Two Coyotes Killed With a .17 HMR Today

[armedwalleye]

Left hand Thumbhole stocked heavy barrel Savage .17 HMR guy here, shoot the 20 grain Hornaday ammo. Gosh, I just love what that little round does inside the noggin of a coyote. Grab 'em by the ear to move them is like picking up about a 3/4 full gallon of milk....

 

[Picher]

I've noticed that the firing pin strikes from my rifle have been fairly shallow and extend to the fold of the rims. The rifle has shot pretty well, but I decided to try modifying the firing pin nose so it doesn't hit the rim fold and accomplished that today. Now, indentations are nearly twice as deep, so I'm hoping to get a bit more accuracy due to better ignition and flame spread. I'll try the rifle at the club range, instead of the blueberry field, "home" range because mirage and wind aren't as much of an issue as my home range. It will probably be a few days before I can test it because the range is rented most of the week.

 

[Flintknapper]

Very nice outfit! Mine consistently shoots under 1 MOA, but only with Hornaday 17 grain.

I don't have a strong enough scope to do much better, but out in the field, shoot either offhand or sitting with my left elbow on my knee. (Shot prone a couple of years ago, when in a grandfather/grandson local gallery match and thought we'd need a crane to get me up. Otherwise, never in over the last 40 years of hunting!)

Yesterday, because my local club range was rented-out, went out back to my blueberry field range to shoot at my bench, but the wind and mirage weren't great. Wind varied both downwind and upwind, up to about 8 mph and the target was dancing around in mirage when it subsided a bit. It was obviously NOT the day to be shooting either .223 or .17 HMR for groups. On one 5-shot target, there were three shots of .17 HMR in 5/8" with two touching, then another two touching, but nearly an inch out from the group.

(The good thing is that any shot fired yesterday would have been accurate enough to kill a woodchuck or other varmint, even beyond 100 yards. In over 60 years of hunting, I've yet to encounter any critters with scoring rings on them.)

Yes Sir. 'Wind' is without a doubt the .17 HMR's Nemesis.

I'm a bit behind you with only 50 years hunting experience....but like you, have seen no 'scoring rings' on critters.

 

[<*(((><]

Yes Sir. 'Wind' is without a doubt the .17 HMR's Nemesis.

But 17’s do better than .22’s in the wind.

 

[22250Rem]

Fascinating thread here; and keep us posted after the range trip. You guys will probably push me over the edge and I'll wind up ordering that 17HMR barrel for my 455. Already have a 17 cal. cleaning rod as I was told CZ 22lr barrels are slightly undersize and it's best to use a .17 cal. coated rod.

 

[Picher]

Fascinating thread here; and keep us posted after the range trip. You guys will probably push me over the edge and I'll wind up ordering that 17HMR barrel for my 455. Already have a 17 cal. cleaning rod as I was told CZ 22lr barrels are slightly undersize and it's best to use a .17 cal. coated rod.

I bought a Dewey .17 rod and when I took a patch piece that was a bit large for the bore, bent the rod and had to straighten it. I discovered that, with the rifle in the cleaning station, the rod needs my left hand around it about half-way between the receiver and buttplate to stabilize it. Patch size also needs to be a bit smaller than I expected.

 

[Flintknapper]

I bought a Dewey .17 rod and when I took a patch piece that was a bit large for the bore, bent the rod and had to straighten it. I discovered that, with the rifle in the cleaning station, the rod needs my left hand around it about half-way between the receiver and buttplate to stabilize it. Patch size also needs to be a bit smaller than I expected.

I've also found that I need to support the cleaning rod for my .17 until it is at least half its length into the barrel. After all...it is about 1/16" in diameter and doesn't have much spine. By comparison the cleaning rod for my 458 SOCOM is a full 3/8" diameter and I can really bear down on it.

 

[Sniper66]

WOW...That is a rare day. Nice shooting there Picher. And thanks for the story. I've owned three 17HMRs. Sold my Ruger 77/17. Still have my Anschutz and a Sako. The other day I was tempted to buy yet another one. Love the way they shoot.