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Which .17hmr bullet?


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I'm on the subject of this little round again! I've read about several bullets available in this loading, and am unsure which one would be best for me.

 

Firstly there's the plastic tipped one which breaks up fairly easily on impact, even on small quarry. It tends to demolish whatever it hits as long as it's small (ie rabbit) but kills cleanly and doesn't go far after hitting something. I understand the idea behind this one.

 

Secondly, there is a soft point (exposed lead?) round, which mushrooms on impact, but doesn't really break up. This one seems to be the round best suited to shooting rabbits for the pot, as it should cause less meat damage due to staying in one piece and passing right through fairly cleanly. My concerns are

1. Does it kill as cleanly as the plastic tipped round on small quarry? I can see its use for foxes etc as it gets to the vitals better, but is a rabbit too small for it to deform properly? (I don't want to start a row on shooting foxes with the hmr, this is just an example to give me a picture of how the round works)

2. How far will this bullet fly after passing through a rabbit? As it doesn't break up, it could be a long way but I don't know!

 

The third round is a FMJ, not suitable for hunting from what I've made of it. I don't really need to know too much about it for that reason, as it doesn't apply to me.

 

Which round do you use, for what quarry, and why? I'm trying to get as much knowledge of the round as I can, so I can prove to the FEO that I know what I'm talking about! Cheers guys :good:

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You missed out the CCI bullet which is a true hollow point and is very good on foxes, as it mushrooms very well but also has penetration. Ideal for foxes at sensible ranges (100 head-shots & 60yd boiler-room shots)

G.M.

 

:good: - CCI TNT

 

For everything else, rabbits, crows, magpies etc it's the ballistic tips

 

Cheers

AndyCM

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I only use the Remmington V-Max predominently as this is the only V-Max round I can get locally. I have tried Federal Premium and found both to be equally good.

 

I havent tried Hollow Points as yet and dont think I will unless someone drops some in my pocket. The V-Max round works good on all my targets from squirrels to Fox. Meat damage is not a problem on rabbits when your head shooting. :good:

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I only use the Remmington V-Max predominently as this is the only V-Max round I can get locally. I have tried Federal Premium and found both to be equally good.

 

I havent tried Hollow Points as yet and dont think I will unless someone drops some in my pocket. The V-Max round works good on all my targets from squirrels to Fox. Meat damage is not a problem on rabbits when your head shooting. :good:

 

 

best move axe I got some hollow point and I can't say I was that impressed. The fact the Vmax takes foxes to 100 yards shows its ok for most things. As for breaking up and smashing on impact don't believe all you read they do penetrate well but usually don't come out the other side hence loose all the energy behind them on what they hit. I've had some rabbits really smashed up but it tends to mostly be the really close ones the further out the less it does it in my experience.

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Graham - Thanks for adding the link. I had a good read through it and it's full of answers. My google search didn't find that one, don't know why? Even the V-Max round is quite potent, so I think I'll stick to that one. I couldn't believe that these little 17grain bullets will go through 6mm (EDIT - it's 3mm :lol: ) steel plate! That's crazy! I liked the pictures of the squirrels though, they cleared up my doubts of how edible a rabbit will be after being hit. You only lose the front end, which hasn't got much meat anyway. At under 100m, I'll take head shots so it doesn't matter about the damage to close ones :good:

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I liked the pictures of the squirrels though, they cleared up my doubts of how edible a rabbit will be after being hit. You only lose the front end, which hasn't got much meat anyway.

IMHO - You should try to eat/use as much of the animal you have killed.If you only want half a rabbit,cut it in 2.

If you need to use the .17 because you can`t get near them then you have something wrong ie. fieldcraft.

If it`s about shooting at long range,a .22 will kill rabbits(If you`re accurate enough)at 100yds.

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HD - I'm just trying to get a picture of what they are like to shoot really. All the questions I'm asking are more to do with the safety aspect of the round than anything else. Not wanting to sound like I'm a smart *** or anything, but if I take my time I could get to within pistol range of most of them (not that I use one, before anyone starts!). It's my aim that's the weaker of the two, I was creeping up on rabbits with my catapult long before I could own a gun :look:

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Just looking at the link again. It also shows how good a box of old newspapers will be as a backstop for air rifles. Great for the poor student (or tight ***) shooters we have on here! If a hmr doesn't go through, 12ft-lbs certainly shouldn't. I was quite surprised one of the rounds didn't make it through the tin, especially after punching through 3mm steel sheet :look:

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