I have a DU edition Henry in .22LR. Very smooth little gun, it shoots very well and is as accurate as I am. No slop in the lever mechanism at all. The wood on the gun is exceptional for your basic .22LR lever gun, and is better than the wood on any of my other firearms.
Henry makes the Varmint Express version in .17 HMR, This is a smoking little cartridge. I have a Marlin bolt gun in .17HMR and a stainless bull barrel. It shoots well out to 175 yards for me, and the first crow I took with one has a pretty nasty exit wound. Ask Hunter the next time you see him.
For ammo, R2 is spot on for prices, and considering it is rimfire ammo, mine shoots sub 1" groups at 100 yards. BSA makes a "Sweet 17" scope which has a bullet drop compensator based on yardage and a specfic zero. It works well and is reasonably priced.
I'd go with the .22Mag or .17 HMR, just plain more power and versatility. Ammo is more, but it does more than a .22LR. The .17 Hornady Mach 2 seems like a bit of a compromise unless all you plan to shoot is starlings and targets. If you want something faster than the .22LR with stingers, why not really take a step up?
If you would like to try either, let me know and we can meet up.
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"Give me the anger, fish! Give me the anger!"
They call me POODLE SMOLT!
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