Rimfire - .22LR or .17HMR Which is best?

[Kent Detective]

Hello Guys and Gals,

Greetings to our Christian North American Cousins across the BIG pond. Nice to see our brave soldiers fighting side by side in Afghanistan with their American brothers in arms. So far we (the UK) have lost 320 men and it's going up almost daily!

Thats the protocol out the way -

I thought I would ask you all this question which is causing me some difficulty -

Which calibre is best for Bunnies (European Rabbit)

1. .22LR
2. .17 HMR

I have had a look at most rimfire rifles available in the UK and have narrowed it down to these three (2 of which are excellent Yank made guns) -

1. CZ 452
2. Ruger 10/22 SS
3. Marlin 795 SS

I think all these guns are sold in both .22LR and .17HMR calibre.

I understand that the Ruger 10/22 is the worlds most popular rimfire therefore it follows this is a good choice. Same can be said for the European made CZ. I'm not so sure about the little Marlin model... Marlin is not the first make to spring to mind in the UK. It's recently been introduced into the UK market. I must say I like the look of the 795 in Stainless Steel and it is very cheap compared to the other two guns (above). At only £235 new it seems a remarkable bargain BUT is this so? Bearing in mind it's an American made rifle I thought you could help me out here?

I have just searched online for the Marlin 795 and see it's being sold in the USA for only $135!!!!! That's nearly half the price here (£235)! I can't understand why you guys should get it for half the UK price (maybe I should move to the USA) lol...

I will be using the rimfire mainly for Bunnies between 30 and 150 yards max. I understand this is well within the limits of a good .22 LR however would a .17HMR be more useful?

I will be using a moderator with the gun as sound is vital - I want to try and limit rabbits bolting after a shot. I have been told a .22LR is much much quieter than a .17HMR?

I already have a scope in mind - Leapers compact 3-12 x 50 which is a spare scope I use on my airguns from time to time (Diana 48, Winerack HW97K, Webley Exocet). I'm a great fan of this scope for airguns but is it advisable to use one for rimfire? A friend of mine uses a cheap Hawke scope but I think a Leapers is a step up from this.

If I get a new scope I want to limit my spend to about £125.

As you probably already know the UK firearms laws are probably the most stringent in the whole world. I am currently waiting for my FAC to be granted together with a Shotgun Certificate. For the past few years I have been using UK limt airguns to shoot rabbits. Our airguns are limited to only 12ftlb which gives a max range of about 40 yards.

I would appreciate some sensible advice here...

Thanking you all in anticipation...

Neil