Any .17hmr shooters

[Qaz]

This is my 2cents. I know some one that was shot by his wife 3 times in the chest at 10ft with a 30/30. I asked him if it hurt? (yes), Did it knock you off your feet? (yes) Did it kill you (no), I asked why not (she is not a good shot!)

The point is, don't depend on the caliber of gun to compensate for a poorly placed shot. Too many people go out to hunt and don't really know the game they are hunting, the gun they are using or exactly where the bullet will hit the animal at a given yardage.

I like small bore guns because bullet placement must be precise. I wait for the shot and take it when the opportunity presents itself. I don't fire a marker shot and then walk the bullet home, take multiple shots to make the kill or depend on a semi-auto for a follow up shot. One shot it is dead!

The 17HMR is a new round that alot of people have sold short on its killing power. It is proving alot of people wrong. The problem is that too many are over estimating what it is capable of because these same people over estimate what any round is capable of in their hands . It is a scalpal not a butcher knife. The bullet should be placed exactly at the right spot.

I have never been overly impressed with the 223 and think it is a little light for coyotes in most peoples hands. Its popularity is because it is cheap to shoot. A 22-250, 220 swift or 243 is much better. Will a 223 kill a coyote(maybe) Is it the best round(maybe) Would I use it(yes) Would I use a 17HMR(yes) If I had a choice, I would use a 243.

[GonHuntin]

Qaz said:

This is my 2cents. I know some one that was shot by his wife 3 times in the chest at 10ft with a 30/30. I asked him if it hurt? (yes), Did it knock you off your feet? (yes) Did it kill you (no), I asked why not (she is not a good shot!)

That is an amazing story......almost too amazing if you ask me.....3 shots to the chest with a 30-30? Did they all miss lungs/heart?

The point is, don't depend on the caliber of gun to compensate for a poorly placed shot. Too many people go out to hunt and don't really know the game they are hunting, the gun they are using or exactly where the bullet will hit the animal at a given yardage.

I don't think that is news to anyone here.......nobody here has advocated spray and pray shooting......you are preaching to the choir.....

I like small bore guns because bullet placement must be precise. I wait for the shot and take it when the opportunity presents itself. I don't fire a marker shot and then walk the bullet home, take multiple shots to make the kill or depend on a semi-auto for a follow up shot. One shot it is dead!

Wait a minute.......1. first you say " don't depend on the caliber of gun to compensate for a poorly placed shot." then you tell us you use small bore rifles "because bullet placement must be precise"?? Seems like a contradiction to me?? 2. Are you telling us (and expecting us to believe ) that you have never needed a second shot to finish a wounded animal? If that is true, then you must not have shot many animals? 3. I don't recall anyone here saying they " depend on a semi-auto for a follow up shot"....my interest (just interest at this point) in using a semi auto is to engage multiple targets quickly.....

The 17HMR is a new round that alot of people have sold short on its killing power. It is proving alot of people wrong. The problem is that too many are over estimating what it is capable of because these same people over estimate what any round is capable of in their hands . It is a scalpal not a butcher knife. The bullet should be placed exactly at the right spot.

1. I believe there are lots more people who expect too much from the 17 HMR than the number that underestimate its ability. 2. Everyone agrees that bullet placement is important.......but, in the real world, perfect shots aren't the rule, they are the exception! I haven't figured out how to get a called predator to stand out there at the ideal distance, in the ideal position, for the ideal amount of time so that every bullet can "be placed exactly at the right spot".....maybe your predators are better trained than mine?? My goal is to KILL the called predators, not educate them by letting them get away because they didn't offer the perfect shot! By the way, where is "exactly at the right spot", is it the head, neck, frontal chest, shoulders, ribs, texas heart shot?? Any of those shots are deadly with the right bullet fired from the right rifle, some of them are easier to make than others, but they are all very final if done correctly!

I have never been overly impressed with the 223 and think it is a little light for coyotes in most peoples hands. Its popularity is because it is cheap to shoot. A 22-250, 220 swift or 243 is much better. Will a 223 kill a coyote(maybe) Is it the best round(maybe) Would I use it(yes) Would I use a 17HMR(yes) If I had a choice, I would use a 243.

I'll agree, "a 22-250, 220 swift or 243 is much better" at killing coyotes......but all of those rounds can be devastating on hides!! I carry a 243 or 22-250 when I am hunting only coyotes and not worried about saving hides.....if fox or bobcats are a possibility, I grab the 223......because it is usually a bit less destructive........

Nobody has said that the 17 hmr won't kill a coyote..... that would be a foolish statement.....but, I seem to remember that one of the biggest polar bears ever killed was taken with a 22 short........and I doubt that anyone would argue that the 22 short is a great round for polar bears! Just because something works under ideal conditions certainly doesn't mean that it is the proper tool for general use.......but that doesn't keep anyone from trying it for themselves! My opinion is not only based on "paper" ballistics, but, to a greater extent, on reports from people who kill more coyotes in a month than I'll kill in a year and have tried the 17 hmr and found it a very poor choice!

[Joe]

WOOT GH.....

[GonHuntin]

Joe

I don't know whether to be offended or pleased......care to explain what WOOT means??

[Ksmirk]

I can't believe this! all these people that are afraid to shoot coyotes with this new 17HMR? all these peolpe that worry about shot placement, who cares just point anything you have at the darn thing and shoot! it don't matter what you shoot as long as you shoot the darned things! be a good hunter, knowing your rifle, know how to call or have a good idea anyway, that's someone eleses job ain't it? Just kidding! I think all calibers have a place, some fit some places better than others and well some have no place even showing up. Most of my calling and well some of my better hunting was with a 22 mag but the reason was not that I thought this was the best gun but this was all I could afford! I shot coyote, beaver, coons, and a cat with that rifle, I made enough money with that rifle to get my first 243 that I thought was enough gun for coyotes. I have seen 2 coyotes shot with the massive 17HMR and well a 22-250 is a good backup for coyotes. The cartrige was thought up many years ago but it was not cost effective at the time so it didn't take off, I don't care for the little round but that is no reason for me to bad mouth it! it has a place just not sure where yet Later,

Kirk

[shiner]

Absolutely love my .17HMR 17VS, it is extremely accurate and packs a decent punch (The accuracy is alot of fun). But after shooting a couple of yotes under 100, I decided that any shot at a yote sized animal over that would'nt be right. The .17 allows pinpoint placement, but over 100 it seems a bit lacking in energy and confidence. I roam around "rimfirecentral" alot and this is a tumultuous subject, bottom line is there are alot better tools.

[okcoyote]

qaz..............this is my $.02 in response to ur 2 cents.....
your response left me somwhat perplexed.. u stated that u like the small stuff because bullet placement must be precise....are u claiming that bullet placement does not have to be precise with larger cartridges. bullet placement is of utmost importance with any cartridge. u say that most people( whoever that is) do not know the game animals they hunt or their guns or where the bullet hits..........................maybe not where u come from.. i would bet a hundred dollars to a whole in a donut that the majority of the hunters who belong to the posse know full well all this. u seem to be heaping praise on the little 17 hmr but then blast the .223 as coyote gun.... not big enough....... this seems a little ambiguous. u are critical autoloaders.. u state that u do not fire a marker shot and then walk your bullet to the target. do u hunt with people who do this. we do not use the a spray and pray technique. a good autoloader allows us to engage in a second follow up shot on multiple targets( coyotes), not to hose em down. i do not mean to be hard on anyone. remember this is just one fools opinion,,,mine... i have and always will respect someone else's opinion... i may not particularly agree or like it.... ( but i do not have to agree or like it)......but i can live with it. everyone is entitled to their own opinion

[Joe]

Be pleased........woot=woo hoo, or yay, or alright!!! ;D

You and I have a quorum on this matter.......

[GonHuntin]

OK Joe....just checking....... ;D

[Joe]

;D

[Woodrow]

I got a 17hmr for a toy (sold a shotgun I wasn’t using). I have a 22lr and a 22-250……so I really didn’t “need” it, I just wanted it to plink w/ and shoot vermin (small vermin) out to 150 yards with. Thus far it has only killed jackrabbits, but comparing the performance of it vs. the 22lr is not even close. I really love this gun, for what I use it for. I don’t think it is a call gun at all, as stated above, there are so many other options! All but one of the jackrabbits have not moved from where they were hit. I think we have killed 15 or so w/ it. Our longest shot thus far is around 100 yards, we just held right on em. I can’t wait to try it out to 150 yards and maybe find a raccoon to test it on too.

It packs more punch than I thought it would, but I wouldn’t feel right about shooting something like a coyote or hog w/ it unless I had a great rest, time, and a really good shot opportunity. That just doesn’t happen too often, so I will just keep using it for the small stuff.

Shiner, where in Spring do ya live? I work right near Klein HS (that is where I went to HS too).

[GonHuntin]

Anybody used the hmr on turkeys? If the bullet would stay together and not do too much damage, I think it might be just the ticket!

[Bennie]

I didn't write what I started too, because it would stir this up even more, I modified my entry because it would have caused some hard feelings. Shoot turkeys with a rifle. WHY. Don't even know if it is legal in texas to shoot them with a rimfire.

[slammy]

Hey Qaz,

I hear what you are saying about proper and careful shot placement, but with predators that doesn't always represent a realistic situation. I'd come home empty handed quite a few times if I always waited for the proper moment or opportunity to shoot. Maybe you can set up where that is a reality for you, I can't. Not yet anyways. Last October I had to shoot through tree limbs at a bobcat. No other choice. When the cat started leaving I couldn't wait any longer. The .223 soft point broke two small branches and knocked the cat down.

I also sometimes use a semi auto. Sometimes I miss and sometimes I do nasty clean up work with my available extra shots. That's just reality. Also I do specifically use .223 instead of 22-250 because of lower cost and better availability. I make up the difference in performance.

I understand the appeal of the .17, but the fact is you will have to have a near perfect scenario to be effective on yotes with the .17 HMR. In my limited experience I've seen very few perfect scenarios when hunting predators.

My rationale is this: It's better to have him laying there at your feet otherwise it's just a story. I knock em down with my .223 and if they get up I knock em down again. (...Or my wife does)

[GonHuntin]

Bennie

I don't live in Texas, so I don't know if rimfires are legal there?? I live in Oklahoma and, in many counties, it is legal to use a rifle for turkeys in the fall. Before this year, the 5mm rimfire mag and the 22 mag were the only legal rimfires.....don't know if it passed, but there was a push to get the 17 hmr legalized for turkeys too. You ask why anyone would use a rifle for turkeys? Well, in some parts of the state, the terrain is so wide open that it is very difficult to get close enough to take one with a shotgun.


For those who don't have a clue as to the real world performance of the 17 hmr.......

Bullet Weight: 17 grain Hornady V-Max Polymer Tip with Boat Tail
Bullet BC: .125
Bullet Velocity: 2550
100-Yard Velocity: 1800 fps
Muzzle Energy: 250 ft-lbs.
100-Yard Retained Energy: 130 ft-lbs.
Cartridge Overall Length: 1.365