.22 WMR VS. .17 HMR
 

I went to the store with my brother recently for his first rifle. We mainly just plink around and shoot paper at 30-150 yards. I have been using a Marlin .22 WMR for a couple years and he was considering that caliber. Turns out he got a Savage .17HMR. The saleman told me that it is replacing the .22 mags and I won't be finding them anymore. Anyone know if this holds water? From what I have read the WMR still holds its own under 100 yards.

The WMR still has useable energy at 100, but the .17 conserves energy much farther, and is vastly more accurate. A family friend had made multiple 200-yard kills with his .17, including the first such confirmed kill in the country (got his picture in a magazine and everything; Charlie's daughter is almost as good a shot as he is). Everything the WMR can do, the HMR does significantly better and at longer range; the single exception to this being penetration. The WMR tends to penetrate better, on percentages, because most WMR is either solid or hollowpoint, neither of which "blow up" the way the polymer-tipped varmint bullets which prdominate in the .17HMR do. They expand and deform, yes, but the effect is not so dramatic or sudden.

Look at it this way; A good .22HMR will nail a 1/2 litre bottle at 100 meters. A medium-range .17, such as my mother's Savage for instance, can shoot the cap off the bottle at the same range.

To a certain extent what the man told you is true. The .17 is a wicked little screamer of a round. But at the same time, I wouldnt look for your .22 to be going anywhere just yet. As The_Dunedan said, the .22 has more penetration power, and that depends on if you really need it or not. It is my understanding that the .17 was introduced for the varmit hunters. They needed a round that would reach out and touch someone, and the .17 was introduced for that. They had been using the .223 and having a little bit of success, but still too many people were saying that the .223 was kicking too much and wanted something that was not near as heavy as most modern .223 chambered rifles, and something that was supersonic. That being said, I wouldn't worry about not being able to find the .22 mags, they will still be here. Where did you buy the rifle? Was it at a Wal-Mart? If so most of those guys are complete and total morons when it comes to rifles. If you really want to know go to a gun shop and ask around. Or better yet, do some research. I know of another forum that is all about guns. If you want me to I can PM you the link to that site, they are lots of help on most every gun question.