Author Topic: 17 HMR ? (Read 1812 times)

257Robt · « **on:** August 26, 2004, 05:46:10 PM »

Is the 17 HMR to much for squirrels and rabbits? Also, what kind of 17 HMR rifles does everyone shoot. I was lookin' at a NEF, but am unsure.

KN · « **Reply #1 on:** August 26, 2004, 06:01:41 PM »

If you want to eat them you will have to make head shots. The 17HMR will tear them up pretty bad. I'm shooting two contenders, one 14" pistol and one 18" rifle. Both will do 1/2" 100 meter groups on a good day. KN

Lawdog · « **Reply #2 on:** August 27, 2004, 12:22:28 PM »

Quote

Iv'e heard the 20 grain projectiles are better for "less" meat damage.

Wrong. The Hornady 20 gr. .17HMR XTP round stills tears up small rabbits and squirrels way too much to bother with the little left over meat. We tried them on Brush Bunny's(max. weight of 4-6 lbs. live) and a chest shot only leaves the hind legs. Forget tree squirrels, still tears them up way to much. They are going to have to come out with a heavier bullet than 20 grains. Lawdog

Questor · « **Reply #3 on:** August 31, 2004, 02:42:46 AM »

The 17 HMR has the smallest niche of any cartridge I know of. It doesn't seem to be good at anything except targe shooting on a calm day and shooting ground squirrels at short to moderate range.

JohnClif · « **Reply #4 on:** April 08, 2005, 07:24:50 PM »

The .17 HMR wasn't designed for small game hunting. It was designed as an inexpensive small varmint round and is perfectly adequate for small varmints such as ground squirrels, crows, starlings, and the like out to 200 yards. If you can hit 'em the round will anchor 'em.

Quite honestly the .22 LR high velocity hollow-point round is too destructive for much small game hunting (squirrels and cottontails) until you get out to around 40 yards or thereabouts... and by then the accuracy has decreased to the point where hitting is problematic. I've body-shot grey squirrels with this round when I was younger and it tore them up. (Thanks to Don Lewis, and his article in Gun Digest on taking squirrels with head shots using .22 target rifles and match ammo back in the '70s, I was turned on to a whole new way of squirrel hunting (works on rabbits, too), and I have never looked back.)

The .17 HM2 is a better choice for small game hunting but be prepared to take head shots only or risk tearing up the small amount of meat on these critters.

And, yes, I am a big fan of the two .17 rimfires. They are great even for those of us who reload, who just want to be able to grab a box or two of ammo and spend the afternoon shooting small varmints without worrying about losing cases, etc.

Lawdog · « **Reply #5 on:** April 09, 2005, 12:54:11 PM »

Quote from: JohnClif

Quite honestly the .22 LR high velocity hollow-point round is too destructive for much small game hunting (squirrels and cottontails) until you get out to around 40 yards or thereabouts... and by then the accuracy has decreased to the point where hitting is problematic.

I must disagree that the .22 HP destroys too much meat on tree squirrels and small bunny's. First there isn't enough meat on the ribs of a tree squirrel to worry about and the same goes for small rabbits. And all of my .22 rimfires are accurate enough to take squirrels out as far as I feel comfortable shooting at them(usually 75 +/- yards). I will agree with you about the .17's NOT being intended for small game though. Lawdog

victorcharlie · « **Reply #6 on:** April 10, 2005, 04:44:03 AM »

I don't have a lot of experience with the .17 on game, but did shoot a large crow with the CCI 20 gn XTP. At one hundred yards, the bullet hit center chest, and passed straight through the crow with no expansion, ricocheted off the ground and though a 1/2" pine board fence.......plenty of expansion on the board.......

I also shot a snapping turtle with a 17 grain CCI V-max.......head shot about 80 to 85 yards. The turtles head was as large as my fist or bigger......In one eye, out the other, just where I aimed.........took the top of it's head off........This is where the .17HMR really shines......I've shot at turtles in my pond for several years now with the .22lr. There isn't a lot to shoot at above the water line, and with the .22lr it would take several attempts before I'd hit one.......the .17 HMR that I have is absolutely outstanding for one shot kills as it is much flatter shooting than my 22lr and I don't have to take multiple shots......

In my very limited experience, the 20 grain would be the best choice for small game, and I'd try to stick with head shots.....I do intend to try it on squirrels this fall......

Lawdog · « **Reply #7 on:** April 10, 2005, 08:22:08 AM »

Quote

At one hundred yards, the bullet hit center chest, and passed straight through the crow with no expansion, ricocheted off the ground and though a 1/2" pine board fence.......plenty of expansion on the board.......

But the thing everyone says is so great about the .17's is they don't ricochet. Lawdog

fyrepowrx · « **Reply #8 on:** April 10, 2005, 08:30:45 AM »

The following link is to an article where the author spent quite a lot of time evaluating the expansion & penetration of various HMR loads:

http://www.varmintal.com/17hmr.htm

I tried a .17 last fall for the first time. Shot about a dozen squirrels, and 4 crows with it, and i got the impression that up close, the damage was about like using hyper-velocity rounds like Stingers in the long rifle. I also got the impression that the damage was actually not quite as much as what i got in the .22 mag using the Winchester 34 grain varmint loads.
This was especially true in crows, i think since they are a bit "softer" than squirrels the bullets didnt open up as much. My biggest disappointment was that in my gun, a TC carbine w/ 21" barrel) accuracy was slightly less than i get in my .22 mag rifles & the thing wouldnt shoot any of the 3 different loads tested to the same point of impact...a friend has an identical barrel & his shot much better than mine, guess they cant all be winners...

traded mine off later, guess i was expecting crows to explode like when i shoot them with my .17 Mach IV, and i sorta lost interest in it. Been thinking about giving it another chance, but i think i will go the .17 Mach II route in a squirrel gun instead just to say i tried it.

reyn 61 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 10, 2005, 08:59:28 PM »

The HM2 is better if you plan on eating. In the HMR the TNTs are less desructive than the v-max.

hunter1134 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 11, 2005, 02:26:20 PM »

the .17hrm is just fine for tree squirrels, cottentails, and other small game. Just us the CCI ammo. Its a 20grain full metal jacket bullet that does little meat damange at all very nice little round.

Mattkc · « **Reply #11 on:** December 11, 2005, 08:35:53 PM »

I use 17gr TNT on squirrel and get about 1/4" exit wounds. I was going to get a HM2 until I tried the TNT. The bullet is designed to mushroom, however in a squirrel I don't think the round has much time to expand. The last squirrel I shot was at 15 yards quartering away from me. Round went through back leg (tiny exit on leg) then entered the stomach and out the chest, 1/4" exit. Not great shot placement but he was moving.

reyn 61 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 16, 2005, 06:08:40 PM »

The TNTs will probably be the best rd out of the HMR for squirrels. I've experimented with a couple of different HMR rounds. If you can take head shots the FMJs 20gr. are great. Just one little hole in and out. Bad side to the FMJs was body shots. I shot 4 different squirrels to the body and none were instant kills. One ran off and i actually thought i missed until i found blood. I mainly use the HM2s on squirrels. Ive shot 30+ so far this year.

mag-check · « **Reply #13 on:** December 17, 2005, 03:16:59 PM »

The TNT is the best for squirrels Ive tested them all like the TNT best! Mag-Check

6-24x42 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 03, 2006, 12:48:55 PM »

Don't know about the 17HMR but a 223 is too much. I found that out. :eek: