Average price of .17 HMR ammo?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Average price of .17 HMR ammo?

Posted: 10/16/2003 11:51:46 AM EDT

I haven't really checked at the local shops yet, but when I saw the 50 round boxes at the last funshow, they were a solid $8.50 or so (+ or - $1). I'm asking for a nice rimfire something for Xmas, and I can't decide between a regular .22LR Savage (which is my choice so far, sue to cost), or a slightly more expensive .17 HMR, both bolt action. I'll give the local shops a look tomorrow, but I'd be interested to know what they SHOULD be selling for. Thanks!

Posted: 10/16/2003 4:23:00 PM EDT

[#1]

Here in Missouri they go between 9.50 and 10.00 a box on the average.

Posted: 10/16/2003 4:35:49 PM EDT

[#2]

Saw some local here for $9.99 yesterday.

Danny

Posted: 10/16/2003 5:04:59 PM EDT

[#3]

Costs about the same as my .22 mag ammunition 7-11 bucks per box.

Posted: 10/16/2003 9:35:32 PM EDT

[#4]

Thanks, guys! Guess our prices are about where they ought to be. Unless the .17HMR has some WAY better performance, I think I'll stick with the .22LR until .17 price drops some. Thanks!

Posted: 10/16/2003 9:39:12 PM EDT

[#5]

... You know, one of these days, you guys are going to have to explain all the hoopla about the .177 HMR to us lay folk that don't have one yet.

Posted: 10/17/2003 10:41:25 AM EDT

[#6]

Just think about how silly you would feel spending 10 bucks for 50 rounds...

Keep thinking about it...
Ok, stop. Now, git yerself a .22LR like the rest of the world and enjoy spending 8-9 bucks for 500 rounds of ammo.

Posted: 10/17/2003 12:03:50 PM EDT

[#7]

Jeff,

Thanks! I think I needed that.

As far as I'm concerned, I'll settle for the .22.

Now, about that $10 for 50 rounds. If that was in .308, I'd buy a box every day.

Posted: 10/17/2003 12:17:37 PM EDT

[#8]

WW, The answer is speed, speed kills. MIKE.

Posted: 10/17/2003 12:59:07 PM EDT

[#9]

It runs $9 - 10 a box in this neck of the woods.

I notice a bunch of "I'll stick with .22LR" comments above - you guys DO know that .17HMR is comparable to (better than IMO) .22WMRF, NOT .22LR. Anybody who claims that .17HMR (or .22WMRF, for that matter) can't do anything that .22LR can't do doesn't really know what he is talking about.

If you don't reload, <$0.20/round for .17HMR beats the heck out of >$1.00/round for, say, .17 Remington (if you have just got to have a very small, very fast bullet).

Posted: 10/17/2003 1:11:45 PM EDT

[#10]

If you really want a .17 you'd best buy it now. In two years time it will be extinct. Remember the tremendous success the Remington 5mm Rimfire Mag was? Apparently Hornady didn't it.

If the 17 floats your boat by all means have it. But methinks the gun buying market will look at it and go, why?

Posted: 10/17/2003 2:10:49 PM EDT

[#11]

Maybe buy some .17 ammo for ammo collectors,local shop I go to has some 5mm rimfire still in orginial boxes for...$75.00 a box! I too, remember the 5mm rimfire it was touted as THE varmit killing cartridge, lasted for a couple of years, price of ammo killed it,Sooner or later folks are gonna get tired of paying $10.00 a box for rimfire ammo when you can get 500 rounds of .22 for the same $10.00...and,I figure if the price of .17 ammo goes up to say,$15.00 a box that'll be the end of it, nobody is gonna pay that much for rimfire ammo.....

Posted: 10/17/2003 7:30:49 PM EDT

[#12]

Yoy guys really think that it will be extinct in a few years? There are so many gun manufactures making a rifle and/or handgun in this caliber for it to go away. Also, with this many gun mfgs making a 17, more co's will make ammo for it thus reducing the cost. Remember, there is a reason 9mm and 223 is so cheap. They mfg billions of these rounds!

Posted: 10/18/2003 7:05:58 AM EDT

[#13]

Got some the other day at my local shop for 8.99. It runs between those numbers here. On wednesday the Gunshop I go to gives NRA members 10% of anything but firearms so I buy most of my supplies on Wednesdays.

Posted: 10/18/2003 12:37:45 PM EDT

[#14]

The reason 9mm and .223 are so cheap is because they are also standard NATO rounds and if you look around, there is alot of surplus ammo for sale, that contributes greatly to the low price,as far as the .17 goes the Rifle mfg's have a little money invested,and one has to keep up with the jones's so to speak which is why they are all jumping on the bandwagon, but any .17 could easily be converted back to a.22 just buy changing the bbl, and I'd also be willing to bet a .17 bbl could be punched out to a .22 so, they could easily convert back in case this flops, As I said the sucess of this cartridge depends on the price of the ammo if it goes up it dies, if it drops it may stay around, it all depends on how many of you are willing to spend $10.00 a box for rimfire ammo, I know the .17 is supposed to perform well, But, I'm not willing to spend $10.00 a box for rimfire ammo, and for what I use a .22 for, it does the job nicely, at a $1.00 a box....

Posted: 10/18/2003 5:25:05 PM EDT

[#15]

I'm interested, but I couldn't afford a gun and ammo at the same time. I'll probably try and save up for one, and grab one with a few hundred rounds of ammo if I see it's going down the drain, just for kicks.

Besides, my folks would croak if they found me buying it for $10 a box, when .308 isn't much more than that!

Posted: 10/20/2003 10:56:38 AM EDT

[#16]

The .17 has its place. I like it for hunting small game. The round is fast and very accurate. I also have .22lrs. When I want to kill cans I break out my .22s. You don’t see to many people running around plinking with a 7mm Rem. Mag. but they pay the $20. for a box of 20 for hunting. Comes down to what you can afford. Just my two cents.

Posted: 10/20/2003 11:09:03 AM EDT

[#17]

Damn, it runs about $12.70 in my area.

I have one and like it. Out to 100M it is a very nice small critter killer.

That being said, I see no niche that it fills. My .22mag does the same thing much more cheaply.

For the caliber to really catch on, it has to come down in price, otherwise everone will just go back to their .22mag wich runs about $4-$6 a box in my area.

Posted: 10/20/2003 11:50:37 AM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
...For the caliber to really catch on, it has to come down in price, otherwise everone will just go back to their .22mag wich runs about $4-$6 a box in my area.

I mostly agree with you...

The problem is that the chambering DID catch on - much too quickly, IMO. The gun magazines rushed onto the .17HMR bandwagon o' praise faster than Cadillac Williams rushes into the endzone.

The ammo manufacturers, smelling a fresh cash cow, have artificially inflated the price which, logically, should fall right where .22WMRF prices are. Sales are still riding that wave of initial enthusiasm - and a BIG wave it has been. Once the initial furor dies down, your statement above will be 100% correct - the pricing of .17HMR ammo will have to approximate that of .22WMRF (its most direct competitor) for the chambering to endure.

Like you, I own and shoot all of the above. .22LR is great for plinking, but either of the faster RF rounds we are discussing here are superior for hunting, more so the "larger" the small game you are talking about. FWIW, I picked up a couple of bricks of Remington Thunderbolt at lunch for $8/500, but it didn't make me feel any worse about my .22WMRFs or my .17HMR...

Posted: 10/20/2003 12:01:04 PM EDT

[#19]

In my area the price is $10. or less and stores that were just stocking small quantities of one brand are now stocking two or three brands in much larger quantities. And they are selling.

Posted: 10/20/2003 12:53:27 PM EDT

[#20]

Hardshell, I have to agree with you. Federal is now making the round, so it has caught on, and like you said - fast.

It looks like the price in my area is higher than the average, so it looks like it should come down soon.

The balistic tip rounds will cost more even once the price drops, but the HP rounds should cost no more.

I have only used the balistic tip ammo. Has anyone tried the HP? How well did they work for you?

Posted: 10/20/2003 2:59:06 PM EDT

[#21]

I don't think the HP's make quite as big a hole. I shot a squirrel with a V-Max and the first thing I noticed in my scope was a big red spot on the tree trunk next to the branch he was sitting on. I found him about six feet from the tree. He had hit a branch in another tree. It spun him 90 degrees and down. There was more blood on the top and backside of the branch that stopped him. I was going for a head shot but hit a little low. There wasn’t much left of him.

Posted: 10/20/2003 3:05:03 PM EDT

[#22]

What was the range on that squirrel, Bang? Thanks!

Posted: 10/20/2003 3:26:29 PM EDT

[#23]

Less that 50 yards. But there are people at Rimfire Central that are claiming 200 yard kills with the little bullets.

Posted: 10/20/2003 3:53:32 PM EDT

[#24]

I have shot milk jugs at 100Y and they exploded. At 182Y, it hit the jug and bounced off. It didn't bother me too much as as I thought it was outside the range of the bullet anyway.

Posted: 10/21/2003 7:55:17 PM EDT

[#25]

In all fairness to the .22 I must say after running around most of the day with a heavy stainless bull barrel .17 and 50mm scope it is nice to pick up a stock $150. 10/22 with a cheap 3x9 scope and start wasting furry little woodland creatures as fast as you can pull the trigger.

Posted: 10/21/2003 8:44:48 PM EDT

[#26]

Bang, thanks! I think I've settled on the regular .22LR. Although I did toss around the .22WMR a little as well. I just can't afford the little magnums.

Posted: 10/22/2003 8:45:38 AM EDT

[#27]

Much flatter trajectory than .22mag, a hell of a lot more fun, and I took out a prairie dog @ 150 yards with my Marlin 17VS.

25 yards *longest indoor range I have access to* the rifle will make one hole. Not one ragged hole, one hole.

Its a hell of a lot of fun to shoot.

Posted: 10/22/2003 9:52:48 AM EDT

[#28]

On a limited budget you made a good choice. Now the hard part is going to be which rifle to buy. I’ve always liked semi-autos but since I picked up my .17 cal bolt gun I’ve found I have just as much fun shooting that as I do my semi’s. Come to think of it I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad time shooting any style gun. Lately I’ve been trying to hunt squirrel with a Ruger Single Six and red dot scope. I’ll let you know when I hit something with it.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Average price of .17 HMR ammo?

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