Shotgunner12
New member
Bought the savage b mag in 17 wsm about a month or so back. The rifle is fine but the round itself is really the purpose of this write up. I carry the rifle about anytime I'm out except for calling (I grab the .223) and bow hunting. I've been wanting to give the round all the chances it can get for some field experience. So far a whole bunch of tree squirrels have fell to the 17. All in all the gun is too much for squirrels imo. The 25 grainers seem to do more damage than the 20s but both are devistating. The few armadillos that have fell were all either facing me or facing away. The weird part on those is no exits with the 25 or 20s. Just giant blew out entry holes. And drt of course. One coyote has now fell to the 17wsm. This was a target of opportunity while on a walk about. I was sitting against a tree and heard him coming through the woods in trot mode. He had no idea i was around until I whistled at him. He stopped and the b mag hollered. The coyote made two good lunges and tipped over kicked is legs twice more and that was it. In total he went about 6 yards. I don't know what he weighed. He was grown with good teeth on him still. I've never weighed any coyotes I've shot. The bullet made its entrance about an inch behind the shoulder and came out (the real suprising part) about three inches behind the other shoulder. Leaving roughly a dime size exit. Probably smaller. Lung blood was bubbling out pretty good. . The coyote was shot at about 30 yards with the 25 grain winchester bullet. I'm starting to like the 17 wsm round though. I'm still a 22 caliber guy at heart but just might keep the 17 around. I guess I'd place the 17 wsm in that category where it's too much for squirrel and not enough for coyote. But a good target of opportunity bullet. It can get the job done in a pinch with good bullet placement.