17HMR and turkeys...

[Pro-Line]

Anybody shot a turkey with a 17HMR? I've always been of the mind that if I can't call 'em close enough for a shotgun, I don't deserve them...I was just wondering where you've hit them, how the performance has been, and if there was meat damage. Also, which bullet to use. Currently I am shooting the Hornady V-Max's and they shoot pretty well.

Before you ask...it is legal where I hunt.

Thanks!

BTW...I did some "penetration tests" with my 17 and some phone books, 2x4's and other things. Scary how little penetration this caliber gets. It makes sense...but still scary. Maybe with a little more solid bullet it would be different.

[Vapodog]

I've shot several turkeys with a 16 1/4" barrel in .222 and it worked fine. Never too much meat damage and I always shot for the center of mass wherever that may be. Imagine the turkey without his feathers and shoot for the center of that mass.

I doubt the HMR will be less successful at 100 yards and less.

[hoytrazortec]

Ive shot 2 gobblers with my Ruger 17 HMR. Both at 70 yards. One dropped in its tracks the other flew 30 yards and fell. Both shot in the same place just a few inches below where the wing connects to the body.

You could hardly tell they were even shot, there was no meat damage what so ever. I used the hollow point bullets.

[jjt]

shoot them in the head

i havent got the chance to take any turkeys or grouse with my 17hmr yet but i have taken both animals with a .22 mag if you have a decent rifle and a steady rest they are reletivly easy to shoot

i usually put the crosshairs just below the eyeball

if i am using my .300 WM (on grouse) i make sure i line the neck up with the vertical bar in the scope and aim the same place

my usuall shots on both are under 65 yards

also the 17HMR is plenty effective with Vmax bullets i have gotten many pass thru's or exploded skulls on rabbits
much better results than i got on wet phone books

[CodyBear]

Speaking of HMR 17's, I just got my new Savage 93R17 FVSS today and noticed alot of creep in the trigger. Anything I can do to minimize it?

CB

[hoyt14]

like jjt said if i was to use a rife for something like a turkey i would shoot 'em in the head. Now where i live it is illegal to shoot a turkey with a rifle, so use a bow do to the challenge. but if i were to use a rifle i would go for the head shot just do to what i have done with squirrels, and coyots. for bullets i would use a hollow point for the head, but if your t isn't as good, or the confidence isn't that, i would go with the full metal jacket. (I like to use the CCI TNT rounds)