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Is a .17 caliber smaller than a .22 caliber?

Author

James Craig

Published Jan 20, 2026

The . 17 HMR cartridges are lighter than standard . 22-caliber ammo and have more than twice the velocity. They were designed to outperform the .

Is .17 or .22 Bigger?

17HMR. .22 LR is heavier and much slower than . 17 HMR. It's probably becoming apparent to you that . 17 HMR gives much higher velocity, shoots much flatter, and in general is a much better long range caliber for varmint shooting.

Which is louder 22 mag or 17 HMR?

The major downsides of . 17 HMR is that it's more expensive than other rimfire ammo, Less kinetic energy, More destructive at close range and considerably louder than other two rimfire cartridges.

What is the difference between 22 mag and 17 HMR?

While the 17 HMR boasts a superior velocity at all ranges, the 22 WMR is able to deliver greater energy throughout either round's effective range thanks to its far heavier bullet. Energy is only one factor that determines how deadly a bullet performs upon finding its target.

Which is stronger 17 HMR or 22LR?

22 LR beyond 75 yards with even a breath of wind should be able to recognize the superiority of the. 17 HMR in this regard. Travelling only about 1,200 fps at the muzzle, a standard 36-grain . 22 LR drops all the way down to 930 fps at 150 yards.

32 related questions found

What is the 17 HMR good for?

. 17 HMR is primarily used for mid-range small game and varmint hunting. The bullet's velocity and accuracy make it ideal for hunting rabbit, possum, and raccoons from up to 200-yards.

What's the difference between a 17 HMR and a 17 WSM?

17 HMR is often known for its high velocity, but the . 17 WSM offers an even faster small bullet. Right out of the muzzle, we can see that the . 17 WSM is flying 450 ft/s faster than the .

How far will a .17 HMR shoot?

17 HMR rifles to 200 yards and will shoot out to 300 yards in calm conditions.

What is the difference between 17 HMR and 17 Hornet?

17 HMR is a rimfire cartridge, while the . 17 Hornet uses a primer, making it one of the smallest centerfire cartridges ever invented. Centerfire cartridges produce more energy, the rimfire design is less expensive to produce and purchase, but the performance is indicative of the price difference.

What is the difference in 17 caliber bullets?

The 17 WSM sends a 20 grain bullet out at 3000 fps, whereas the HMR is sending a 17 grain bullet at 2550 fps. That makes for some difference in the field, with the HMR granting an MPBR of 165 yards, whereas the WSM can do it with 205 yards (I'm running calculations for gopher-sized targets).

Is there a gun smaller than a 22?

There has never been a successful rimfire caliber smaller than the . 22, at least not until now. Most cartridges are centerfire with the exception of . 22-caliber rimfire ammunition.

Is 22 mag better than 22LR?

22WMR, when shot from a rifle, carries more downrange energy at 100 yards than the . 22LR does at the muzzle. Due to this, its quiet report and minimum recoil, the . 22WMR caught on with small varmint hunters, and now there is a good choice of handguns and rifles offered in the powerful little cartridge.

Can you hunt deer with a 17 HMR?

The question is “Can you go deer hunting with a 17 HMR rifle?” The answer is a categorical no you can not hunt deer with a 17 HMR. Only a criminally negligent poacher would take a shot at any animal larger than a coyote with a . 17 HMR. A 17 HMR is woefully inadequate to take a deer ethically.

What's the difference between 22LR and 22 long rifle?

22 L comes in both standard and high-velocity versions, it is still 15 feet per second slower than the . 22 LR high-velocity bullet. The . 22 L launches at a velocity of 1,038 feet per second, while the 22 LR ranges from 1,080 to 1,640 feet per second.

Whats bigger 22 250 or 223?

223 cartridge, you'll notice the . 22-250 is wider and longer. Although the bullet diameter is the same for both cartridges, the . 22-250 has a larger case.

Can you shoot coyotes with a 17 HMR?

Yes, with decent shot placement and a non-plastic tipped bullet, they'll put a coyote down as well as a . 243 will put down a deer. It'll probably run 20-50 yards and fall over.

What is the fastest .17 HMR round?

17 Winchester Super Magnum, which is not only going to be the world's fastest rimfire round, but also one that offers a significant performance increase over the . 17 HMR (see charts below). It pushes a 20-grain bullet at 3,000 fps, which is 625 fps faster than the .

Can I shoot 17 WSM in a 17 HMR?

Can I shoot 17 WSM ammo in a 17 HMR rifle? No, you can't safely fire . 17 WSM cartridges from a rifle chambered in . 17 HMR.

What are all the .17 calibers?

  • 222 Remington Family Wildcats. The 222 family of cartridges is probably the most popular case in use today for the 17 caliber wildcats. ...
  • 17 MACH IV. The 17 Mach IV was designed by Vern O'Brien, Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1962. ...
  • 17 JAVELINA. ...
  • 17 PPC. ...
  • 17 REMINGTON. ...
  • 17 Remington Fireball. ...
  • 17 PEEWEE OR 17-30 CARBINE. ...
  • 17 LANDIS WOODSMAN.

Is 17 HMR too much for squirrels?

Ammunition for the . 17 HMR are a good bit more expensive than . 22 long rifle cartridges, but not enough to make them impractical to use for squirrels.

What does HMR mean in ammo?

17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire, commonly known as the . 17 HMR, is a rimfire rifle cartridge developed by Littleman Mitchell in 2002. It was developed by necking down a . 22 Magnum case to take a . 17 caliber (4.5 mm) projectile.