A 17HMR can shoot 200 yards, but wind drift makes it mighty tough. I have a Mueller Eraticator 8.5x25x50 on mine. I won't use it for anything bigger than coons or possum though. That's why I have a .204. Even 100 yard shots with the 17 with a 10mph cross wind is quite challenging. There just isn't enough mass to keep it cutting through wind. It's still one of my favorite guns to shoot though.