by WesleySnipes » 01 May 2014, 8:16 am
As you've had experience with the .17hmr you'll know it's quite a handy capable little cartridge, but so is .22lr when used appropriately.
.22lr ammunition is much cheaper, plentiful, and is definitely capable if you note the cartridges limitations. Personally I don't take my .22 out further than around 150, and that's pushing it especially on a windy day. Out any further than that subsonics energy just drops too much to ensure consistent kills on foxes in my opinion, so I'd just grab my .223 and job done.
While the .17hmr is an amazing round with a flat trajectory and ballistically superior to the .22lr, I would never purchase one even though it does everything better in the field.
I guess the reason for this is I know the .22's boundaries and rarely push unless mucking around slapping targets 2-300 metres away. Most encounters with small game and vermin will be close enough the .22 will instantly put lights out and so will a .17hmr.
It's up to you I guess, I stick with a .22 because it works, the .17 just does it better.