17 HMR BDC/ Calibre Specific Scopes

[Poor Shot]

Hello. 

Is anyone able to provide a review, advice or a recommendation (on a specific model or for/against BDC options) on BDC scopes for 17 HMR rimfire calibres? 

The rifle will likely be a 16" barreled model with the scope of choice being either the Hawke Vantage or BSA Sweet 17 series of scope with the 17 HMR specific reticle. 

Usage profile of the rifle will be general pest control shooting from 50-120 yards so having a rifle I can point and shoot relatively quickly without having to memorize various zero points would be great. 

The main questions being, do they work as advertised or are they dependent on your barrel/ammo combo being aligned with the specification of the scope? 17Gr at 2650 fps in the case of the Hawke scope. 

[scarecrow243]

each scope maker will use different ammo for their scope so each scope is only bang on at each distance with the ammo they have used

[Poor Shot]

I thought that may be the case.

Is there much variation in velocity between different 17gr ammunition?

[snipers eye]

mate has a hawke vantage 6-24x50 on his 16 inch thumbhole hmr,its a tack driver out to 150 yards on a good windless day,he has head shot bunnies up to 170 yards,set 1/2 inch high at 100 yrds

[Lloyd90]

2 hours ago, Poor Shot said:

I thought that may be the case.

Is there much variation in velocity between different 17gr ammunition?

There are some good reports about the Hawke scopes with the 22 and 17 specific reticles, although they are only supposed to work on the maximum magnification level. 
 

There will likely be some variance between bullets, as well as rifles due to barrel length, etc, but with shots at 50-100 yards they are normally within enough margin of error not to make a huge difference. 
 

The only real way to do it is buy a FFP mildot scope or similar, work out what each mil dot equates to for drop and make a note of it to use. 
 

Can be done with a SFP scope if kept on same mag or you have a notebook with the drop for each variable. 
 

 

In the real world however, practice practice practice will probably mean within 100-150 yards you’d just aim ever so slightly over and still get a tidy headshot with a 17hmr. 

[Dekers]

Barrel length, barrel condition, moderator, specific ammo, etc will all have an effect!

The chance of any BDC/Calibre Specific Scopes being spot on is virtually zero, may just put you in the ballpark!

Edited May 19, 2023 by Dekers

[Poor Shot]

Thanks for the replies. 

I've since tried out the Hawke BDC 17HMR specific model and for the 16" barrel and Hornady 17g ammo combination is seems to be almost on point. Certainly more accurate than I was at 150m trying to shoot off the top of an empty IBC. 

To be sure, I'll need to add a bipod and do a bit more testing to see where exactly the impacts are compared with markings on the reticle. 

It was certainly good enough to hit a rabbit or crow sized target at the ranges marked on the reticle. 

[Ultrastu]

Thing is with hmr .the bullet accuracy tends to drop off after 150 yds,and the bullets terminal effect or rabbits certainly  does .

So most people  tend to limit them to 150 yrd shots on quarry .hence having a reticle that has markings out to 350 yds is kinda pointless. 

A simple  fine cross  hair  is usually  enough  especially  if zeroed at 110 yds and if longer targets are required on the range  then dialing can be done .