[pharmer14]

I feel like "the old lady who swallowed the fly" with guns recently.

I've had a .45 auto for a few years now, and although I've got about 250 rounds saved up, I broke down and bought a ruger SR-22 to take to the range thinking .22 would be easier to find. WRONG!!!

I visited 3 stores today looking for .22 ammo, and the overwhelming theme is that the only rimfire ammo (heck, some stores ammo PERIOD) out there is .17HMR.

I was thinking about investing in this caliber for a couple reasons. First, it seems to be in low demand. Second, what it lacks in ballistics and such for big game, it makes up for with versatility. There are a few models of pistols out there, but it's primarily a rifle round, meaning it could be used for both hunting in a SHTF scenario and concealed carry in more immediate times.

Does anyone shoot 17? What are your experiences with it?

 

[Infidel]

I think you're onto something but I'm not sure the .17HMR is all it's cracked up to be (granted I haven't spent enough time with one to really say one way or the other). I love the idea of diversification so as to always be able to get ammo, my concern with the .17 is it may be just a little too light (again not enough experience to say for sure). My personal feeling on the .17 was it was an answer in search of a question, accurate yes but what purpose would it fill that was not filled better by another chambering? All that being said I see no reason why it wouldn't make an excellent squirrel or bunny killer or even a target gun.

-Infidel

 

[inceptor]

Buy online. The last I checked both LuckyGunner and Red River had .45 in stock.

 

[pharmer14]

Buy online. The last I checked both LuckyGunner and Red River had .45 in stock.

Thanks for the advice. Ironically, .45 is a bit easier to come by (especially home this week in PA for spring break). 22 is the though one now... I saw a link on gunbot that had it for over 40cents a round!

On one hand, ammo is cheaper than guns, but on the other, what good is the gun if ammo is so scarce? My entire point is that 17 is widely available because nobody uses it. The question was is it even a round worth my/our time?

 

[inceptor]

Thanks for the advice. Ironically, .45 is a bit easier to come by (especially home this week in PA for spring break). 22 is the though one now... I saw a link on gunbot that had it for over 40cents a round!

On one hand, ammo is cheaper than guns, but on the other, what good is the gun if ammo is so scarce? My entire point is that 17 is widely available because nobody uses it. The question was is it even a round worth my/our time?

Sorta makes me wonder why no one is using it. I vaguely remember something about an issue with .17. I think it was the ammo but I could be wrong.

 

[pharmer14]

Sorta makes me wonder why no one is using it. I vaguely remember something about an issue with .17. I think it was the ammo but I could be wrong.

From what I've read, it is a question of distance with small game. They say if you're too close to a squirrel or rabbit, there won't be any meat left on it after you shoot it. I've also read that you shouldn't use it on game much larger than a bobcat or fox, so that kind of limits its use as far as edible meat goes.

The one thing .22 has going for it that I haven't seen yet with .17 is the bird shot. I was thinking that would also make quick work of a snake and will probably pick some up in the next couple days... maybe buy a third magazine and keep it loaded for bird/snake?

 

[shooter]

I bought a savage 93e17 combo at Big 5 sporting goods a while back. It has a longer range then a .22LR but a bit more of a kick. I use it mostly for varmint shooting which it is extremely good at. You can hit parrie dogs at about 200 yards with it no no problem. As for squirrel and Rabbit well I have taken a fair number of them with it, and unless they where really close its cavity is similar to a 22lr HP. The one thing is the ammo cost a lot more then .22 ammo but other then that its a great rim fire round.

As for the .17 ammo having an issue; back when then .17 HMR came out a lot of people wanted a semi auto firearm for the gun. A few companies tried to make one but had issues due to the .17 being a very high compression round. But after testing it was pretty much proven the round was safe and that due to the high compression (very similar to the .22 magnum's) that you had to find a way to reduce the pressure in order to make the fire arm cycle correctly. There is a company that makes a semi auto .17 right now but all the big gun makers are staying away from it.

 

[pharmer14]

I bought a savage 93e17 combo at Big 5 sporting goods a while back. It has a longer range then a .22LR but a bit more of a kick. I use it mostly for varmint shooting which it is extremely good at. You can hit parrie dogs at about 200 yards with it no no problem. As for squirrel and Rabbit well I have taken a fair number of them with it, and unless they where really close its cavity is similar to a 22lr HP. The one thing is the ammo cost a lot more then .22 ammo but other then that its a great rim fire round.

As for the .17 ammo having an issue; back when then .17 HMR came out a lot of people wanted a semi auto firearm for the gun. A few companies tried to make one but had issues due to the .17 being a very high compression round. But after testing it was pretty much proven the round was safe and that due to the high compression (very similar to the .22 magnum's) that you had to find a way to reduce the pressure in order to make the fire arm cycle correctly. There is a company that makes a semi auto .17 right now but all the big gun makers are staying away from it.

Yeah I don't know that I'm worried about semi auto. I have 2 (a .45 and a .22). To me, expensive rounds are better than no rounds, which is exactly what I have in .22 at the moment. I haven't decided if I should switch from .22 to .17, just add the .17, or do nothing and just stick with the .22 and wait for the ammo crisis to fade. I may bite the bullet so to speak and grab a couple hundred expensive rounds online and wait for the price to fall.

 

[Infidel]

Don't switch, that's my advice. This will pass and ammo will become easier to find and prices will come down a bit. Switching from .22 to .17 is kind of like cutting off your nose to spite your face. Won't be too long before the .22 ammo is back on shelves and cheaper than the .17 ammo again. Add the .17 if you want but don't switch.

-Infidel

 

[Montana Rancher]

I was given a .17 for a birthday present, I didn't ask for it.

At first it was fun as it out ranges my .22 mag by about 50 yards on ground squirrels which most people call gophers. Terrible wind drift, way more than the .22's.

Bottom line is I traded it last year on a new bushmaster ar15.

IMO
.22 is for short range game to 50 yards and training trigger control and breathing.
.22 mag for 100 yards on small game
.17 up to 150 yards

Problem is before the shortage .22 was $20 for 500 rounds
.22 mag about $8 for a box of 50
.17 was $13 for 50

My dad said tonight .17 was $25

Nuff said

 

[pharmer14]

I was given a .17 for a birthday present, I didn't ask for it.

At first it was fun as it out ranges my .22 mag by about 50 yards on ground squirrels which most people call gophers. Terrible wind drift, way more than the .22's.

Bottom line is I traded it last year on a new bushmaster ar15.

IMO
.22 is for short range game to 50 yards and training trigger control and breathing.
.22 mag for 100 yards on small game
.17 up to 150 yards

Problem is before the shortage .22 was $20 for 500 rounds
.22 mag about $8 for a box of 50
.17 was $13 for 50

My dad said tonight .17 was $25

Nuff said

All valid points, but like I said earlier, unless you set up a tent in the store or use gunbot to find online supplies, the likelihood of finding .22 right now is slim to none. I'd rather have .17 at $25 for 50 than no .22 at all... Add that to a SHTF situation, everybody and their brother has a .22. How likely is the .17 ammo to be looted in comparison with the .22?

 

[pharmer14]

I think a looter will take ALL your ammo. He's not gonna grab an easy chair and sit down and sort your ammo

I'm not talking about my ammo... I'm talking about store inventory. If I needed more in a long term SHTF situation, wouldn't 17 be easier to find than 22?

 

[JAGER]

I have a Marlin 17 HMR bolt action. Very nice 100meter rifle. Mine shoots sub-MOA at 100. That's out of the box ready. The only issue I have with it is the mags. They don't sit very tight in the mag housing. Since the 17HMR is a rimmed case, if you rest on the mag while shooting and rack another round after the shoot most of the time you just get a click. Failure to reload! NTS just don't rest on the mag while your shooting and you will be fine.
I can tell you my POV is to own a rifle and/or pistol in every common round. Reason: Like now, if you can't find 22 buy some 17HMR. 22 comes back on the market buy 22. 45 on the shelf buy it until 9mm comes back. Then if/when a SHTF, no matter what ammo you find (Scouting/dead hostiles exc.exc) chances are you will have a weapon for it. I'm bugging in so I have no issues to carry that many weapons. I will die before I leave my property/home. I'm in the German country side so if they try to trap me in I bet I can out wait/out shoot 90+% of them buggers and if by chance I miss my 4 battle buddies and their family will not!!!! Bring it--- Shoot Straight---JAGER Like the saying goes if my 22 don't get ya my 556 will if my 556 can't get ya my 338 will!

 

[Ripon]

I recently decided to add calibers after deleting some from my arsenal. 17 wasn't one that I'd add though. In this realm of
panic buying (for lack of a better term) I noticed 45 ACP was only moderately impacted so I'll add that again - I still have an hierloom
45-1911 but will need a new Rock Island or Colt soon. I'm not opposed to Kimber and Springfield. There are plenty. I was in a retail
store this weekend and they must have had 50 magazines for them priced fairly too. They had 45 ACP on the shelves too - priced
like a retail store will - but mail order its available.

In my Wal Mart the last trip I made all they had was 243, 30-30, 30-06 and 300 WM. I have an old 300 WM that is also kind of an
hierloom so I did get that box of 20 rounds for $27.99. Not bad for Federals'.

22LR is so volumn oriented it will be back. Look for 499 packs coming soon - due to restrictions on purchases of 500 rounds or
more I love the gun industry - they manage to adapt and overcome LOL.