To the OP~read this ^, Hoyt said it better than I did. I've been coyote hunting (have yet to shoot one) but didn't even attempt this until I had a .223. (had a .17HMR and a .22WMR in the safe at the time) ZERO temptation to shoot one with a rimfire. The fellow I hunt with has been at the coyote thing for years, also has an HMR, and has never once taken it out for coyotes. He started with a .223, and moved UP to a .243~both of which anchor a coyote very well. I haven't heard anyone say an HMR won't do it, but you'd have to be a little off-center to get yourself believing it's the best tool for the job. Don't think it's simply power-hungry hunters using centerfire rounds like .204, .223, .243, 22-250. These are proven varmint calibers that have more reach and power than and HMR by a long shot. So, don't go by my experience, look around...ask even more hunters...look online...see what hunters use for coyotes, .17HMR probably won't pop-up very often.
17 hmr for coyotes
- Thread starter langbanger
- Start date
To the OP~read this ^, Hoyt said it better than I did. I've been coyote hunting (have yet to shoot one) but didn't even attempt this until I had a .223. (had a .17HMR and a .22WMR in the safe at the time) ZERO temptation to shoot one with a rimfire. The fellow I hunt with has been at the coyote thing for years, also has an HMR, and has never once taken it out for coyotes. He started with a .223, and moved UP to a .243~both of which anchor a coyote very well. I haven't heard anyone say an HMR won't do it, but you'd have to be a little off-center to get yourself believing it's the best tool for the job. Don't think it's simply power-hungry hunters using centerfire rounds like .204, .223, .243, 22-250. These are proven varmint calibers that have more reach and power than and HMR by a long shot. So, don't go by my experience, look around...ask even more hunters...look online...see what hunters use for coyotes, .17HMR probably won't pop-up very often.
MudChucker
Regular
- Location
- Niverville, Manitoba, CA
I can't believe people would think the .17 is not ethical...I have shot at least 50 coyotes in the past 3 years with my .17 very likely more then that and the carnage that little bullet makes is firkin crazy...the wound channel is significant to say the least.
The gun is so accurate I can aim for the back of the skull f they are stand still and blow the top of the cranium off, a shot in the front shoulder drops them where they stand and upper frontal rib cage shot blows argans to paste...
I have other options, 270, 243, 223 it isn't about the money....
The gun is so accurate I can aim for the back of the skull f they are stand still and blow the top of the cranium off, a shot in the front shoulder drops them where they stand and upper frontal rib cage shot blows argans to paste...
I have other options, 270, 243, 223 it isn't about the money....
The 17 HMR is a laser to be sure. When I got mine sighted in I spent the next 20 minutes shooting plant stems at 100 yards.
For a coyote, you're pushing it. The cartridge is fast but you're really limited in bullet weights which will handicap terminal performance. So like others have said, shot placement is key. Considering the lightweight nature of the bullet, I'd always leave the 17 at home on a windy day. Check out the ammunition manufacturer's website to get a rough idea of the energy drop-off as the bullet hits the 100 yard mark and beyond. Know the limits of your cartridge and yourself as a shooter and behave responsibly. It's pretty straightforward.
Even the mighty CCI velocitor is sufficient for coyotes at close ranges....but this begs the question:
Why would you want to hunt an animal with a gun that severely limits your (ethical) shooting opportunities?
.204 ruger, .223, .22-250, .243 and the .270 are all excellent choices.
For a coyote, you're pushing it. The cartridge is fast but you're really limited in bullet weights which will handicap terminal performance. So like others have said, shot placement is key. Considering the lightweight nature of the bullet, I'd always leave the 17 at home on a windy day. Check out the ammunition manufacturer's website to get a rough idea of the energy drop-off as the bullet hits the 100 yard mark and beyond. Know the limits of your cartridge and yourself as a shooter and behave responsibly. It's pretty straightforward.
Even the mighty CCI velocitor is sufficient for coyotes at close ranges....but this begs the question:
Why would you want to hunt an animal with a gun that severely limits your (ethical) shooting opportunities?
.204 ruger, .223, .22-250, .243 and the .270 are all excellent choices.
I too have been down the .17hmr route. I managed to dust 3 dogs with it and was NOT IMPRESSED AT ALL!!!! Sure they died but the first one made 80yds into some thick sh!t and then the next two did not die right away and had to be dispatched with multiple follow-up shots. All my shots were in the chest with 17 gr Winchester Supreme ammo and I was surprised to find that I got complete penetration and exit through ribs! I thought they were supposed to go in and blow up! All my shots were within 100yds. I cannot say with any confidence that the .17 is a good coyote gun. Gophers, sure! Why not? Coyotes? Nope! ! Too many variables ! Now I use a .30-30 stoked with 125gr hollow points. Nuff said!!!!
The answer to your question is because I am experienced and have taken dozens of coyotes, and I am INTENTIONALLY making it more challenging... I don't just accept the limitations of shooting a Hummer... I actually seek the limitations. It is the same reason that I bowhunt for big game... for the extra challenge... but as I said earlier, this challenge comes with responsibility.
I agree... the V-Max rounds are fine for smaller rabbit sized game, but the 20 grain XTP's are MUCH better at anchoring fox/coons/coyotes... my hope is that one of the ammunition manufacturers will come out with a 25 grain HMR round based on the XTP style bullet... although I am not sure how that length bullet will perform out of the existing barrel twist ratios?
I shot one with a .17 that was eyeing me up in an open field with nowhere to go. Hit it in the face at about 125yds and it dropped stone dead. That being said, if I was actually hunting coyotes, I would opt for something better.
I personally don't own a .17 but do own a .22 WMR. Have a shot a coyote with it yet?? NO.... Have I shot a coyote with my semi .22?? YES. A 35yrd shot with a cci stinger.
Will I use either a .22 or .22WMR for yotes?? DAMN rite I will! So without even firing a
.17 I have NO doubt they will do the trick! KNOW your gun, shot placement is key, and use the best ammo your gun likes.
YOU can all ##### at me, because this has been debated for years... but I'm totally in on hunting yotes with a rimfire rifle if it's in range, you have your rifle sighted in like a lazer, and have the confidence to do so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I say go have fun!!!!!!!!!!
Will I use either a .22 or .22WMR for yotes?? DAMN rite I will! So without even firing a
.17 I have NO doubt they will do the trick! KNOW your gun, shot placement is key, and use the best ammo your gun likes.
YOU can all ##### at me, because this has been debated for years... but I'm totally in on hunting yotes with a rimfire rifle if it's in range, you have your rifle sighted in like a lazer, and have the confidence to do so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I say go have fun!!!!!!!!!!
Hoyt you said it perfect. It's the extra challenge of bringinging them in to breath smelling range and droppin em. No different than bow hunting at all. In fact I think I'll take only my bow to my next coyote stand. Now that would be exciting. Thanks all for your posts, I'm glad to see others are on the same page as I am.
Ive been hunting coyote's all summer with my Savage 93R17 BSEV, and the five or six i've shot were all dead right away, minus one, that one took another shot to "dispatch" it.. the furthest i popped one was about 130 yards.... but i just bought a Weatherby Vanguard Varmint Special in .223 to continue my coyote hunting..... I'm going to stick to whacking gophers with the .17 in the future.....IMO, the .17 is simply too light a load for dog sized game. And for the record, my 93R17 BSEV (with the SS spiral fluted barrel) like the 20 grn. Hornady round over anything else! Ive tried EVERYTHING, and the 20 grn'rs come out on top EVERY time! It seems that all my buddy's, who own the "standard" .17's, (non spiral) Savage's and Marlins, have better results with the 17 grn stuff.... Im thinking the spiral barrel is an ER Shaw product? and it just seems to be a bit different.... so with that said, the little more weight is better IMO for the larger "targets".
