.17 HMR or .22 Mag ?

[specweldtom]

Has anyone built or bought a custom barreled (Shilen, Lilja, etc.) .22 Mag? I would like to know if it is possible for the .22 Mag to be as accurate as the .17 HMR before I decide which one to build. I have seen a couple of JE Custom .17 HMR's shoot under 1/2 moa at 100 yds, and wonder if the .22 Mag can do it.

Thanks, Tom

 

[britz]

From what I understand, much of the accuracy of the HMR is due to the excellent ammunition available. The loaded cartridges are simply put together with much tighter tolerances.

 

[James Jones]

Tom ,the trouble with the rim fire rifles is that your at the mercy of the loaded ammo and their is very little quality loaded ammo for the 22mag. i have a Ruger 77/22 that i rebarreled to 17HMR and have since swapped back to the 22mag with a better barrel. the speed and accuracy of the little 17 was impressive but the on target performance on anyhting bigger than a small rodent not impressive at all , with the 22 mag i can easly kill coyotes , cats and feral dogs easly at 100yds. My little Ruger will consistanly group around an inch with most factroy ammo.

 

[specweldtom]

britz, ammo was one of my concerns with the .22 Mag. I have a few boxes of Federal, CCI, Winchester and Remington Premier. I think all of them have jacketed bullets. I have the most confidence in the Remington (for no particular reason). JE Custom has found that the Hornady round is the best in the .17's he has shot.

James, the main reason that I also would prefer a .22 Mag is the bullet weight. I think they are 40 grs or so. The other reason is that I would just like to see if a .22 Mag can be made to shoot really well.

I am looking for a Savage or Marlin donor rifle. I don't think I can afford an Anschutz, or a Ruger. Need a good trigger, and a stable barrel mount. Haven't taken a Savage or Marlin apart, so don't know how their barrels are mounted.

Any advice appreciated. Thanks, Tom

 

[leatherman92]

17 is a great cartridge I had a savage that would shoot 1/2 moa groups @ 100 yards.

 

[shooter#42]

i rebarreled a martini with a heavy shilen barrel. with federal #757 load it shoots mid 4's to high 6's consistantly at 100 yards. i got rid of my hmr as the heavier 22 bullets kill better. truthfully though it was a lot of money for a little gain.

 

[specweldtom]

42, what length did you crown the barrel at? I'm planning to crown at 20". Is it a .224 centerfire barrel, and what twist did you use? Sounds encouraging. I use mostly Shilen barrels.

Thanks to all, Tom

 

[jacack]

not truly a custom bbut I have a sako quad with a lilja barrel in 22mag and it will shoot around .6 @ 100, some better some worse and I am sure its the ammo, my gun loves the rem premire but will shoot even better with some ossi, not sure if you can even get it anymore but I bought a case a few yrs back and when it runs out I will go with the rem,
just for info I also have a custom 17hmr on a remington 40X action with a lilja and it shoots better than the magnum at 100 and more but at 50 they are equal.

Jared

 

[specweldtom]

Jared, Exactly what I was wondering about. Thanks. Lilja recommends a .224 centerfire barrel in a 15 twist for the Mag. I haven't talked to Shilen yet. Still going to start with the .22 Mag. because of the heavier bullet.

Again, thanks to all.

Tom

 

[james blond]

.17 all the way

I don't know about .22 Mag but i have a Sako Quad with a Green Mountain barrel and nightforce 8-32 nxs- this eats f.m.j and federal v.shock - the barrels been spiral fluted and diamond lapped- this key holes @100 and i achieved sub 1"@275 yards- also the dumbest most unlucky rabbit came out the hedge and decided to have its last feed right by the 250 yard target- a full metal put him straight down-

James

Has anyone built or bought a custom barreled (Shilen, Lilja, etc.) .22 Mag? I would like to know if it is possible for the .22 Mag to be as accurate as the .17 HMR before I decide which one to build. I have seen a couple of JE Custom .17 HMR's shoot under 1/2 moa at 100 yds, and wonder if the .22 Mag can do it.

Thanks, Tom

 

[22MAG]

I have a 22LR but am thinking about stepping up to a riffle that I can plink at 200yrds that is economical as well. Would you recommend a 22MAG or something else?

 

[sierracharlie338]

Holy thread revival from 2008!

 

[FEENIX]

Holy thread revival from 2008!

L L! 2nd one I've seen today.

 

[Frog4aday]

Since it's alive again, @22 Mag , you could also look at the.22 Hornet, especially if you are a reloader.