Mike Pearson
New member
Song Dog,
Excellent post! Agree with you 100% about the Stinger's lethality and also on the bigger, slower bullets for tree squirrels. Regarding the .22 Mag vs. the .17HMR, I also agree with you the .22 Mag's thump superiority. However, on the wind deflection, check out some ballistic tables comparing the two downrange, especially past 100 yards. The .17 HMR holds a slight advantage in every table I've seen. There are two reasons for this. The .17 HMR holds a slightly higher ballistic coefficient and also is starting off at a good headstart in muzzle velocity (less flight time to the target). It's not a really big difference but the further you go from the muzzle, the more pronounced it is. That's why there are so many posts of .17 HMR shooters taking small stuff (gophers, ground squirrels, crows, etc.) out to 200 yards. You rarely read that about the .22 Mag. Yes, I know the .17 HMR has a trajectory advantage but it's not so flat that you don't have to hold over for 175-200 yard shots. It's wind deflection that's the key variable at the further ranges. The .17 HMR, while by no means a .223, does best the .22 Mag....in wind deflection.
Check out any table comparing the two. They all support what I just wrote.
Thanks For the Reply,
Mike
Excellent post! Agree with you 100% about the Stinger's lethality and also on the bigger, slower bullets for tree squirrels. Regarding the .22 Mag vs. the .17HMR, I also agree with you the .22 Mag's thump superiority. However, on the wind deflection, check out some ballistic tables comparing the two downrange, especially past 100 yards. The .17 HMR holds a slight advantage in every table I've seen. There are two reasons for this. The .17 HMR holds a slightly higher ballistic coefficient and also is starting off at a good headstart in muzzle velocity (less flight time to the target). It's not a really big difference but the further you go from the muzzle, the more pronounced it is. That's why there are so many posts of .17 HMR shooters taking small stuff (gophers, ground squirrels, crows, etc.) out to 200 yards. You rarely read that about the .22 Mag. Yes, I know the .17 HMR has a trajectory advantage but it's not so flat that you don't have to hold over for 175-200 yard shots. It's wind deflection that's the key variable at the further ranges. The .17 HMR, while by no means a .223, does best the .22 Mag....in wind deflection.
Check out any table comparing the two. They all support what I just wrote.
Thanks For the Reply,
Mike