Thoughts on .17hmr for coyotes?

[Dusty23]

Hey CGN'ers, I'm looking for your experiences with the above, also open to your thoughts and opinions.

Dusty23

 

[Donny Fenn1]

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.

 

[nowarningshot]

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.

My thoughts exactly. I am just a peckerwood with too many guns, so a 17hmr would be down the depth chart. My worry is wounding, so as long as someone had a understanding of the limitations and the discipline of conviction to pass longer range shots...

 

[Gunneegoogoo]

Agree with everything said above.....

-J.

 

[CV32]

Hey CGN'ers, I'm looking for your experiences with the above, also open to your thoughts and opinions.

This topic has probably beaten more coyotes to death than the 17HMR itself. Capable but not preferable.

 

[Eagleye]

Yes, I have to agree as well with the last 3/4 posters. The 17HMR is a great little rimfire, but "little" is the operative word,
and a coyote can be a bit of a tough customer.

My coyote rifle of choice starts at the 222 Remington and works up through the 225 Winchester, the 22-250, the Swift,
up to the 6mm Remington with appropriate bullets.

Regards, Dave.

 

[Price449]

Tagged lots of coyotes and the minimum caliber I will use is .223 Rem. Hollow point work great for pelt preservation. Anything less is inhumane in my humble opinion.

 

[sulisa]

Savage 25 in .223 is my go-to for game that size. .17hmr would appeal more as a ideal gopher round, to me.

 

[Dusty23]

My thoughts as well fellas, but having no experience with either that round or hunting coyotes I thought I'd ask before overlooking the .17hmr.

Thanks!

 

[witts]

.17 rem is a different story.

 

[razorbeck]

If you want a small virtually recoilless round try the 17 Hornet, small centre fire cartridge with heavier bullets.

 

[Bluedevil25]

Sorry I had to!

 

[bearkilr]

Sorry I had to!

Now change the header and wait until a "223 for deer" thread pops up. Shouldn't be long.

 

[Bowron]

I took one coyote with a 17HMR. That years pup shot in October. Coyote was sitting with a side shot at 120 yards. The typical 17gr bullet did a very nice job. Coyote stood up, spun around and died. I was actually surprised how well it killed. I was also surprised how much damaged it caused to the carcass when I skinned it out. But yes, as many have alluded to my go to guns are a 223 and 22-250.