Savage in 17 HMR?
 

I nearly lost a turkey I shot with a 22 mag last year (marlin 882) I am thinkin about a 17 caliber. The savages are really cheap and I have had good luck with savages. Any thoughts? I have the scope already and I want to spend under 200 bucks. CLoser to 160 if poss.
okcmco

RE: Savage in 17 HMR?
 

One of the savage sporters with the plastic stocks probably go for that. Or you could look at used if you can find one.

I own a savage heavy barrel and love it.

As much as I love my 17 though I'm not sure it will work a lot greater than your 22 mag. What kind of loads were you using. Your success could be better if you tried a different style of bullet. Providing it was accurate enough for your needs. They make a 30 some grain Vmax bullet for the 22 mag I think.

The 17HMR would give you a bit more range because it shoots flatter, and they are generally a bit more accurate. I'm not sure what load I would suggest for turkeys though? I don't know if the 17 grn v-max would be better or the 20 grn XTP's. The V-max's may cause too much meat damage on a body hit, or may lack penitration on a turkey. We can't hunt turkey with a rifle here so I can't really tell you for sure.

If you don't get any deffinitive replies here try Rimfirecentral.com. They have a 17HMR forum and I am sure someone there has hunted turkey with one.

I do know that if they made it legal here I would have no problem taking my HMR turkey hunting. My gun is very accurate and pretty darn flat out to 120-130 yards. The only problem would be the wind.

Paul

RE: Savage in 17 HMR?
 

I was using the CCI V max in 40 grains. Groups 2" at 100 whcih is why I didn't go for a head shot. The Turkey took to rouds to the sweet spot. Then he flew away. I watched where he went down into the trees and I waited 10 minutes. I approached quietly and could hear him flapping about in the bruch. I found him 300 yards away from where I first hit him. I pulled out my ruger .22 and gave him the coup de grace in the head to finish him.
Maybe I should opt for something in ,204 ruger?
okcmco

RE: Savage in 17 HMR?
 

this is kind of up in the air because i read alot about the 17hmr not being good for anything but squirels and stuff like that but i have taken 5 coyotes with mine from 50-125 yards and they have all been 1 shot kills and very quick even one in the rear because it was in the cattle pasture and we cant have that so i was just worried about getting rid of him and he dropped at about a 100 yards and by the time i walked to him he was dead but dont know about turkeys i know they are very tough so this will be your choice i know the savage 17s are accurate i just got a new one with the accu-trigger and had one without and at 50 yards you can cover groups with a quarter and some with dime so that is an easy turkey head

RE: Savage in 17 HMR?
 

I have a Savage SS bull barrel I paid about $180 for it at Walmart. I put a cheap 3-9 Simmons scope on it and it shoots great. I had 5 shots you could cover with a quarter at 100 yrds. I haven't killed anything with it yet but I'll let you know when I do.

RE: Savage in 17 HMR?
 

I don't think its big enough. I've heard stores of 22's haveing a hard time, and a 17 is even smaller. But its a lot faster and I hear it does more damage. I would opt for something a little bigger myself.

RE: Savage in 17 HMR?
 

Last month, ignoring lessons learned and good instinct,I bought a Savage 17. The barrel was misaligned so badly that at 50 yds with 2 different scopes and 3 sets of rings, I couldn't get the groups closer than 4 inches to zero. Nice tight groups though.

RE: Savage in 17 HMR?
 

The .17 is a fun gun and I like it on small varmints but there is no way it is enough gun for turkey with anything but a head or neck/spine shot. No penetration with current bullets. I would consider the 22Hornet as the ideal turkey gun. Ever think of it?

RE: Savage in 17 HMR?
 

I'm with Dryridge on this one. I've seen one put turkeys down with no problem at all. I've also seen one shot with a .17 hmr. There was considerably more visible damage with the .17 but the turkey managed to make it 50-60 yards before kicking the bucket. The hornetseemed to dropthem in their tracks for the most part.

RE: Savage in 17 HMR?
 

I concur. I like 17's but they don't deliver the energy of their .22 caliber parents.17's bleed off velocity and energy much faster than 22's.
I alternate between 22's and 17's for squirrel hunting. Most shots I can hear the impact and the 22 always sounds more viloent and usually knocks the squirrel off the limb. My 17's zing right through without much shock.

RE: Savage in 17 HMR?
 

Mine will blow a squirrel in half, what kind of bullets are you using?

Paul

RE: Savage in 17 HMR?
 

Blow a squirrel in half? With a 17HMR or M2?You should video one of those miraculous events. I'd like to see it. I'd like to see Elvis driving a flying saucer too while you're at it.

RE: Savage in 17 HMR?
 

I'm wondering the same thing, Paul. The .17HMR is a great squirrel gun as long as you head shoot them. Anywhere else and you're going to be destroying lots of good meat. The 20 grain game points aren't quite as bad but still do considerable damage. The mach2 also does it's fair share of damage but not to the same extent as the HMR. Still, they both blow squirrels apart much better than any .22 ammo I've ever shot. That includes CCI Stingers and my personal favorite, CCI Velocitors.
Maybe I'll have to take my Thompson .22 and my Mach2 out for a hunt this weekend and get some comparison photos.

RE: Savage in 17 HMR?
 

The HM2 is a great round for squirrels, but the HMR with V-max's is very distructive. It was made for small to medium varmint hunting at medium ranges. If you shoot an averaged sized tree squirrel at 50 yards or so in the body it will do severe damage. Same with small birds.

It won't always blow them apart, but if it doesn't everything inside will be mush in most cases.

Those are my experiences anyway.

I would bet from what I have read the 20 grn XTP's would do much less much damage, but penitrate more.

Paul