Scott Max Danger
CGN Regular
- Location
- Saskatchewan
How far will a 17hmr down a coyote ? I had one out at about 300 yards and decided not to shoot. Was I foolish or not ?
17hmr effective coyote range ?
- Thread starter Scott Max Danger
- Start date
Some might say you were foolish for even considering it. The furthest i would take a shot at a yote with a .17hmr is about 50m MAX... and it would be a headshot with gamepoints, not v-max. I don't like coyotes, but still... please use a caliber appropriate for the game. .17 hmr is too small and frangible for a coyote. In my opinion, the absolute very bare minimum would be a .22 mag because of the heavier bullets, and even then at close range, but in all honesty the smallest caliber i think should be used for yotes is a .222, .223, .243... something in that range. Then, a 300 yrd shot, sure.
At 300yds the .17 caliber would have bounced right off the filthy begger.
At 300yds the .17 caliber would have bounced right off the filthy begger.
- Location
- Winnipeg,Man.
i agree...the .17 at that range is too iffy....i have put them down with my BSA .222 and 50 weight projectiles at 300 . but would not try any further distances.
Scott Max Danger
CGN Regular
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I really was not sure so i didn't shoot, but now i know, get a bigger gun easy enough 
Well, I've heard (first hand, from a friend who hunts) that he shot one with an HMR at about 100 yards and it dropped like a stone, but his purpose for telling me wasn't "hey, the HMR is the greatest coyote round ever." More like, "can you believe it worked???" He was in an area with a coyote problem, looking for groundhogs, and had the opportunity. The same guy regularly hunts for coyotes, and uses a .243 for the job~NEVER .17 HMR.
I've shot enough groundhogs with HMR to know that even with an animal of THAT size, shot placement is critical with such a small bullet. Based on how much more punch a .22WMR has on groundhogs, I'd say that would be the minimum and even then, I'd limit the range to less than 100 yards.
Coyote~I've only recently started hunting them, and I bought a .223 for the job.
I've shot enough groundhogs with HMR to know that even with an animal of THAT size, shot placement is critical with such a small bullet. Based on how much more punch a .22WMR has on groundhogs, I'd say that would be the minimum and even then, I'd limit the range to less than 100 yards.
Coyote~I've only recently started hunting them, and I bought a .223 for the job.
Nope you were not foolish. You did the right thing. That shot would be inhuman if it hit a non vital area. I would use a 222 cal to insure a quick kill.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
.17 HMR isn't a coyote round at any distance by my measure, and at 300 yards it's like trying to kill a coyote with a PAL rated .177 airgun. You have just 40 ft-lbs of energy at 300 yards, 1/3rd the muzzle energy of a good .22LR HV load at the muzzle, and three feet of drop.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Well put
Farthest I've ever gone with my .17hmr was roughly 214 meters (range finder) at a gopher.
The impact was less than spectacular. mostly just knocked him down, I couldn't tell if hit him until I got up to him.
300 with .17hmr on a yote? - I would never consider that. not to mention the possible wind drift.
The impact was less than spectacular. mostly just knocked him down, I couldn't tell if hit him until I got up to him.
300 with .17hmr on a yote? - I would never consider that. not to mention the possible wind drift.
Scott Max Danger
CGN Regular
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Well i asked because i really didnt know. I hit a pop can full of water and it absolutley exploded it inside out so i wasnt sure if the speed made up for the lack of weight or not. Now, i know and its a good excuse to buy another gun. Thanks gentleman.
I shot one at 80 yards that was sitting down broadside. I got him right behind the shoulder with a 17g v-max. He dropped, got up, spun about 15 times, rolled over, yelping like crazy, I had to run up and put another one in him. No exit and no blood trail. He ran about 40 yards altogether, Lucky i even found him. I would keep it under 50 yards with a head shot, your leaving yourself too much room for error. A .223 or .22-250 will drop them on the spot at 300 yards.
I can tell you for a fact that a 20gr hp will not penetrate the skin on a yote's melon at 220 yds. Been there done that. I've dropped them at around 100 or less though.
I've been flamed before for stating this incident in another thread, but it is a warning to others not to make the same mistake I once did.
I've been flamed before for stating this incident in another thread, but it is a warning to others not to make the same mistake I once did.
gunsaholic
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Winnipeg, Manitoba
Agreed. You have a perfect excuse to buy another rifle.
17 HMR on Coyotes
The 17 HMR is really designed for smaller varmints than Coyotes. The light jacketed bullet tends to break up more, rather than penetrate. If a rib is hit, then you have a wounded Coyote that gets away and dies a miserable death. That is not really humane, and every serious hunter should strive for a clean kill.
That said, I have taken Coyotes with the 17 HMR, but the shots have been well under 100 yards, have been carefully placed in a vital area, and there was not a larger calibre rifle in my hands at the time.
When they are this close, you can shoot at them. Under 50 yards.
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The 17 HMR is really designed for smaller varmints than Coyotes. The light jacketed bullet tends to break up more, rather than penetrate. If a rib is hit, then you have a wounded Coyote that gets away and dies a miserable death. That is not really humane, and every serious hunter should strive for a clean kill.
That said, I have taken Coyotes with the 17 HMR, but the shots have been well under 100 yards, have been carefully placed in a vital area, and there was not a larger calibre rifle in my hands at the time.
When they are this close, you can shoot at them. Under 50 yards.
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well that's the point of these forums. Glad you asked PRIOR to trying then coming back to us a saying "guys, I shot a yote at 300 yard and he didn't die"
as for the speed vs weight argument......:
haha.
