Are .17 HMR wheelguns any good?

[TTv2]

I saw a video pop up on youtube about a .17 HMR revolver and I've only ever seen one in an lgs. After watching that video I realized that I never see anyone on forums talking about revolvers (or handguns at all) in the .17 caliber. So what's the deal? Is the caliber too small to have any real purpose in a handgun?

 

[PapaG]

I have a 6 1/2" Taurus Tracker 17 HMR that has, on a dead calm day and with a 7X scope, put all seven chambered rounds in 2" at 100 yards from a solid sandbag rest. My brother had the five inch smaller version that plain sucked BTW, mine's velocity averaged 1775fps.

 

[Riomouse911]

I have only read about these:

https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/archive-model-647-17-hmr-varminter

I’ve never seen one in person.

Stay safe.

 

[Ethan Verity]

I think the only advantage of the 17 caliber, that being a flatter trajectory over the more common 22 rimfire, is lost when using a handgun. If looking for a rimfire revolver, I would opt for 22 over 17 any day.

 

[Seedy Character]

LOUD
Ammo is expensive

I will stick to .22LR and WMRF

 

[chicharrones]

I have only read about these:

https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/archive-model-647-17-hmr-varminter

I’ve never seen one in person.

Stay safe.

A very interesting hand rifle.

 

[Riomouse911]

A very interesting hand rifle.

No doubt there’s not a ground squirrel safe for 99 yards around if you’re toting that thing!

(Of course it would be an even hundred if the barrel didn’t look nearly a yard long!)

Stay safe.

 

[Milt1]

I had a Ruger Blackhawk in .17 HMR but never was satisfied with the accuracy of it despite trying every known brand of bullet and bullet weight. Perhaps if I'd mounted a scope it would have been a different story. I can get really good accuracy from my Ruger Single Six with .22 Long Rifle ammo so I don't know why the .17 didn't perform better?