You said it much more articulately than I did, but I am in total agreement. The fun factor on this load is out the roof. I stopped a few bars short of my distinguished expert on the smallbore 50' range, but the accuracy of the .17 hmr makes each shot a placement challenge, and rewards are instant. If you don't like it, don't shoot it, please, maybe someday there will be ammo left on the shelves for us "uneducated" shooters.
.17 hmr worth buying
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mrmarklin
New member
VarmintGuy, you are absolutely correct. Your experiences parallel my own, and I'm not as an experienced a varmint hunter as you.
I bought my .17HMR last year, and it is the most accurate rifle I own, and I own some good ones such as Blaser and Steyr.
I use a 2.5-10x56 scope on mine, and couldn't be happier.
I bought my .17HMR last year, and it is the most accurate rifle I own, and I own some good ones such as Blaser and Steyr.
I use a 2.5-10x56 scope on mine, and couldn't be happier.
You sure talk good Varmintguy. Everyone I know who has the 17 in whatever make or model is extremely happy with it. A guy I shoot with (Odie) shoots pdogs with his and I've seen him shoot out to about 200 (not much wind though) and it is quit effective on them. Makes a good drive by gun.
Varmint guy,
I agree with you right up to the shooting a coyote at 150 yards part. This last season I killed 22 coyotes, 19 fox and 12 badger with my Marlin17V and BTW just bought another Marlin17VS, back to my point, the first coyote I shot with my 17HMR was at 80 yards. The shot was placed in the zone and that coyote ran 450 yards before tiping over. After that I limmited my shots to 60 yards on coyotes and never lost one that I shot with the gun.
My range on fox was better,I killed several fox over 100 and 3 over 125 yards.
Badger was a differant story, the two I shot at over 100 both ended up in their holes and not retrived. After that I limmited my shots to 80 yards and never lost another badger.
The point I'm making is simple, the 17HMR is a very capable cartridge if the shooter will use the common sense God gave a duck and not push it beyond its limmits. I love the caliber and the load, I think its one of the most fur friendly cartridges out there, just don't push the limmits with this little gun.
I also found the Remington ammo to shoot the best with hornaday V-max right behind and CCI suckin hind tit.
As far as the wind goes, if you limit your shooting to ranges that the gun is capable of performing in, the wind doesn't enter into it. I also shot some rockchucks this spring that were around the 200 yard mark and I don't recall any that needed a seccond shot.
Thats my 2 cents for what its worth
slydog
I agree with you right up to the shooting a coyote at 150 yards part. This last season I killed 22 coyotes, 19 fox and 12 badger with my Marlin17V and BTW just bought another Marlin17VS, back to my point, the first coyote I shot with my 17HMR was at 80 yards. The shot was placed in the zone and that coyote ran 450 yards before tiping over. After that I limmited my shots to 60 yards on coyotes and never lost one that I shot with the gun.
My range on fox was better,I killed several fox over 100 and 3 over 125 yards.
Badger was a differant story, the two I shot at over 100 both ended up in their holes and not retrived. After that I limmited my shots to 80 yards and never lost another badger.
The point I'm making is simple, the 17HMR is a very capable cartridge if the shooter will use the common sense God gave a duck and not push it beyond its limmits. I love the caliber and the load, I think its one of the most fur friendly cartridges out there, just don't push the limmits with this little gun.
I also found the Remington ammo to shoot the best with hornaday V-max right behind and CCI suckin hind tit.
As far as the wind goes, if you limit your shooting to ranges that the gun is capable of performing in, the wind doesn't enter into it. I also shot some rockchucks this spring that were around the 200 yard mark and I don't recall any that needed a seccond shot.
Thats my 2 cents for what its worth
slydog
Lavoy Oates
New member
Hey VarmintGuy. Did you give up on that other website also? Odie
One thing to think about before you by a 17hmr is the price and availability of ammo. I own Heritage single six, chambered for 17hmr. It's a great gun and very accurate ammo, but I'm paying almost 25cents a shot. Too much for a plinking gun. I should have learned a little more about the 17hmr before I made my purchase.
VarmintGuy
New member
Lavoy Oates: Naw I have not completely given up on other sites I still get around a little. I like to pick up bits and pieces of information and experiences where ever I can. I have only really given up on one Varmining site and that was cause the moderaters there were cowards when it came to protecting 2nd Amendment Rights. Long since told them what I thought of them and have not been back.
Keep after them!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
Keep after them!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
Lavoy Oates
New member
VG the site was where you were told that you could replace barrels for 150.00 I was just curious if you found any of them.
Mr. Mister
New member
I own a Savage .17 HMR and I am here to tell you it is one of the funnest guns I have ever owned. Accurate 300-yard shots are not uncommon. It can be blown around in the wind but other than that it’s just pure fun.
The only draw back so far on mine was it killed a scope. But maybe it was defective; BSA did replace it with no questions.
As for the cost of shooting it: Does anyone remember the cost of the first calculators and cell phones? When the first flood of buyers slows down and the rounds are sitting on the shelf longer you’ll see the price go down. I am currently paying $10.00 for a box of 50. The rifle was $185.00 including shipping, how many other rifles in your safe cost less than $300.00 scoped!
Go get one you’ll love it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
The only draw back so far on mine was it killed a scope. But maybe it was defective; BSA did replace it with no questions.
As for the cost of shooting it: Does anyone remember the cost of the first calculators and cell phones? When the first flood of buyers slows down and the rounds are sitting on the shelf longer you’ll see the price go down. I am currently paying $10.00 for a box of 50. The rifle was $185.00 including shipping, how many other rifles in your safe cost less than $300.00 scoped!
Go get one you’ll love it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
VarmintGuy
New member
Lavoy Oates: Pardon my slow reply. No I still have not found a quality centerfire barrel that can be had and installed for $150.00! I think about that one every once in a while and I laugh about it! Been doing lots of Varminting, Gun trading, shooting and Big Game scouting recently in the smoke and heat here in Montana!
Keep after em!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
Keep after em!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
I'm on my second 17hmr. At first wasnt to sure about them the wind did really effect the bullet. Went a head and took my marlin to S.D. in july and loved it. We were shooting p.d. out to 200yds. The shot around 100yds would create some flips and exploding but after 150 they just kind of fell.
After returning home i purchused the varmint version ruger and am now in process of getting all the bells and whistles on it.
Ihave found in my use the remington and hornady with vmax shoot better than the hollow points. ammo availability is getting a lot better now here in Indiana
glad i have it.
After returning home i purchused the varmint version ruger and am now in process of getting all the bells and whistles on it.
Ihave found in my use the remington and hornady with vmax shoot better than the hollow points. ammo availability is getting a lot better now here in Indiana
glad i have it.
Lavoy Oates
New member
I have shot all 3 brands of 17 hmr ammo and I will not use the CCI hollowpoints again. They do not have the knockdown power on pdogs as the other two. They just do not perform as well. They might be better suited for crows and squirrels and such. They seem to shoot as well but no umhfff when connecting.
Hold it right there partner. I'm serious enough to pass on that lil fun gun. I've got 10/22 ruger 22lr, Fully equiped MAK-90 in 7.62X39 for fun guns, you can't get any more fun than emtying a 30 round clip and shredding anything in it's path can you? The later will cut down the jungle brother. I'll stop before I get to the "Serious" Firearms. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
orkan
Active member
I also have no desire to own one. It is expensive to shoot. Balistically inferior to the .223rem.
... and why would I want to buy one for a 'fun gun' ... when my Olympic Arms 16" ultra-match is already the 'funnest' gun I own?
I will probably buy one... when the prices become resonable.
As far as I'm concerned, there is the .22LR... and then there is the .223rem. Not much use for anything in between.
Why, you ask? The .22LR will handle the little chores like rabbits, squirrels, and even the occasional skunk and coon. The .223 simply detonates the other critters. If I would shoot a badger in the adams apple... his head would only be attached by some stringy goo. When you shoot animals up to the size of coyotes with a .223, they simply DIE. Unless you make a bad shot... in which case it would not matter what caliber you used.
... and why would I want to buy one for a 'fun gun' ... when my Olympic Arms 16" ultra-match is already the 'funnest' gun I own?
I will probably buy one... when the prices become resonable.
As far as I'm concerned, there is the .22LR... and then there is the .223rem. Not much use for anything in between.
Why, you ask? The .22LR will handle the little chores like rabbits, squirrels, and even the occasional skunk and coon. The .223 simply detonates the other critters. If I would shoot a badger in the adams apple... his head would only be attached by some stringy goo. When you shoot animals up to the size of coyotes with a .223, they simply DIE. Unless you make a bad shot... in which case it would not matter what caliber you used.
I took a guy prairie dogging on Saturday and he brought along one a them .17 HMR's. To say the least, I wasn't impressed enough to go out and buy one.
When we got home, I looked up some stuff in the Hornady brochure/catalog I have. Hornady now loads factory ammo with their bullets, and then they graph them for FPS out to 500 yards.
The .17 HMR is rated at 2550 fps at the muzzle and at 200 yards, it still is supposed to have 1380 fps left. The chart did not show anything farther for that caliber.
Then I looked up their load for the .223 Remington and it shows that at 500 yards, it still has 1475 fps left.
I don't think 1380 at 200 yrds is a very potent load to kill anything. When I shoot a prairie dog, or coyote, or whatever, I want it to die a quick death, not suffer. I am a ghoul, but I believe that if you're gonna kill something, then do it right. If I hit something and it is not dead then, I shoot it to put it out of its misery.
I realize I am soapboxing here, so I will quit. Just going to go on record as saying, "this is one serious hunter who will not own a .17 HMR."
I saw a quote on the reloading page at Exploding Groundhog Productions. Speed Kills!
When we got home, I looked up some stuff in the Hornady brochure/catalog I have. Hornady now loads factory ammo with their bullets, and then they graph them for FPS out to 500 yards.
The .17 HMR is rated at 2550 fps at the muzzle and at 200 yards, it still is supposed to have 1380 fps left. The chart did not show anything farther for that caliber.
Then I looked up their load for the .223 Remington and it shows that at 500 yards, it still has 1475 fps left.
I don't think 1380 at 200 yrds is a very potent load to kill anything. When I shoot a prairie dog, or coyote, or whatever, I want it to die a quick death, not suffer. I am a ghoul, but I believe that if you're gonna kill something, then do it right. If I hit something and it is not dead then, I shoot it to put it out of its misery.
I realize I am soapboxing here, so I will quit. Just going to go on record as saying, "this is one serious hunter who will not own a .17 HMR."
I saw a quote on the reloading page at Exploding Groundhog Productions. Speed Kills!
Mr. Mister
New member
Tusero,
Without getting on a soapbox myself I would like to add:
No serious/ethical hunter is going to go out a shoot Coyotes and Prairie Dogs with this round. Having said that I am sure some yahoo’s have and will swear it was a one shot kill. As a mater of fact the video Prairie Dog Be Gone by Velocity Films Presents does show a hunter shooting P Dogs with a .17 HMR with some pretty devastating results. I question this, I assume he had to have been very close, say within 100 yards (?). I’m not knocking the video it was great! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
This round was made to take out Squirrels, Rabbits, Rodents, Birds, and plinking targets. It will also make a great training gun for kids when they are ready to move up from a BB gun. I know my son has his eyes on mine! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Without getting on a soapbox myself I would like to add:
No serious/ethical hunter is going to go out a shoot Coyotes and Prairie Dogs with this round. Having said that I am sure some yahoo’s have and will swear it was a one shot kill. As a mater of fact the video Prairie Dog Be Gone by Velocity Films Presents does show a hunter shooting P Dogs with a .17 HMR with some pretty devastating results. I question this, I assume he had to have been very close, say within 100 yards (?). I’m not knocking the video it was great! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
This round was made to take out Squirrels, Rabbits, Rodents, Birds, and plinking targets. It will also make a great training gun for kids when they are ready to move up from a BB gun. I know my son has his eyes on mine! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Having killed approximately 175 prairie dogs with the .17HMR, I would advise hunters to use caution on larger game. My furthest confirmed "hit" was 230 yards on the laser (in Western Oklahoma with 20mph winds). Most body shots resulted in the guts of the critter being blown out 2-10 inches and then the thing runs down a hole. Chest/ head shots were instant death.
For humane kills, ONLY head shots would be recommended by me (my disclaimer). Very accurate round, very fun, very limited.
$.02 worth
For humane kills, ONLY head shots would be recommended by me (my disclaimer). Very accurate round, very fun, very limited.
$.02 worth
BLACKSHEEP
New member
Did everyone forget about the .22 mag? It has similar ballistics to the .17hmr but twice the knockdown power. I have had .22 mag for about 10 or 15 years now and I have killed 20+lb. whistle pigs out to 125yds or so. I just don't see what all of the hoopla is about a smaller rimfire round
I'm just a .22 fan.
I'm just a .22 fan.