You can call me irresponsiable or inhumane but i have personally taken a 256 yard shot with a 17 HMR on a seal that was estamated to weigh in at 300 pounds . This shot was carefully placed into the brain from a secure rest on the ice. I do not reccomend that anybody try or duplicate this act . All of this was witnessed by many people who thought that the 17 HMR was underpowered for anything larger than a rabbit. I hope this will settle a few arguments about the killing power of the 17HMR .