bordered by houses, a caravan park and a major road so it is sensitive to both sound and backstop issues that basically mean that anything with a tendency towards bouncing or ricocheting or too loud, once moderated, is a no-no.

The shotgun shooting aspect is therefore somewhat limited, only after 9.30 am, and so most have been decoyed in and shot with the rifle.

I am alternating between a silenced .22 bolt action and semi-auto and a bolt action 17hmr at the moment and to be totally honest cannot see much difference between them as far as knocking these geese down goes.

they are tough buggers, much more tenacious to life than a fox for example, in my experience and only a neck shot seems to anchor them on the spot without a shed-load of flapping around.

Perhaps I am shooting them in the wrong place on chest shots ( I shoot into what would be the armpit on a mammal on the side on presentation ) or maybe I need more power.

Anything that is louder than a silenced .17hmr would not be acceptable as I would be firing a fair number of shots.

Would a .22WMR pack much more punch than the HMR?

Having shot enough small game with 22LR & the 22WMR, I am very certain the WMR hits a lot harder.

As to the geese, if you're concerned about pass-throughs or richocets, then I'd choose one of the 30gr. WMR projectiles, but be aware, these do open up quickly.

For shot placement, maybe you should try for the back of the goose. If standing, the back offers good angles to spine, lungs, and heart, plus you don't have to shoot through all that breast muscle. What's more, the feathers seem "thinner" and you'd be shooting "with" or "up/into" the feathers, as opposed to "through/against" them.

Good luck, and let us know how it works!

friar

There is really no comparison between the .22 Hornet and the 22 WMR or the .17. I happen to like the .22 WMR and in my Winchester Model 94 it is not super accurate but within reasonable ranges it is a killing machine.

My Hornet is a Ruger 77/22 and it is a tack driver. I have had it and hunted with it since 1995. Accuracy testing at 100 yds, in three different years with my handloads it has always shot under an inch, with one test going 1/4".

I love the hornet. Right now only have a NEF singlre shot. Never in the varmint/predator field do I feel undergunned.

quote:

Originally posted by flickt:
I love the hornet. Right now only have a NEF singlre shot. Never in the varmint/predator field do I feel undergunned.

My little truck gun is a shortened barrel NEF in
.223. Very accurate even with an ancient Browning scope. I wish it was a Hornet, the muzzle blast on the .223 is very loud.

The hornet with factory Hornady 36 grain bullets will not pass thru a woodchuck. I think a body shot on a goose will be about the same.