17hmr or .223

[Greg223 4]

Ive been looking into upgrading my air rifle to either a 17hmr or a .223 (sounds like a big step but i have experince with rifles and regularly shoot my dads .222 when lamping) and was wondering if anybody has any experience with either calibre for general hunting/lamping (fox and smaller i have permission on a few farms)

I would like abit of range 200+ yards is the 17hmr capable of this?

Is there any big difference in ammo prices (i have reloading equipment just need .223 dies)

Edited May 1, 2012 by Greg223

[Hawkeye. 26]

17hmr , ok to 120yds. 200yds + 223 . If your thinking 223 then consider 204. I have 1 , upgraded from 222 a few yrs ago, glad I did.

[Greg223 4]

I had looked at 204 but I heard it was hard to find heads for 20 cal (im in northern ireland)? And that they are have a short barrel life due to "hot" loads?

[andy s410c 61]

Just in the process of playing around with my 204,the craic is the 204 likes it warm...apparently.Not going to run it hot but it needs the speed by the looks of it.Don,t think my HMR will be seeing much use once i've got the 204 running right.

[jamie g 17]

223 for sure.

[zx10mike 137]

had a .204 great cal but trying a 223 next,just having one built.massive difference between the two cals but if i had the choice 223 and re load.it will still cost you more per shot but if you want to shoot accuratley out to 200 then thats the price you pay.if you home load then the 223 should be much more accurate than factory rims,obvious answer is get both if you have lots of rabbits.

[Greg223 4]

Good luck with it! Think ill go with a larger calibre than hmr then.

Anybody have or used to have a .17 hornet or .220 swift would they be suitable

[Greg223 4]

had a .204 great cal but trying a 223 next,just having one built.massive difference between the two cals but if i had the choice 223 and re load.it will still cost you more per shot but if you want to shoot accuratley out to 200 then thats the price you pay.if you home load then the 223 should be much more accurate than factory rims,obvious answer is get both if you have lots of rabbits.

 

What twist rate are you getting? Two of my mates shoot .223 out to 600m with homeloads with either 1-8/1-9 twists

[zx10mike 137]

i don't think you will pick up dies for the hornet yet ? so factory ammo on that new cal will be steep.perhaps look at a 17 rem or fireball for the best of both worlds.but remember if you have a 223 for a few years you can have any smaller cal on your open ticket but if you have a 17 cal and then fancy something bigger you have anouther three years till you get that on an open ticket.worth thinking about.

[zx10mike 137]

1 in 8 with a 20" bull barrel

[Greg223 4]

Should be a tack driver! Our laws are different we can change calibre's at a charge (as far as i understand) not sure what the english laws are ill have a look at the 17rem and fireball now. Hadnt even thought about dies to be honest just popped into my head while i was on topic

[zx10mike 137]

only savage are building the 17 hornet at the moment i think so your choices in rifle would be slim.

[bunnybuster.ie 40]

I use a 223 and find it great and cheap to feed. I also have a mate that i shoot with he has a 220 swift and its an animal it puts big holes in charlie. So if your in a position to reload then why not go with the 220.

[Greg223 4]

Ill maybe leave the 17 hornet and see if cz take it on and go for either a 223 or .204 after lots of reading reviews!

 

** edit** What does the 220 group like compared to the 223?

Edited May 1, 2012 by Greg223

[zx10mike 137]

its not the calibre but the quality of barrel and how good you are at re loading that shrinks the groups.norman clarke and outhers have shot a 223 out to 1000 yds competitively.is that good enough?