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I've certainly found this to be true. People forget that the .22WMR uses a case larger than the diameter of its jacketed bullet, unlike the .22LR which uses a case the same diameter as its lead (sometimes plated) bullet. The LR is better adapted to mass manufacturing techniques, while the WMR has to be manufactured in a manner very similar to centerfire rounds. So, when have you seen "benchrest" accuracy from centerfire factory loads? Good accuracy, maybe, but not "benchrest", so to speak. Being trans-sonic also hurts the WMR to some degree.The problem with the .22WMR is the lack of high-quality highly-accurate ammunition
Yes, I got some of that RWS .22WMR ammunition many years ago. I think I got it from "Dangerous Dave" at the Old Western Scrounger when he was in California. For me, it produced similar results to the 40-grain Winchester and Remington loads. I must have experimented with close to 10 different factory offerings until I found the Remington Premier 33-gr. load that gave the best performance (but not by much) in my .22WMR rifles.Years ago I came across some .22WMR by RWS and bought a small supply of it. It shoots the best of any WMR ammunition I've ever tried in my Kimber 82, so I've hoarded it for years and only get it out when I need gilt-edged accuracy from a WMR. Its velocity is also 75-100 fps above other 40-grain WRM loads. On average, the next in line in accuracy for me has been the original Winchester 40 grain ammunition. I've had very little luck with ammunition with bullets weighing more (Federal 50, Win 45) or less (CCI and Remington 30 to 35). But guns are individuals so "your mileage may vary".
Very likely true. The .22 WMR has been around since the late 1950's, and was derived from the older .22 WRF. The .22 WMR has never been considered a super-accurate varmint or target cartridge. Little was done with bullet design for many years. However, in recent years the ammunition makers have upgraded their offerings with redesigned, lighter-weight bullets, which perform better than the older designs in most rifles. I'll be interested to try the Remington 33-grain load in my CZ, which likes bullets in that weight range.So, I think more care went into the design and manufacture of the .17HMR ammunition from the beginning than had typically gone into the .22WMR,
Copper is down over 20% this year. Lead is also cheaper. Of the basic ingredients for gunpowder (cotton and air), one has fallen from $1.20/pound to $0.75 and the other is still free, last time I checked. But shooters are still in a buying/hoarding frenzy. In a couple of years there will not only be cheaper ammunition on the shelves, but lots of widows selling their late husband's hoards at garage sale prices. I've been shooting and reloading for over a half-century and this pattern has happened more times than I can count.I don't think prices will adjust downwards much if any once things stabilize.
Interesting experience you’ve had in the wind, Paulson, with the .22WMR and .17HMR. My experience shooting both in windy conditions out to 200 yards is just the opposite. I’ve found the .17HMR to drift less, particularly at 150+ yards.Just some thoughts based on real world, in the field experience with the 22 WMR & the 17 HMR. The 17 HMR would appear to have better ballistics than the 22 WMR, but it is only better on paper. Having shot thousand of rounds of each over the years at various ground squirrels & prairie dogs I found that the wind pretty much negates any advantage the 17 might appear to have. The 20 to 25 grain bullets just don't hold up with regard to wind drift to the 40 grain WMR pills. Any advantage in range because of the flatter trajectory the 17 has is "blown away" with wind drift. I consider them both to have a "effective" range, in the real world, of 125 yards with occasional shots to 150 or so under ideal conditions. 1.5 MOA accuracy is more than adequate for the ranges & target sizes they are used for. Speed & paper ballistics sell rifles in the gun shop, but in the field I'll take the 22 WMR every time.