.17 HMR LIMITATIONS?

The primary limitation is it's lack of knockdown power for game as large as coyote, especially at any distance. Even a .22 short will kill a coyote if it is fired into a vital spot at a close enough distance. But coyote hunting doesn't give you the opportunity for perfect shots at ideal distances. Too many variables. The HMR is a fun gun for G-hogs and P-dogs. If this is to be "primarily" a coyote gun, get a larger caliber. Do a search and you'll find a hundred posts on the pros and cons of the .17 as a coyote gun. Happy reading.
 
Damn NASA did you steal my script on this one? That is exactly what I would have said. I've killed several dogs with mine but most were in the wide open at acceptable ranges and were standing motionless. I carry my 17HMR as my "truck gun" because its so reliable and accurate... thats how I get it into so many situations. I wouldn't suggest carrying it as a primary coyote rifle uness you hunt with buddies carrying a 22-250 and or a shotgun. When I'm taking a few buddies out for a night of BS'ing and calling I'll usually carry the HMR because I'm primarily running lights & calls.

Don't let anybody tell you the HMR won't do it... they've got plenty of crap behind them. Look at SamSpade's thread about the 17HMR... he's got some groundhog photo's on there that look like a .223 got a hold of em' but it was his HMR!
 
LOL, nothin better than a HMR, right? :eek: I'd take the shot if it was less than 50 yds and the yote posed for a heart shot. Otherwise, I'd pass on it. I might try a fox out to 80-100 yds, but not a coyote. And that's pushing it.
 
I have shot everything within reason with a .17 HMR and if you can head shoot your yotes everytime it will do the trick. However, it is hard to make a head shot everytime. Good body shots on fox or bobcats at 50 yds or less should not be a problem as the cats give up the ghost pretty easy and the foxes are small.

Even at this, I would not recommend a .17 HMR for a coyote rifle. They should receice way more respect by using a rifle with enough punch to put them down humanely with a single shot.
 
You can kill an elephant with a 22LR, it has been done. But why would you want to do it?

When I shoot something I want it to die right now and not argue about it.

Anything less than a bang-flop, I don't like.

Jack
 
Personally I'd like to be the guy that can say "I killed an elephant with a 22lr" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Naww, really shot placement is key so unless your always going to have shot placement then I'd forget about packing an HMR all the time. I've lungshot a dog and trailed him for 200 yards... they don't leave much of a blood trail either from that little round! I've recovered all my kills so far but its just too easy to roll em' with my 22-250 for me to risk plinging around with the HMR.
 
I'm glad you guys on here have a realistic view of the 17. The way I've seen some guys talk about that thing, you'd think they had 300 mag. They are obviously the minority, and I think they just like to hear themselves talk.
 
The way I see it, the biggest downfaLL OF THE 17 hmr is in the bullets currently offered for it. If and when they offer a bullet that has a thicker jacket, so that the little bitty bullet will penetrate at least half way through a broadside coyote before said bullet blows up, then it just may do the trick on coyotes. Even then, it will be a marginal caliber for coyote sized critters.
 
I don't have much experience in field testing the different rounds offerend in 17HMR. I've shot them all into paper a few times but have noticed a STRONG lead in the Hornady's. I've never gone to anything else, even though I have a few cases of CCI's and Remingtons in the cabinet. The hollow points may give a guy better killing success but I'm not sure. Its still shot placement so a hole the size of a pencil versus a quarter really doesn't matter when its in the brain!

Do they make full metal rounds with a little more bite yet? I'm sure they're playing around with the ideas if they don't have them already. The 22mag has a variety of rounds available, I'm sure the 17HMR will follow suit.
 


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