First I am looking to get back into squirel hunting so I can my 2 boys the things I learned hunting with my father at their age. I bought my oldest son a Savage youth model single shot 22 last year for christmas and topped it off with a scope for christmas this year. I myself only have a 12ga and a 410 that I could use for small game so wanted to look into getting a small caliber rifle for myself. I want a versitle round that could be used for a variety of smaller game. From what I have read so far the 17HMR sounds like what I want to be able to kill squirel, rabbit and such.

My second question concerns which model of gun to get. I really like the look of the Marlin Model 917VS and the price is pretty decent at around $290. However I have read a few people say good things about the CZ 452 Varmint which can be gotten for about $330. I have little to no knowledge of the CZ firearms so really have no idea what they are like. My gut tells me to go with the Marlin as I have seen alot of good stuff said about it and I think it is a very good looking gun.

IMO the 17 HMR is not a good squirl cal. ,better suited to chuck hunting. It will do to much meat damage.
The CZ rifles are nice ,I prefer the Marlin .The new Marlin T-900 trigger group is nice. Look at the 980V ,a sweet shooting gun.

The Marlin 980V deffinately doesnt look bad but I am really liking the look of the 17HMR. It sounds like a nice and powerful small caliber that can be used for squirel but is also useable on slightly larger small game. Hmmm what-to-do, what-to-do...

nothing wrong witha 17 for squirrels. shoot them in the head. i dont get this ruining meat thing. i was brought up with head shots with a .22, as was my dad and his dad. my dad's buddy shot a squirrel in the head with a .17. worked awesome. just shoot them in the head and the body's dead.

slayer

body shots the 17hmr will destroy a small varmint. heads shots will work fine. if you worry about this you could always step down the 17m2. it wont have as much explosive power as the 17hmr . if you go with the 17hmr the cii hollow poitns dont do nearly as much damage to game as teh ballistic tips. i owna marlin 917vs and couldnt be happeir my cusion owna cz american and love it. they are both very accurate firearms. for more info on 17hmr and those gun go to www.rimfirecentral.com

I would get a good 22LR, You can buy 500 rounds for under $10 and you and your son can shoot all day. A CCI Velocitor has a 40gr gold dot hollow point traveling over 1400 fps that will kill anything coyote size and smaller. I read that the 17 HMR does not have very good penetration with the Vmax bullet because it explodes and was only sutible for varmints smaller than wood chuck.

I love my Ruger 77/22LR and it shoots every type of ammo very well, except the stingers. The Velocitors will shot a 1/2" at 50 yards.

the penitration increases as the distance dose. Ive herd from many people that use the v max for hunting yotes and even take broadside shots with them. if you want to go for yote though many people recomend the 20.gr for better penitration. i will be taking my 17hmr yote hunting as soon as i get time to go. Ill be using the vmax and trying for head or neck shots but if they are not presented i wont hesitate to a good solid broadside shot. just keep the shots under 100 yards and your fine.

Accuracy with the .17 HMR is excellant and taking and making head shots is not a problem. If you take vital area body shots then you really aren't hitting much edible meat on a squirrel anyways. The .17 HMR will very cleanly take coyotes down with reasonable distance shots. The ones I have taken so far have simply dropped to the ground. I shot all of them using the VMax and penetration was not a problem.

I shoot a Savage 93 with a rifle basix trigger installed.

Greg