ill be doing mostly squirrel hunting and plinking with it. if i run across a yote i may endup shooting it, but i will have another caliber dedicated to that. ill also do alot of recreational target shooting with it too. so iguess im looking for a good all around rifle. if you have one tell me what you like and dislike about it and ill go from there. thanks

Marlin 917V

^ I'm not sure if you ment coyotes by "yotes" but my .17hmr takes out coyotes easily without a say, they drop in a instant. I killed one at 200 yards. Its a powerful gun.

Here's my .17 HMR - just got it, so still break'in her in, but love it already.


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



Put a Burris 4X-16X 44MM Signature Select on her.


http://www.burrisoptics.com/sigselect.html

Bought a rem 700 .204. Love the rifle. 4200 FPS. Shot a Bobcat at 350 no problem. Ammo can be hard to find. But if you reload it's a never ending fun.

i have a savage .17HMR and love it. you will not find a more accurate rimfire. i have killed squirrels at 140yards. and if you want to eat them just shoot the FMJ ammo. hardly any damage at all. i also have a sweet 17 scope. check that out to.

I've had a Marlin 917 for years and really like it. Still don't understand some of the bad press about the .17hmr tearing up small game. I've shot plenty of squirrels and even a rabbit with mine and have never had the animal ruined. If I can't get a head shot, then I just shoot them through the shoulder. It can make a good sized hole but you are only losing some rib meat. Also a good gun for plinking at crows and great for knocking a coon out of the top of a tree with a head shot. Never had the occasion to shoot at a coyote yet, but wouldnt have any problems with taking a shot out to 200 yards. I would think it would be about the perfect gun if you are calling in foxes and bobcats and are taking shots within 100 yards and don't want to damage the fur with a centerfire round.

thanks guys, how much difference in accuracy is there from a heavy barrel and normal barrel

I have the same 17hmr just like ridge runner's and i rarely have a group over .5 inch I shot a .12, 4 shot group at 100 yards one day. I have also shot at 200 yards but have never shot paper from that distance but I think I could probably get under a 4 or 5 inch group. once you hit that 200 yard mark those bullets are pretty much carried by the wind alot. I would defintely recommend the savage 17 hmr.

You won't see any accuracy difference. The heavier barrel keeps it from getting too hot but for the most part that's not a problem with the 17. It will make the gun heavier but that's up to you if that's a good or bad thing.