Wanting to buy .17. Looking for opinions.

[Grey_Wolf]

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

That's the best bet. You can find what works with your gun and get that tack driving performance the 222 is known for. Both of mine work great with X-Terminator powder (try and find some now).

 

[Tires]

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.

Ha, love it. I took one with a .22, it was only about 60 yards so it was far from a legendary shot but I got him dead in the heart. Ran for a 100 yards maybe and dropped dead. He's a wall hanger now.

 

[hoytcanon]

I have shot a few coyotes with a .22 LR and a few others with .17 HMR with 20 grain XTP bullets... but not beyond 125 yards or so... and I consider an HMR on the very light end for coyotes. For what your purposes are, I would go with a .223... Winchester White Box ammo is $22 for 40 rounds with a peppy 40 grain hollow point... and those have always been accurate any time I have tried them. Get a good bolt action rifle and top it with decent glass and you are good to go.

 

[blasted_saber]

.223. Cheap, easy to find, plentiful, lots of cartridge choices.

 

[.22LRGUY]

I have shot a few coyotes with a .22 LR and a few others with .17 HMR with 20 grain XTP bullets... but not beyond 125 yards or so... and I consider an HMR on the very light end for coyotes. For what your purposes are, I would go with a .223... Winchester White Box ammo is $22 for 40 rounds with a peppy 40 grain hollow point... and those have always been accurate any time I have tried them. Get a good bolt action rifle and top it with decent glass and you are good to go.

^Perfect advice. Don't let the ammo cost deter you either. See what they're asking for 17HMR in some places? I've seen it as high as $25 for a box of $50..and the stuff is positively anemic compared to .223. As much as I love .204R, I'd still urge you to go the .223 route for the reasons mentioned already. (I have both) If/when you decide to start reloading~bullet variety, brass availability~.223 is the best I've seen.

 

[Normancory]

Haha. The .50 BMG is the guaranteed way. But in all seriousness I have a 17HMR and I love it but at 300 yards its pushing it. I'd say a 22-250 or a 223

.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.