TC rimfire barrels?

This season, the "Gun-Broker-couldn't-pass-up-deal" Contender carried it's weight during early season small game with a .410 barrel, and deer with a 30/30 barrel. I'm really liking this all-season, any-game Contender system quite a lot.

But, it's still new to me. I want to add a 10-14" rimfire barrel, preferably a scoped .22 Mag or .17 HMR to take advantage of the slightly better quality ammo and slightly longer range (over .22LR), but don't really know what would be the best choice since I don't have any experience with rimfire .17 and .22 Mag handguns, other than my lone iron-sighted 6.5" Single Six.

I do know that I've hunted many a season with a .22LR levergun and .22 Mag revolver which is great up until the last of the oak leaves came down, and then a .17HMR rifle after that through the last day of the season, when the lack of cover makes squirrels, um, "squirrely" and 50+ yd. shots were the norm.

So bringing the Contender into the late season game is the natural progression. There's a big variety of factory barrels that pop up occasionally on Ebay and GunBroker in .22 Mag, and to a lesser extent, .17 HMR. Beautifully blued octagon 10-inchers, modern G2-capable 14-inchers, and everything in-between, including a Bullberry custom tube once in a while.

So my questions are such, from someone interested in shooting barrels instead of just collecting them:

1) What accuracy and reliability could one expect from TC rimfire barrels, both older and newer variants?
2) Are the aftermarket barrels so much better in accuracy that the extra premium paid to obtain a new one in your choice of caliber and length is worth it, over a factory tube?
3) For all intents and purposes, shooting squirrels and rabbits, is there any appreciable difference in terminal ballistics between the .17 HMR and .22 Mag inside 100 yds. fired out of a handgun?

There's a couple very nice .22 Mag shiny blued octagon 10"-ers out there right now, but I wouldn't want to buy one and be disappointed in accuracy and range performance.

Help?

I've had several .22 LR Contender barrels over the years (6.5", 10" octagon and bull, 14" blue and AA) and still have 3, all of which have been and are quite accurate.
I've only had 1 .22 Magnum barrel, which was also quite accurate with Winchester hollow points. It was a 10" octagon barrel, with a 4X Burris scope mounted. A friend "had to have" it.
I've never owned a .17 HMR barrel, but have heard good reports on the 14" version.

Not all aftermarket barrels cost a premium. With MGM you can get a 13" barrel of your choice for 250 bucks. That is less than new factory retail.

I have two 10" .22lr barrels, a 10" 22 mag barrel and used to own a 14" .22lr barrel. They are all TC barrels and all of them are very accurate. I prefer the heavier bullet from a 22 mag so I never picked up a 17HMR, but I have heard its a good round. Remingtons 33 gr Accutip-V is very accurate and flat shooting in my .22 mag barrel. I've had more fun playing with a .22lr barrel at the range, plinking and small game hunting than any other barrel I've owned.

For me the decision would be simple. In my area .22 rimfire is almost mythical, while .17 HMR is plentiful.

s4s4u, thanks for the reminder, I forgot about MGM stuff. I'm checking out their website as we speak.

pab1, I bought a .17HMR rifle when they first came out. Shortly after, I shot and lost one fox at 25 yds and since then haven't used it for anything bigger than rabbits. I think that tiny bullet ended up fragmenting on a rib and never hit vitals. Nonetheless it's still a deadly round for little critters.

Funny, both .22 Mag and .17 HMR aren't too tough to find around here. Finding .22LR is still like finding hen's teeth though.

Yup, same here. Same box of .17 has been on the shelf at the local store for over a month now. The 22mag's usually last a few days. 22lr's go in a matter of hours.

I've even started shooting pellet guns in situations I'd normally shoot 22lr.

I've taken to doing the same thing, and substituting air rifles/pistols in lieu of .22LR firearms, where appropriate.

I have had .22 mag rifles and have a 14" Contender bbl in .17 HMR. The accuracy of this little cartridge is amazing, better than a .22 mag. I would consider selling it.

I bought a 10" octagon 22 LR off of a friend and knowing little what to expect brought it home, gabbed some 22 LR ammo and walked back to try it out.

Couple of shots to get it on paper and then 5 for group at 50 yards.

HOLY MOLEY that must be a mistake . . .

Shoot 5 more and it likewise is minute of Squirrel eye.

Great this is some old Olin pistol match given to me years ago and I only have about 20 rounds total.

In testing other ammo will hold minute of squirrel head, so I think you could get lucky and stumble across a barrel like this. and

That's what I discovered too, and the accuracy factor initially drew me to this cartridge. For whatever reason, it seems to be inherently accurate.

Gregg, you have one 14" HMR that you want to sell?

PM Sent.

PM replied.