Changing Calibers

[Trout 0]

Iam thinking of changing my .22 for a .17hmr as I think it will be better for longer range crow shooting and what ever else, thinking of the browning t bolt synthetic

[andyf 144]

Well:

I suggest you put in a variation for 17hmr 'as well' as your .22.

You can have both without a problem, I bet you'll find the '17 an expensive toy that's actually no good at all

but that's only my experience, try it your self!

AF

[charlie caller 3,654]

Why not forget the horrid 17 pop gun and put in for a .22 hornet or .222 do the job right?

[SportingShooter 0]

Hornet and reload

 

Cheaper than fuelling a HMR and a damn side more accurate too.

[John Stott 202]

Try it. Try everything for yourself, then make up your mind.

[Deker 3,478]

Just to balance it up a bit, the usual andyf and cc are not fans of the HMR , well, many people are!

 

It has its uses, I have a decent selection of guns/calibres and despite issues with HMR ammo I find mine very useful!

 

I also hear this long range crows malarkey all the time, what is the issue, learn how to get closer, or if you just want to test yourself go down a range!

[celticrusader 78]

Yep me also...love my hmr but if you want a long range rifle for crows :/ why not decoy them with the shotguns?

I'm sure when you get the hang of it its much more effective, either that or decoy them in neer to a hide and pick them off the ground with the moderated .22lr..not very sporting but a lot quieter

Edited November 30, 2014 by celticrusader

[charlie caller 3,654]

Or buy a .17 rem and watch them explode @ 300 yards

[John Stott 202]

Crows? PCP fodder, you lot have expensive habits

[Elliott 436]

The HMR isn't much use past 150 yards if there's any wind and the ballistic tips don't carry enough energy to effectively work at 200 yards - you get a nice .17 hole in whatever you shoot

 

A good .22lr should serve you well out to at least 100 yards in my experience. I decided to chop my HMR for a .223 and haven't regretted it. I imagine a Hornet would be a better alternative if you don't fancy going up to .223

[Elliott 436]

Crows? PCP fodder, you lot have expensive habits

PCP's? You might as well use a catapult

[Deker 3,478]

The HMR isn't much use past 150 yards if there's any wind and the ballistic tips don't carry enough energy to effectively work at 200 yards - you get a nice .17 hole in whatever you shoot

 

A good .22lr should serve you well out to at least 100 yards in my experience. I decided to chop my HMR for a .223 and haven't regretted it. I imagine a Hornet would be a better alternative if you don't fancy going up to .223

 

 

I think I am sort of agreeing with you but putting it another way.

 

HMR carries plenty of energy at 200 yards to stop a rabbit or crow instantly.

 

It may not deliver that energy as efficiently as at some distances, and delivering it to the right place at 200 yards isn't that easy either.

 

In simple terms I don't really see the HMR as a 200yard everyday tool for anything...but then again, a HMR to a .223 is more than a 1000ft lb increase, there are several choices in between those two!

[Elliott 436]

 

 

The HMR isn't much use past 150 yards if there's any wind and the ballistic tips don't carry enough energy to effectively work at 200 yards - you get a nice .17 hole in whatever you shoot

 

A good .22lr should serve you well out to at least 100 yards in my experience. I decided to chop my HMR for a .223 and haven't regretted it. I imagine a Hornet would be a better alternative if you don't fancy going up to .223

 

I think I am sort of agreeing with you but putting it another way.

 

HMR carries plenty of energy at 200 yards to stop a rabbit or crow instantly.

 

It may not deliver that energy as efficiently as at some distances, and delivering it to the right place at 200 yards isn't that easy either.

 

In simple terms I don't really see the HMR as a 200yard everyday tool for anything...but then again, a HMR to a .223 is more than a 1000ft lb increase, there are several choices in between those two!

I've had a number of 'pass throughs' on both rabbits and crows past 150 yards with the HMR where the V-Max bullet didn't expand which was quite distressing. Whilst the velocity may be there on paper I don't honestly think the expansion is and the transfer of energy.

 

I recal one of the lads on the HMR forum putting this theory to the test and it did indeed prove true. Check out RimfireNZ on YouTube for the video

[Cedric 132]

I found my .17 hmr pleasant to shoot and very efficient out to 125 yards. It will do much further but the wind is a big factor.

 

You should keep a .22 lr as well, different tool for a different use, cheap, efective and quiet up to it's range limits.

 

I recently changed my hmr for a Hornet (.22), mostly because of the wind problem but also for dropping foxes at longer ranges than the hmr (we don't need a debate, it's been discussed ad infinitum on here ! ). Whilst I don't regret changing you should be aware that factory ammo is about 88p per shot and if you reload (which I do) the components are virtually impossible to find.

[Elliott 436]

Here you are: 17HMR - Dishonest 200 yard performance: