>17HMR or .223?

[nate_07]

Ok, so I am going to be buying a rifle in the next few weeks, and I dont really know a whole lot about this kind of thing. I do have experience shooting, but thats about it. So I am mainly going to be shooting groundhogs, at relitively close range, and just target shooting. I was originally going to buy a .17 HMR, but I started to wonder if I could get a 1 shot kill every time. Then I was looking at a .243 win, but I think that is a little too big of a bullet. So now I am thinking of getting a savage stevens in 223. So what do you guys think? .17 or .223? Thanks

[andrew cochran]

I would say .17 HMR for ground hogs and paper punching. That is unless you want to reload. .17 HMR is fine for ground hogs at limited rainges.

[wily1]

I have the Stevens in a .223 and for the money it is a great little rifle. At 100 yards I can consistently hit an object as small as a loonie. If you reload a Barnes Varmint Grenade 36 grain is an ideal round to use. (that is pretty much all I reload) Don't have to worry about your bullet bouncing off and flying around as they fragment on impact. Go to the Barnes Website and you can see a demo of the round hitting a grape. Black Hills Ammunition also loads the Varmint Grenade for the .223 and they leave the barrel at over 3700 fps. And with the .223 you also have a rifle capable for coyote size animals. For around $20 Canadian you can get a 40 pack of Winchester 45 grain JHP (3600 fps) that also shot very well out of my rifle. So it is a cheap round to shoot and versatile.

[big boomer]

I would say the .223 because its more versitile and easier to find ammo and if you decide to get into reloading you can reuse the brass if not you can sell the brass. There is nothing wrong with the 17 but the .223 can do more.

[sell33]

223 definitely. Much more versatile. Although depending on how close your "close range" is you might want to check out a 22 lr. I've killed plenty of groundhogs with mine. You should be able ot head shoot a groundhog out to about 75 yards or so. If you have never owned a gun i would definitely go 22. If nothing else it makes gh hunting more of a challenge cause you can't snipe them at 300 yds. plus ammo is extremely cheap compared to anything else.

P.S. im from west central ohio, where you from? lol

[7mmremmag1995]

223 because of ammo availability and you can also hunt slightly larger game like yotes

[gene cobb]

I have a savage 10FP heavy barrel and with the winchester 45 gr its a tack driver at 200 yards.If you eventually move up to coyote size game you are going to want at least a 223, and again ammos not that expensive

[nate_07]

yeah I was deffinately leaning towards the 223. Sell33, I live out at Buckeye Lake. This will technically be MY first gun, but I have shot before so I dont think I need to start with a 22.

[LarryO1970]

A .22 is not just a starter gun... and can be very effective on closer targets. I also agree with the other guys that a .223 is probably your better bet, especially given you can shoot larger prey and at further distances.

Why not get one of each ?! ;-)

[Poset]

223 for all the reasons already mentioned.

[sell33]

Hmm i'm not sure where that is i live in celina if you have heard of it. Well i still think you should consider it i know everyone thinks a 22 is so weak and what not, especially when we are younger. I myself had bought a mini 14 in 223 and hten i realized i rarely used it and itw as stupid so i went back down to 22 mag. I shoot my 22 more than anything though. here in ohio there are just so many people some centerfires are just not smart to shoot. I live in a farming area so it is fairly wide open but there are still tons of houses. Depending on your range 22 still might do the trick.

How much do you plan to spend? that would help give a better idea as well.

[Hotled]

The 17HMR is a wonderful round, I just can't say enough about it. It will easily take ground hogs,prairie dogs,squirrels,turkey,(coyotes head shots within 175y) as long as you know your limits as a shooter and the max range to shoot at for each.
As you note that this will be your first hunting rifle I would probably opt for the .223 until you really hone your hunting and shooting skills. This will allow you to use it on other larger game and also will give you more room for error.

[gene cobb]

My son and I have the same 223 set ups as far as guns and optics,we also have access to some fields where 400 yard shots are possible. We like to get a friendly competition going as to who can make the longest kill. right now he holds the mark at 302 yds. we are headin out tomorrow to start this woodchuck season off.

[cremley]

I had the same question a few months ago and I ended up going with a .17HMR. The reason I did this was because
1. the cost to buy .17HMR ammo is cheaper than .223 ammo, and
2. I was only going to be using it for target practice out to the 200yd range.
the savage that I bought can hit bullseyes at 100yds and I am sure you can kill a groundhog within that distance as long as you practice marksmanship. If I used mine more for hunting and less for target, I would have gone with a .223 just because you would use less ammo. If cost is not a concern, I would go with a nice .223

[nate_07]

larry I agree that a .22 is not just a starter gun, I like to shoot .22, but I think I should go with the .223, I might decide to try to hunt something a little bigger in the next few years, and I would also like to try some longer range shooting.

[nate_07]

Ok thanks huys. I just got back from the store and I went with a savage model 10 in 223. It was more than I wanted to spend, but it would have cost me about the same after scope, rings, bases, etc.. for the stevens.

[vikingpreacher]

I would go for the 17 HMR or a 22 WMR, the 22 offers a little more power.

Originally Posted by 7mmremmag1995

223 because of ammo availability and you can also hunt slightly larger game like yotes

You can hunt coyotes with a 17 HMR or 22 WMR, just make a good shot and limit your range.

[Savagebolter]

I own both and I could be more pleased with the 17 HMR, it is really a understimated round. the devastation of it is absolutely amazing when you really think about it.
A 17-20 grain bullet traveling 2550 f/sec, and its a ballistic tip! BONUS!

I have fun with my savage popping hogs, crows, foxes, and even turkeys at 120+ yrds. You hit them, they'll die. Most people say that this round is only good within a short range err 100 yrds. This is a very flat round to 150 yrds, even then it doesn't drop a whole lot at 200. In the end, if you want a good shooter with tons a fun following every shot, this is the gun. period.

Now onto the .223, I also have a savage set up for anything. heavy free-floating barrel, accutrigger, good glass and only one in the chamber, because thats all you'll need (keep in mind all this is available on the 17 too.).
this is a very fun gun with good set of glass. your range is almost endless and the ammo really isn't that much more sometimes it is cheaper. better for varmints of all sizes and good range gun. punch holes and have fun!

pick one, you will not go wrong, then get the other later, I got the 17 HMR first and dont regret it!

[pball942]

Get em both.

[nate_07]

Ok, guys if you didnt see the post above, I already bought my gun. I got a savage model 10, in .223. I havent really hada chance to shoot it yet, butI'm hoping to in the next few days. I would like to get a .17 in the future just to have fun with but I can't really afford it right now (colleg student). Thanks for all the input.