I am thinking about getting a .17 for rabbitt hunting on long senderos, from 10-200 yds, but realistically an average of 50 to 100 yds
Do you think the magnum will destroy the rabbitts, is it too much. I was thinking of the mach 2 instead.
whats your thoughts ? Are there any .22s that tack drive to 150 yds or would the mach 2 be more accurate, or the HMR. I will be eating these rabbitts so I dont want them blown apart.
I don't think the HMR will do any more damage than any of the others you mentioned. The thing about these calibers is that you can put the bullet exactly where you want it. If you were going to shoot only inside of 100 yards, I would get the HM2. Anything past that I think HMR. HMR ammo is going to cost about twice as much as HM2 so that is something to consider, but I don't mind paying for the HMR. Fun fun fun guns to shoot.
well I went ahead and got the marlin 17 hmr.
Just like this. 319.00 is what I paid for it.
I never thought I would buy a .17. I always said they are good for nothing but rabbitts LOL well thats what I got it for, ormaybe an ear hole or two in a hog or coyote Hehehe. Its just much cheaper to shoot than my hornet. 13.00 for 50 as upposed to 45.00 for 50. So I will get to paper punch more often.
What do you think about a blackscope on a stainless barrell ? Or should I get a slver one like pictured above.
well I have both, the HM2 is a better rifle for edible small game, ammo is also cheaper. but now there is a 17 gr fmc bullet available for the HMR, not sure how it would be with body shots on squirrel and rabbits.
RR
I'll never buy another silver scope, too much glare, I just bought a 17 HMR, left hand savage stainless thumbhole, put a 3.5x10x50 gloss loopy on it, didn't care much for that scope on a rimfire as it had no AO so I then put a burris 4.5x14 matte on it, think I'll leave it there till I can find another weaver v-classic 4x16, thats the rimfire scope for a hunting rifle.
RR
Good choice going with the 17 HMR. Like yourself I didnt much think about the little .17 at one time but now own a Cooper M57, a couple of Anschutz's , a Ruger and a NEF all in the HMR. I went with Zeiss 6.5x20's on most of them, though the NEF is my beater and wears a BSA 6x18. They do wonders on small critters, have taken a few hogs and javelina too. If you are wanting less meat destruction, try a FMJ or game point bullet instead of the light weight varmint bullets such as the Hornady 17 gr V Max or it's clones. You wont be disappointed in this little cartridge. It will also teach you to judge wind when the shots get longer than 130 yards or so.
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What makes a .17 any better than a .22? I've never shot one so maybe I'm missing out on something. Just wondered why you would pick it over a .22? A friend has one like pictured above and I love the looks of that gun.
.17 HMR or .17mach2
