is the .17 enough gun?
 

i am interested with the .17 hmr and wanted to get some second opinions, how effective will it be for smaller game such as rabbits, squirrel, and crows. but also will it be enough gun for fox, racoon, and yotes?

RE: is the .17 enough gun?
 

If you look back in the archives, their are facts and opinions popping up every week, they should give you tons of info.

RE: is the .17 enough gun?
 

if rabbits and squirrels it will almost be too much gun under 100 yards unless you stick with head shots, crows, foxes, and raccoon it will be superb! as for yotes.....i have taken them under 100 yards, but you have to hold off for a perfect shot......shot placement is very vital

RE: is the .17 enough gun?
 

I've taken several rabbits and squirrels at very close range with body shots when I couldnt get a head shot. I just aim behind the front leg and it makes a big hole, but you are just losing rib meat.

RE: is the .17 enough gun?
 

My .177 pellet gun is gun enough for rabbits, squirrels, and crows. The .17 is certainly enough. As far as coyotes and foxes go, I don't know much about that. I would guess that you could use it as long as you pick your shots carefully.

RE: is the .17 enough gun?
 

I've shot squirrels with my 17HMR drops them dead. I haven't yet lost any meat usually shoot them in the head.

RE: is the .17 enough gun?
 

also what kind of accuracy can i expect from the .17 at 100, 200, and 300 yards?

RE: is the .17 enough gun?
 

Accuracy out to 100 will be very good from most rifles, as long as there's no wind. Beyond that, you will need to know the bullet drop, because past 100 yards, the bullet will begin to drop pretty quickly, and hope there is no wind, because it doesn't take much wind to blow the tiny bullet of course.
I shot two snowshoe hares with my hmr two winters ago, and never got an exit out of either of them. Both were frontal shots though. One was only about 35 yards and the other was just over 100 yards.

RE: is the .17 enough gun?
 

Squirrel and rabbit fear my little bull barrel marlin. For good reason. Bullet of choice- cci tnt hollow point . Great little guns at close distances. I just wouldnt stretch it out very far unless you have a centerfire. Yet to get a coyote but have confidence as long as its within short range

RE: is the .17 enough gun?
 

I am by no means nice to yotes, but as a rule i will not shoot them with a 17 outside 80 yards. the bullet is blown around too easily and its usually windy out here. however inside 80 and really having patience for optimum shot patience it does just fine, i had a three dog day last week to attest to that.

RE: is the .17 enough gun?
 

I own a Savage .17 HMR. I really like it for an all-around small game rifle. I use it coon hunting as well and it kills em' quicker than the .22. Rabbits and squirrels..... aim for the head because the exit hole can sometimes be very large. This gun works great for crows as well. Distance....most of my shots are between 20-50 yards but i can hit a clay pigeon at 100 pretty consistently.

RE: is the .17 enough gun?
 

For rabbits,squrrials, crows, etc it should be fine. Yotes I hunt alot of. IMO I dont think a 17 is a good round. You will see that subject on here alot. But with that being said where I live if its not deer season you cant use anything larger than rimfire or shotgun 4 shot. I choose to use a scatter gun with xtended range coyote shot.

RE: is the .17 enough gun?
 

As stated previously, the HMR is fine for everything up to Fox. For yotes you need to focus on placement and try to keep shots under 100yds. As for accuracy, I've found that you have very little drop out to about 150 or so. If you want to stretch out to 200yds, check out the .22Mag with the polymer tips. For more power and range than that, you'll have to go with either a 5mm Remington or one of the smaller centerfires.

RE: is the .17 enough gun?
 

I jus got a 17 HMR that I used last weekend shootin pds. I was not impressed. At best it gave roll over kill shots but even the slightest hint of wind and it was useless. I'm sure there plenty of guys who shoot coyotes all the time with a 17...... I prefer a .204 Ruger or my 22-250 AI.

RE: is the .17 enough gun?
 

We have not hunted with ours yet, I say ours, my son got one for his 10 year old birthday. We shot it at the range and after we sighted it in the target at 100 yards he was right on. Rain was one the way and with a bit of wind, I did not see much change at all on his groups. He was even shooting bits of clay pigeons on the side of the hill, with range officers permission, and was hitting very small bits.

RE: is the .17 enough gun?
 

The .17hmr is a great plinking small & game round but IMO not a coyote gun. Your better off buying a.204 or one of the .22 CF's (22-250, .223, etc) for yotes or other larger sized varmits, more range and knockdown power is nice on dogs at times. JMHO though!

I own both a 17hmr and .22wmr, I feel neither are yote worthy. In a pinch under the right circumstances they will workthat doesn't make them the right tool for the job IMHO. An excuse to buy another gun ain't all bad;)! I am buying a .204 ruger in fact. DoI need it? Heck no but that's never stopped me before![8D]

RE: is the .17 enough gun?
 

go with a .223 for the yotes, but as for rabbits, squirrels and groundhogs go a 17 will be fine

RE: is the .17 enough gun?
 

i just bought the BTVS model

RE: is the .17 enough gun?
 

The .17 hrm is a good. cal. (FOR SMALL GAME)Flat shooting.Need head shots.You might check out the old standby .22 mag (ALWAYS BEEN A GOOD CAL.) fOR LARGER GAME I WOULD USE A .223 OR A .204 LIGHTFOOT52 IN Indiana