.17 hmr range

[Ultrastu]

Im considering getting  a .17 hmr  

Could i ask from owners what are peoples thoughts are  as to the effective max range on rabbits (presuming a front end body shot ) so say 3 inch target ..

Lets say in calm weather with a range finder and we know the drop on the ret. 

Im not looking for crazy ,"once shot a bunny at 350 yds" stories .

But that range where when you feel every thing is good and you know within say 75 % probability  the shot should be good. 

Cheers stu. 

 

Edited November 8, 2018 by Ultrastu

[bone]

From what you have said in those conditions 140 meters.

[haynes]

Ive got one that might be for sale. Its too noisey. And i favour my 22lr over this for 99% of my shooting. 

Im happy shooting rabbits to 100yrds with the 22lr and about 140 with the hmr. 

But that itch must be scratched. 

[sitsinhedges]

You can get thumbnail groups at 100 yards, after that it's about wind drift and bullet drop.

[Walker570]

I have shot rabbits out to 180 yrds and actually shot one tree rat at 190. The cartridge is supremely accurate and down to the nut behind the trigger. Yes , as ranges grow the wind will have an effect.  I shot a half dozen tree rats today with mine at 100 no problem at all.  It does disembowel them though.  Love the 17HMR, my favorite calibre bar none.... and I have a few weird ones.

My CZ 455 will print a touching group at a 100 if I do my job, but that normally extends it to about 3/4 inch. 

It is fairly flat as well. The 190 tree rat was sat eating some grain facing me and I centred the cross hairs about the same height as its head above the ears and hit it mid chest.  The tree rat was surprised but not as much as I was.

Edited November 8, 2018 by Walker570

[The Burpster]

Several times have set up my shooting mates Sako hmr (he is clumsy🙄). If not too windy, with a decent scope and ammo 150 should be easily achievable if off a bipod or rest. We regularly take them over 100 on his paddocks.

[rimmie]

200 yards easy, I have dialled and repeatedly hit a 50mm gong at 200 yards. 

Drop is the easy bit, judging the wind is the tricky part.

[Ultrastu]

That sounds like some good shooting a long way out. 

[team tractor]

130 with confidence. 

I never tried more than 160 on live but 220 on gongs. Most of my shooting is 70-100

[Konnie]

100 mt in all day in those conditions,

With time on quarry to calculate 150m regular

[telf]

anything under 125yds is just point and shoot then the further out you go as you say holdover ,180yds is quite doable ,thats about my limit now

[Ultrastu]

Well i was hopeing 

150 = bread and butter shot .

175 = tricky but doable when conditions good .

200 yds = an absolute max when every thing is spot on .

Is this realistic for those rabbits ? 

Considering i was smashing coke cans at 150 yds with my airgun last week. 

Im thinking that a .17 hmr would basically double the range of my .25 cal .so from 90 yds (humane shot ) to 180 for the .17 hmr .

Sound about right ? 

[Walker570]

On the nail. I am convinced you will enjoy a 17HMR. By all means try a few but my CZ455 does the job and shoots far better than I can.  Very adaptable too. Yesterday I had shots from 4 yrds (yes, on a feeder directly under the cabin window) out to 100 plus and the only one I slightly altered my point of aim was on the 4 yarder because I knew the bullet would be a couple of inches low being so close.   DO NOT take what some say that it will not rico, I have had a couple do just that on stubble when the bullet must have hit a stone, but less likelyhood than 22RF by a mile.

[Dougy]

Reports are that the ammunition has improved greatly after the poor quality control some time back. If thats the case  i would agree that 175 is about as far as you'd go sensibly. 

[spandit]

Destructive little round if you are wanting to eat rabbits - head shots are achievable though because it is accurate. I've had it pencil through squirrels at shorter ranges but plenty of rifle choices out there and ammunition widely available.

[Rewulf]

Dont bother with HMR just get a .22lr , plenty on here can take rabbits with them at nearly 200 yards no problem !

*Runs for cover 

[Salop Matt]

150 yards if taking Heart and lung shots, 110/1120 yards for head shot.

Loved mine.

Had my .22lr 4 months and sold it, yes it was cheap to feed and quiet but the trajectory just didn't match the .17HMR and it gave so many ricochets regardless of backstops and elevated shots. I got shot of it. .22 FAC Air and the HMR covered all my pest control needs as I could take fox with the HMR. Already having the PCP charging gear the FAC Air  makes it as cheap to shoot as its just the cost of a tin of pellets which are cheaper than .22lr  so that has me covered for quiet area shooting above sub 12ftlb air rifle work.

Go for the HMR, I wouldn't hesitate to have one back in my cabinet if I had the opportunity. 

[Ultrastu]

Thanks thats nice to hear .😎

[Dave-G]

If I had to sell either my fairly old .22LR or my HMR, it would be the LR. However since its a Sako Quad I would only be able to sell the barrel and mag so not much point it doing that.

I also have a MINT Sako Quad heavy barrel HMR that's had less than 200 rounds through it if you are interested. The reason I bought it is no longer practical.

 

[loopy bunny blaster]

150 yard shots are easily done on a windless day stu, they're a cracking round and very destructive though abit noisy !  , and thanks for your fac airgun advice, ive aquired an fac daystate wolverine r in .22 with a laminate stock and a hugget mod,  shes a beast 👍  

[Pigeon Shredder.]

My HMR comes out of the gun safe a lot more than the LR these days, as said 150 + readily available and a very destructive little round if you hit anything off centre.

Zero is set at 125 so anything further out is just holdover and go.

Can be noisy depending on your surroundings, but one thing l've found is if there are 4 of a kind sitting in a field you shoot the first one, then 2, 3 and 4 sit and wait their turn, don't know why but it happens, weather they don't hear it or what it's happened a few times of late.

Never had an ammunition problem and have used all makes in 17/20gr.

lf you haven't tried one, try and locate someone locally to yourself who will take you out for a session, you might just like it.

[Wasabi]

12 hours ago, Ultrastu said:

Well i was hopeing 

150 = bread and butter shot .

175 = tricky but doable when conditions good .

200 yds = an absolute max when every thing is spot on .

Is this realistic for those rabbits ? 

Considering i was smashing coke cans at 150 yds with my airgun last week. 

Im thinking that a .17 hmr would basically double the range of my .25 cal .so from 90 yds (humane shot ) to 180 for the .17 hmr .

Sound about right ? 

That's about right. My longest is 220 yards but I've found the vmax bullets don't seem to expand beyond about 160 which makes precise shot placement a must. 150 is easy, 200 needs a quick range find and aim off using mil dots

[bumpy22]

great little round which i have shot a lot of rabbits with over the years and a lot of foxes when the situation calls for it. i dont think you would be using it as a regular 200 yard rabbit round thoughor would need to to be fair. 

[Ultrastu]

Just now, Pigeon Shredder. said:

My HMR comes out of the gun safe a lot more than the LR these days, as said 150 + readily available and a very destructive little round if you hit anything off centre.

Zero is set at 125 so anything further out is just holdover and go.

Can be noisy depending on your surroundings, but one thing l've found is if there are 4 of a kind sitting in a field you shoot the first one, then 2, 3 and 4 sit and wait their turn, don't know why but it happens, weather they don't hear it or what it's happened a few times of late.

Never had an ammunition problem and have used all makes in 17/20gr.

lf you haven't tried one, try and locate someone locally to yourself who will take you out for a session, you might just like it.

Cheers .

My buddy has just got himself one ,again , after 4 years without . So we were out with it last week zeroing it and putting it through its paces .

Its early days but i guess i will see what it can do soon enough .

The main use for the hmr on our land is for a few rabbits and the occasional fox , but mainly corvids over open fields and some long range pigeon shots .where when we are out decoying and they land 150 yds away and make there own decoy pattern .i just hate firing the shotty up to disperse them id rather at least shoot one .😅.

So i was wondering if .17 hmr would give me the accuracy at fairly long range over what can be windy flat fields. Or whether i should go for a cf instead .something like a .17 hornet or a .204 ruger .

Im looking for long range but lower-  recoil ,noise , cost and ricochet issues .

 

Just now, bumpy22 said:

great little round which i have shot a lot of rabbits with over the years and a lot of foxes when the situation calls for it. i dont think you would be using it as a regular 200 yard rabbit round thoughor would need to to be fair. 

I guess your right about 200 yd rabbits you should always be able to stalk in closer than that to a rabbit .

Its the crows that will spot you from 300 yds and lift off the field. 

[Robertt]

There's a common thread currently going through PW which is starting to get really boring.

How far will this that or the other do.

' How far ' is down to skill.

Over the years I have witnessed folk consistantly nailing stuff with, PCP Air riflles, shotguns, 22lr subs, and Deer Rifles at really ridiculous, mad distances due to much practice and extreme skill.

The common denominator is the above are all pro's who make the best of the equipment they have and not folk who play at it.