Buying new rimfire + optic (need advice)

So it's about time I replaced the rimfire I sold a few years back as every kiwi needs a rimfire in his safe. I'm looking for some opinions on a good combination for a sub $1000 package to get started.

Currently I'm set on Ruger American in .22 magnum as I want more range and lethality that a .22 provides and I'm willing to trade the extra accuracy that the HMR provides for a heavier hitting round that still let's me eat what I shoot (or skin) - Oh and don't even get me started on the .17 WSM, where does this cartridge even sit in the rimfire realm aside from absolutely destroying what you shoot at nearly the cost of a .223 round?

Also what Optics would you guys reccomend? Do I follow the herd and go for a rimfire specific scope? Particularly the bushnell rimfire scope in 3-9 or 3-12 power?

Cheers
Macca

Also note that I would like to be able to reach 150 - 200 yards for the smaller rabbits or magpies.

22 mag isnt much cheaper than the .17 is and 200 is pushing it in all but perfect conditions. 22 hornet might be an option its not rimfire but its reloadable. Otherwise id stick to the long rifle and accept its limitations. Scope wise on my 22s i have a kilwell 4x32 on one, a 3-9 mil dot no name on another and a sparc red dot on the third.

if you are going to get a magnum you might aswell buy a .223 as they will cost about the same to run/feed
the norincos bolt action .22lr or .22mag or even the .223s are good value for money IMHO.
there are guys shooting out past that range with .22lr by dialing up with range finders and load dope..........

A Friend uses 17 hmr for culling around vineyards, with the right projectile they wont blow fist size holes.

223 is 'overkill' really.

I have the bushnell rimfire 3-9. Its ok, nothing to rave about but works good.

If I had $1000 to spend i'd be looking at cz's (some of the wooden stocks are much, much nicer than you'd expect).

Chris

+ 1 Micky!

For something that's nice and shoots really well I don't think a Marlin would be hard to go past whilst not breaking the bank.

On the other hand the CZ/Brno's are damn nice if ya want some class.

If you really want to spend it up buy a AR 15 lower receiver and slam a CMMG 22 upper on top- quite easily the most awesome 22 out and which will ensure the most amount of fun you'll ever have with ya pants on!

For optics..... Burris rimfire series comes to mind straight away or a Vortex diamondback HP.

Macca one of our shooting team has a really nice 17HMR to sell. This will get 200m in right wind conditions and with correct distance calculation, but 150m is pretty easy for it.

The rifle is a grey laminate stock Marlin 17HMR, in stainless, with heavy varmint barrel. It's a well sorted unit - had trigger polished (from memory), is suppressed, and has a reliable 6-24 x 44AO Tasco Targetmaster mildot scope. Very accurate - can shoot sub half inch at 100m. Very good condition. Shot in for Hornady ballistic tip and he has some ammo for it also.

Wants $700 - alot of performance for the buck. You could pay alot more and get less.

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Originally Posted by crnkin

A Friend uses 17 hmr for culling around vineyards, with the right projectile they wont blow fist size holes.

223 is 'overkill' really.

I have the bushnell rimfire 3-9. Its ok, nothing to rave about but works good.

If I had $1000 to spend i'd be looking at cz's (some of the wooden stocks are much, much nicer than you'd expect).

Chris

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Cough! There is no such thing as overkill!

Then I looked at this a couple of years ago I came to the conclusion that the 223 was about the same price to run as the HMR and WMR but gave more versatility. So I stuck with the 22lr and bought a 223. If going where there are a lot of furry things I take the 22lr, where there are not so many I take the 223. Where there are lots of furry things and a few bigger things I carry both.

Accurate...Marlin.
Accurate and nice trigger... Savage.
Accurate and pretty... CZ.

All depends on priorities. :)

Like some others here I found the hmr and wmr a bit 'in-betweeny' and have a 22LR and 223 instead.

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Originally Posted by gadgetman

Cough! There is no such thing as overkill!

Then I looked at this a couple of years ago I came to the conclusion that the 223 was about the same price to run as the HMR and WMR but gave more versatility. So I stuck with the 22lr and bought a 223. If going where there are a lot of furry things I take the 22lr, where there are not so many I take the 223. Where there are lots of furry things and a few bigger things I carry both.

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Haha very true,

I did the same, realised 7mm08 does everything 223 can for a similar price so sold the 223.

Where do you stop?

Chris

You only stop when you have tried every calibre and in every configuration right??

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Originally Posted by Macca

Do I follow the herd and go for a rimfire specific scope?

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No, not necessarily, but at least think about parallax. Some people say it doesn't matter, but if you're buying new, why not get the right tool for the job? If you don't want to buy a rimfire parallax scope, then an adjustable parallax scope would be an alternative.

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Originally Posted by mudgripz

Macca one of our shooting team has a really nice 17HMR to sell. This will get 200m in right wind conditions and with correct distance calculation, but 150m is pretty easy for it.

The rifle is a grey laminate stock Marlin 17HMR, in stainless, with heavy varmint barrel. It's a well sorted unit - had trigger polished (from memory), is suppressed, and has a reliable 6-24 x 44AO Tasco Targetmaster mildot scope. Very accurate - can shoot sub half inch at 100m. Very good condition. Shot in for Hornady ballistic tip and he has some ammo for it also.

Wants $700 - alot of performance for the buck. You could pay alot more and get less.

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That sounds like a hard deal to pass up since it's all set up. As someone else said I suppose with the right ammo it would be better equipped for keeping the kills? As dog food mostly.

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Originally Posted by Macca

That sounds like a hard deal to pass up since it's all set up. As someone else said I suppose with the right ammo it would be better equipped for keeping the kills? As dog food mostly.

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Though I do quite like smoked rabbit now and then and wouldn't mind keeping possum pelts intact, though how does the .17 fare against a possum? Does it destroy the pelt around the exit wound or do they have enough mass for the .17 to completely fragment.

With the right projectile you'll be fine

Chris

Head shots for the ones for the table and skinning especially with 17HMR as they are pretty accurate out to 100-150 yards on a good day.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Macca

Though I do quite like smoked rabbit now and then and wouldn't mind keeping possum pelts intact, though how does the .17 fare against a possum? Does it destroy the pelt around the exit wound or do they have enough mass for the .17 to completely fragment.

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To be honest there are not that many rabbits/hares I shoot with the 223 that are not good for eating. It's just that some are too far away to go and get. That HMR mudgripz mentioned is good.

I found the possums quite hard on the HMR due in part to the distance usually shooting them at and the mass of the possum versus the size of the projectile( it has a fancy term that I can't think of right now). On rabbits, plovers, magpies etc it's just flipping awesome (quite literally!).

That Marlin deal sounds like a great buy and would go for it if that's what ya fancy and having learnt to shoot on a 917(synthetic blued, very first line of HMRs) and can attest that suppressed at 100m 10 rounds into a $1 coin and that's from the cheapest model!!!

Yeah the Marlin HMRs are amazingly accurate - had to go buy one myself.

Macca - spoke to owner of Marlin stainless laminate HMR tonight to check if rifle was still for sale - it is. He said trigger is done - very light, cycling is 100%, in terms of accuracy it will shoot thumbnail groups at 125 meters, and at the range they have no trouble popping golf balls and empty 12g cartridges at 150m. Owner knows his stuff - this is a well set up unit.

Those Marlins are too accurate....

It's almost cheating.

If you're looking for the whole package, that 17HMR sounds like a great deal.
If you want to 'piecemeal' your own package, take a look at air rifle scopes.
Took me a while to get used to one (4-12 x 44 AO), I bought off 'Buy,Sell,Swap' forum, but having adapted to the smaller range of scope/eye distance allowance of sight pic, am regularly busting 97-99 at the indoor range with my Annie 1415 M54, without trying very hard.
Cheating I know, for the Smallbore purists, but this is all part of my self imposed training for F/TR next season.