17 hmr for coon

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IAYoteHunter

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What are your experiences with the 17 hmr for coon. How is it compared to the 22lr? Right now I am using 22lr and if there is any shot that is not a head shot it acts like it doesn't even phase them? Do you get better knock down power in the case of a body shot? Do you prefer the 17gr V-Max or 20 gr. hollow points? Thanks.
 
Your coons are probably a lot bigger than the ones around here but I found the 22LR to always be adequate. I do alot of coon hunting with hounds and coons don't seem like to me to be an animal difficult to kill. I have shot them with the 17HMR back when I used to use it for fox, sometimes a coon would respond to the call. I never had a coon I shot with the 17HMR get away or not die immediately, but it will damage fur if you use expanding bullets. We stopped using it for fox even thought they are not difficult to kill either. I switched to a 22 magnum because we had a few foxes that had to be tracked. No big deal, we always found them...but I have better things to do {like another setup} when I am calling predators than look for a blood trail.
 
When I was in high school Or shortly after the hmr was new! my buddy bought one in bolt action I belive. It was typical to skip class. or in afternoons, after school and days off to drive gravel roads here in minnesota. usually spring when grass was short to shoot 13 stripe gophers on road shoulders. I remember switching to hollow point in 22lr thinking, wow that was entertaning. would find the head and a piece of the body laying on the ground but when he got that hmr it brought a hole new pinkish red mist to the situation and at further distances that didn't really leave much left to find! A coon is bigger but I would think it would leave a big hole. I have used 22lr on coons in a trap, to dispatch. shoot them in the forehead to save fur, bullet don't come out. Unless you are looking for the visual effect of the hmr, I would think the 22lr would be sufficient under 40 yards.
 
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It's better than a .22lr on big boar coons but even a body shot on a large raccoon might wound it. I'd choose a .22mag over the .17hmr and a .17wsm over either. If a hmr is what you have the heavier bullets would be better. Hollowpoints will reach vitals on huge raccoons a little better than the v-max also.
 
Originally Posted By: cedarcreekcooner17 hmr is better than 22 LR. 22 mag better than both. I've shot a lot of coons with all three.

Totally agree
 
The cci tnt hollow points out a hmr will put down any coon or woodchuck you find. Wether it's a headshot or shoulder/ behind the shoulder. I never had a big old woodchuck or boar coon move after being hit with the hollow points in ether of these places. Now the v max loads are a different story. You better aim for the head or else say good bye.
 
I do a lot of coon calling, I have used 22lr 22mag and 17hmr. For me the 17hmr works the best, with 22 mag coming in right behind it. Nothing bad against 22mag, I never had an issue with it but the 17hmr's i have been around seem to be more accurate.
 
I've got all kinds of varmint rifles 17 Hmr up to 243 and I used the 17 Hmr more this season than any of the others. The 17 Hmr just works!
 
I got this big boar a few weeks ago with my Marlin 917 took the shot as it was running hit it just behind the shoulder it ran about 10 yards and piled up. I use my hmr on just about everything and the vmax all fox have been drt most coins have been also this one making it the farthest not counting the drop from the tree lol. Ground hogs all been bang flop also. For some reason though it don't like to kill squirrels maybe my squirrels are just tough sobs but I've just about split one in two and had them take off running or still make it up the tree and get stuck.



My 4 year old wants a hat made out of it and he's there for size reference
 
first coon i ever shot with my 17hmr was one of the few 1 shot kills i've gotten with a rimfire on them. in the chest, out the back. quarter sized exit hole. went about 15', flopped around in the brush screaming and dropped over. BIG female.


they're tough buggers, and as noted 22lr, unless its a direct CNS isnt gonna 1 shot stop them very often - if at all. I've made kills and found multiple scars from 22lr's on them from previous attempts that ran off. little pucker marks all over their bellies/backs that were fully healed.

our rule of thumb when 22lr'ing a racoon is to keep shooting until they stop wiggling.
 
Originally Posted By: Plant.Onefirst coon i ever shot with my 17hmr was one of the few 1 shot kills i've gotten with a rimfire on them. in the chest, out the back. quarter sized exit hole. went about 15', flopped around in the brush screaming and dropped over. BIG female.


they're tough buggers, and as noted 22lr, unless its a direct CNS isnt gonna 1 shot stop them very often - if at all. I've made kills and found multiple scars from 22lr's on them from previous attempts that ran off. little pucker marks all over their bellies/backs that were fully healed.

our rule of thumb when 22lr'ing a racoon is to keep shooting until they stop wiggling.

I've skinned coons out with 22 bullets bedded in their forehead. Usually ones I shoot with hp we have found when using a 22 use cheap round head ammo and head shoot the hp on the head just stops a lot of times. We shoot till dead usually so they don't get after the dog tied to the nearby tree then some times we let the dog finish them
 


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