Need help choosing a .17 for squirrel removal

Is Ruger still making the American Rimfire in 17 HMR? I adore my .22 WMR version, that may be an option if you’re a Ruger fan.

Stay safe.

JMHO- I use 110 body grip traps in
a blind set for nuisance squirrels.

Infinitely reusable and quiet

MacAR said:

Go with the HMR. I have one in a Savage 93r17, and it is very accurate out to about 125-150 yards. Don't expect to eat any of the squirrels you shoot with it, however. CCI's website shows ammo available for the 17 HMR, but it's about $20/50. Pretty pricey pest control, IMHO.

Mac

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If you head shoot. It works. I body shot one and it was ugly to put it mildly.

doubleh said:

I'm on the bandwagon with both the 17 hmr and the Marlin 917 which are a very accurate combo. Good luck on finding ammo though. I haven't seen any in months.

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The CCI ammunition site has .17 HMR and will ship via UPS right to your gun room.

I used to shoot .22 silhouette. The ram target (at 100 yards) is the same size as a squirrel. I used my M82 Kimber with a 4X Burris scope. I zeroed at 75 yards, and used the top of the lower thick crosshair for an aiming point at 100 yards. I found it easy to knock down squirrels at 100 yards with that arrangement.

Thanks for the tip but I have a pretty good stock. I was just pointing out that there is none anywhere in my area on dealer's shelves. Of course there isn't much of anything on their shelves but dust from the months they have been empty.

Bfh_auto said:

I body shot one and it was ugly to put it mildly.

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I know what you mean. I'm using 20gr Winchester JHPs in mine. Pretty good on game up to crow size out to 150, and bucks the wind a bit better. Still, they're wicked on smaller critters. Blackbirds in my crops and orchard don't stand a chance, but there isn't much left to pick up either. The crows had gotten smart and learned to stay out of 17 range; they still haven't got the Deuce figured out though. But that's another story for another day.

Mac

Grab yer shotgun, yell "Pull!" and pick 'em off mid air.

I remember my Dad doing various mods on his bird feeders to frustrate the squirrels (all non-lethal, of course) - backyard squirrels were off-limits to this very young (at the time....) hunter. At least that was my Mom's take on it - all those years ago, mid to late sixties...

Much fun watching one or more squirrels trying to figure out how to beat the Hilarious (the name of a commercial bird feeder that used the animal's weight to shut off feeding opportunities... while still allowing birds to feed) among others including a few home-made items to discourage them. Don't believe they were ever discouraged though... they did keep trying.

22 hornet is a little overkill for squirrels to 150. Coyotes to 150 more like

The 17hmr is probably the best choice of the three for what you want a 17 to do. 17hmr's tend to all shoot pretty well. I also have the 17WSM and 17 hornet, both great shooters. They are much more suitable for prairie dogs out to 300yds. Generally I'd avoid the 22 magnum as they tend not to shoot anywhere as well as the 17hmr.

I've had a bunch of guys out to shoot prairie dogs the last year and a half at 100-150 yds and the two main observations are this: 22 rimfires of any flavor have too much bounce and ricochet for me, even if prairie dogs were in trees . Varmint bullets and velo in 17hmr are far superior. I was not a fan of the A17, probably the only one on here that may say that, but it felt clunky and uncomfortable. If I were to buy one tomorrow, it would be a savage bolt gun with a heavy barrel and a simple scope. The farmer that borders my property has one thats suppressed, sweet damn rig I've enjoyed having everyone out though, because I haven't had that much experience with various rimfires.

I am currently getting a 204 ruger dialed in and I absolutely love the round, but too much gun for squirrels and simply too expensive if you don't roll your own.

The 17HMR would be my first choice. I've killed 100s of prairie dogs out to 150 yards and dozens of squirrels out to 100. Mostly the squirrels are closer because of the terrain....trees. It is flat shooting, wicked accurate, and lethal. It will do the job you are aiming for.

I like to sight-in my .17 HMR to zero at 100 yards. It works good for shooting small critters out to about 130 yards, aiming about inch high. Beyond that, I shoot a couple of inches high.

...I am currently getting a 204 ruger dialed in and I absolutely love the round, but too much gun for squirrels and simply too expensive if you don't roll your own.

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If you like the 204, you'll really like the 20 Practical.....cheap 223 brass necked down. Same performance with little less powder.

My Savage 93HMR17, is extremely accurate out to about 150 yards as well, especially using the A17 17 grain projectiles, the 20 are alright but not nearly as tight grouped as the A17 at 100 yards. I would say using the 17HMR and the 17grn. rounds should suffice.

Ethan sherman said:

Helo I'm trying to decide between 17 hmr 17wsm and 17 hornet I live in the former pecan capital of the world and have had some people ask me to get rid of the squirrels (someone have lost a entire crop) last year one farmer shot 87 squirrels I'm looking for something that I can shoot squirrels 70 to 100 yards or more and not worry about shooting in the air it's pretty remote but 223 is out thanks

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I picked up a cz 452 in a 17HMR used on gunbroker, and it’s a real shooter. I’d suggest looking really hard at CZ. I agree with others on Ammo. I shoot CCI Gamepoint on squirrels and it’s accurate and doesn’t blow them up. I’d use CCI FMJ if my rifle shot them well.

It's called a Ruger 10/22

If you like the 204, you'll really like the 20 Practical.....cheap 223 brass necked down. Same performance with little less powder.[/QUOTE]

I've been looking at em with the price of 204 ammo and components. Looking at that or a varmint bolt gun in 223. One thing I have not looked at though, is the availability of dies. I got a lot of wants though. And back to the OP, my next purchase hands down will be a revolver in 17hmr. I cant shoot a rifle down my driveway, but I can pull up to them within 10' with the window open in the pickup.

Something I've always wondered with squirrels, do they plague out like other rodents?

You can modify rat traps for squirrel. Not hard takes a few minutes. YouTube has all sorts of traps. A lot cheaper then ammo right now.

HMR of the ones you mentioned. The 17HM2 is the best squirrel poison ever invented.

Ammo is expensive right now...

Have you thought of air rifles? There are some pretty serious ones out there, both in .177 and .22 that might just fill the role you are thinking.

I know it isn't what you asked for, but the option exists.

For firearms, I'd want just about any bolt action .17 rimfire, whichever has the cheapest ammo. HM2 or HMR, doesn't really matter to me. Savage makes some pretty nice bolt action rimfires.

But I shoot pellet guns too...

Another HMT fan here, mine in the Savage thumbhole stainless left hand variety. Ammo is more expensive than 22 or 22mag if you can find it, but the other 17s are worse yet. I run the 17 grain Hornaday ammo and have been very happy with the result.

I went with Savage, the 93R17 FV. https://www.savagearms.com/content?p=firearms&a=product_summary&s=96700

Can't beat the price. Good accuracy. Many a varmint taken with this rifle. Red Squirrels, feral things, wood chucks, and pests of all kinds. Killed many a target with it as well. There are lots of choice. I consider this a good one.

I have the WSM and I really like the cartridge, 20gr at 3000 fps, it is very accurate and quite devastating on squirrels, but it's too bad there aren't more choices in firearms that use it. I got the Savage B.MAG TARGET THUMBHOLE, The only problem is the poor design of the bolt, I modified mine to suit me.