o/t - .17 HMR

Fordfarmer · Apr 13, 2016

Any of you shoot a .17 HMR (Hornady Magnum Rimfire)? I always thought it was an interesting cartridge, but it was never a high enough priority to make me buy one. But I won one at our county's wildlife banquet. So now I that I have it, I'm wondering about a scope. I have a decent 4x32 I could put on it. Is that enough, or should I go with a variable, like a 3-9 or 4-12? Does it shoot far enough, flat enough to make the extra magnification worthwhile?

TimV · Apr 13, 2016

I got one when they first came out, 10+ years ago as they looked intriguing. Found very quickly that they didn't have near the killing power of the .22 magnum they're based on and they're VERY susceptible to wind drift--ANY breeze whatsoever will blow them significantly off course. However, they've become popular with trappers and fur hunters because of the small entrance and (usually) no exit hole means less pelt damage. I think you'll find that by the time you get out far enough to take advantage of higher magnification, you'll be too far out to reliably hit what you're aiming at, or kill it if you DO hit it. I ended up "loaning" mine out to someone for the occasional woodchuck they needed to shoot in their yard, and after several failures to either hit or kill them they stuck it in their closet, where it's still residing and went back to using their .270 deer rifle--it's obviously overkill but it's the only other rifle they have and at least it actually does the job. Probably just as well, as the ammo's so expensive that you can reload any of the smaller centerfire .22's (.22 hornet, .222, .223) cheaper than you can buy ammo for it.

jacksun65 · Apr 13, 2016

4x scope is plenty. Rifle magazine did an article vs wmr22 and the .17 hmr was only good to 200 yds on ground hogs and only in still wind. Just shows to go ya that the newest tech isn't always the best.

Nick m · Apr 13, 2016

Go with a 3-9 or 4-12. Have a Bushnell dusk to dawn 4-12 on my 22mag which works great. Nikon or Leopold are nicer, but not really necessary on a smaller shorter range rifle. I like the extra magnification just because I'm normally shooting little critters with it. It's nice when they fill your scope up. It's also easier to spot something like a wood Chuck poking it's head out of a hole.

Paul Shuler · Apr 13, 2016

I bought one 8 years ago. It?s a Savage I think. I love the trigger on it. I can?t speak to the drift in the wind but that would make since. My eyes are not what they used to be so I put a nice 3x9 on it. We had a bunch of family come over one time to do a bunch of shooting. My son " much better eyes than mine" blew everyone away when he shot the bottle caps off of 6 2 liter bottles that we stepped off at 160 yards. I have killed many of skunks with and they never take another step. By far the largest thing I have shot with it was a large coyote at about 90 yards. Tiny little entrance hole but a very large exit. I like mine very much. It will flat out explode anything in the squirrel to skunk size. Ammo is a little high. One other thing, that same day we had all the family there my brother in law brought one of those little target deals with paddles on it that flip when you shoot them. He had been spinning them with his 223 and at close range with a .45 acp. My son tried the .17 on it and it wouldn?t flip them. On inspection every time he hit it it drilled a perfect .17 hole right through it but didn?t swing them. Not sure what that means. It is fun to shoot.

Butch(OH) · Apr 13, 2016

I've had a 17HMR around for quite a spell. How much scope you run is a whole lot personal preference and just a tiny bit science. The performance of the round and what it normally is used for doesn't justify a much of a scope in my opinion, I hung an old micro track K4 Weaver on mine and dont feel the need for any more. None the less some people hang big variables on them and are happy. As for performance TimV pretty much said everything I have to say about it. It's not a windy day outfit, not even a breezy day actually. Effective range on groundhog size targets is little different than 22lr high speed hollow points in my experience and certainly not as far as the parent 22 magnum RF. None the less mine gets used a lot, but because I like the rifle it is chambered in better than any other 22 rifle I currently own,,,

dhermesc · Apr 13, 2016

I have 17HMR, 22WMR, 22 Long, and for fun we bought a .17 HM2. While the 17HMR will reach quite a ways (200 yards) I agree you will only do it on a still day - and those are few and far between in Kansas. Personally a fixed 4X scope is plenty for off hand varmint shooting and plinking - others will say differently. Sky is the limit (actually your wallet is the limit) if you want to get into target shooting.

My son picks off crows sitting on the power lines with my 17HMR, they pretty much explode into a ball of feathers. At 50-80 yards he has yet to hit the line. Personally I like my Marlin 883SS in 22WMR more than the Savage 17HMR for varmint shooting - but then that was how I was when I bought them - no real side by side comparison to say one is better. I've killed coyotes at 80-90 yards with the 22WMR with one shot - never tried it with the 17HMR.

Fordfarmer · Apr 13, 2016

Thanks for the input.
I'm still not sure if I'll go with the 4x32 or a variable. I doubt I'll be doing much shooting with it past 100 yards, but with small targets, a variable might be nice. But I already have the 4x32... hmmm...
I hadn't thought much about wind drift, but that does make sense. Kinda breezy today, so I guess I won't be trying it out just yet.
Ammo isn't cheap - $17 for a box of 50 here, but it IS available. My cousin shoots a .22 mag, but can't find ammo, and .22LR is only occasionally available.

old popper · Apr 13, 2016

Savage mounts a 3x9 variable on the 93R17-FXP package gun. I guess that works for me. Ammo here in NW Ia is running around $15 per 50 rd box, but if you watch, you can find it cheaper. (I bought some recently at a gun show for $12)

Dean Olson · Apr 13, 2016

I shoot a Ruger 77/17 w a 4.5 x 14 leupold scope. Do you "NEED" higher magnification? Probably not. But I sure like it. For me it the difference in hitting a squirel at 150 yds and calling a head shot. You can't hit what you can't see.

A lot gets talked about wind drift. I've found that it's not an issue. Learn your gun and how much to hold into the wind. No different than any other caliber.

Mike M · Apr 13, 2016

Personally I never seen the need for that caliber when they brought it out. I'm not a big fan of the 22 magnum either. Step up to a 22 hornet to get the job done on the ground hogs in residential areas. Not as loud as the larger center fires. And works way better !
Now on this subject I also wonder about why .17 ammo has always been available and .22 LR and .22 mag. not hardly at all but coming back in stock. Sort of seems like this shortage was manufactured or created just to sell .17 guns that may not of been selling ? Just saying seems awful fishy ?

rustyacres sd · Apr 13, 2016

I got that gun package. My scope was a crappy one. It is a fun gun to shoot

rustyacres sd · Apr 13, 2016

I picked up the Savage .17 package from Cabela's years ago and it came with the 3x9 variable, but it is blurry around the outside. Gets the job done. Like the caliber. I have since bought an Henry .17HMR Lever action and just got the A17 from Savage, the semi automatic. I found a sight online that I was able to get the regular .17 HMR for about 11.00 box. The A17 works best with the new A17 ammo by CCI and it runs 50 dollars for 200 round box. Shooting the regular .17HMR is about .22 cents a round and the A17 comes out to .40 per round. Not much trouble finding either ammo. When I get a little extra cash, I will get a Case of the A17 which would be 2000 rounds for 500.00 dollars

dhermesc · Apr 13, 2016

The subject was advice on the scope he might use - not some conspiracy theory.

dhermesc · Apr 13, 2016

How do you like the A17?

old popper · Apr 13, 2016

I too like the .22 Hornet. Shot a groundhog in my back yard a couple of years ago and the neighbors didn't even know it.
PS: I live in town.

urbancase · Apr 13, 2016

I have a 3 by 9 on mine, does well for what I need.

BushogPapa · Apr 13, 2016

Realistically, the HMR .17 is good for 150 yds with light to no wind..200 IF there is NO wind..

I have a 3x9 40mm Weaver on this one and it will shoot thru a .45 Cal hole at 100 yds consistently..
Since there is little recoil, the Weaver works as well as my Leup on my .223...

One Thing I have found to be definitely TRUE...if you do not slip the plastic bullet tips over some sandpaper to give a flattened Point, they will not give you a good kill..
With the tip flattened as little as 1/16" to 3/32", they will drop a Groundhog Dead in his tracks at 100yds+ and they shoot true and straight..

rustyacres sd · Apr 14, 2016

Still waiting to shoot it and get it sighted in. Got a nice BSA sweet 17 scope on it also. Around here it has been blowing 20+ everyday. switches from north to south every other day.

dhermesc · Apr 14, 2016

Keep us posted. I've been watching them with interest but so far no one I know has one.

o/t - .17 HMR

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