17HMR Rifles & Bobcats

[JDMiller]

I've had the urge for quite awhile for a 17HMR but really dont know which rifle to go with. I've been thinking real hard on a handi-rifle and know their good single-shots for the money. The Marlins or Savage would be my next choices for purchase. I dont really want to go overboard on price and looking for a no frills..acurate rifle. Any suggestions??

Another question... those with 17HMR's... how would you think they would do on a bobcat or similar sized critter?? I may have an oppertunity with another forum member this december to do a little bobcat hunting. Where we will be hunting is archery or rimfire only for bobcats. I've got a 22mag but would really be interested if the 17 wouldnt be a good choice.

[westkybanded]

It won't kill one. Just bounces right off.

[JDMiller]

It won't kill one. Just bounces right off.

Was it just a matter of shot placement, range or what??

Without offending any forum members ... in my younger days a house cat was'nt that tough a critter. Seen several fall to their demise with a pellet rifle. However I've never harvested a bobcat... its why I was asking.

[bloodhounder]

I think he was just kidding JD, at least I hope he was. The .17HMR is a very potent little round and as long as you don't overstep its range, a bobcat wouldn't stand a chance. Good luck on the cats

[georgeky]

The 17 will kill bobcats very well. If you want a good pelt though I would use something else. Make an awful exit wound. I have shot 2 with mine and it absolutely destroyed the pelts.

[killer]

.17 will smoke a cat. As far as what brand, I picked up a steven (a savage without the accutrigger) with bull barrel for 130 bucks used (barley) at whittakers in owensboro. It's a tack driver.

[keith meador]

JD, I hunt quite a bit with the .17 mach II. I have never shot a bobcat, but have shot several groundhogs. As with anything you are shooting, a well placed shot does the job. I have shot groundhogs at over 100 yards and had no problems. Shooting squirrels is a bit different. If you shoot one anywhere except the head, you will ruin meat. The bullet expands very well. I would think for hunting bobcats they would be quite capable of any reasonable shot, unless you run across the ones wkybanded has been shooting at.:D:D

[killinmammals]

Should kill a bobcat just fine...I'd stick with head shots though. As for actually passing through...I've never seen one that did...they all explode on contact with polymer tips, and hp's do explode but still penetrate. I have a savage bullbarrel with accutrigger and love it!!! Many black birds have come to know the furry of the hmr, and a few squirrels....like Keith said..head shots only on squirrels or there is nothing left!

[redneck1377]

I thought that the 17 caliber was a center fire

[weedwalker]

I have the Savage 93 .17 HMR. It's very lightweight and accurate. I have it zeroed at 75 yds and a dime will cover all six shots. It does drift bad though if there's any wind at all.
For cats, I would hunt with the .22 Mag myself.

[weedwalker]

I thought that the 17 caliber was a center fire
There is a .17 caliber centerfire, but the 17 HMR is a rimfire.

[KentuckyWindage]

I thought that the 17 caliber was a center fire

there are .17 centerfires and .17 rimfires.

There is a .17 fireball and a .17 remington that are the centerfires.

There is a .17 HMR (Hornady Magnum Rimfire) and a .17 mach 2 that are rimfires.

[KentuckyWindage]

I have the Savage 93 .17 HMR. It's very lightweight and accurate. I have it zeroed at 75 yds and a dime will cover all six shots. It does drift bad though if there's any wind at all.
For cats, I would hunt with the .22 Mag myself.

I would agree with this.

.22 WMR is a good round for small varmints. Not quite as fast as the .17, but more punch and a heavier round.

[redneck1377]

will one 17 rimfire caliber ammo work in all other 17cal. guns ? how much different is there in the length of different 17's ammo ?

[killinmammals]

will one 17 rimfire caliber ammo work in all other 17cal. guns ? how much different is there in the length of different 17's ammo ?
NO...they are all different case size!!

[weedwalker]

Here's a link to a good unbiased comparison between the .17 HMR and the .22 Mag.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_17HMR_22WMR.htm

[KentuckyWindage]

Here's a link to a good unbiased comparison between the .17 HMR and the .22 Mag.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_17HMR_22WMR.htm

Good article. As it points out, the author trusts the .22 WMR more up to 100 yards. I don't know about you, but if I'm shooting predators with a rimfire, I'm not taking shots over 100 yards.

I don't mean to downplay the .17, my buddy has one that he hunts yotes with. I just wouldn't buy a .17 for hunting if I had a .22 WMR in the gun cabinet.

[killinmammals]

I don't mean to downplay the .17, my buddy has one that he hunts yotes with. I just wouldn't buy a .17 for hunting if I had a .22 WMR in the gun cabinet.
I'll second that

[JDMiller]

I just wouldn't buy a .17 for hunting if I had a .22 WMR in the gun cabinet.


It's more of a want than a need ... you can never have too many toys.:D


Guys... thanks for the replies... keep'em coming. I 'm taking all the comments into consideration. I went and browsed a few models today in Paducah. I like the Savage ..primarily because of weight & the action was really smooth. I've checked their website and as another poster on this thread stated.. the Stevens is the same gun. Apparently Savage bought Stevens...which I did'nt know. From the picture.. the synthetic stock is grey where the Savage is black... everything else including specs was the same. I'm going to have to look at one being priced less than the Savage for the same gun.

The NEF/ H&R Handi-Rifle which goes as the sportster 17HMR is definitely the most economical. It can be had and scoped for around $200. My dislike is the weight... nearly 2 pounds heavier than that of the Savage. I think the handi-rifle weighs in at 7 lbs and the Savage at 5lbs. However its probably a tack driver being a single-shot and having a little experience with other hand-rifles... their good guns.

[Haves]

I have a .17 HMR Remington 597. Semi auto, never jams, and is the most accurate rifle I've ever shot. Right out of the box it shoots like a match rifle. I have a Mueller Tacticle scope on it. I have never seen a .22 Mag shoot even close to any .17 HMR. The consistancy of the Ammo is unbelievable.

[KentuckyWindage]

It's more of a want than a need ... you can never have too many toys.:D


Guys... thanks for the replies... keep'em coming. I 'm taking all the comments into consideration. I went and browsed a few models today in Paducah. I like the Savage ..primarily because of weight & the action was really smooth. I've checked their website and as another poster on this thread stated.. the Stevens is the same gun. Apparently Savage bought Stevens...which I did'nt know. From the picture.. the synthetic stock is grey where the Savage is black... everything else including specs was the same. I'm going to have to look at one being priced less than the Savage for the same gun.

The NEF/ H&R Handi-Rifle which goes as the sportster 17HMR is definitely the most economical. It can be had and scoped for around $200. My dislike is the weight... nearly 2 pounds heavier than that of the Savage. I think the handi-rifle weighs in at 7 lbs and the Savage at 5lbs. However its probably a tack driver being a single-shot and having a little experience with other hand-rifles... their good guns.

Nothing at all wrong with more toys, bro. I just traded a coondog for a Remington 1100 that I needed about as much as another hole in the head.

If you aren't really particular about brands, you might look at the Rossi/Braztech .17 HMR. It's a single shot, weighs in at just over 6 pounds and Buds gun shop was selling it for $150.

[Tarheeltransplant]

there are .17 centerfires and .17 rimfires.

There is a .17 fireball and a .17 remington that are the centerfires.

There is a .17 HMR (Hornady Magnum Rimfire) and a .17 mach 2 that are rimfires.


What do you think of the 17 fireballs?? Saw one at gun shop awhile back was interested. though about using for varmits?? Kinda expensive though.....What you think?

[KentuckyWindage]

What do you think of the 17 fireballs?? Saw one at gun shop awhile back was interested. though about using for varmits?? Kinda expensive though.....What you think?

IMHO, too small.

I mean, yeah, it'll put down a varmint with a well-placed shot, but I personally don't like centerfire calibers smaller than .22 caliber. I like to drom 'em in their tracks out to 250 or 300 yards. I'd be especially careful about buying a rifle in a new caliber. Most new calibers don't get much backing from shooters and quickly fall off the map. If you give $600 or $700 for a rifle and 2 or 3 years later can hardly find any ammo, you'd probably be a little ticked off. Personally I don't see anything that rifle (.17 fireball) can do that a .22-250, .223, .220 swift or other popular small rounds can't do. All I see being different about it is that it further restricts shots depending on distance and conditions and could wound an animal that a larger round would've killed.

The .17 fireball (formerly known as .17 mach IV wildcat round) ammo is available from Remington in a 20 grain premier accu-tip. It's a burner (4000 fps- could be a barrel burner also). At 100 yards, it's packing 507 ft pounds of energy. To put that in perspective it's a 63% decrease from the popular .22-250 remington in 55 grain which hits with 1307 ft pounds @ 100 yards. That is the caliber and round I shoot. My .22-250 hits with about the same energy at 475 yards as the .17 fireball hits at 100 yards, albeit at a much slower velocity.

With a round as small as the .17 fireball wind drift is a huge concern and even weed heads or blades of grass will tremendously affect your downrange accuracy.

IMO for varmints it's hard to beat the .22-250. The .220 swift and .223 are also popular varmint calibers and for good reason. For new rounds, I'd like to try out the .223 WSSM.

Now, I haven't shot the .17 fireball. Judging by it's speed, I'm sure it's a very flat-shooting round maybe even moreso than the .204 Ruger. I'm just not at all impressed with it's ballistics for hunting. But hey's that's just my opinion.

[KentuckyWindage]

JD...

In case you're interested, there's a .17 HMR Savage model 93 with scope listed in the classifieds here for $200.

[pb]

The NEF 17 HMR is a tack driver. Excellent value for the money but a little heavy. I also have to agree about the Rem 597, both the 17HMR and the 22WMR have excellent accutacy in a light package but a whole lot more pricey!

[JDMiller]

I'm in no big hurry to buy but plan to in the next month. The best value is the NEF.....pretty much can purchase new in the $140-150 range. The one thats got my attention now is the Stevens 310... its the exact same gun as the Savage 93R17F minus the accu-trigger their installing on their newer models. The price I got today on the 310 heavy barrel (6lbs)was $184 and the 310 light (5lbs)was $179. The Savage 93R17F... was quoted to me at $219. Not real sure the accu-trigger would be worth giving $40 bucks more and inturn that amount would go a little ways toward a scope for the Stevens.

On a side note.... their a little pricey but the CZ wood stock bolt action 17HMR is a fine looking gun. Better quality than I figured but your getting in the price range of a Ruger 77/17.

I'm just keeping my options open and take a look at as many models as possible.

[Big M]

I've got a savage .17HMR with the accutrigger. I absolutely love this rifle. Mine has a thumbhole stock with a heavy barrel. Got for just over $300.