Wanting to buy .17. Looking for opinions.

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Tires

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So I live on a farm, got the usual pests (coyote) to deal with.

Have a .22 which I like but I've got trouble makers lately who are only giving me opportunity at 250-300 yards. My only other choice is .30 calibres after that and its overkill.

I'm thinking a .17 is the way to go, liking the sounds of the WSM models for the extra kick, they seem to have good reviews. I was originally thinking about a .223 but I want a small calibre so that I don't blow out my ears on those man your battle stations varmint alarms.

Problem is I know little about them and don't seem to be very popular (at least against the .22) so I'm looking for opinions on the calibre and rifle. I'd prefer one with a scope included and sighted so all I have to do is fine-tune. Budget is $600 - $800.
 
you will get a lot of naysays re the 17 hmr at the ranges you are considering. 300 yards is a stretch for the 17 and at that range your are in 223 territory or the 204. a nice little tikka t3 in 204 will do all you want.

a nice 17 hmr in your price range is a CZ
 
Yeah if you're shooting out to 300y I'd say move up to centerfire. .17 Hornet or the Fireball for a little extra oomph.

I wouldn't want to shoot all day long with no hearing protection with my Hornet, but a shot or two doesn't even get the ears ringing!
 
I concur with the above poster. If you are shooting at over 200 yards an HMR or rimfire in general won't be taking coyotes cleanly. If you want something that has a nice report and will do the trick a 22 Hornet would be a better selection but it would definitely not be my first choice for coyotes at 300 yds.
 
.50BMG
It's the only way to be sure.

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A .30 cal with the right bullet wouldn't be much overkill at 300yds on a coyote. A 22-250 or 243 would be great but if I already had a 30 of some kind (308, 30-06, etc.) I'd just use that instead of buying a new rifle (unless I want an excuse to buy a new rifle). If you handload you can find .308" varmint bullets (110gr seem the most common) but in a pinch any regular hunting bullet would do the job so long as you aren't looking to recover the pelts.
 
17HMR simply won't cut it at that range. I've shot groundhogs at less than 100 yards that managed to crawl back to their hole. You'd be soundly under-gunned with a 17HMR at that range, to say nothing of how badly even a little wind could blow an HMR bullet off course. Trajectory is another consideration. If you had an HMR zeroed at approx. 100 yards...you'd be dealing with 30"+ of drop @ 300 yards.

In my experience (4 HMRs)...anywhere you can use a 17HMR...you won't be drawing any more attention to yourself using a .223. (200 yard zero=approx. 7" drop @ 300 yards) I've spent most of my life shooting rimfires so stepping-up to a .223 and .204R always SEEMED like a big jump...but it's not.
 
Yeah... Out past, say, 150 m you're probably better off with a .20 or bigger centre fire (such as .204, .222, .223, or depending on the varmint 6.5 (.264) - the Swede Mauser 6.5x55 is amazingly accurate - shoots better than most shooters. They're all a bit loud, though - If you want to hear the surroundings AND not go deaf shooting, get the electronic earmuffs
 
Wear ear plugs and go 223, for keeping costs down shoot surplus ammo, look at the Savage line up of rifles as well
 
Thanks for the opinion guys.

I guess I thought the .17's high velocity would be good to those ranges. I was looking at the .17WSM "Winchester super magnum", which states velocity of 3000fps. But I guess it still would be a pretty light bullet. Darn.

I was thinking of a .223 before, so I suppose that will be the route I will go, I will check out a .204.
 
LUTNIT said:
.50BMG
It's the only way to be sure.

------------------------

A .30 cal with the right bullet wouldn't be much overkill at 300yds on a coyote. A 22-250 or 243 would be great but if I already had a 30 of some kind (308, 30-06, etc.) I'd just use that instead of buying a new rifle (unless I want an excuse to buy a new rifle). If you handload you can find .308" varmint bullets (110gr seem the most common) but in a pinch any regular hunting bullet would do the job so long as you aren't looking to recover the pelts.
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Yes I guess you are right that it wouldn't really be "overkill" as I said but yes I do like to recovery the pelts if possible. Plus I'd rather spend .40 a shot vs. 1.00+. Thanks for the help.

And yes... Partly a good excuse to buy another rifle!
 
dizzy said:
you will get a lot of naysays re the 17 hmr at the ranges you are considering. 300 yards is a stretch for the 17 and at that range your are in 223 territory or the 204. a nice little tikka t3 in 204 will do all you want.

a nice 17 hmr in your price range is a CZ
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This...and with any wind that little .17 sub particle will be all over the place at 200 -300.

I always considered the .17 to be a 100 yard laser but at 200 you need a real cartridge.
 
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Tires said:
Thanks for the opinion guys.

I guess I thought the .17's high velocity would be good to those ranges. I was looking at the .17WSM "Winchester super magnum", which states velocity of 3000fps. But I guess it still would be a pretty light bullet. Darn.

I was thinking of a .223 before, so I suppose that will be the route I will go, I will check out a .204.
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Check out the 222 as well. Very accurate, was top of the heap for bench rest for ages, quiet and mild recoil. I have a 20 cal wildcat that is awesome but won't fit into your budget.
 
I have a 222rem...really love it, great little round and not easy to find factory ammo, but if you plan and stock up, or reload, it's not an issue....savage 340's seem to come up in the classifieds often and are a nice little gun

I'll echo on all the 17 comments, I have one myself and any wind after 150 yards it gets pushed pretty bad....222,223 and 204 would be my choices for what you want
 
BRvalley said:
I have a 222rem...really love it, great little round and not easy to find factory ammo, but if you plan and stock up, or reload, it's not an issue....savage 340's seem to come up in the classifieds often and are a nice little gun

I'll echo on all the 17 comments, I have one myself and any wind after 150 yards it gets pushed pretty bad....222,223 and 204 would be my choices for what you want
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Are you in the East? I see a lot of comments here about factory ammo being hard to find for the 222 and I've never had a problem. CT and the local co-op have as well as the hunting stores. I'd say it's darn near common to find and as easy as most others.
 
Grey_Wolf said:
Are you in the East? I see a lot of comments here about factory ammo being hard to find for the 222 and I've never had a problem. CT and the local co-op have as well as the hunting stores. I'd say it's darn near common to find and as easy as most others.
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I'm in Prince George...WSS got some in but they didn't have it initially when I first got the calibre in the fall, they've had it recently and I seem to be the only one taking it off the shelves....I look for it everywhere I go in BC and hard to find, I ordered some online so I'm good for at least 2 winters of coyotes now

my preferred 300wsm ammo is harder to find now...and my 260 rem I can only order online, nothing locally....all the more incentive to hurry up into reloading I guess
 
Tires said:
Thanks for the opinion guys.

I guess I thought the .17's high velocity would be good to those ranges. I was looking at the .17WSM "Winchester super magnum", which states velocity of 3000fps. But I guess it still would be a pretty light bullet. Darn.

I was thinking of a .223 before, so I suppose that will be the route I will go, I will check out a .204.
Click to expand...

The 17wsm doesn't really have a good rifle platform to support the cartridge yet, Most reviews on the Savage B mag in 17wsm are terrible, The ones I've held in person seem to be cheaply made as well, Haven't seen one with a barrel that lines the center of the stock yet. I believe NEF makes a single shot but I think they are pricey.

My vote as well goes to 223, Easy to find ammo just about anywhere. I've shot at a fair amount of yotes at the 250-300 yard range while shooting gophers with the .17hmr, lots of hits and yelps but only ever put one down with it and it was a hit to the eye socket, and it still ran for about 75 yards before it piled up.
 
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