im looking for information on the 17 caliber varmint rifle. other than squirrels, what kinds of animals can u hunt with this rifle? also what loads do people use. Thanks!
2007-07-25 14:13:01 · 11 answers · asked by hellonwheelz3 1 in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Hunting
Harvesting large game with 17 caliber is illegal, regardless if it's centerfire or rimfire. The 17 was designed to take varmints, nothing larger than a coyote.
2007-07-25 14:45:36 · answer #1 · answered by boker_magnum 6 · 0⤊ 5⤋
Well, the 17 HMR will and does kill squirrels, rabbits, coons, and foxes. I dotn trust a rimfire for coyotes ive had several good shots count for nothing with my .22 A 17 Fireball made my Remington can take down coyotes, foxes and all the others at long ranges. It would be good for prairie dog hunts where shot will be longer than 200 yards. It is NOT deer gun. Its illegal to hunt deer with a .22 more less a smaller caliber like the .17. And by the way Sawmill, i researched this gun about two months ago because i was really interested in getting one, and it wont kill a deer with a 25 grain bullet period, and it wont kill one with a 40 grain bullet at 100 yards, but i definitly know it wont kill it at 500 yards with a 25 grain bullet! Ive shot a coyote at 407 yards with an 80 grain hollow point out of a 243 and it didnt kill it!
2007-07-26 09:02:43 · answer #2 · answered by Aaron 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
For interests sake the largest game I heard of being taken with a 17 cal, the remington centrifire I think, was a brown bear, with a head shot.
you can hunt anything with anything technically.Someone killed an elephant with a .22 rimfire to prove it could be done. The problems of course are the legalities involved and how many hours (or days) it may take for the animal to die of the wound, or infection, and in that time whether the animal decides to eat or trample you first... :)
For the 17 someone's ambiguous suggestion was anything up to deer size. I'd assume they meant 'and not including it', since deer bodyweight varies several times over between species.
And even up to 'but not including deer' might include a great deal of light fast and nasty wild hogs, javelina type game and I would not be tackling them with an 17cal centrefire or otherwise.
In Australia they used 223 cals to shoot a large amount of hogs buffalo and scrub bulls.But even such cullers who really pick their head shots, admit the 243 cal is the minimum cal where regular shot to shot reliability begins, for bodyshots on small/medium game like hogs etc.
I'd stick with very small game for the 17 cals only as the more sane people on the thread have suggested.
2007-07-27 01:42:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Anything classified as a Varmint, thats why it is called a 17 caliber varmint rifle*...
2007-07-26 11:43:35 · answer #4 · answered by dca2003311@yahoo.com 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A 17HMR Rimfire (I am assuming you are asking about 17 HMR rimfire?) is effective for use on ANY small game up to Deer size (illegal for Deer hunting though) squirrels, rabbits, prarie dogs, groundhogs, fox,coyotes, wild cats,wolves (were legal), If you are talking Centerfire thats a different ballgame. If this is the case contact your local Department of Natural Resources to find out what is legal for you to shoot in your state of residence.. Your question is a little confusing due to lack of detail.....
2007-07-25 22:14:46 · answer #5 · answered by JD 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have used the 17 mach2 in a contender handgun with a 14 inch barrel to take crow, rabbit, racoon and squirrels. I use the hornady loading. all shots to this point have been under 75 yards.
2007-07-26 05:46:57 · answer #6 · answered by Jon 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm inclined to agree with sawmill. Better check your local regulations before deer hunting with a .17 cal. center fire.
As far as .17 HMR or .17 Mach One I would say nothing larger than a coyote. Happy hunting!
2007-07-26 21:03:10 · answer #7 · answered by ~♥moe♥~ 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would think probably rabbits, squirrels something in that size range. However I have a 17 Remington centerfire and shoot a 25 grain Hornady hollow point that can take down a deer from 500yds before you even hear the gun go off.
Well it looks like I`m getting a bad rap for talking about my .17 Remington center fire taking down a deer, all I can say to each his own opion, I have done it and have seen it done. Better check your local hunting regulations before you hunt anything with a .17HMR,.17Mach One or a .17 centerfire.
2007-07-25 21:23:52 · answer #8 · answered by Sawmill 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Just about any critter that's under 100lbs. Factory load choice is a 20gr. Accu tip or 25gr. HP, both over 4000fps
2007-07-26 11:56:58 · answer #9 · answered by gretsch16pc 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Squirrels, prairie dogs, mice, so anything small.
2007-07-25 21:27:19 · answer #10 · answered by Ed 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋