RE: 17 rimfire.............
The only areas that I can see that it will do any good is areas where ricochet is a concern and there is very little wind. I read in "Shooting Times" that at 200 yds the bullet went 12 inches off course in an 8 mph crosswind. I think that is too much to compensate for. Also the ammo is probably going to be more expensive than the .22 mag, I'll just get a .223 and buy military ammo for 10 cents a round. Also, around here, an 8 mph crosswind is nothing, 15 is the norm, and 25 is quite common.