Queston about the 17 HMR?

Question

Is the 17 hmr a good gun for hunting small and large predators ranging from praire dogs size to coyotes? Will it shoot and kill animals up to 200 yrds? .... and if you were wondering yes i already have a larger caliber weapon a .204 ruger

Answer 1

You're going to get a lot of debate on this one. Personally I think the 17 HMR is too small and not powerful enough, especially at 200 yard ranges. Obviously there are guys using them and using them successfully at those ranges, but I would sure opt for the .204 for coyote and anything over 100 yards. And in the final analysis it is your ability to deliver the bullet to your intended target that counts. If you can do that with a 17 HMR more power to you, sure wish I could shoot that well. (Absolutely NO sarcasm in that statement, just envy).

Answer 2

I use the 17HMR for both Prarie Dogs and Coyotes and have had no problems with the results. I have made shots on Coyotes and Dogs in excess of 210 yards shooting from a rest or prone. There are many that will disagree with shooting Coyote's with this caliber, but to me my own personal results speak for this calibers ability. It is a Varmint Hunters dream come true as far as I am concerned. The more expensive ammunition costs are totally justified and once you have tried the 17HMR, you will want to use nothing else. I will tell you that for shots over 230 yards as a rule, I use a .308 Remingtom Model 700 Custom Heavy Barrel Rifle.. You would do fine at extended ranges with your Ruger .204.
Anything under 200 yards is a done deal. This is NOT some great feat,it just requires a little more practice to do.They are dropped before they even know I'm there watching them......

I am always amazed that cut and paste answers and wickipedia direct quotes word for word are considered a
substitute form of "knowledge" considered by some as far better answers over and above "hands on experience." I've also learned that ask a specific question about a specific gun or caliber and 99.9% of the time, the answers don't have anything to do with the gun question asked in the first place.I guess it's all about priorities.........

Answer 3

I just invested a few moments on the net and got these two inserts for you.

Not one of them call the .17 HMR a 200 yard coyote weapon.

Well with only 17gr to a whopping 20gr bullet, do you thank it makes an ethical 200 yard Coyote weapon?



***Insert from link***
.17 HMR Review by Mike Schoby
What is it good for?
This question is always my litmus test of any new cartridge or rifle. It can be the neatest, hottest selling product out there, but if it doesn't really fill any specific niche I can think of, it doesn't get me too excited. Luckily possibilities for this cartridge abound. To begin with, it makes an excellent medium range varmint rifle. It shoots flat enough to anchor prairie dogs, chucks and ground squirrels out to 200 yards. The ammo is relatively cheap (about twice as much as premium hyper-velocity .22 LR but only half the price of any premium centerfire ammo). The extremely frangible bullet is perfect for varmint shooting where any possibility of a ricochet is a concern. The report is minimal (on par with a .22 LR) so it should not disturb nearby neighbors, when shooting in relatively populated rural environments. While it will never make the cut as my primary varmint rifle, it will always find a place in my pickup as a back up when my flatter shooting centerfire is cooling down between shooting sessions or when the prairie dogs are close and the wind is negligible.
http://www.cabelas.com/information/cabelasfieldguides/FirearmsBallisticsLoads/.17HMRReview.html

***Insert from link***
Rimfire Rocket
By Jim Carmichel
Is the new .17 HMR a passing fad or is it here to stay?

Just For Fun
Though I’d never name the .17 HMR my first choice as an all-around varmint cartridge, it is a great choice for small varmints such as digger squirrels and short-range (inside 200 yards) prairie dogs. What I wouldn’t use it for is larger varmints such as coyotes, except at close range, and the explosive effect of the little .17 bullet wouldn’t leave much meat on edible game such as squirrels.

http://www.outdoorlife.com/outdoor/gear/gunvault/article/0,19912,398051,00.html

Me personally, I just stick with the 204 or larger for coyotes.
To me even a predator like a coyote deserves a humane kill.

D58

UP Date!
I believe it is called Supporting Evidence from 2 reputable forms ( Cabela’s and Outdoor life) to support Ethical Behavior on part of the Hunters.
The only ones that can object is those who “ Don’t believe in Ethical Hunting”.

Or Source Documentation

I have yet to see any weapons manufacture or ammo manufacture that would support shooting Coyotes with a .17 caliber that has a grain weight from 17gr to 20gr projectile at 210 yards.
Who in their right mind would say a projectile that’s weight is just 0.1gr heaver then a Gamo 22 caliber pellet that is 16.9gr would constitute “Ethical Behavior” at 210 yards.

Oh by the way more Source documentation.
***Insert from Link***
Gamo® Pellets
The Magnum pellets are a great hunting pellet, known for maximum expansion and good energy transfer. The weight for the .177 is 7.5 grains, while the .22 weighs 16.9 grains.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0012609221874a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&No=80&Ntt=pellet+&noImage=0&Ntk=Products&QueryText=pellet+&Ntx=matchall&N=4887&Nty=1


D58


Hunting with Rifle, Pistol, Muzzle loader and Bow for over 3 decades.
Reloading Rifle, Pistol and shotgun for over 3 decades.

Answer 4

A 17 grain bullet will lose a lot of speed and power at 200 yards and I don't think it would be adequate for coyotes, unless there is no wind and you can hit a vital area.
A comparison with .22 WMR can be found here:
http://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_17HMR_22WMR.htm

Answer 5

.243 would be the ultimate for long range coyote plinking.....
and you have loads suited for deer also

your ruger would work better on the coyoted than a .17 caliber

if you are looking for cheap shooting go with a .22lr

Answer 6

No way you are going to get 200 yards out of it. Just the slightest wind will set the tiny bullet off course.