Always amazed at the .17HMR.

kjohn

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I have two, a Canadian 455 CZ, and an American 455 CZ, totally stock with smaller Leupold scopes. Two friends were out with me shooting gophers. They had Savages with heavy barrels. One was synthetic ordinary stock, the other was a thumbhole laminate. Those guys were pulling off some nice shots!

Although I realize the 455 barrels will likely fall off, and the rifles are generally just plain no good :):rolleyes:), I am still impressed with the accuracy, flat trajectory, and speed of the 17.
 
I jumped on the .17 HMR bandwagon, but soon regretted it when ammo got scarce.

Same experience here...…

Then I start reloading .223 for about the same price.

A friend who still use the HMR can't believe how high the gophers flies with the .223 !!!
 
It is my favourite small game round. I love it for groundhogs and tree rats. I only use it for hunting and not plinking so the ammo cost to me is not an issue. I don't use enough.
 
I don’t really understand why the round is so expensive myself. 40+ cents a round is ridiculous.

Fancy bullets though.
The 17HM2 seems to be about 65% the cost of the 17HMR ammo, and you get the same fancy bullet and only give up about 200 fps. But finding a gun in it that I want is the problem.
 
I think 17HMR is tailor-made for gophers. Perfect combo of speed/power/flat trajectory. It would be all I use for that when I fly west, but, I consider myself extremely lucky to have access to some spots where using 17HMR alone would get very expensive. lol Here in Ontario, mine sits in the safe..and only comes to to confirm zero before it goes in a box.
 
I seemed to have passed by the ammo shortage, mostly because I stocked up when a dealer friend was giving me a good deal. I only use my 17's for gophers. I probably shot about 150 rounds this season. I can afford the ammo.

I have a .223 bolt (Norinco - another slag fest coming up!) and a single shot Rossi. I still have that nice old GB Crandall 22-250 I posted about a couple years back. I may have to stoke that one up. I have a whole pile of .22 Calhoon bullets, so no real excuse.
 
I feel like the .17 hmr absolutely has its place. I've owned many 22s, a 22wmr 17 mach 2 and a few 17 hmrs now. The 17 hmr I find really excells on the trap line, more than on the gopher field. Easily dispatches animals without a mess. You can also easily take that shot at a 150 yard coyote as an extra little "tip" on the day. It's also ideal for beaver shooting, where a .22lr won't always penetrate the back of a beaver skull, the 17 hmr easily will. I owned 2, sold them, shot my .22 mag and 17 mach 2 for a while, but came back to the .17 hmr with a cz 452 American LH. This one's going no where though! Its a great shooter!
 
Ive found the hmr to violent for small edible game and too little for targeting coyotes unless calling them in extremely close. The 17mach2 is perfect for small game for me. A rib shot squirrel never gets away with my mach2. 22lr just doesnt have the expansion however it can be used on a shoulder shot
Just my thoughts
 
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