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Hi

I've been pondering over the last few days.
.22 RF or 17 HMR.
I've had a CZ .22 RF and a Ruger 10/22 in the past but after getting back into shooting after some time away from the sport, I'm probley leaning towards the 17 HMR.
I got the chance to shoot a CZ 17 HMR on the weekend, have to say i was more than impressed.

I've been on YouTube and had a really good look about seeing different perspectives ect

What kind of prices am i realistically looking at for 17 HMR rifles.

As you guys seem clued up on all things Rim Fire what are your thoughts, pros / cons ect.

Unless you have permissions to shoot on, you might not get a .17HMR. Most clubs don't allow them, so it depends what type of shooting you want to do.

I've got permission for rabbit shooting.
How come clubs don't like them.?

GOoch wrote:I've got permission for rabbit shooting.
How come clubs don't like them.?

Range safety cert reasons....

.17 rimfire ammo can be both pricey & prone to misfires/quality issues.

.17 centre-fires would be more cost effective on ammo & allow up or down loading & cheap lead bullets, etc.

you don't get much rabbit left if you shoot them with a .17HMR. 22 is much better.

saddler wrote:.17 rimfire ammo can be both pricey & prone to misfires/quality issues.

Pricey yes. However I've had a .17 HMR for several years now, and I have never had a misfire or any quality issues.

The .17 HMR is much flatter-shooting than .22RF, and hits out to 125m are easily made. But, like everything else, it's horses for courses. I have found it to be devastating on rabbits, but hares usually take two shots. The first knocks them down and the second finishes them off.

The downside of 17HMR are the noise (can't be fully suppressed), cost and potential damage to meat yield (unless headshots are taken). The upside is lazer like trajectory to 100-120m, literally just point and click. It also has a smaller ricochet risk than .22lr. If you're not bothered about the meat, can afford it and you're not going to get noise complaints, 17HMR is a sound choice for rabbits.

You'll find plenty of HMR rifles second hand, often barely used. I think the ammo cost, restrictions on use (no indoor clubs) count against it. It's no doubt a cracking round and adds a solid 25yds plus onto a bunny shot over LR, but I think people are realising a .22 is a bit more versatile.

Get both, hmr for vermin & a .22 semi for fun & vermin.