General P
Senior Member
Ok I just bought a Ruger American from Bud's gun shop on their 180 day layaway. One of the new green heavy barreled versions. That looks like the Ruger predator rifle, but only in rimfire. I opted for the .22 lr version. I even picked up a Nikon Prostaff rimfire scope for it from Buds. Well now the problem is I have rimfire fever. And they have the same rifle in .17 hmr and .22 wmr. I had been leaning to the .17 hmr but then started reading about the .17 wsm. And I thought well if I'm going to only get one Magnum I should get the best Magnum there is right ?
So my question is which one ? I really don't have a use for any of the magnums other that I want another gun. And while they are more expensive than the .22 lr, they are still a lot cheaper than shooting anything centerfire. I do like to squirrel and rabbit hunting for the dinner plate. But I've heard the magnums are all too much for small small game. I don't really predator hunt { not that I wouldn't shoot a coyote deer hunting }. I would like to hunt hogs almost year round and a rimfire would be the ticket for that. At a recent trip to wal-mart there was no .22lr or .22wmr. But they did have plenty of .17 hmr and .17 wsm. It seems the .17wsm is only two or three dollars more per box than the .17 hmr. But the rifles are limited in it.
For the .17 hmr and the .22wmr I can put another Ruger on 180 layaway but for the .17 wsm I'm basically stuck with the Savage Bmag. Which I've not heard great things. Ruger does make a model 77 chambered in .17 wsm but it's twice the price of all the other rimfires. And with it being up into the high centerfire rifle prices I can't rationalize that.
I'm really leaning to one of the .17's just for the speed and hopefully laser like accuracy. But haven't rulled out the heavier .22wmr. I like the idea of 100 to 150 yard head shots on critters with the .17's, and maybe farther than that with the wsm. What do you think ? What's your experience with these three rounds. I will post this in the firearms forum also.
So my question is which one ? I really don't have a use for any of the magnums other that I want another gun. And while they are more expensive than the .22 lr, they are still a lot cheaper than shooting anything centerfire. I do like to squirrel and rabbit hunting for the dinner plate. But I've heard the magnums are all too much for small small game. I don't really predator hunt { not that I wouldn't shoot a coyote deer hunting }. I would like to hunt hogs almost year round and a rimfire would be the ticket for that. At a recent trip to wal-mart there was no .22lr or .22wmr. But they did have plenty of .17 hmr and .17 wsm. It seems the .17wsm is only two or three dollars more per box than the .17 hmr. But the rifles are limited in it.
For the .17 hmr and the .22wmr I can put another Ruger on 180 layaway but for the .17 wsm I'm basically stuck with the Savage Bmag. Which I've not heard great things. Ruger does make a model 77 chambered in .17 wsm but it's twice the price of all the other rimfires. And with it being up into the high centerfire rifle prices I can't rationalize that.
I'm really leaning to one of the .17's just for the speed and hopefully laser like accuracy. But haven't rulled out the heavier .22wmr. I like the idea of 100 to 150 yard head shots on critters with the .17's, and maybe farther than that with the wsm. What do you think ? What's your experience with these three rounds. I will post this in the firearms forum also.