Any fans of the 17hmr here?

[zobster]

I managed to buy a brick of 17hmr from one of the LGS here in Launceston and they are just awesome!!

Only entry wounds, no exits at all! Brilliant, this means all the energy is being dumped into the intended target and none wasted. Wallaby drop on the spot with minimal mess, no more handling bloody carcass. Needless to say, shot placement has to be spot on for small game like rabbits. Head shots only, heart/lung shots usually mean half the animal is wasted.

Not only only that, it's relatively quiet and virtually no recoil! I love it so much, I went and bought another brick before it runs out again.

Only down side is that it's pretty expensive at 50c per shot for rimfire.

BTW, has anyone used a 17wsm? One of the LGS I went to haven't got any 17hmr but had about 6/8 bricks of that stuff just sitting on his shelf. What are they like? Personally, since I've already got a 17hmr and a 223, I don't see a need for them to fill any gaps.

[Gwion]

A mate sold his t-bolt 17hmr and replaced it with a 22lr version. He said he didn't find it as effective on wallaby as the 22lr. Seemed weird to me but he was pretty convinced.

[Heckler303]

I've been interesting in purchasing a 17HMR for a very long while now. I have no need for a 223 as my 303-25 fills its role better and the 22 only goes so far in range. For rabbits a 17 cal would be perfect at longer range where the 22 drops too much. At some point maybe a savage 93 would be a viable option

[GLS_1956]

My experience with the 17HMR is limited to a Savage/Stevens Favorite falling block single shot with open buckhorn sights. Only shot paper targets and water filled cans and bottles, plastic bottles, but it was fun and makes a big splash.

[zobster]

I've used both a 22wmr and 17hmr. I must say I was more impressed with the 17hmr more. The "issue" is that, it's a varmint round, thus fragments on impact. I would only go for head shots on rabbits to maximise meat yield.

The 22lr is a fantastic round. If you put it where it's supposed to go, it will bring even large game down. Problem is shot placement, it's got to be perfect. Else you are just punching tiny holes in the animal.

Which is the main reason why I switched to the 17hmr. Hit anywhere in the front half of any small game or feral cat, it will be down, no doubts. Hit the chest of any wallaby, it goes down too, and much lesser mess compared to a 223.

[happyhunter]

I've owned a CZ452 varmint in 17HMR for a long time. Top little cartridge for hunting rabbits and foxes. You are right about head shots only on rabbits but with the hummer there is no excuse for not head shooting. I use 17 Vmax and 20 grain game points and find them equally explosive.

Only entry wounds, no exits at all! Brilliant, this means all the energy is being dumped into the intended target and none wasted

On relatively long shots, like say a fox at 150 meters, you will find the lead core seperates and exits the other side. At 200 meters there is virtually no fragmentation or expansion.

[Harts]

A mate sold his t-bolt 17hmr and replaced it with a 22lr version. He said he didn't find it as effective on wallaby as the 22lr. Seemed weird to me but he was pretty convinced.

Any idea what range he's typically shooting at?

That'll have to be what it comes down to, heavier pills with the 22 vs higher velocity from the 17hmr and where they're more or less effective compared to each other.

[Gwion]

Maybe right. He was saying there was an issue with 'greys'; they are a larger, more robust animal than the more plentiful padi. He didn't go into detail, just that the hmr wasn't as effective as he expected.

[AZZA'S HJ47]

I went into gun shop buy a 22lr rifle for a little bit of plinking fun. I spoke to the guy at the shop and he highly recommended the 17HMR over the 22lr. I was reluctant to get the 17hmr at first but after taking it out for the first time I can honestly say that I love the round/and rifle 50,100,150 anything is in serious trouble I am starting to push the 17hmr out to 200 however on paper I cant really see where I'm hitting exactly. Until I go out and have a look and find a nice tight cluster roughly where I was hoping to hit. So all in all I am very happy with my decision to get a 17HMR. I have found that the Winchester 17grain ammo has a tendency to crack cases at a alarming rate as however no issues with either Hornady or fedral. I did send Winchester Australia a email however I am still waiting for a response. but all in all couldn't be happier.

I ended up buying a 22lr two weeks later

I have had a bit of a look at the 17WSM have heard a few things in regards to accuracy however better case construction but couldn't really cast any stones. and I don't want to influence anyone with speculation as opposed to facts

[rsj223]

I only hit paper with my 17hmr until last week I used it for rabbits after my son bent the tube rod on my .22 wow it was the best will be using much more now.

[AZZA'S HJ47]

Yea i am wanting to get out there and clean up a few ranbits and if im lucky a fox or two i havent been lucky enough to have a feral hunt but hope to in the next few months with a bit of luck

[pomemax]

I have a 17hmr savage , boring little gun on paper it will shot through the same hole all day , nothing to fiddle with .

[Bark]

The 22lr is a fantastic round. If you put it where it's supposed to go, it will bring even large game down. Problem is shot placement, it's got to be perfect. Else you are just punching tiny holes in the animal.

And don't push the range.

Up to a little debate there the effective range ends, but I'm sure we've all heard at least one conversation along the lines of...

"What's the max effective range of a 22lr?"

"75 metres"

"I want a 22lr but want to shoot further"

"It's still 75 metres"

"I think it will be ok to 125, I'll get one"

"............"

People want centrefire performance for rimfire cost, aint no such thing.

[zobster]

Exactly! Employing the cartridge within its design parameters is KEY!

[Heckler303]

I dropped a pademelon just yesterday with my Puma .22 and subsonics at 40m, it took about a whole second to drop then we walked over and collected it. I always wonder how well a 17 would work at that range, my guess from your experience and others is that there would be a harder knockdown from that plastic tip 17grn stuff at 2600fps.

[zobster]

A pademelon aka stinky is a relatively small game animal, using a 17 will definitely drop it on the spot but if you are going to be using the meat, I would recommend that you head shoot it.

Furthermore, what you are doing, 40m shot, is still within the design limitations of 22lr subs.

[Heckler303]

A pademelon aka stinky is a relatively small game animal, using a 17 will definitely drop it on the spot but if you are going to be using the meat, I would recommend that you head shoot it.

Furthermore, what you are doing, 40m shot, is still within the design limitations of 22lr subs.

I used a 22 Subsonic on a pademelon just the other day (first kill for the new .22.) and it dropped first time. I needed to walk up and finish it with a second shot though as it didn't hit hard enough for it to be killed, just paralyzed. A 17 would have been definitely killed it on impact.

[AZZA'S HJ47]

A pademelon aka stinky is a relatively small game animal, using a 17 will definitely drop it on the spot but if you are going to be using the meat, I would recommend that you head shoot it.

Furthermore, what you are doing, 40m shot, is still within the design limitations of 22lr subs.

I used a 22 Subsonic on a pademelon just the other day (first kill for the new .22.) and it dropped first time. I needed to walk up and finish it with a second shot though as it didn't hit hard enough for it to be killed, just paralyzed. A 17 would have been definitely killed it on impact.

Have seen the results of a hornady balistic tip 17g bullet on a fox at around 120m not too much left of the brain box if you get what im saying

[Chickenhawk]

And don't push the range.

Not for hunting, long range (relatively) targets with 22lr can be some fun though, get a few feet of drop out of them, he he

[alan j]

i had a cz 455 17hmr was very accurate but because of the price of ammo and the noise i sold it and got a centrefire.

[southwest shooter]

i,d sooner use a 22 mag , if the property is big enough 204 ruger is the go to gun.

[happyhunter]

i,d sooner use a 22 mag , if the property is big enough 204 ruger is the go to gun.

Love my 22magnum but my 17hmr definitely has the edge on it, specially on longer shots. I also have a 204 but don't have this so called "go to" chambered thing you speak of.

[bigtone]

Not a fan but that's because one of my mates and my brother are obsessed with the 17. My problem is that we always run into mobs of pigs when all they have is a 17 hmr. You may as well just spit at them as hit them with a 17. At least with a 223 you can stop a pig with a reasonable shot placement. I recon you would have to hit a pig in the eyeball with a 17 which is a bit hard to do when all you can see is the backside!

[Gamerancher]

I recently used one for the first time. Visiting with friends in Texas, was told to "clean up those squirrels" while they went out for the day. Totally makes a mess of squirrels!! Had a ball.

[AZZA'S HJ47]

Not a fan but that's because one of my mates and my brother are obsessed with the 17. My problem is that we always run into mobs of pigs when all they have is a 17 hmr. You may as well just spit at them as hit them with a 17. At least with a 223 you can stop a pig with a reasonable shot placement. I recon you would have to hit a pig in the eyeball with a 17 which is a bit hard to do when all you can see is the backside!

Have seen it done behind the ear at probably 80m dropped it 50kg pig nothing huge but did the job

[Cooper]

Little bit Frustrusted with my 17hmr at the moment.
Could not get the Hornady 17gr for a while. So was using Winchester 17gr which was meant to be the same. 5 or 6 neck splits per box and accuracy a bit questionable.

I bought some more Hornady now that it back in stock. It will shoot a group but seems to have the odd flyer. I've bought some CCi 20gr game points to try. I haven't tried 20gr bullets before

Has anyone tried the new CCI A17? They only had 200 round boxes and they were wanting $129. Getting a little expensive for rimfire stuff particularly if it doesn't shoot that good.

I was getting Winchester for $19 for 50
If I buy Hornady in bulk can get for $20 for 50 but it does not seem to shoot as well as earlier batches??

[happyhunter]

So was using Winchester 17gr which was meant to be the same. 5 or 6 neck splits per box and accuracy a bit questionable.

Probably very old stock. I had the same happen many years ago with Winny labeled vmax. Five or six neck splits per box but they always extracted and accuracy wasn't effected.

[happyhunter]

On the split neck thing. 22 magnum had the same issue many years ago. I still have a couple of boxes of the 1900 fps Winny superX stuff that splits a case from time to time. Apparently that's why they toned down the load to 1850 fps.

[rsj223]

After using the Winchester stuff make sure you give it a good clean mine was was filthy from them splitting

[Homer]

G'Day Fella's,

Yes I do!
I picked up a second hand CZ 453 in Very Good condition.
I did an initial bedding job on it and then, changed this a little bit after the first group shooting session.
Eventually found some ammo for it, and this was the result at my second trip to the range.

Here's a 5 shot group I shot at 50 meters

DSCN1485.JPG (688.65 KiB) Viewed 6842 times

Homer's a Happy Camper!

Doh!
Homer