Beardo Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 Was out with Stealth Stalker the week before last lamping. Popped a rabbit at about 70 yards with the .17hmr. Got out of the landy and walked over there only to find two rabbits lying side by side! It was clear which i had shot as it was a headshot with the .17, but the other one was still warm and trickling blood from a hole that looked like a .22 Didn't hear or see anyone shooting, and even if someone was up there why did they leave the rabbit? My only thought is perhaps someone shot it with an air rifle just before we arrived in that field and perhaps we disturbed them but didn't see them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 ooooo'er! Not clued up on HMR's,but is it possible a fragment of the round managed to get the other rabbit? If not,i'd be most concerned that there was someone else about there with a rifle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted June 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 (edited) i should have marked which rabbit it was and dissected it when we got back, but didn't think to do it at the time. Edited June 9, 2009 by nickbeardo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 If you've still got both-disect them both! I'd be most curious to how the other died. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chard Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 The shot came from the grassy knoll Or was it the book depository? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 Could it have been a fragment of your bullet wot did it? ZB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 I’ve had this happen before with the .17HMR (IMO the best little varmint rifle available) and the last time was yesterday evening. The first time it happened the bullet went clean through a rabbit’s neck and hit it’s mate sitting behind in the forequarter. Distance was about 80m. Both stone dead. Last night (and I have a witness) the first rabbit was hit in the top of it’s head and I could see through the scope the splatter. It’s mate was sitting about a foot to the left and behind and got hit in the eye with shrapnel. It staggered about a foot and lay dead as was the first one. Distance about 110m. It’s a deadly little rifle and constantly amazes me with it’s accuracy. Oh and BTW I put approx 200/300 rounds a week through it and it’s never been cleaned since new! Go figure but I’m reluctant to do anything to alter the accuracy so I’ll wait until it goes bad then clean it and start again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 I've had it as well, it does disprove the myth of the round just being explosive, though a lot stays in the rabbit you shoot some does usually carry on but then theres a hell of a lot of energy behind it. As highlander says its a deadly rimfire round and gives you a margin for error you simply don't get with a LR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr smith Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 (edited) Had this happen as well,took one out with a headshot with a hollow point bullet.As i went to pick it up noticed a rabbit wriggling about,thought i'm sure i hit it in the head anyway pick it up and popped it's neck,turned round to find the one i'd actually shot lying in the grass dead.The head didn't look to bad but felt mushy to touch,found most of the jacket in one piece in the body of the non target rabbit. Edited June 10, 2009 by mr smith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexm Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 As the others have said, it's most likely a fragment I reckon. I have hit a rabbit with my HMR and had several exit wounds. The copper jackets really shred up on those little bullets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted June 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 i'm with you all on the fragmentation of the round - but the one i didn't shoot was colder then the one i did! still warmish but noticeably colder - it was maybe 5 foot from the one i got we shot 16 or so rabbits that night, and it got mixed up with them all - so never got a chance to dissect it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bsg Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 maybe .17hmr bullet expanded giving what looked like an enterance wound of a .22? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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