17 Hmr
- Thread starter HairTrigger
- Start date
Before I got sick of paying $0.30-ish every time I pulled the trigger, I used to hunt rabbits and grouse with mine. Gave me an extra 100 yard reach over a 22LR, and using the 20 grain bullets (the non-explosive kind), didn't mess up the meat any more than a 22LR hollow point. Other than ammo cost, I give it two thumbs way up.
It'd be about like hunting bears with a 223 Remington. If it'll turn sideways at about 75 yards and let you give it the broadside shot through the ribs, probably kill him just fine, but if you shoot him in the front shoulder bone from 150 yards out, probably not so fine.
I'd buy a 223 to hunt coyotes, myself. Cheaper to shoot, and a lot more power to boot. (actually, the odd time I hunt coyotes, I use my 308 Winchester, but only because I hunt coyotes so in-frequently as to not justify buying a gun dedicated to the purpose).
What do I use mine on around the farm...
Gophers
sparrows
blackbirds
pigeons
foxes in the chicken yard
coyotes chasing my calves (only if my 257 is too far out of reach)
CROWS - I hate those bastards!
grouse - head shots only, they are too nummy to blow up
Basically, anything smaller than a coyote that I dont want around
it is almost too much fun
Gophers
sparrows
blackbirds
pigeons
foxes in the chicken yard
coyotes chasing my calves (only if my 257 is too far out of reach)
CROWS - I hate those bastards!
grouse - head shots only, they are too nummy to blow up
Basically, anything smaller than a coyote that I dont want around
it is almost too much fun
- Location
- Peace Lowlands, Alberta
Works Great. I've taken a couple with my .17, inside of 100 yds both. No problems. Dead coyotes, and almost no pelt damage. 20 gr Winchersters.
- Location
- Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Don't kid yourself. Of course you need it.
I shoot all sorts of small game with mine. I've shot enough coyotes with it to know that it's just not enough gun. Even at -100 yards solid chest shots have led to long tracking jobs. I've tried the 20gr, 17gr, v-max, tnt, every breed but s&b and it just doesn't whack'em hard enough.
Said yotes were all oppurtunistic. I was hunting sharptails and stumbled upon all of them (around 12 in total). I'm not one to pass up a shot at a coyote so every time I saw one I had to try. I recovered all but 2 of them but none of them were bang flop. About what I expected.
I shoot all sorts of small game with mine. I've shot enough coyotes with it to know that it's just not enough gun. Even at -100 yards solid chest shots have led to long tracking jobs. I've tried the 20gr, 17gr, v-max, tnt, every breed but s&b and it just doesn't whack'em hard enough.
Said yotes were all oppurtunistic. I was hunting sharptails and stumbled upon all of them (around 12 in total). I'm not one to pass up a shot at a coyote so every time I saw one I had to try. I recovered all but 2 of them but none of them were bang flop. About what I expected.
I just got one myself and I have had so much fun with it. It is leaps and bounds more accurate then my 22 Magnum was. (This is very hard for me to admit
)
If you are looking to get coyotes I would agree with the others that the 17 HMR likely isn't going to be enough. And if you reload (or want to) look into the 223 Remington or the new 17 Remington Fireball. Both will reload for likely less than the 17 HMR yet have a lot more stopping power.
I've recently purchased a Remington in 17 Fireball. Factory ammo is expensive and limited but if you reload it will be quite cheap. Low powder use and bullets aren't too bad.
17 Fireball with a 20gr. V-Max leaves at 4000+ fps. so is very flat shooting. (20gr. 17 HMR is about 2350 fps) Yet, at the same time it has less than half the recoil of a 223 Rem. so you can see the hits on the target through the scope just like a rimfire.
With the cost to reload centerfire being less or equal the rimfire the choose was simple for me!
Something for you to consider.
Fudd
I've recently purchased a Remington in 17 Fireball. Factory ammo is expensive and limited but if you reload it will be quite cheap. Low powder use and bullets aren't too bad.
17 Fireball with a 20gr. V-Max leaves at 4000+ fps. so is very flat shooting. (20gr. 17 HMR is about 2350 fps) Yet, at the same time it has less than half the recoil of a 223 Rem. so you can see the hits on the target through the scope just like a rimfire.
With the cost to reload centerfire being less or equal the rimfire the choose was simple for me!
Something for you to consider.
Fudd
tbg@sasktel.net
Member
- Location
- Historic Battleford
The .20's work fine too, and are cheap to reload. They offer a bigger bullet choice than the 17 Fireball, which is the only thing I have against that round.
And if your wife is saving up money, why not get her to buy a beemer too?
my girlfriend suprised me with an invoice with a big 'Layby' stamped on it .. savage BVST thumbhole/stainless .17hmr as a christmas present ( shes paying the rest ) guess i musta been good
so now ive joined the club too.. and if someone in new zealand is getting one, it means you definately need one.. even two
) guess i musta been goodso now ive joined the club too.. and if someone in new zealand is getting one, it means you definately need one.. even two
