RUGER PRECISION RIMFIRE 17 HMR VS 22 WMR

Apr 28, 2019 | .22 Rifles

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RUGER PRECISION RIMFIRE 17 HMR VS 22 WMR

Picture of a RUGER PRECISION RIMFIRE 17 HMR VERSUS 22 WMR

RUGER PRECISION RIMFIRE .17 HMR VERSUS .22 WMR WHICH WOULD YOU BUY?

I was initially contemplating buying a .22 LR Ruger Precision Rimfire aka “RPR” but that changed when MDT released their LSS Rimfire Chassis for the CZ American. I’m not giving up on owning a Ruger Precision Rimfire I just moved the target to a choice between a .17 HMR or .22 WMR.

This isn’t one of those “which is better .22 Magnum or .17 HMR?” posts, the internet is filled with commentary on that topic. In my opinion while the two rimfire cartridges overlap a bit they serve different purposes which I’ll briefly cover further down. This post is instead about which caliber .17 HMR or .22 HMR did you buy or would you buy if you were in the market for a non .22lr Ruger RPR?

RUGER PRECISION RIMFIRE .17 HMR VERSUS .22 WMR

If you want to read a great article on .17 HMR versus .22 WMR that isn’t merely clickbait and internet regurgitation, Chuck Hawks has the best write up. For our post, I will simplify the subject.

Hornady 17 HMR 20gr XTP

17 HMR: The super-accurate .17 HMR has a higher muzzle velocity, a flatter trajectory delivering much less energy than the .22 WMR. .17 HMR ammo costs more than .22 HMR
22 WMR: The larger, heavier bullet of the .22 HMR has a lower muzzle velocity but generates more energy than the .17 HMR

Hornady 22 WMR 30gr

.17 HMR VERSUS .22 WMR – INTENDED TARGET MATTERS

When choosing between the .17 HMR and .22 WMR (.22 Mag), it would appear that how your planning to use your rifle might be the best way to determine which caliber is best for you. The .17 HMR has a lightweight modern bullet profile that, when combined with high velocity, lends itself to long-range accuracy but without much punch. The .22 WMR is not quite as accurate or far-reaching as the .17 HMR, but it delivers a lot more energy on targets within its useable range than the .17 HMR.

For me, I’m simply a target shooter and only care about accuracy, and that makes .17 HMR a natural choice. If I were looking to take out small game, I would choose the .22 WMR all day. Not to say that the .17 HMR can’t be used on the same game at equal distances, but the .22 magnum is simply a bigger hammer at 100 yards.

RUGER PRECISION RIMFIRE .17 HMR VERSUS .22 WMR COMMON FEATURES

Molded, one-piece chassis and adjustable buttstock assembly are manufactured with glass-filled nylon for strength, stiffness, and stability, making a solid foundation for accuracy each and every shot. Adjustable buttstock features a flat Picatinny bag rider making it easy to affix a rear monopod. A molded-in window provides a tether point for your squeeze bag, and a metal QD pocket makes it easy to secure a sling.
Quick-Fit adjustable Precision Rimfire stock allows the length of pull and comb height to be quickly and easily adjusted to get proper fit over a wide range of shooter sizes, outerwear, and shooting positions. Indicating marks molded into the chassis help you quickly return to a previous position.
Big-Gun bolt throw adjustment enables shooters to change from a rimfire 1-1/2″ bolt throw to a short-action centerfire 3″ bolt throw, reducing the chance of short-stroking your bolt in competition.
Ruger Marksman Adjustable™ trigger is externally adjustable, with a trigger pull range of 2.25 to 5 pounds; wrench storage in a buttstock compartment.
Ruger’s own AR-Pattern pistol grip and safety selector provides an extended reach for maximum control and access to the 45°, reversible safety selector. May be configured with most AR-style grips and selectors.
Anodized 0 MOA Picatinny scope base makes it easy to mount and zero optics.
Oversized bolt handle for positive bolt manipulation (same as the Ruger Precision® Rifle).
15″ aluminum free-float handguard is black hard-coat anodized aluminum. It features Magpul® M-LOK® slots on all four sides for improved scope clearance for long-range scopes and easy mounting of M-LOK-compatible rails and accessories.
18″ target barrel is cold hammer-forged from 1137 alloy steel to create ultra-precise rifling for excellent accuracy. The barrel can be replaced easily by a competent gunsmith using AR-style wrenches and headspace gauges.
1/2″-28 threaded barrel for standard muzzle accessories, like the Silent-SR® suppressor, comes with a factory-installed thread protector covering both the threads and crown.
Accepts Ruger® magnum rimfire magazines, including the JMX-1 rotary magazine and the BX-15® Magnum magazine.