re: 17 HMR vs .22 Mag

I'm glad you brought up the 20 grain FMJ ammo. I bought my 17 HMR because I thought it had to be the best squirrel rifle caliber ever invented. Then I took it to the range and literally fell in love with how it shot. But before I could ever hunt with it I saw numerous posts on a squirrel hunters forum that talked about how it would blow up a tree rat. According to them, even a head shot with the 17 grain ballistic tip would take the shoulders off. So the gun never made it to the woods. Fast forward a year and I see the 20 grain FMJ ammo on the internet. Still didn't know if it would blow em up too bad, but I ordered 2 boxes anyway. Now thanks to your experience, I'm anxious for fall to get here.

OP the ONLY advantage the 22 mag has over the 17 is the heavier bullet. And that's only if you have a significant crosswind and you are shooting beyond, say 60 yards. Not that the 40 grain 22 mag is great at bucking the wind, but it really can play hell with the little 17. In the woods squirrel hunting, it probably won't be an issue. But a buddy bought a 17 to shoot coyotes in west texas and had problems with bullet placement when attempting shots at longer range in the wind.