17 hmr for coyotes

langbanger

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Hello. I have read alot of talk that a 17 hmr is unethical
To use on coyotes. I have taken 2 coyotes now with hornady 20 gr bullets, both around the 80 yard mark. Both were dead within seconds. Also they were not headshots as many say are required with the hmr, but well placed chest shots. I might be opening a can of worms here, but just wanted hear your opinions. Thanks.
 
We have taken a few coyotes and many foxes and coons with our Hummers using Hornady 20 grain XTP's and they were all quick ethical kills... none were head shots... all broadside lung shots... shot sellection is critical when using light loads... the lighter you go the more picky you need to be with regard to distance and body posture/bullet placement.
 
Cruel . Use a bigger gun. And what's the point just sheer cheapness ? Everyone always goes with the shot placement story . My question is why not use a better tool . I can take off almost any nut on my truck with vice grips is that a good idea . Alot of people would disagree but with my super skills and wicked grip I do it all the time . If there's debate there's usually a reason
 
I think it's a "can" vs. "should" question. Can you? Yes. Should you? Probably not. If that's all you have or all you're carrying when you encounter one, then I can see where you might want to use an HMR on one. I've seen groundhogs make it back to their holes after getting nailed by an HMR, not confidence-inspiring.

I'm not a fan of coyotes, but I think as hunters, we owe it to them to use "enough" gun for the job. Most would consider a .204 or .223 to be ground zero for coyote hunting. If you're confident you'll encounter them at less than 100 yards all the time...and want to stick to rimfires, use a .22WMR instead.
 
I think if you used vice grips to take your truck apart it would take you quite a while. My hmr kills just as fast as anything within 100 yards. A shot in the ass with my hmr would be no more cruel than a shot in the ass with a 223. You have to be confident in your shooting regardless of what your shooting with. If your not, then you shouldn't be shooting. If you think it's cruel, you obviously can't shoot.
 
well a lot of people think they are a better shot than they really are, i consider myself probably one of these. But i have knocked a few coyotes over with a .22 long rifle...do i think i should have...answer is NO...too long suffering. Please use enough gun to kill ethical as you would want if you were in same position....just think whether you would like to be hit with a .303 or a shotgun at 50 yards. ...both would kill but which produces less suffering. And whose judgement was it that your kill was quick? just my opinion since the can was open.
 
I think if you used vice grips to take your truck apart it would take you quite a while. My hmr kills just as fast as anything within 100 yards. A shot in the ass with my hmr would be no more cruel than a shot in the ass with a 223. You have to be confident in your shooting regardless of what your shooting with. If your not, then you shouldn't be shooting. If you think it's cruel, you obviously can't shoot.

Yah but bro think of my wicked vise grips skills when talking on the Internet about how good of a shot you are . This after all is a troll thread . for me my friend its about class , if im going to kill something i want to do it clean and quick . im not going to comment on my shooting skills or yours for that matter , you asked the question remember - My answer cruel . you still havent ansrwered the question of whats the point of using a tiny bullet on a coyote ? When there are far better choices ... Called that shot placement story before you used it .... refer to post #4 , its part of my vise grip jedi skills :)
 
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Is anyone seriously that cheap they have to use a 17 cal bullet to shoot dogs? Use a proper cal for animals that size.

J
 
The thing is, I have shot coyotes with the 17. They did not suffer it was not cruel. You have not, so go back to honing your "wicked" vice grip skills. If anyone who has actually shot a coyote with a 17 hmr and placed it well, yet the animal still suffered, I may change my opinion. Until then, from my experience I feel it is perfectly ethical. Oh and by the way, I never once said I was a good shot. You want to know why use such a small bullet? Cause I can " bro". Class is making the most out of the least, not blowing fist size holes in things and laughing about it while the pelt is garbaged.
 
" Because I Can " sums it up. Why Did you ask this particular question anyway ? I like learning about trolling forums . Says up top you wanted my opinion . I was hopeing for a battle of wits but you seem unarmed
 
I wanna know from people with experience, not people with nothing better to do than bash people with smart alec remarks. Not sure what a troll thread is, but if you dont like it, then please stop posting. Or go shoot a coyote with a 17 hmr and let me know how it was. Your opinion was accepted, the childish remarks that followed were not. There always has to be someone who thinks these threads are a battle of the wits. Troll thread? Get a life.
 
Having taken game with my Hummer's, I know that it can be done ethically and humanely... but as I said, that involves accepting the limitations. If a new coyote hunter was heading out looking for his first coyote, I would not recommend using a .17 HMR... why??? Because the temptation to lob bullets at a yote that hangs up at 300+ yards will be too great. A newbie would be better off with a standard centerfire caliber (.204, .22/250, .223, .220, .243 etc...) at least until they are experienced and can be mature enough to wait for a proper scenario for a humane kill with a lesser weapon.

P.S - this question was always going to draw heated opinions... it does every time it comes up.
 
Well placed the hmr is more than enough for coyotes, and the hmr kills different than a wmr.

The heavier bullet the wmr fires will penetrate better but on a coyote that is a moot point as 6" gets you well into the vitals and the hmr will do more terminal damage instead of leaving a pinhole through the animal.

I have shot a lot of animals (coyote included) pest beavers mostly at distances up to 125 yds. none suffered at all.
 
I wanna know from people with experience, not people with nothing better to do than bash people with smart alec remarks. Not sure what a troll thread is, but if you dont like it, then please stop posting. Or go shoot a coyote with a 17 hmr and let me know how it was. Your opinion was accepted, the childish remarks that followed were not. There always has to be someone who thinks these threads are a battle of the wits. Troll thread? Get a life.

For me to go out and shoot a coyote with a .17hmr , When theres a perfectly good .223 beside it in the safe would be unethical and cruel . I thought we went over this ? Why use a round they may do the job when i could use a round that is proven too ? Did you read the post about wind drift ? I know why " Because you can " . Google is your friend look up trolling . you make no other agurement than because i can . Im done with this , i knew what i was getting into from the start . there is a hunting forum here as well wher you can ask the same question and hope you get more support . Stay Classy

P.s i like using lightly loaded .243 on yotes
 
The thing is, I have shot coyotes with the 17. They did not suffer it was not cruel. You have not, so go back to honing your "wicked" vice grip skills. If anyone who has actually shot a coyote with a 17 hmr and placed it well, yet the animal still suffered, I may change my opinion. Until then, from my experience I feel it is perfectly ethical. Oh and by the way, I never once said I was a good shot. You want to know why use such a small bullet? Cause I can " bro". Class is making the most out of the least, not blowing fist size holes in things and laughing about it while the pelt is garbaged.

If you are worried about the pelt, why are you not trapping?

IMHO .17 is OK for just about anything UNDER a yote sized critter.
 
For me to go out and shoot a coyote with a .17hmr , When theres a perfectly good .223 beside it in the safe would be unethical and cruel . I thought we went over this ? Why use a round they may do the job when i could use a round that is proven too ? Did you read the post about wind drift ? I know why " Because you can " . Google is your friend look up trolling . you make no other agurement than because i can . Im done with this , i knew what i was getting into from the start . there is a hunting forum here as well wher you can ask the same question and hope you get more support . Stay Classy

P.s i like using lightly loaded .243 on yotes

Not trying to stir the pot or keep this argument between you and the OP going but i see a striking simularity to those who would argue against using a 30-30 for deer on here, even though if kept to it's limitations it is more than adequate, heck it"s probably killed more deer than a few of the popular newer calibres combined.

To me not much difference than the "why use a 30-30 when you can use a 300 win mag" argument.

The 17 will kill yotes up to it's range limitations if the shot is placed properly, not the best gun for inexperienced hunters but if you can plae your shot fill your boots.

my 2 cent's fwiw
 
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