what is the .17 hmr good for anyways?

3 weelin geezer

What is this tiny little bullet good for besides paper targets? Can it kill anything thats not standing within arms reach of the pistol? [xx(]

A J Christ

I live in rural North Carolina and have used it on crows, fax, woodchucks (ground hogs) cans and paper. Have no complaints as to it's killing ability out to about 175 yards where most of a family of foxes had a bad day. For longer shots I have a 220 Swift but that is way more rifle for most of the pests here. Not good to use on squirrel and rabbits if yo plan to eat them, tears them up real bad. Have a report that it also works well on white tail if hit behind the ear. Mine is a Ruger 77 and like it a lot. Cheap to shoot if compared to a center fire and compareable to a 22 mag, shots sound about the same as far as loudness. Yup, would run out and get another, at least as if not more useful than a 22 LF and a lot more accurate than the 22 mag in my experience.

A J Christ

Suppose you could use it here too. This came from another forum. Grin Grin

http://media.euniverse.com/funpages/cms_content/1956/squirrel_revival1.swf

Contender Man

Let's see, 17 HMR is good for ...

1.) Gun mfg. because they can sell new guns ...

2.) Ammo mfg., especially Hornady, because they are selling more of this new ammo than they can produce ... backlogs at Hornady still reported to be over 2 million rounds[?]

3.) Gun writers and gun mags because they have something new to write about so mags stay in business and writer has a job[}:)]

Now with the digs out of the way ... they are effective on small varmints out to 100+ yards. Maybe as much as 200 yards under ideal weather conditions. For target shooting keep distance at 50 yards +/- and use a 22 ... heck of a lot cheaper.

Personal defense ... well if you presently carry 22lr or 22 mag chambered pistol/revolver the .17 does have more energy and that little 17gr bullet makes a nasty wound cavity, although not much of a wound channel because penetration is limited. But, I'm no fan of small caliber guns for personal defense unless they are all a person has, so if your inclined to spend the money on a new 17 HMR handgun, spend the same amount on a larger caliber, preferrably 38 special or larger.



If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!

Robin

For starters, it's nice to have choices. In the grand scheme of things maybe there isn't a lot of advantage in a .17 HMR over a .22 magnum or even a .22 LR. Heck in the grand scheme of things, one could argue that 90%+ of a hunter's firearm needs (not wants)could be accomplished with very few firearms. Why does anybody need more than a .22 LR (for small critters), a 12 gauge scatter gun (for fowl and such) and a 30-06 (for big critters). Actually my wife believes that owning multiple firearms is plain silly.

She firmly believes that by using different ammo, a 12 gauge shotgun will do everything I need to do. She is probably near correct in her thinking, but somehow I have managed to collect 30 or so firearms over the years of assorted caliber and gauges including a 17HMR that I enjoy very much. Need and want are two entirely different concepts.

I oftened wondered if cavemen had multiple clubs made from different wood and sat around the fire and discussed which club was best for a specific use.



Worry is the interest humans pay on the debt of miscalculation.

mauser_central

I've often pondered that same question on the .17hmr. and i refer to it as a '' cockroach killer ''. Like Robin said its more of a want round , hornaday wanted more buisness, gun owners want somthing new, gun writers want somthing to write about. the 17 is supposed to be more accurate at longer ranges than the .22mag, so i guess it has its niche for small varmints and target shooting.

I've always followed my father's advice: he told me, first to always keep my word and, second, to never insult anybody unintentionally. If I insult you, you can be damn sure I intend to. And, third, he told me not to go around looking for trouble.
John Wayne

1KYDSTR

I feel it's just a rehash of the 5mm rimfire with a bit better bullet technology. That one died for want of an application...and no one cared. Eventually, this one will likely do the same. I think I'll wait a few years and buy one really cheap after Hornady et al have OVERPRODUCED and caught up to their back-orders...undoubtedly about 6 months after interest has waned!

"When I cease learning...I'm dead"(Me)
"Power corrupts...Absolute power corrupts absolutely"(Descartes?)
"History is written by winners"(Patton)
"You get a lot farther with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone!"(Al Capone)
"There is nothing lower than the human race...except the French" (Samuel Clemens)

gskyhawk

well you have a flat shootng , highly accurate, little killing machine out to about 200 yards, you're using a very fragile bullet , so it doesn't pass thru your animal , if you miss just about anything it hits will destroy the bullet , very little chance of a ricochet, cost isn't too bad $8-9 per 50 and you don't have to reload, noise is alot less than a center fire rifle . I know since I got mine my 223's and 22-250's have sit in the safe , sold my 22mag , i think its a keeper [;)]

FrancF

GHD's Long shot

Contender Man

Guess that answers the part in my previous reply about smaller varmints out to around 200 yards ... good shootin!!!!



If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!

OleDuk

ALLRIGHT, GHD!!!
OleDuk[:)][:)]

groundhog devastation

I guess it's time for the "GHD Defense of the 17HMR" again!!! First off, sheer accuraccy of this rimfire cartridge comes to mind! After having put together for others or owning about 20 different combinations of guns in this chambering including, Savage, Marlin, T/C, Remington and NEF, I have yet to find one that wouldn't do 1" or less 100 yard groups! Now go find me only 5 out of the box 22Magnums with this level of accuraccy! As far as killing power.....not meant for deer or bear, just small varmints of which there are generally decent populations of all around this country. With the level of accuraccy it has and the use of good glass, lethal 100-200 yard shots are easy! I don't recommend it for "gut shots" on anything! Nor do I recommend "gut shots" with any gun! It has limitations true, I just find it rather appealing to be able to shoot tiny groups and kill varmints at extended rimfire range. It will be around awhile! Ammo cost will come back down. As far as 17-22Mag compares go, premium 22Mag(they had to try to combat the 17 with small bullets...ie 33 grain Rem load) by advertising higher velocities and that premium 22Mag ammo is just as expensive as the 17.....and less accurate!!! GHD (pastor at the church of GHD 25-06 and 17HMR)