which is the most devestating on impact penetration and wound diameter wise
2007-11-11 11:49:42 · 4 answers · asked by jcmudslinger 1 in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Hunting
Here's an article from Chuck Hawks that might help you make up your mind. The 22 mag is better close up, but doesn't have the range or the accuracy of the .17hmr.
Summary and conclusion
The .17 HMR, 5mm RFM, and .22 WMR are all useful varmint cartridges. Recoil and muzzle blast are low, particularly from a rifle. They are good cartridges for use in semi-populated areas. .17 HMR accuracy is typically exceptional, but the other two cartridges are not slouches in the accuracy department, either.
The .17 HMR has an advantage in velocity and trajectory/range. The .22 WMR has an advantage in bullet cross sectional area. The 5mm RFM has an advantage in energy at all ranges and probably in killing power on the larger varmints. It is in-between the other two cartridges in bullet cross sectional area and virtually tied with the .22 WMR in trajectory.
After researching and writing this article, not to mention having killed a reasonable number of varmints and small predators with rimfire cartridges over a period of some 40 years, I have reached some conclusions about these three cartridges.
Out to at least 100 yards, all three are deadly varmint cartridges. No varmint can live on the differences between them.
Between about 100 and 125 yards the .22 WMR and 5mm RFM probably have an advantage over the .17 HMR for the larger species of varmints. Between 125 and 150 yards, for the larger varmints, I would favor the 5mm RFM over the other two cartridges.
Stretch the range beyond 150 yards and the flatter trajectory of the .17 HMR makes it the best choice for any sort of varmint shooting, and on the smaller species of varmints it is the top choice at all ranges.
2007-11-11 15:59:31 · answer #1 · answered by smf_hi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
on ballistic gelatin the 22mag had about 3 more inches cavitation. the temporary cavity was the same as .17hmr. in diameter the entry wound was larger on .22 by 3.6cm . the 17 hits with less ke(kinetic energy) about 5 pounds less because of cal area.the 22mag is the Superior round
2007-11-11 20:03:15 · answer #2 · answered by cabrerapir 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I prefer .22 mag because it goes far farther and it is a more reliable gun. The .17 is a gun that hits a little less than the mag and doesn't have no where near the same range.
2007-11-11 20:21:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
22 Mag hollow points.*
2007-11-12 11:01:41 · answer #4 · answered by dca2003311@yahoo.com 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋