17HMR and yotes

Canadiankeeper

Canadiankeeper

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
61   0   0
Location
Alberta
I have a typical "Varmint" rifle, heavy barrel, bipod, sling, nice boyds thumbhole stock. I love it for all small game. What is the farthest shot with a 17HMR you have taken on a yote, head or body. I don't think any shots past 150M will be taken but Id love to hear if some have taken them cleanly.

Pic of my varmint setup

 
Last edited:
Farthest is I haven't.

I have shot quite a few coyotes over the years with many different cartridges and with shotguns. I have played extensively with a 17HMR in gopher patches. I wouldn't shoot at a coyote beyond about 125 yards, ever. It makes a really great gopher gun and is lots of fun as such, but it is not a coyote gun beyond incidental use like when surprised, and only at close range. You will still have to very carefully place the shot to avoid run away losses. If you're serious about coyotes, get a real coyote gun.
 
the answer that I put down the last time this was asked:
Will it work? Yes
Have I done it? Yes
Called in a pair to about 30 yards after an afternoon of shooting gophers, figured head shots should work.
Head shot one it spun around for a second and I anchored it with a chest shot. The second one ran 20ish yards stopped and I dropped it with a heart/lung/chest shot (and by dropped I mean fell straight down didn't move).
I was using the standard 17g Vmax.
Would i go out calling with one as my primary? No
Would I shoot more than 60-75 yards? No
Would I take a target of opportunity if it happened again? Yes

There are better choices as a dedicated coyote gun for sure.
 
Surprising! Very different from almost all I have heard from in the stores/range. Call in to 50 usually, I use the 20 Grain and usually go for lung/heart. Maybe I will have to pick up a Gun site scout in 223/556 or another type of short barrel bolt gun in 223.
 
Price449 said:
Not a great caliber for coyotes. Kinda inhumane!
Stick to ground hogs and squirrels with 17hmr

Better a 223 and up for the yotes!
Click to expand...

Even groundhogs deserve better. I hunted them for 2 seasons with 17HMR, then a season with a .22WMR...then .204Ruger and .223 ever since. Having shot a pile of them with the magnum rimfires~22WMR does a WAY better job. .223 is the best out to 300 yards. So...with lack-luster performance on the lowly groundhog, I'd never personally go hunting coyotes with a 17HMR. If i happened upon one with my HMR I'd take it, but only if the HMR was the only gun I had with me to get shot off quick.
 
The big issue is the 17 is so good at everything else ! Have a buddy who does bird control and we use the tree rats, rabbits ect ect to feed the birds. A .223 wouldn't leave anything left for the birds to eat !

Either way, its a couple of months away till I really get out for the yotes so I have some time to buy and setup a dedicated yote gun if im going to go hard for them.
 
I used to shoot a lot of red foxes in the UK with a .22wmr and even 120yds was a long way. The .22 wmr has more energy than the 17hmr. Much as
I love both cartridges, I wouldn't go looking for yotes with either.
.223 is my choice in yote gun.
 
I have dropped a coyote with a 17 hmr, if you get them in under 100 yards and shoot them in head they are dead, that being said all my coyotes are shot with my .204 Ruger with 39 gr BK's
 
I had quite a few to my 17 hmr. No issue. Shoot responsible and it works. Plenty on power for head shots keep em with in 125, take a responsible shot and go nuts.
 
I won't shoot coyotes with a 17HMR beyond 75 yards but then I don't go out after coyotes with one.

I'd grab one of my coyote cartridge rifles in 204 Ruger - 223 - 22-250 - 6.8 SPC etc...

As far as I am concerned it is the best out to 200 yards gopher cartridge available.

My buddy (an excellent shot) shot a coyote with his at appr 100 yards told me he won't be doing that again coyote died to slow for his liking.

A few years ago I was talking with a prairie province CO he told me the 17HMR is their cartridge of choice for shooting urban coyotes where shots were 50 yards or less.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom