Opinions 17HMR

Pale Ryder · Nov 13, 2018

What is everyone's opinion on the 17hmr? I think I want one, but not sure it is right. I have couple 22lr mostly for plinking. Is the 17 overkill on small game? Not sure I would use it for hunting, but might. Thanks in advance.

Tracker · Nov 13, 2018

Pale Ryder said:
What is everyone's opinion on the 17hmr? I think I want one, but not sure it is right. I have couple 22lr mostly for plinking. Is the 17 overkill on small game? Not sure I would use it for hunting, but might. Thanks in advance.

Do you want to eat what you shoot or are you just eradicating pest? A 17hmr is a pretty fast, light round and could tear up small game unless you make head shots. I have a 22lr a 22mag a 17hmr and 17wsm. All are fun to shoot but if I was targeting squirrels or rabbits to eat at under 50yrds I would stick with the 22lr jmho others may feel differently. I'm curious to hear what others think too.

Racer Doug14 · Nov 15, 2018

It's a great rimfire caliber. Perfect for all small critters. But, it will obliterate rabbits and smaller game. Perfect for groundhogs, IMHO. Savage 93R is a great choice, also CZ. The A17 has tamed it in semiautomatic use. Ballistics are superior past 100yards. You could up the ante with the 17WSM.
I dont think you'll be disappointed with the 17hmr.

Rob R. · Nov 15, 2018

Much flatter shooting over 22lr, as mentioned great for pest not great for small game you may want to eat which is expected from a bullet going 2300-2500fps
There are a couple options out there where you can buy a 22 rifle and then at anytime buy a 17hmr barrel to swap. I bought the CZ 455 partially for this reason

fidelity · Nov 15, 2018

Racer Doug14 said:
It's a great rimfire caliber. Perfect for all small critters. But, it will obliterate rabbits and smaller game. Perfect for groundhogs, IMHO. Savage 93R is a great choice, also CZ. The A17 has tamed it in semiautomatic use. Ballistics are superior past 100yards. You could up the ante with the 17WSM.
I dont think you'll be disappointed with the 17hmr.

I'll add to this. While match quality ammo is not available, reports of 1-2 inch groups at 100 yards with different rifle platforms seem common with Hornady V-Max, with better results from higher end platforms, like Anschutz.

There is currently a pretty good sale on one of the Anschutz sporter style rifles, albeit with the 54 mechanism and a single stage trigger ...

https://tsswarehouse.com/shop/anschutz-1517d-17hmr-23-blued-classic-anschutz-2212023/

These previously ran for approx $850-1000 from different vendors.

People seem to like 17 HMR on properties with lots of buildings when doing pest control because the round dumps most of its energy on impact and may have less ricochet risk.

In addition to groundhogs, it's frequently used to hunt/eliminate raccoon and possum.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Uncle Duke · Nov 15, 2018

I read about and steered clear of 17HMR for years. When I finally decided to buy one, mainly out of curiosity rather than any perceived need, it literally redefined for me what I had previously thought rimfire to be capable of.

With regard to hunting, you’ll want to restrict yourself to head shots with edible game. For me, I owned a 17HMR before I really understood its capability. The cartridge then became a niche cartridge for me. I use mine primarily as a longer range squirrel rifle for mountain fox squirrels, where the hunting is more open and ground oriented, and long shots are possible. It’s in many ways a different kind of squirrel hunting, using a rifle with a different kind of capability. Makes for a neat sort of a game unto itself.

Now if rimfire hunting something larger than squirrels, there’s always the .17HMR/22WMR debate. Nowadays, you can add 17WSM to the mix.

Racer Doug14 · Nov 15, 2018

I can't remember a g.hog that I've ever shot, that I had an exit wound. I've canoed squirrels with it.

Pale Ryder · Nov 15, 2018

Uncle Duke said:
I use mine primarily as a longer range squirrel rifle for mountain fox squirrels, where the hunting is more open and ground oriented, and long shots are possible. It’s in many ways a different kind of squirrel hunting, using a rifle with a different kind of capability. Makes for a neat sort of a game unto itself.

Thanks that's kind of what I had in mind. If I were to take it squirrel hunting it would be in the older woods in the mountains where some of the shots can be longer. Decisions. Can't make up my mind, bolt action 22lr, 22 mag, or 17 hmr.

fidelity · Nov 15, 2018

Pale Ryder said:
Thanks that's kind of what I had in mind. If I were to take it squirrel hunting it would be in the older woods in the mountains where some of the shots can be longer. Decisions. Can't make up my mind, bolt action 22lr, 22 mag, or 17 hmr.

Lol, sounds like you need a CZ 455 with multiple barrels as Rob suggested ...

https://lanbosarmory.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=33488

https://www.kygunco.com/Product/View?ItemNo=122768

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Uncle Duke · Nov 15, 2018

Pale Ryder said:
Thanks that's kind of what I had in mind. If I were to take it squirrel hunting it would be in the older woods in the mountains where some of the shots can be longer. Decisions. Can't make up my mind, bolt action 22lr, 22 mag, or 17 hmr.

Then you know and understand what older woods in the mountains looks like. Yes sir, old stand timber is indeed a very different look.

I have to chuckle as I have never been able to decide between these 3 cartridges to where I’d wish to exclude one. I own and I like all three, for different reasons. But if you’re the sort who might find it exciting to set yourself up with a quality scope and rifle combination, especially for 100 plus yard squirrel head shots, and you see that sort of rimfire hunting as being almost as much fun as a big game hunt? That 17 with good glass won’t disappoint, and gives you a whole other level of rimfire capability. The enemy of this cartridge at extended range is of course strong wind, but not so much in the first 100 yards. And a bonus here is that wind is less an issue in mountain timber, where you can typically mitigate it by selecting your spots. It’s not an inexpensive plinker, nor is 22WMR for that matter. But paper punching is where you quickly see just what sort of precision the little .17 in a good rifle is capable of.

Pale Ryder · Nov 15, 2018

fidelity said:
Lol, sounds like you need a CZ 455 with multiple barrels as Rob suggested ...

https://lanbosarmory.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=33488

https://www.kygunco.com/Product/View?ItemNo=122768

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

No denying that would fill the bill, but I'm cheap. LOL, trying to keep it closer to $300 than $500.

UncleDuke, yes I know the old forests of western/central Md. Its also where I prefer to go for deer.

fidelity · Nov 15, 2018

Pale Ryder said:
No denying that would fill the bill, but I'm cheap. LOL, trying to keep it closer to $300 than $500.

UncleDuke, yes I know the old forests of western/central Md. Its also where I prefer to go for deer.

Lots of good deals currently, especially on Rugers. I have a few Ruger tabs at CDNN open (where I once got a Ruger American Predator in 22 WMR that's a great rifle) so checked what they have in 17 HMR and 22 WMR. Posting a few examples (there might be more) for you and others that are watching this thread. Prices are very reasonable ...

https://www.cdnnsports.com/rugerr-americanr-22mag-threaded.html#.W-479bdOl-E

https://www.cdnnsports.com/rugerr-american-compact-17hmr-18-syn-stock-1-10rd.html#.W-48B7dOl-E

https://www.cdnnsports.com/rugerr-americanr-22mag-compact-threaded.html#.W-48FrdOl-E

2 left ... comes with scope and ammo for $299 ... https://www.cdnnsports.com/rugerr-americanr-17hmr-compact-threaded.html#.W-48I7dOl-E

https://tsswarehouse.com/shop/ruger-american-22wmr-9-shot-18-hvy-bbl-threaded-laminate-ruger-8349/

Here are a couple of 22LRs that I've been staring at for the last few days ...

https://www.cdnnsports.com/rugerr-10-22r-22lr-target-stainless-bull-laminate.html#.W-48lrdOl-G

https://tsswarehouse.com/shop/ruger...ull-bbl-barrel-satin-blued-finish-ruger-8348/

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Rob R. · Nov 15, 2018

Pale Ryder said:
No denying that would fill the bill, but I'm cheap. LOL, trying to keep it closer to $300 than $500.

UncleDuke, yes I know the old forests of western/central Md. Its also where I prefer to go for deer.

Before I grabbed the CZ I was sold on the newer B17 from savage these can be found for $250ish. Last year I found a handful of them for not much over $200 and almost got it as a Christmas gift for my younger brother

Model B17 FV-SR
SKU 70803

Opinions 17HMR

The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Northeast

Member Benefits:

Pale Ryder

Ultimate Member

Tracker

Active Member

Racer Doug14

Thread killer

Rob R.

Active Member

fidelity

piled higher and deeper

Uncle Duke

Ultimate Member

Racer Doug14

Thread killer

Pale Ryder

Ultimate Member

fidelity

piled higher and deeper

Uncle Duke

Ultimate Member

Pale Ryder

Ultimate Member

fidelity

piled higher and deeper

Rob R.

Active Member

Attachments

Users who are viewing this thread

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Latest threads

Forum statistics

Share this page