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Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? #6245910 04/03/16 02:01 AM
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flintknapper Online Content OP
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What is the practical limit? I'm thinking raccoon sized animals?

What is your favorite ammo?

So far....I am liking CCI 17 gr. TNT and CCI 20 gr. Gamepoint.

Using a CZ-455.

Rabbits, Squirrel, Crow and Coons my only experience so far. (edit to add turtles)


Flint.

Last edited by flintknapper; 04/03/16 04:33 AM.

Spartans ask not...how many, but where!
Re: Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? [Re: flintknapper] #6245958 04/03/16 02:56 AM
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If you have a coyote standing still at 50 yards and can hit him in the brain or top of the spine, it'll do.



Re: Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? [Re: flintknapper] #6246004 04/03/16 03:49 AM
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With mine I've killed crows, coons, turtles, and fish eating birds.

My Dad uses his for almost everything....coyotes, dogs, possums, skunks, geese, armadillos...pretty much everything. He's killed probably a dozen dogs and coyotes with his and I don't think he's lost any of them.

Re: Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? [Re: flintknapper] #6246008 04/03/16 03:55 AM
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I was using my HMR until I got a Savage 17WSM. It's a cheap rifle but I get more distance and punch for the same price as the HMR. I'm still waiting to see what I can do with a hog.

Re: Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? [Re: DocHorton] #6246021 04/03/16 04:31 AM
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Originally Posted By: DocHorton
With mine I've killed crows, coons, turtles, and fish eating birds.

My Dad uses his for almost everything....coyotes, dogs, possums, skunks, geese, armadillos...pretty much everything. He's killed probably a dozen dogs and coyotes with his and I don't think he's lost any of them.


I've been curious how it would perform on Armadillo. I have also shot a good many turtles (red eared sliders) in our ponds. I don't know that I will attempt coyote, I just have my doubts about that.


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Re: Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? [Re: Reggie] #6246025 04/03/16 04:33 AM
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Originally Posted By: Reggie
I was using my HMR until I got a Savage 17WSM. It's a cheap rifle but I get more distance and punch for the same price as the HMR. I'm still waiting to see what I can do with a hog.


Is there anything you can contribute about the .17 HMR.

The WSM (while interesting) is not really the subject, though I wish you well with it.


Spartans ask not...how many, but where!
Re: Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? [Re: flintknapper] #6246083 04/03/16 12:00 PM
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I've collected quite a few different animals with mine: raccoons, possums, skunks, one bobcat, armadillos, feral cats and crows. The CCI TNT's seem to give me the best accuracy out of my particular rig, but I've used a bunch of different kinds of ammo and they've all performed pretty well. I think that it would be effective with a well placed shot on a coyote, but I wouldn't try a shot unless they were within 75 yards.


Re: Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? [Re: flintknapper] #6246097 04/03/16 12:51 PM
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coyote @ 60yds,dropped like a sack of feed


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Re: Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? [Re: flintknapper] #6246117 04/03/16 01:32 PM
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Done quite a bit of small varmint shooting with the .17HMR, mostly Columbian and Richardsons ground squirrels, but have also used it on rabbits, grouse, skunks, and raccoons...and a raccoon I think is the practical upper limit....Though I think it would be ideal on grey fox...I usually carry something bigger in case something bigger comes to the call wink








Re: Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? [Re: flintknapper] #6246228 04/03/16 03:48 PM
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i use mine for just about everything , taken lots of fox,coons, possims, bobcats,yotes, and a few hogs.but shot placement is everything. the ammo i found to be the most satifying to me is CCI gamepoint , it holds togather like a remington corelock at long distance, ive taken many critters at 80 plus yards with them. i use FMJ`s when i shoot hogs and thats mostly at about 35 yards from a tree over my feeder.

Last edited by breadman; 04/03/16 03:53 PM.
Re: Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? [Re: flintknapper] #6246231 04/03/16 03:54 PM
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Re: Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? [Re: flintknapper] #6246232 04/03/16 03:55 PM
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Re: Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? [Re: flintknapper] #6246236 04/03/16 04:06 PM
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Originally Posted By: flintknapper
Originally Posted By: Reggie
I was using my HMR until I got a Savage 17WSM. It's a cheap rifle but I get more distance and punch for the same price as the HMR. I'm still waiting to see what I can do with a hog.


Is there anything you can contribute about the .17 HMR.

The WSM (while interesting) is not really the subject, though I wish you well with it.



I re-read the post and apologize for going in a total different direction. I have a couple to HMR's and enjoy shooting them. I have killed possums and raccoons with it. I tried it on squirrels but it tears them up really badly unless you head shoot them. I really love the HMR round.

Re: Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? [Re: Reggie] #6246257 04/03/16 04:23 PM
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Originally Posted By: Reggie
Originally Posted By: flintknapper
Originally Posted By: Reggie
I was using my HMR until I got a Savage 17WSM. It's a cheap rifle but I get more distance and punch for the same price as the HMR. I'm still waiting to see what I can do with a hog.


Is there anything you can contribute about the .17 HMR.

The WSM (while interesting) is not really the subject, though I wish you well with it.



I re-read the post and apologize for going in a total different direction. I have a couple to HMR's and enjoy shooting them. I have killed possums and raccoons with it. I tried it on squirrels but it tears them up really badly unless you head shoot them. I really love the HMR round.



Agreed, I think it is good advice to 'head' shoot squirrels if possible. I have taken with both the CCI TNT and the 'Gamepoint' and both can make a mess of them.

Good tip, thank you Sir. up


Spartans ask not...how many, but where!
Re: Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? [Re: breadman] #6246266 04/03/16 04:33 PM
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NICE work with the .17 HMR! laugh

Re: Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? [Re: breadman] #6246268 04/03/16 04:37 PM
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Originally Posted By: breadman
i use mine for just about everything , taken lots of fox,coons, possims, bobcats,yotes, and a few hogs.but shot placement is everything. the ammo i found to be the most satifying to me is CCI gamepoint , it holds togather like a remington corelock at long distance, ive taken many critters at 80 plus yards with them. i use FMJ`s when i shoot hogs and thats mostly at about 35 yards from a tree over my feeder.


We have a lot of gray fox and bobcat on our property (Coyotes too) so eventually I'll get a chance at them.

Not worried at all with respect to fox or bobcats, neither of those are hard to kill (Coons are tougher than either).

I have been using the CCI TNT for most varmints, but have also used the 20 gr. Gamepoint.

Oddly enough both shoot to the exact point of impact at 100 yds. The TNT has a slight accuracy edge in my rifle.

I just purchased some A-17 ammo but have not shot it for accuracy yet.

Do you guys have a favorite or 'preferred' bullet? I know accuracy with vary rifle to rifle with different ammo, so that is not my question, but a bullet preference for performance on game?

Thank You... everyone for your replies. I have only had my rifle for about 6 months and don't have the experience with the .17HMR that some of you do.

I am a lifelong hunter and outdoorsman....just never used such a diminutive round, so I appreciate your patience.


Flint.


Last edited by flintknapper; 04/03/16 04:38 PM.

Spartans ask not...how many, but where!
Re: Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? [Re: flintknapper] #6246293 04/03/16 05:10 PM
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dang good looking rifle you got there , if it shoots as good as it looks your in the game !! best of luck to you. post some kill pic`s when can.

Re: Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? [Re: breadman] #6246426 04/03/16 07:44 PM
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Originally Posted By: breadman
dang good looking rifle you got there , if it shoots as good as it looks your in the game !! best of luck to you. post some kill pic`s when can.



CZ-455, heavy varmint barrel.

The rifle shoots OK I guess, I don't really know what 'good' is supposed to be with the HMR.

I am sort of an accuracy nut...so before I even fired the first shot, I installed a 'DIP' sear, lightened the trigger a little and bedded the action and first 1" of the barrel.

My impression is that the rifle is limited by the quality of the ammunition it is fed. There simply isn't any 'Match' .17 HMR

I suspect the ammo manufacturers would argue that the products they make ARE 'match grade'...and I will concede most are pretty good.

In MY rifle....CCI TNT and the Gamepoint (17 and 20 grains respectively) are tied for accuracy. IF I get no flyers (and do my part) at 50 yds a five shot group will usually be under 1/2 MOA (typically 3/8"). When we get to 100 yds. I will see 1/2" to 3/4" groups, sometimes smaller.

Most often the groups will have 2-3 holes touching, then a couple just outside of that.

Then we have to consider the 'shooter'. I have my good and bad days. wink

The .17 is definitely subject to wind drift, I have discovered that. Anyway, I don't know if my groups represent 'good' groups for the cartridge (and rifle) or not, but that is where we are currently.



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Re: Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? [Re: flintknapper] #6247221 04/04/16 02:59 PM
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Buddy just bought one recently, Killed a big old coyote with it the day after he bought it. CCI 17gr. Hit him in the back of the head between the ears, bullet drilled straight through and came out of the throat (40-45 yard shot). Dropped like a sack of taters. Pig taken with .223


Re: Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? [Re: DuckCoach1985] #6247285 04/04/16 03:41 PM
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[quote=DuckCoach1985]Buddy just bought one recently, Killed a big old coyote with it the day after he bought it. CCI 17gr. Hit him in the back of the head between the ears, bullet drilled straight through and came out of the throat (40-45 yard shot). Dropped like a sack of taters. Pig taken with .223

[/quote

Yes, I can see a 'head' shot or any CNS (Central Nervous System) shot being effective. Especially with a 20 grain 'gamepoint' bullet since it is designed to hold up better than the more frangible 'varmint' bullets.

Some folks have stated that more traditional Thoracic shots have been successful for them too. I'm not doubting that....but a Coyote seems to be too large an animal for the HMR? Maybe I am wrong.

I would think .22 WM would be a better 'minimum' cartridge or perhaps the 17 WSM.

^^^^^^^^ That is good Boar by the way!


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Re: Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? [Re: flintknapper] #6247307 04/04/16 03:53 PM
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yessir, he tastes great too.. check out the pics of steaks we cooked up last night up in the pics section.

Coyotes are tough, I doubt a 17 HMR could reliably kill them with a chest/shoulder shot but that round has surprised me. Thing I like about it is the accuracy, I wouldn't hesitate to take a 100 yard head shot on a dog with it. Super accurate out to that distance, and I imagine the WSM only gets better.

Re: Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? [Re: flintknapper] #6247365 04/04/16 04:30 PM
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If you don't make a perfect shot this will be you with a 17 and if you've ever coyote hunted you know they don't always give you that perfect shot just my .02



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Re: Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? [Re: txvarminter] #6247770 04/04/16 09:46 PM
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Originally Posted By: txvarminter
if you've ever coyote hunted you know they don't always give you that perfect shot just my .02


Yes, been shooting 'Yotes' for almost 50 years. Spent a good portion of my youth calling Coyotes and Bobcats. Never kept a count...but I've dispatched truckloads of Coyotes.

Most have been with a .22-250 but others with what I had at the time (.22 LR to .458 SOCOM).

That is why I can't see the HMR being 'enough' for most circumstances. Pressed into service, perhaps.

Headshots....yeah...but anything works then.


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Re: Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? [Re: flintknapper] #6247875 04/04/16 11:05 PM
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That's one of my favorite rounds. It's alway with me at the lease. Killed everything from coons to hogs with it.


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Re: Who uses .17 HMR for varmints? [Re: flintknapper] #6248090 04/05/16 01:52 AM
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From what I've seen they are great for shooting turtles

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