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Posted: 6/22/2011 3:22:35 PM EST
Explain yourselves.

My dad has wanted a .17HMR for several years. He recently got a CZ 452 American.

Nice rifle, no two ways about it.

So last weekend, I sighted it in for him....well, sort of. It was too hot to fool with setting up the bench, so I shot it off a rough rest a few times to get a rough 150-yard zero, using rocks on the far side of the pond as targets.

Then I shot a few times at my 150-yard reduced-size steel target.

With both the rocks and the steel, I had to use a spotter to see hits........the little sand-rocks wouldn't break up on impact, and the steel wouldn't even move. You couldn't even hear the ding of the bullet on the steel.

(You can with a .22lr)

In light of this, I have to ask: what is the fascination with this little thing? It costs $11 to $13 for 50 rounds of ammo. For that price, I can get at least 250 rounds of .22lr. Flat trajectory? So what? What good is a flat trajectory if there's virtually no energy left when the bullet gets there?


Link Posted: 6/22/2011 3:27:36 PM EST
[#1]
I'm a big .17HMR shooter myself. If you want to use it to target shooting then be my guest, but it's real strength is as a varmint cartridge. By thr way, a flat trajectory DOES matter when you're aiming at a two inch target at unknown distance. Boom, headshot.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 3:27:43 PM EST
[#2]
Because they are fun, accurate within reason and you can make them all your own, like AR's  

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Link Posted: 6/22/2011 3:35:39 PM EST
[#3]
Quoted:
I'm a big .17HMR shooter myself. If you want to use it to target shooting then be my guest, but it's real strength is as a varmint cartridge. By thr way, a flat trajectory DOES matter when you're aiming at a two inch target at unknown distance. Boom, headshot.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile



I have a very, very accurate .223 I use for those itty bitty targets.

I also have a rangefinder, and have killed quite a bit of stuff at decent distances with a .22lr.

BTW, what do you consider a 'varmint' to be? Ours are usually coyote sized.
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 3:36:37 PM EST
[#4]
Hit a squirrel or something at 25-50 yards and see what it does..      





I just got my first one a couple months ago.   Found a used CZ452 on the rack..    It is indeed allot of fun..





ETA..  I think what they were looking for when they designed it was for someone shooting critters in their back yard with minimal ricochet ( I won't say none, because anything could happen)

Link Posted: 6/22/2011 3:36:47 PM EST
[#5]
Oh, speaking of varmints...dad wanted the .17 partly to kill turtles in his pond from ~100 yards away. Will those itty bitty bullets penetrate a couple inches of water before exploding, or is he limited to headshots?
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 3:38:00 PM EST
[#6]
Quoted:
Hit a squirrel or something at 25-50 yards and see what it does..  
 


Ruin a lot of meat?

(eta: I hunt squirrels with CB caps)


I just got my first one a couple months ago.   Found a used CZ452 on the rack..    It is indeed allot of fun..  


In all seriousness, the 452 is a nice, nice rifle.

My grandpa has an old Brno Model 1 in .22lr I'd love to have. Same action.
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 3:38:02 PM EST
[#7]
I love the 17 HMR caliber.  Love it.  My friend and I call it the Laser Beam.

He has a NEF Sportster and I have a Ruger 77/17 in 17 HMR and we shoot them more than our AR15s.
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 3:38:16 PM EST
[#8]



Quoted:


Hit a squirrel or something at 25-50 yards and see what it does..  



I just got my first one a couple months ago.   Found a used CZ452 on the rack..    It is indeed allot of fun..    


+1



It's all about the spall.



 
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 3:40:46 PM EST
[#9]





Quoted:





Quoted:


Hit a squirrel or something at 25-50 yards and see what it does..  


 






Ruin a lot of meat?





(eta: I hunt squirrels with CB caps)
I just got my first one a couple months ago.   Found a used CZ452 on the rack..    It is indeed allot of fun..  






In all seriousness, the 452 is a nice, nice rifle.





My grandpa has an old Brno Model 1 in .22lr I'd love to have. Same action.



Pretty much critter control moreso than hunting.     ( I use CB caps too...  because they are quiet)     Although I know of a few people that took them for turkeys..    neck shots





 
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 3:41:40 PM EST
[#10]
Quoted:

Quoted:
Quoted:
Hit a squirrel or something at 25-50 yards and see what it does..  
 


Ruin a lot of meat?

(eta: I hunt squirrels with CB caps)


I just got my first one a couple months ago.   Found a used CZ452 on the rack..    It is indeed allot of fun..  


In all seriousness, the 452 is a nice, nice rifle.

My grandpa has an old Brno Model 1 in .22lr I'd love to have. Same action.

Pretty much critter control moreso than hunting.     ( I use CB caps too...  because they are quiet)
 


I can see how it would be a great round for non-edible squirrel-sized pests.
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 3:42:21 PM EST
[#11]
Quoted:
Because they are fun, accurate within reason and you can make them all your own, like AR's  

http://<a href=http://inlinethumb32.webshots.com/47455/2963461840092840604S600x600Q85.jpg</a>" />


Is that a factory savage stock?
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 3:42:59 PM EST
[#12]
It's just one of those things. I love mine. There are a lot of exceptionally accurate and extremely affordable .17s out there, and they can reach out a good bit more than a .22, while being much quieter and easier to use in built up places than a centerfire.

They have their places but a lot of it is just that people like the cartridge.
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 3:43:31 PM EST
[#13]



Quoted:


I'm a big .17HMR shooter myself. If you want to use it to target shooting then be my guest, but it's real strength is as a varmint cartridge. By thr way, a flat trajectory DOES matter when you're aiming at a two inch target at unknown distance. Boom, headshot.



Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile


It's a niche cartridge, but it fills its niche very well.



 
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 3:46:41 PM EST
[#14]
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 3:50:28 PM EST
[#15]
Awesome varmint round.  (prarie dogs to coyote.  I mainly use mine for woodchucks on the property.  couldn't ask for a better round)   Can be SUPER accurate out of the right rifle.  Just got my dad a savage /17HMR for fathers day to take care of his woodchucks.  He was using a pellet gun :)   In no time all my shots were on the bullseye easily covered by a quarter.

Whats to like?  Accurate, fun, nice rifles, DEADLY.  thats enough for me.Pick it over .22 any day of the week.. but thats just me.

P.S. think I paid $250 for the beautiful wood stock savage arms 17 with scope for my dad.
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 3:53:22 PM EST
[#16]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Because they are fun, accurate within reason and you can make them all your own, like AR's  

http://<a href=http://inlinethumb32.webshots.com/47455/2963461840092840604S600x600Q85.jpg</a>" />


Is that a factory savage stock?


No. Richardson Micro-fit, floated, trigger angle altered and crazy accurate. A sure fire squirrel killing machine!
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 3:57:01 PM EST
[#17]
Shoot a pigeon with one.... you will see.


Personally, I traded mine in towards a 22lr.

Link Posted: 6/22/2011 4:03:30 PM EST
[#18]
I bought a Savage 93r17 BTV and love it. Vary accurate and it puts a real hurt on the tree rat and bunny population around here.


Very fun rifle
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 4:05:39 PM EST
[#19]
they are the equivalent of tactical nuclear weapons on varmints... like a laser out to 100 yards...

I loves my Volquartsen... a specialty rifle for sure but so much fun...


Link Posted: 6/22/2011 4:11:19 PM EST
[#20]
I have an Anshutz in 17HM2.



The muskrats & occassional mangy fox seem less than resistant to the energy at 50-75 yards. And it is dead nuts accurate.
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 4:21:31 PM EST
[#21]
Quoted:
they are the equivalent of tactical nuclear weapons on varmints... like a laser out to 100 yards...

I loves my Volquartsen... a specialty rifle for sure but so much fun...

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y75/heron163/Guns/L1020082.jpg


Back when I bought my BTSV (or whatever Saage calls them) I looked for a semi auto offering from Volquartsen, and dont recall seeing one.

Is that a standard offering from them?

I would love to have a semi. What kind of accuracy are you getting on a light wind day at 100?
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 5:47:44 PM EST
[#22]
Quoted:
Quoted:
they are the equivalent of tactical nuclear weapons on varmints... like a laser out to 100 yards...

I loves my Volquartsen... a specialty rifle for sure but so much fun...

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y75/heron163/Guns/L1020082.jpg


Back when I bought my BTSV (or whatever Saage calls them) I looked for a semi auto offering from Volquartsen, and dont recall seeing one.

Is that a standard offering from them?

I would love to have a semi. What kind of accuracy are you getting on a light wind day at 100?


not sure if it is still a standard item as I purchased it about five years ago. In anything but almost dead calm, accuracy goes to shit beyond 60 or so yards... all depends on wind speed and direction.

ETA: I checked still available!
Volquartsen


Link Posted: 6/22/2011 5:56:01 PM EST
[#23]
This is a Remington 597 in .17 HMR. I added a Volquartsen hammer and extractor, and Jarvis stock. If you're going to shoot small game get the nosler tips. Don't use the hollow points. The nosler tips do much more damage, better chance of a first shot kill. I was shooting prairie dogs with remington HP's and only wounding them.  






No, that's not prairie dog meat either....
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 5:57:12 PM EST
[#24]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
they are the equivalent of tactical nuclear weapons on varmints... like a laser out to 100 yards...

I loves my Volquartsen... a specialty rifle for sure but so much fun...

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y75/heron163/Guns/L1020082.jpg


Back when I bought my BTSV (or whatever Saage calls them) I looked for a semi auto offering from Volquartsen, and dont recall seeing one.

Is that a standard offering from them?

I would love to have a semi. What kind of accuracy are you getting on a light wind day at 100?


not sure if it is still a standard item as I purchased it about five years ago. In anything but almost dead calm, accuracy goes to shit beyond 60 or so yards... all depends on wind speed and direction.

ETA: I checked still available!
Volquartsen




In the target shooting I have done with my Savage it seems like a tail wind or head wind is the worst for these little rounds to deal with.

Link Posted: 6/22/2011 5:58:16 PM EST
[#25]
I have a MArlin 917  with the "Carbon Fiber stock" Fluted SS barrel It is a Tack driver, I mean you hear of driving nails, It will do it, I have put bullet on top of bullet @ 50 yrds, drove nails, and I really enjoy shooting bad eggs @ 100-200 yrds, just find your hold over and BAM,

I have considered selling it but everytime I take it to the range i just SMILE so big. Golf balls, shoot @100 and hit before they stop rolling, re-engage HIT,  I dont like the cost of ammo, or if the wind is gusting the 17Gr bullet will drift alot, I find it fun to shoot steel @500 yards, the wait for the impact is about 2 seconds it seems like,  I hold over about 6Ft, but I am zeroed @50yds, I love it!
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 5:59:36 PM EST
[#26]
Because its capable of this at 50 yards.



And this doesnt look like alot of ruined meat.

Link Posted: 6/22/2011 6:04:57 PM EST
[#27]
It drops ground hogs like a hot rock. Most of the time you can't even tell they have been shot. They just drop and die quick.  It puts a hole in a pigeon big enough to drop a golf ball in.
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 6:07:58 PM EST
[#28]
Before the price of ammo doubled, it wasn't that expensive. Now it its. Great to shoot though.
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 6:13:00 PM EST
[#29]



MEH

Dirty Livingroom I know, 2 year old

I would sadly say I like my 17 more than my AR
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 6:15:59 PM EST
[#30]
I've got a 452. It's like shooting a super-hot, magnum pellet rifle. 17 grains @2550 fps. Mine is pure fun.
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 6:16:15 PM EST
[#31]
Quoted:
It's just one of those things. I love mine. There are a lot of exceptionally accurate and extremely affordable .17s out there, and they can reach out a good bit more than a .22, while being much quieter and easier to use in built up places than a centerfire.

They have their places but a lot of it is just that people like the cartridge.


Yup. Most who have them enjoy them
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 6:17:29 PM EST
[#32]
I have the hm2.

like others said, flat trajectory and great varmint control rifle.

i was paying $4.99 a box.
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 6:18:19 PM EST
[#33]
its outstanding for prairie dog hunting.
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 6:18:42 PM EST
[#34]
I am a big fan of the HMR.
It is the safest, most effective round for me to use on my property for pest control.
It is quieter than a shotgun, so my neighbors sleep right through it when I kill something in the yard at night,
The chance of damage by ricochet is greatly reduced by the low mass of the tiny pill.
A 17 gr VMax is perfect for headshooting turtles in a pond because it completely disintegrates upon contact with water or turtle, eliminating ricochet.

I use 20 gr XTPs for coons and coyotes.  The strength of the HMR is it's flat trajectory and great accuracy.  I match that against the relatively thin skull of a coyote with great results.


I can't consistently get these results with a .22 and I don't like slinging 40 grains around at night with neighbors houses nearby and horses across the road, in the pasture.

Link Posted: 6/22/2011 6:35:23 PM EST
[#35]
I love my Savage 17HMR.  I've only had a it couple of months but love it.  Taken it to the range a few times and it shoots really well.  Can't wait to try it out on some varmints.  Just wish Savage made a 10 round mag for it like they do the .22s.  









 
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