I use to have a Ruger 77/17 in 17 HMR until it got stolen from me during a break in at my apartment. I sure did love that gun. It was accurate even out there at 100 yards. I used it for squirrel hunting multiple times. Go for head shots because if you hit the body, it pretty much destroys all the meat. The Ruger is probably the most expensive way to go but I had a lot of experience with bolt action Ruger rimfire rifles and I love them. I now have a Ruger 77/17 in 17 Mach 2 and a 77/22 in 22 long rifle. They have all been great rifles.