17 HMR and Bobcats.

Look, we are looking at bullet weight and velocity. The 17 HMR is a great squirrel/rabbit round. But when you bump up to animals in the 15 plus pound range, you need to respect the animal enough to come to the game with enough of both to put them down quickly. How much is the stinking fur worth if you don't recover it?

And I'm with PK1 about suffering animals...I don't like it, and would rather do a little sewing than say, oh well, another lost cat.

Like I said, I shot two bobcat with the round and would never point my 17 HMR at another. Those of us who have pushed away from the keyboard and actually chased this animal know that they are tough (on the mouse and elephant comment...blah, blah, blah). Jump on Youtube and punch in Bobcat hunting. Watch the slew of clips where cats received mortal shots with the correct caliber and took off.

And for the 'I'll only take head shots' crowd, please film that. You'd be a rock star on the web with a compilation of those.

And those saying it's enough gun haven't done it enough to eventually lose animals, and you will, to form a solid opinion. We know who you are.

Not dusting it up here, but come on, we all love this game (chasing predators) and it ain't just for the kill. We respect the animals we chase. So, chase them with enough gun and give them a wildlife heart attack.

I've shot cats with .204, 22-250, 223 and a shotgun and depending the on range, have had zero to some pelt damage. But I can say this with the utmost certainty, that I have NEVER lost a cat since I hung up the 17 HMR and started chasing them with the proper round.
 
i've seen cats run mortality wounded after being shot with 22-250, .204 and .223. once we wounded one with a 22-250 (shoulder shot) and had to recover it the next day with the help of a dog. it was still alive and my brother shot it 3 times with .22lr and it didn't even flinch. i had my .45...

i've also seen cats and coyotes drt with a .17HMR. that being said i'd have to echo that when calling i'd suggest a larger caliber. it's kinda like saying a .22mag will kill a deer if you shoot it in the heart but it's not my "go to" round.
 
It will work but I'll agree with anyone who says to stick with head shots only.And it would be a good idea to limit your shots to 50 yards or less if that's your caliber of choice.Unless you're confident that you can make a head shot out to 100 yards then I don't see why it would hurt to give it a try.I've seen a bobcat run 10 yards or so after taking a solid hit to the chest with a .55gr hollowpoint from about 35 yards.That was 10 yards more than I expected to see it run so theres no doubt that they're tough critters.Shotguns are a pretty good choice if you're wantin to stop a bobcat in its tracks though.A bunch of projectiles hittin a souped up wild cat seems to knock all 9 lives out of them pretty quickly.

I shot one last week with a .22mag using .40gr JHP's and it got the job done.The only problem was that it took 2 shots to do it.The first time I hit the cat it was roughly 100 yards away.The first bullet hit the cat in front of its left shoulder.I heard the bullet connect so I knew right away it was a solid hit.Instead of dropping where it stood it jumped about 4 feet in the air and ran my direction, stopped 50 some yards away and sat down.I put the crosshairs on its head and just as I squeezed the trigger it turned its head.The bullet went through one eye and out the other.I ended up getting the cat but I aint gonna try a body shot on another one from 100 yards with any rimfire.They just don't have the knockdown power to drop a bobcat or coyote from that far.Or at least consistantly and that's what I'm looking for.I don't just like to recover the critters I shoot most of the time.Any time I send a bullet after one I expect it to stay where it was when it got smacked with that piece of lead.That doesn't always happen but it doesn't help if you aint carrying enough gun or you're trying to stretch the capabilities of the gun you're using.
 
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When I was farming and was out checking crops and cattle, I carried a 17HMR with me quite a bit. I killed a number of coyotes with the 17, and only had one run any distance before piling up. If the 17 will kill a coyote this easy, it would also kill a bobcat. Having said that, I have killed a few bobcats.....all one shot kills DRT with a 223. I no longer use the 17 for predator hunting, but wouldn't be afraid in the least to shoot a bobcat with it. I don't take bad shots, and I can hit where I aim, and that should apply to everything we shoot at. Sadly, it doesn't, and that is why some hunters think they have to use a cannon to shoot a mouse. They are covering up for their lack of ability with a firearm....and there are more of those people than we realize.
 
Hey! Did I ever tell you guys about the time I killed a Rino with my slingshot??

Hip boots should be required to read these threads.
 
Originally Posted By: Crimson RaptorI don't know that they're that tough, but that they just don't know they're dead yet even when shot well.
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I agree with Crimson Raptor. I've taken my share of bobcats, but none with a .17 HMR. My latest cat was shot just recently with a 6x45 and a 75 Gr. Sierra Hollow Point. It was flattened at the shot, layed there for a few seconds and then suddenly got on it's feet and down the hollow it went. That seems to be the nature of bobcats, that they just don't know when they're dead, even with fatal hits. I shot a cat one time with a .243 and a Barnes X bullet. Never recovered it.

I personally think your HMR will work, but you need to be prepared for some tracking. You may even lose a cat. It's good to have a blood trail but you may not get that with the small .17. A head shot would be ideal but if you don't hit it just right, you might ruin a potential mount.

Personally, I wouldn't go after a cat deliberately with an HMR. Having said that, if I were out hunting with an HMR and a cat showed up, I would take the shot if I felt I could do it right, but I'd sure choose carefully where I would place that tiny bullet.
 
Originally Posted By: pk1Hey! Did I ever tell you guys about the time I killed a Rino with my slingshot??

Hip boots should be required to read these threads.


The Sasqautch on my wall was killed with that little plastic toothpick at the end of my Swiss Army knife.


Chupa
 
Originally Posted By: Crowsniper.17HMREasy job for the .17HMR within 100 yards....no problem.

How many bobcats have you killed with an HMR ?

If you have good field data please share it.
 
gethuntin,
Nice job on the bobkitty !

I'm not going to debate if it will or will not work,BUT ....
Having killed a truck load or 2 of critters with the HMR,I can say the biggest concern is a blood trail(lack of one)! The HMR will kill stuff graveyard dead on the spot,but if the critter runs,they can be tuff to follow up on.
 
Originally Posted By: kymailman98When I was farming and was out checking crops and cattle, I carried a 17HMR with me quite a bit. I killed a number of coyotes with the 17, and only had one run any distance before piling up. If the 17 will kill a coyote this easy, it would also kill a bobcat. Having said that, I have killed a few bobcats.....all one shot kills DRT with a 223. I no longer use the 17 for predator hunting, but wouldn't be afraid in the least to shoot a bobcat with it. I don't take bad shots, and I can hit where I aim, and that should apply to everything we shoot at. Sadly, it doesn't, and that is why some hunters think they have to use a cannon to shoot a mouse. They are covering up for their lack of ability with a firearm....and there are more of those people than we realize.

I agree Mailman...I see so many on here using .243, .270, .308 to shoot yotes and cats. It's funny....mostly city boys.
 
Originally Posted By: 6mm06Originally Posted By: Crimson RaptorI don't know that they're that tough, but that they just don't know they're dead yet even when shot well.
laugh.gif


I agree with Crimson Raptor. I've taken my share of bobcats, but none with a .17 HMR. My latest cat was shot just recently with a 6x45 and a 75 Gr. Sierra Hollow Point. It was flattened at the shot, layed there for a few seconds and then suddenly got on it's feet and down the hollow it went. That seems to be the nature of bobcats, that they just don't know when they're dead, even with fatal hits. I shot a cat one time with a .243 and a Barnes X bullet. Never recovered it.

I personally think your HMR will work, but you need to be prepared for some tracking. You may even lose a cat. It's good to have a blood trail but you may not get that with the small .17. A head shot would be ideal but if you don't hit it just right, you might ruin a potential mount.

Personally, I wouldn't go after a cat deliberately with an HMR. Having said that, if I were out hunting with an HMR and a cat showed up, I would take the shot if I felt I could do it right, but I'd sure choose carefully where I would place that tiny bullet.


If you shot a cat with a .243 and it ran off.....you must of hit it in the @$$.....LMAO. WoW....
 
Originally Posted By: Tim NeitzkeOriginally Posted By: Crowsniper.17HMREasy job for the .17HMR within 100 yards....no problem.

How many bobcats have you killed with an HMR ?

If you have good field data please share it.

Shot two and killed two. Don't need an RPG to kill a cat like most think.
 
Originally Posted By: Crowsniper.17HMROriginally Posted By: Tim NeitzkeOriginally Posted By: Crowsniper.17HMREasy job for the .17HMR within 100 yards....no problem.

How many bobcats have you killed with an HMR ?

If you have good field data please share it.

Shot two and killed two.

Seems to be right about the prerequisite for internet legend status...no problem.
grin.gif
 
Originally Posted By: tawnoperOriginally Posted By: Crowsniper.17HMROriginally Posted By: Tim NeitzkeOriginally Posted By: Crowsniper.17HMREasy job for the .17HMR within 100 yards....no problem.

How many bobcats have you killed with an HMR ?

If you have good field data please share it.

Shot two and killed two.

Seems to be right about the prerequisite for internet legend status...no problem.
grin.gif


I'll send you an autographed photo if you like.....
 
By all means, gets your mom to sign it for you and I'll take one! LOL

We all have experiences with cats. I'll have to admit a data set of only two isn't enough to draw a solid opinion on this topic in my opinion.

And then you have the guys that say they never miss and hit what they aim at. Those guys should be a in a circus shooting gallery for sure...lots of good professions in the circus community for the Legends of the Call. LOL

Time to go...I've got to go skin a bobcat I shot this morning with the 204...died where he stood. I've lost track of how many cats I've killed, but I can tell you this, it's a lot more than two.

Legends abound! LOL
 
Don't own a Hummer or really care about the cartrige one way or the other, but I will give the little gem allot of credit for it's controversy, and entertainment value.


As far as Cats go, my experience has been that some die easy, but most seem to be made of Kevlar. Pound for pound, I'd say they're twice as tough to kill than Coyotes.
Might also be that the different opinions aren't really comparing apples to apples. Common sence tells me that our big western cats probably take more killing than the skinny little 15lb southern cats.

IMO,,, the 17Rem's the best cartrige for both if ya want to save fur. And depending on where you live, if you've got good Cats you're stupid not to save fur.

I shot this Tom yesterday with my 17FB at about eighty yards.
He went about twenty feet in the air and took off like a shot. Only went about twenty yards before running out of air, but still,,,, it's like the dang things are electric.
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IMO, my 17FB's the least gun I'd use and even then I'd stay within 100. Again JMO!
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After reading this whole thread, I'd say to listen to those Oregon boys, and ignore all the head shooting "Experts"..

IMO the Hummers a Squirrel gun. Enjoy it for what it is.
Happy Hunting
 
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