.17Rem. .........coyote gun or coyote club?

T

TA17rem

Active member
Redfrog has this question and i thought it wouldbe best to have other members that shoot 17 rem.s answer it.

Myself i have been useing them since the late 70's and on. At first i used the 17 rem just for fox and then when the coyotes moved in i started useing them on coyotes.
What really makes a 17 cal shine for coyotes is the 30 gr. bullet moveing along at 3850 or more. My average distances of kills is 300 yds with a hand full taken at 500-550 yds.
Anyway i think its a fine cartridge for coyotes.

What do other members think about there 17 cal.for killing coyotes???? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Yea, I don't get the sig line either. Looks like an invitation to an argument to me. Or just plain ole stirrin' the pot. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
i think that i would start working up loads starting with a 30 grain bullet and work up i would think that the light vmaxs would give you some runners i do agree that the 17 rem will give a yote an instant dirt nap
 
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Yea, I don't get the sig line either. Looks like an invitation to an argument to me. Or just plain ole stirrin' the pot. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif



That is exactly how I take it. But WTH, We're all free to stir the pot up, and debates/maybe make fun of different equipment aren't we?
 
Mr. Redfrog loves to have light banter. It's all in good fun. Even though I've had a few runners and lost 1 or 2 coyotes, most have been DRT! As with many things, the 17 has limitations; but in the hands of the right rifleman, it's a great fur saver! Banter on Monsieur Frog! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Interesting Thread..

TA17rem..i'm sorry i can't answer the question in regard's to coyote kill's..

i bought my 17 remmy in late march..

i've loaded some nagel 30 grainer's & they shoot well..

my "gut" tell's me they will work..

i hope to find out pretty soon /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
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Dave once you start you'll never want to stop useing it.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

That's what i hear /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Great for praire dogs, too small for coyotes in my opinion.
I shot 2 coyotes with it. (25 gr. HP's) One went about 75 yards, other went about 50 yards before a 2nd shot brought it down. I wouldn't go below a .204 for coyotes but I would rather have my swift.
 
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Great for praire dogs, too small for coyotes in my opinion.
I shot 2 coyotes with it. (25 gr. HP's) One went about 75 yards, other went about 50 yards before a 2nd shot brought it down. I wouldn't go below a .204 for coyotes but I would rather have my swift.






..... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
My experience with .17 Rems has only been 3 years. That being said I'm no Dummy. There's lots of cartridges out there factory and wildcat. Allot of factory cartridges out there are good at being a compromise between 1 job and another. Wildcats tend to be either a boost on speed of a factory (parent) round or a perfect match for a specific job.

My opinion of the .17 Remington for fur is its a compromise round for fox, and cats but perfect for coyotes. No other cartridge can best its performance on coyotes to drop them hard yet do minimal fur damage. Where as something like the new .17FB may be better on fox fur but may lack the speed on the heavier bullets needed for long range coyote DRT work. For me where 90% of my called predators are fox, and everything is within 100 yards the .17FB is the trick. If I was targeting coyotes or my ranges were 300 yards the .17 rem would be it.
 
The thing with any 17 is shot placement. Get the heart and lungs and he's yours. You can hit the shoulder with larger calibers like the 223 or 22-250 and you will get good penatration. But not with the 17
 
The .17 will minimize pelt damage, but when they don't make it to the fur shed, it doesn't matter. I have shot them in the chest with my .17 Rem and they act like they are shot with an arrow. They will go down, just hope that you will see them do so. In trees it would be tough because there is not a blood trail to follow. This is like the thread about using a .223 for deer. It will work, but I don't think it is the best choice. If it is the only rifle that I have at the time, I would use it rather than staying home that is for sure. Maybe our coyotes are just tougher. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Thats all I use.
Killed fox,bobcats and lots of coyotes.
Bullet placement is the key and the right bullet also.
30's are great for coyotes but to heavy for cats and fox.
I only use Berger 25gr MATCH.
The match bullets have a tougher jacket.
Never have had a coyote go more then 5 yds,95% are DRT.
Now the 30's will gain you more range but I keep my shots
inside of 300 yds.
Had a 26 inch barreled 17 once ad with 30's you could shoot 600 yds.
Didnt like it as it was like carring a kentucky Longgggg Rifle.
To sum it up the 17 is a amazing lil caliber that I will use for fur for the rest of my life.
 
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Great for praire dogs, too small for coyotes in my opinion.
I shot 2 coyotes with it. (25 gr. HP's) One went about 75 yards, other went about 50 yards before a 2nd shot brought it down. I wouldn't go below a .204 for coyotes but I would rather have my swift.



You have shot 2 coyotes with it, and both were runners. Well ther you go, that is scientific proof the 17 Remington is inadequate. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Just for fun, here is a picture of a Missouri coyote taken about 8-10 years ago when I wasn't as old or fat. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif You can see I placed a double lung shot on this 30-35lb coyote. This coyote ran about 75 yards with a golfball sized hole after being shot with a 243. Perhaps 243's are too small too. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

MissouriCoyote.jpg


The 17 Rem is plenty big enough for killing coyotes, There are plenty of guys with LOT's more coyotes than me who can back this up. But, since we are expressing opinions, I am really starting to believe that the 17 centerfires are cartridges to be worked up to. Not really for beginners, since shot placement is so important, and too many beginners just can't seem to pass up on a bad shot.
 
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Great for prairie dogs, too small for coyotes in my opinion.
I shot 2 coyotes with it. (25 gr. HP's) One went about 75 yards, other went about 50 yards before a 2nd shot brought it down. I wouldn't go below a .204 for coyotes but I would rather have my swift.



You have shot 2 coyotes with it, and both were runners. Well ther you go, that is scientific proof the 17 Remington is inadequate. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Just for fun, here is a picture of a Missouri coyote taken about 8-10 years ago when I wasn't as old or fat. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif You can see I placed a double lung shot on this 30-35lb coyote. This coyote ran about 75 yards with a golfball sized hole after being shot with a 243. Perhaps 243's are too small too. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

MissouriCoyote.jpg


The 17 Rem is plenty big enough for killing coyotes, There are plenty of guys with LOT's more coyotes than me who can back this up. But, since we are expressing opinions, I am really starting to believe that the 17 centerfires are cartridges to be worked up to. Not really for beginners, since shot placement is so important, and too many beginners just can't seem to pass up on a bad shot.



I didn't say I was an expert on using a .17 Rem on coyotes. I just stated my experience with it. I guess if my opinion doesn't match that of other people on here, I should just be quite. 20 years of calling coyotes isn't enough to be able to speak.

I think you have proven my point. Coyotes are tough. You shot one with a .243 and still had to track it. I don't like to let animals suffer and get away and I have yet to be docked by a fur buyer for too big of a hole using my swift or .223. I still feel it is too small for coyotes, but if anyone wants to use it, I won't ridicule them for it.
 
Rugershooter,

I did write,

"But, since we are expressing opinions, I am really starting to believe that the 17 centerfires are cartridges to be worked up to. Not really for beginners, since shot placement is so important, and too many beginners just can't seem to pass up on a bad shot."

Yes, the purpose of the picture was to show that Coyotes are in fact tough animals and even a 243 can produce runners with a good shot. Heck, I even added smiley faces.

IMO, I didn't think two coyotes with a 17 added up to any sizable experiance. I didn't know that you had 20 years experiance. Have you had any runners with the 220 Swift?

I really didn't mean to stress you out.
 
Coyotejunki,

Sorry I got defensive. I didn't interpret the smiley faces correctly. I have been on other forums that only one opinion matters and it gets irretating.

I have only had one coyote get away from me with the swift. I took a running shot and hit it too far back. After the experience with the 2 coyotes with the .17 Rem, I don't know how many more times I want to try. Just not exceptable for me.

Again, sorry for my previous post.....(is there a undo button on the computer? the polititions can get just take it back.)
 
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