best way to sight in my .17 hmr for squirrel season?

[xxxleafybugxxx]

the last time I tried to sight in this rifle, I was noticing how if I was to close to my target I would shoot low. I believe I had it sited for 25 yards, and I am just trying to figure out the best way to compensate for that. How do you guys sight it in your small game rifles to be able to account for the scope drop for closer targets?

 

[R.W.Dale]

Zero for 50 and take head shots if you want anything left to eat.

 

[WestKentucky]

Don't make that mistake. A body shot on a squirrel from a 17 will nearly cut it in half. That leaves you hunting specifically for a head shot. You would be be better off with a 22lr if you can find the ammo. But if you are dead set on the hmr then I would go with a 50 yard zero on a scope which will get you a decent range where your not having to make many adjustments.

 

[rcmodel]

+1

Zero at least 50 yards away.
If not 75 with a .17 Hummer.

The bullets will be going up all the way, due to the scope line of sight being about 1 1/2" above the bore line.

At closer range, you will have to hold slightly high on what you intend to hit.
The closer, the higher.

But never more then the 1 1/2" the scope x-hairs are above the bore.

rc

 

[redbullitt]

I was always partial to the FMJs for hunting meat with the 17 before I got rid of it. Main reason was the seemed to shoot the best... kinda odd, but they shot markedly better out of my savage than anything else. They were much less messy on squirrels and rabbits than the HPs or BTs.

I found it to be an EXCELLENT rifle for hunting small game. The flat trajectory was great out to around 125 yards. MUCH less drop than the 22lr.

I believe I zeroed at 50 yards. Never had an issue hitting game I dont think. It ought to be plenty close to get good shots at 25 yards too set there.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Yep, sight in @ 50 years to 75 yards depending on the conditions where you hunt. Head shots are a must if you want to have enough meat left for the stew pot.

The .17 is a hyper velocity cartridge and will do a lot of damage to the meat, much more than a .22LR will so be careful.

 

[Gtscotty]

I'd agree, zero at 50 yds and try the fmj's, they were developed to make the 17 hmr a little more useful for squirrel bound meat hunters. Even the 20 gr Gamepoint/XTP loads will tear a squirrel up to the point that it gets to be a real pain to clean.

Or only take head shots, at which point it doesn't really matter what load you use, but you'll probably miss a lot of fleeting shot opportunities that you could have taken with a 22 lr.

 

[GooseGestapo]

To answer the question of sight-in, I zero for 100yds. This gives approx. 1" rise at 50yds, or hold on bottom of squirrel's head. Ditto for under 25yds, hold "on", for under 25yds, hold over. Hold over increases as range gets even closer.

For shots under ~20yds, I carry either a Ruger MkI that belonged to my older brother; or my S&W 6" 617.

I've had a .17hmr from nearly the beginning. (announced in Jan, bought in July, killed first squirrel on Aug 15 (first day of season), I believe it was '02.

Even with a head shot, you usually take most of the front shoulder with it!!!
For "edible" squirrels, leave the .17 at home.
I use a Multi-X type reticle and practice occasionally on closer in targets to get the "estimation" of hold over.

edited to add: 50years ArchAngel ??? How much lead is that??? not sure I could hit something at 50years....(kidding ya know!)

 

[Fred in Wisc]

I sight mine in dead on at 50 yards, then shoot it at 15 and 25 to see where the point of impact is. If I recall, I have to aim about 1" high at 15 and 3/4 inch high at 25. Right about at the top of the squirrel's ears if he's upright.

A head shot with the 17 is impressive. Tiny little hole on one side and dime sized on the other. I dime is pretty big on a squirrel head. Body shots are way too destructive, headshots only on squirrels.

 

[jrdolall]

Mine is sighted dead on at 75 yards. This is a pic of a gopher at around 75 yards shooting FMJ ammo. Winchester I believe. The HP ammo is not as accurate out of my rifle so I shoot FMJ. It is more than adequate for squirrels and other small creatures.

As you can see it doesn't "blow them in half" but it is quick. I have never shot an animal with HP ammo out of my .17. The gopher is probably about the size of a grey squirrel.

 

[627PCFan]

I've killed alot of squirrels (Body shots) with the HMR with ranges from 25-125 yards and the 17gn Vmaxs and I've never had one cut in half, or gutted or anything like that. Usually hole in, slightly larger hole out, if that.
And I keep mine zeroed at 75.

 

[ultratec1]

Like it has been said so many times I have mine zeroed at 50 and just aim a smidge high at closer ranges.

I made the mistake 2 years ago of shooting a squirrel around 75-80yrds away and aimed right on the shoulder. Hit him just alittle far back and he was DRT. Got up to him and there was a small pin hole in, and some guts going out the other side. Got him home and cleaned him and it was like a small bomb had gone off inside of him. Total devastation.

 

[45crittergitter]

You want it slightly high at 50. Maybe 1/4". I use the MPBR method using +1/2" at the max, which will be beyond 50.

 

[tuj]

The 17 shoots so flat, that if you zero for 100yds, you should only be 2/10ths of an inch high at 50.

The best theoretical zero is at 100 yards for hunting between 50 and 100 yards.

 

[Corn-Picker]

A lower set of rings would help if you have enough clearance between the barrel and the objective (sorry if I sound like Captain Obvious, but I hadn't seen this mentioned yet).

 

[lastofthebreed]

Just to put my 2 cents worth in. I squirrel hunt with a .17 occasionally. Mine is zeroed at 50 yds and I hold just a tad low at 25 and under. Beyond 50 out to 75 I hold dead on and it seems to work okay. Nothing but head shots, though.