So who besides me shoots a 17 HMR??

[2 Dogs]

What rifle did you choose? What do you like best about it? What kind of accuracy does it display? Tell me about some shots you have made with it!!

[Mountaineer]

Matter of fact, I've had a 17 HMR in a heavy barreled Handi Rifle for several years now. Put an inexpensive BSA Sweet 17 scope on it. I've only used it to keep down the groundhog population around my property, and it's very good for that purpose. I find it incredibly accurate. On a good day when I'm steady and the wind cooperates, 50 yard three-shot groups of around 1/4 inch are easily attainable. The little 17 bullet fairly anchors a fat groundhog at any reasonable distance out to 100 yards in my experience, dropping it like it was struck by lightening.

That said, with my experience with the HMR, I'm getting all excited about the 17 Winchester Super Mag, hoping NEF will eventually offer the 17 WSM as part of their accessory barrel program.

I have some fine quality rifles (and sixguns, etc.) in my safe, but I have to say, for the money, the Handi Rifle is hard to beat.

[Len]

I have had a couple and they are very accurate while I do not remember group sizes but in Montana it was a consistent on prairie dogs out to 180 yards unless it got real windy or the barrel got hot or dirty. I used a Leupold variable up to 14 power

I have a Volquartsen heavy barreled Ruger 77 that I am looking to stock in a quality sniper type fiberglass but no luck finding such a stock.
Were putting an oversized bolt handle on and would like it to look like the Green Hornet 77/22

[Seasons44]

I personally never got into the 17's but steered a buddy of mine into a savage. It was very accurate and shot some great groups.

I have a savage heavy barrel 22LR that has been incredible

May be a viable option for a bolt gun, I will say they do need some bolt smoothing and the trigger is a love it or hate it kinda deal

[smirker]

I have a standard bbl. Savage HMR. It will stay inside 3/8 for five shots. Surprised me. The crows in the area have been avoiding me. I did take it squirrel hunting a couple of times. It unzips a gray squirrel with Hornady 17grain V-max bullet. To much for that use and to loud in those woods.

[woody]

I love my 17. It is a Ruger 77/17. It is deadly on woodchucks. As for accuracy with hornady v max you can cover 3 shots with a dime at 100 yards. CCI TNT's are not as accurate but both have excellent results on chucks. I haven't shot any other ammo. I do have some winchesters but haven't shot them yet.

[COR]

Only one coyote for my heavy barrel Savage...it was up on the rabbit pen trying its best to luck it's way into a free meal... Never noticed dad open the back door and at 35 yds it exited his chest. Still have the hide. Squirrels and whistlepigs mostly...accurate with a wide variety of ammo and fortunately it is still on every shelf....shhhhh!

My only regret is I inherited it from my dad. It was his favorite from the time it came out and he always had that magazine in his jacket with the rifle on the seat.

I'll never get rid of it, shoots better than any of the 22 mags we owned, can't say why.

[majorKAP]

I use this Volquartsen. Tried it on squirrels. Even well placed head shots had a tendency to destroy the front quarters and would rip the hide back to the tail. Not quite sure of the physics behind that phenomena, but it happened with the first three killed. Haven't really found it's niche here in Kentucky. It does do great on sub-200yd groundhogs and I've taken two incidental nearby coyotes. Figure it would be a dandy on prairie dogs if those pests ever make a migration east.



I also have a Kimber rifle in 17 Mach II and I've used it in the squirrel woods. Prefer it's less explosive impact. With a good scope and a steady rest, it makes 75-100 yard squirrel head shots a real possibility. Problem I had was that after shooting a squirrel that far in the winter woods and then walking the distance to it, I have a hard time locating the tree under which it fell. Lost a few that way. Went back to the 22 long rifle for squirrels.


I've got my eye on another 17 mach II. It's an ultra lightweight Volquartsen in a beautiful walnut thumbhole stock. Been stocking up on ammunition for the last couple years. Should be plenty enough to last the few hunting seasons left in me, and beyond, for those shooters left behind.

[Markbo]

My first 17HMR is a Volquartsen with heavy barrel semi auto. 1/2" 100yd groups are easily doable in calm conditions. I have shot a few nearer 1/4". Shockingly accurate. As you know, wind will push that little bullet around so only when it's calm.

But I have made some long shots with it. 180 or so yards on prairie dogs dropped 'em DRT. I agree it is too much for squirrels. If you intend to eat them anyway. A great fun Crow gun too! I have never even tried the 20gr loads. I found the right 17gr load for it and see no reason to mess with it.

The VQ is a great gun, but a little heavy to cart around so I wanted something else. Rather than another 10/22 mag type (I have a couple VQ tensioned barrel guns so I already have those), I decided on a different route. Took one of my lever action 96 .22mag and I re-barreled it. I did the usual 10/22 style work on it, polishing and tightening up everywhere I could. Smoothed it up a lot.

It is not as accurate but sub MOA at 100yds and for darn sure out shoots it's .22 mag twin, which is no slouch! Not bad for a little lever action I think. I recently got back to work on a nice walnut stock for it. Once it's done I might try to post some pics.

FWIW I have a couple of .17HM2s as well. I actually shoot them more. They are built very light and I can carry them around all day. They too are sub MOA shooters. When you can't get right under a squirrel in a big tree and have to take longer shots, 100yd head shots are easy to do - with a rest. Doesn't destroy them like the HMR does.

Lots of horror stories out there about the dangers of the HM2 in semi-auto form, but I did a lot of experimenting and actually built mine so I know they work and work safely. Never had an out of battery experience in their final form.

[COR]

I do agree with the above posters on squirrels. HEAD SHOTS only! A front shoulder only leaves half a squirrel! Just shoot twice as many to fill the pot pie.

[2 Dogs]

Thanks for your contributions fella's. This has turned into an interesting thread!

[squawberryman]

Swainsboro Georgia a few years back. About 90 yards in a pond with mist on it, early. I thought it was an otter. big booger. It's his hide I take gun pics on. Marlin with a Rifle Basix trigger.

[bushog]

I had a Cooper Jackson squirrel rifle and a S&W 647 (I think) and sold both of them. I shot a couple jackrabbits and the thing didn't seem to want to kill them. Head shots sure but in the boiler they'd run off and I had to go lookin for them.

For the cost I've been shooting a .17 heebee for less and the jacks sure don't run and I can reach out there. Totally different beast but I like it.

Just my experience.

[smirker]

majorKAP, This is post i put up on the 24hr campfire forum in reference to the 17M-2 when used for squirrel hunting "I have been using the HM-2 for a few years in a Kimber Pro Varmint.I always try to take shots behind the shoulder thru the lungs. The HM-2 is a sure killer but seems to cause more "shock" than a HV .22 HP. This seems to make the squirrel spasm and its claws grab the tree and hang on rather then fall. When sitting on a large limb this gives the impression of a missed shot.I think this is a great round but for gray squirrel's but a .22 Winchester Power Point is still a better round for the job. I have also used CCI Subsonic HP's with pretty good success. The HM-2 could use a 20grn. HP to improve itself as a gray squirrel round. Just my 2 cents"

[Mountaineer]

Feb 28, 2013 12:16:51 GMT -5 Markbo said:

But I have made some long shots with it. 180 or so yards on prairie dogs dropped 'em DRT.

DRT indeed Markbo! I use that term a good bit! Surprised no one's asked you to decipher that one yet! ;D