.22 Calibre or .17?

[M4verick]

I am looking into getting a small calibre firearm for gopher shooting and target practice. I have plenty of experience with .22 rifles and I have never shot a .17 calibre. I know .17 calibres are more expensive in the long run due to ammo but I can never confirm this. Can anyone provide me with input? If you recommend a gun, what model? Keep in mind I need something affordable...bolt action, with a clip. I dont want to spend over $350 on the gun (brand new). Any recommendations would be great!

Thanks

[roger]

17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17

[Jeromeo]

17's are fun. Unfortunately you can buy nearly 500 rounds of 22 ammo for almost the same price as 50 rounds of 17hmr. You choose.

[deg72]

17 definatly more power now 22 magnum to a 17 theres a topic for debate

[Jerry D]

17's are fun. Unfortunately you can buy nearly 500 rounds of 22 ammo for almost the same price as 50 rounds of 17hmr. You choose.

x2

I really like the appearance of the Winchester Wildcat .22 - Seen it advertised for under 300 in bass pro catalogs. http://www.winchesterguns.com/produc...18C&mid=525100

Savage and Marlin are also good/great rifles for under your price.

[Ruger4]

Buy a CZ ........

[Jeromeo]

Originally Posted by Jerry D

x2

I really like the appearance of the Winchester Wildcat .22 - Seen it advertised for under 300 in bass pro catalogs. http://www.winchesterguns.com/produc...18C&mid=525100

Savage and Marlin are also good/great rifles for under your price.

I believe WSS has the Winchester wildcats in Edmonton for $269. The heavy barrel varmint is $319 if my memory serves me correctly. They come with 4 clips.

[weldboss]

Ruger 10/22 Carbine with a Bushnell sportsman 3-9 and you will be on budget and happy with your descision

[NUK SOO KOW]

.17 all the way!! I have a savage with a 50$ bushnell rimfire scope. Whole setup cost around the $350 mark. I havn't touched my 22 since I got it. Have blasted gopghers at 150-200 yards no problem(on calm days) and even some furhter ones. I have had gophers launch 6 feet in the air with the 17!! The thing is like a laser, point and shoot!!

[redneck posse]

i have both a .22 and .17hmr sure the .17 is more money to shoot, but its also a lot more fun. johninab and myself where taking gophers this sumer at well over 150 yards. plus its fun to see them do back flips 4 feet in the air after you smack them. if your in the edmonton area send me a PM and i'll take you out and let you try out the .17.

[spoiledsaskhunter]

....i've been putting 8-10 thousand rounds a summer thru my cz .22 and just can't afford the .17. a friend has the .17 and i've shot it a few times. its a fun gun, but imho, not worth the extra cost when i'm shooting as much as i do.

[super7mag]

I have both and love the 17, but the price of ammo had me pulling out the marlin 39a, this summer for gophers. another rant. We have friends in texas that can buy 17 ammo for $12/50 even with exchange rates about even we are $16-$20/50. free trade? they won't shipp across either.Hornady came out with 22 mag bullets pumped up to 2400 fps and about $8/50 maybe the best of both worlds.And the wind drastically affects the 17 bullets, the lighter 17gr v-max it is really noticeable.

[Forest Techer]

I'm having a lot of fun with my 17hmr savage. its a bolt action with a clip. The cost adds up so I'm going to get a .22lr. Marlin 60.

One benefit of the 22 I never thought of before is availability of ammo and versatile ammo. Copper, sub sonic, super cheap, match grade ect. (one of my dogs has been shot at by hunters and she doesn't like the noise anymore)

Sometimes I go for ammo and they don't have 17hmr but theres tons of 22. I'm up north though i'm sure edmonton would be fine.