Best .17 Caliber
 

I would like your opinions on which .17 Caliber you prefer and why.


USE:plinking, ground squirrels, rabbits, etc.


IE: Remington Fireball, HMR, Mach 2, etc.(factory loads only please).


Thanks guys..............!

RE: Best .17 Caliber
 

I've been the 17 hmr route a few times for the exact same uses that you intend to use it for. After a few different shots at it, I decided the best 17 is a 22LR. I know the 17 is faster and flatter and a little more accurate but with cost of ammo and the prey you are after a 22LR just works better for me. That's my .2cents and worth about what you paid for it.:D

RE: Best .17 Caliber
 

X2! I have to agree but with the addition of the .22mag for longer shots or for bigger varmints.

RE: Best .17 Caliber
 

I would have to agree. But as for a response to the post, I have had no exp with the Mach II but I have with the 17 HMR. I have found it extremely accurate in my Savage 93. I used it for squirrel (IMO its overkill) but since our fall turkey season overlaps small game season, I carry it. I have taken 2 nice turkey with the HMR and both were DRT.

RE: Best .17 Caliber
 

Not really apples to apples the .17 rem and .17 rem fireball are both CF's. They are more then capable for larger varmit hunting like coyotes and a longer ranges. As a factory shooter they aren't really cheap to plink off on a sunday. For small game such as rabbits IMO they are overkill much like the 22 cal. CF's (22-250, 220, 223, etc) but will certainly work. The other 2 mentioned are rimfire's and more the small game/plinking on sunday style. Of these 2 the HMR is the most popular and therefor the easiest to find ammo as well. The HMR out performs the mach at distance.

The 22wmr is pretty well darn perfect for plinking and small game. Cheaper to shoot then the 17hmr. However the 17 HMR are inherently accurate and IMO everybit as handy to own as WMR for small game and plinking needs. Neither are the best choice for coyote medicine, this is best left to CF's...JMO though.

So it depends on what you want??? If a plinker the rimfire 17'sor .22's fit the bill. If you want to shoot varmits and targets the CF's are the way to go, though being your buying OTC I'd be considering a .22 cal like the .223 or 22-250 on the account of more selectionwhich will includeprice points.

RE: Best .17 Caliber
 

I've found .17s seem to foul the barrel fast & to be EXTREMELY finicky to load for compared to .22 centerfires. The only .22 that seems as twitchy to load for as the .17s is the .22 hornet.

RE: Best .17 Caliber
 

Perhaps it would have been helpful to tell you I have a .204




I am looking for an accurate, flat shooting rim fire (out to 150 yards) with zero report.




I want to see my marks through the scope as I squeeze off each round.




Factory loads only please.




Thanks for all the replies thus far !!!

RE: Best .17 Caliber
 

Then your only choice is the .17HMR!

RE: Best .17 Caliber
 

With the .204 in the cabinet no need for a .17 cf, I agree the .17hmr or .22wmr look like they fit

RE: Best .17 Caliber
 

Zero report guys ?




See your marks through the scope at impact ?




Thanks again !!!

RE: Best .17 Caliber
 

Sheridan - You're going to get a 'report' from all of them. And if you want to shoot to 150 yds, then the 17HMR is the only choice. I would guess you would have a lot more holdover using the MachII.

RE: Best .17 Caliber
 

Bigger report - .17HMR or 22LR ?



I lose sight of my target when I shoot my .204, if I use 40 gr bullet.



Will the same thing happen if I use the 32 gr bullet ?



Last questions - Thanks !

RE: Best .17 Caliber
 

I'm just going to throw this in, even if it is not on topic. If you get a 17HMR it will be one of the most accurate rifles you have ever shot. Unless there is any wind. The 17 grain and the 20 grain get tossed around fairly easily. That is one of the reasons I went back to a 22LR. It seems it is always windyon the Eastern plains ofColorado.

The report is about the same between the 17HMR and the 22LR. If you had a way to measure the 22lr would be more but not noticable. The 22 mag would be noticably more.(but with much greater effects)

RE: Best .17 Caliber
 

My Savage 17hmr with heavy barrel doesn't lose sight picture with either 17 or 20gr loads. My 22wmr with sporter barrel does slightly. 22lr's I don't shoot much at paper anymore but can't recall loss due to report.

In termsof 32gr bullet vs 40 gr the recoil will be slightly less but not sure it'll gainanything.

Two Zero report options
 

Of the two zero report options Only a silencer with supersonic ammo will get you to 150 yards reliably with a supersonic. Now you still have the supersonic crack that the muffler is not going to help. this leaves you with sub sonics and doaping the wind and drop to a huge degree.

quietest of the bunch is the HM2, it'll make 150 using just a bit of holdover, report is louder than a 22 LR though. killed a big sow groundhog at 148 with mine, never held off of hair.

I'm really surprised to see the 17HMR, or especially the 17HM2 talked about in the same breath as the 17 centefires. Completely different animals. Sure, the rimfires are sufficient in the right hands for smaller varmints at the ranges mentioned, but even for 2009, it's baffling to me that the centerfires and rimfires were even discussed in the same light.

I'm playing with a rebarreled savage 17rem now, and have had a couple of fireballs (one a rebuilt XP100), and without question, there is a marked gap in what I can do with these cf's compared to even my 17wsm, let alone my HMR's. I just picked up another 17HM2 barrel (missus NM not happy) for my 10/22 also so I'll have another one in my life soon.

One thing I suppose worth mentioning, since this was a 2009 thread - the 17wsm rimfire really stepped up the game for the rimfire world. While it doesn't sneak into 17rem or fireball realms, it's definitely a gap closer.

Hardly remember starting this thread...................??

Since, I have purchased this .17HMR;

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firear...m/917VS-CF.asp

Put this scope on it - same scope I put on all my rifles

(Thinking at the time was; same sight picture no matter what caliber I'm using)

http://www.opticsplanet.com/burris-4...le-scopes.html

Extremely accurate gun and perfect for my intended use

Admittedly, a bit over scoped for that caliber.

.................and yes the 17-20 gr. bullets do get pushed around on windy days beyond 150 yards or so.

CCI's Hornady V-max, Harris bi-pod, a Cabela's "globbler lounger" chair - find a shade tree and you have the makings for a great afternoon.

"Since, I have purchased this .17HMR;

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firear...m/917VS-CF.asp



Extremely accurate gun and perfect for my intended use

Admittedly, a bit over scoped for that caliber.

.................and yes the 17-20 gr. bullets do get pushed around on windy days beyond 150 yards or so."

Thanks for sharing, NOW WE HAVE THE REST OF THE STORY:p

I HAD A MARLIN 917VS BACK when they first came out. Only rifle I have owned that I ever felt confident shooting flys at 125 yards:cool2: On a calm day!

Not exactly what i would call zero report though.

When you are shooting small targets you may have a tough time being over scoped.

the HMR cracks. you wont get a zero report from any unless you put a silencer on it. As for seeing impact. With the minimal recoil jump of the HMR you should see bullet impact quite easily unless you close your eyes.

Hunter,

During the middle of the day we shoot ground squirrels.

The ones that sit on the rock formations are mostly the ones we target.

With that Marlin I now choose to shoot the little lizards who sit on those rock formations (100 - 150 yards: as you suggest, on a calm day).

I may start trying to shoot the flies; now that you mention it !!! :cool2:

^^^^^
this

Best .17 caliber
 

I'd vote for the 17 fireball but only if you reload. I have a CZ452 in 17HMR and love it! But the cost of ammo is rediculous. My .17 fireball I can reload using the 20 grain MidSouth Varmint Extreme bullets for less per round then the 17 HMR factory ammo is. The .17 fireball shoots that 20 grain bullet close to 4000 fps which will more then double the effective range versus the 17HMR. Finally, that puts the .17 fireball in the catagory of a very good short range coyote, fox & bobcat round out to 200 yards or so. With the 17HMR you're way under powered for predators.