I say go for it. If nothing else you will learn how to accurately read wind. Mysticplayer shot his 223 accurately to a mile
. Do a search in precision rifles, you could probably pick up some tips and see his video.
Now there is something that would seem to relate but really doesn't in any way...... Jerry's .223 was shooting 80gr bullets, and a 17HMR is 17gr. The .17 will have way more drift that .223 bullet would. The .17HMR needs 30ish moa adjustment at 500y and the 80gr. Berger needs 10 moa adjustment @ 500y. There isn't really much comparison there...... Like apples to rocks..... Both are round....
Like I said, It would work on paper if you discout wind drift.......
I just went to Hornady's web site and using their Ballistics calculator & their posed data for the 17gr. 17HMR here are my results.....
Input Variables Firearm type Rifle Sight Height 1.5
Bullet Weight (grains) 17 Ballistic Coefficient .125
Muzzle Velocity (fps) 2550 Temperature 59f
Barometric Pressure (hg) 29.53 Relative Humidity 78%
Zero Range (yards) 200 Wind Speed (mph) 0
Ballistics Table in Yards 17 gr., .125 B.C.
www.hornady.com
Range (yards) Muzzle 50 100 200 300 400 500
Velocity (fps) 2550 2213 1902 1380 1058 906 807
Energy (ft.-lb.) 245 185 137 72 42 31 25
Trajectory (200 yd. zero) -1.5 2.3 4.2 0.0 -23.0 -75.3 -164.7
Come Up in MOA -1.5 -4.3 -4.0 0.0 7.3 18.0 31.4
So this tells me that with zero wind the bullet will be travelling @ 807 fps @ 500y and will drop 164.7" from a 200y zero a 31.4 moa adjustment, or 125(ish) 'clicks'.
Lets see the same results with a 10mph wind.......
Input Variables Firearm type Rifle Sight Height 1.5
Bullet Weight (grains) 17 Ballistic Coefficient .125
Muzzle Velocity (fps) 2550 Temperature 59
Barometric Pressure (hg) 29.53 Relative Humidity 78%
Zero Range (yards) 200 Wind Speed (mph) 10
Ballistics Table in Yards 17 gr., .125 B.C.
www.hornady.com
Range (yards) Muzzle 50 100 200 300 400 500
Velocity (fps) 2550 2213 1902 1380 1058 906 807
Energy (ft.-lb.) 245 185 137 72 42 31 25
Trajectory (200 yd. zero) -1.5 2.3 4.2 0.0 -23.0 -75.3 -164.7
Wind Drift (inches) 0.0 0.7 3.3 15.3 38.9 72.5 113.7
Come Up in MOA -1.5 -4.3 -4.0 0.0 7.3 18.0 31.4
Wind Drift (moa) 0.00 1.42 3.11 7.29 12.38 17.31 21.71
Wind drift will be 113.7"
or 21.71 MOA...... so like 84'clicks'.....
I guess 'theoretically' it is possible, but talk about PERFECT condidtions..... I would like to hear your results if/when you try it out...... For practice try some .22lr @ 200y, if you can do that then .17 @ 500y is possible.....
Now just so I don't get flamed....... I don't mean to say that shooting the .22lr for 'score' at 200y is impossible, just that it takes a certain 'kind' or person to be able to accomplish this...... I
KNOW I can't! But I also know I can take out cans of tomato soup @300y with my .223..... I am pretty sure that it is the rimfire ammo tha's holding me back
