17hmr

[kingcheese]

i just but a mossberg 817, 17hmr bolt action rifle. what i am wondering is where should i put the round for takeing a coyote, not really sure if it belongs in rifles, or in hunting, so this is where it is going for know

not sure where exactly to put the shot, or how big the target is, i do know that i am going to be shooting anywhere from 50-150 yards, and my scope is up to it, and the rifle is up to it, just not sure how small the spot i should aim for is, how to find it, or what it even is

 

[hub]

The kill zone is in the heart and lungs about 1/3 of the way up on its chest just above its front legs. It about six inches around.

.17hmr is marginal for yotes so I would limit range within 100 yards. I would also use 20gr gamepoints to get better penatration into the vitals, the varmint rounds like tnt's or vmax's are made to expand very quickly to make a large but shallow wound.

 

[kingcheese]

tnts and vmax are about all that i can find easily around here , not the 20 grain slugs but the 17grain ones, so i might just make sure they are a little closer (more like 60-70 yards), and ill keep a good back up just incase they dont wanna work with me, maybe have a friend waiting with a 30-06

that should do me until i can get up enough money to order bulk ammo,


if i understand right, i want to aim a couple inches above the front leg if i am shooting from the side, and if i am shooting from the front, i want to shoot maybe an inch below the neck

also, in case it matters, i am not after a trophey, or the fur, just need to get rid of a few of them, so if a head shot is available, would it be better? not sure about the 17 trying to bust through a skull

 

[Tomcat47]

I love my 17 HMR...I Have a Marlin 917V

It is a very good round for varmints and coyotes! I will have to say that the Vmax ammo in 20 gr. is my pick, and honestly one must keep trajectory in mind, as well as conditions for longer shots above 100 yards.

The biggest condition to watch for is wind in my opinion, small cross winds will drastically change group size. The stated trajectory @200 yards is -9.9 inches, the round can be effective at the distance but everything needs to be perfect in my opinion....and you would have to be very skilled with possibly a good mildot scope at 150 + On say a coyote.


"A Man has got to know his limitations"

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

I kill lots of good size hogs with my Savage .17hmr using 20 grain game points. I got too many hogs to waste expensive centerfire ammo on them, a few months ago out of curiosity I cut into a #150 or so boar that I shot behind the shoulder, the internal damage was massive, lungs and heart were jello. a coyote dont compare to a wild hog.

 

[kingcheese]

texas, about how far away would you say you where from that hog?

 

[Davek1977]

maybe have a friend waiting with a 30-06

While the .17 is marginal for coyotes, theres no need to have your "backup' be overkill. The 30-06 will certainly take a coyote, but so will almost any other centerfire round, and more cheaply at that. A .223 or, for longer range, .22-250 would make much more sense as coyote rifles than the 30-06., and do so more quietly, more economically, and with less punishment to the shoulder than a 30 cal. Coyotes are NOT notoriously hard to kill, and a "big game" class cartridge is not needed nor usually recommended

 

[Davek1977]

oops wrong post LOL

 

[kingcheese]

I too can vouch for the combination of a Norinco with USA brand mags working well. When I bought my SKS at about age 14, I just HAD to have a '30 rounder" for it. I was lucky, and bought the USA mag first. Its still functioning today without any issues whatsoever. That being said, it now sports its orignal 10 rounder. I have an AK and and AR to satisfy my "hi-cap" needs, and find the SKS to be more practical with the 10 round mag in place.

all i can say is wow, think you got your post in the wrong spot buddy

as far as a .30-06 being overkill, as long as the critter stays down, im not to worried
my friends dont keep much anything else on hand, just rimfires and 30 caliber rifles, like 91/30s and 30-06 bolt guns

 

[Big Bad Bob]

Saw a 'yote hit broadside with a 17 HMR two years ago at about 50 yards did just fine.

You can also hit them in the head.

I hit a 'yote tween the eyes at about 100 yards several years ago with a .270, popped his eyes out like wiley coyote. Kinda graphic pic, but i will post if it y'all want.

 

[RugerMcMarlin]

I've never shot or hunted with any 17 cal rimfires. How do they do on say a rib bone, or shoulder blade? 75-100yd.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

kingcheese, I shot this particular hog off a friend of mines back porch, he has a feeder about 90 yards away and the hog was right under it. like I said the internal damage was amazing.

 

[gym]

I was very impressed with that 17hmr round. I had dismissed it as a ***, but have been shown how flat and powerful it is. I would get a tracker with a 6 inch barrell and scope it.

 

[kingcheese]

17hmr is a tiny bullet, but all its force gets used up, it kinda like unleashing a small grenade inside what you shoot with it, ive heard storries of it punching a hole in 1/8 steel, but i dont believe that it really could

 

[CraigC]

Coyotes are fair game but I would limit shots to 125yds and would strongly suggest ordering some 20gr XTP's. Midway has them in stock. The 17gr loads are just too frangible for larger varmints.