17HMR reviews

[ouchfoss]

Im looking into getting a 17HMR real soon, (hopefully before the 594 BS makes it harder) but I was wondering if someone owns either a Mossberg or Savage bolt action and can give me some honest Hunt-Wa reviews. The mossberg is about $100 cheaper than the Savage and is the one Im looking to get but I've heard that the Savage is tack driver right out of the box. 

[jrebel]

Im looking into getting a 17HMR real soon, (hopefully before the 594 BS makes it harder) but I was wondering if someone owns either a Mossberg or Savage bolt action and can give me some honest Hunt-Wa reviews. The mossberg is about $100 cheaper than the Savage and is the one Im looking to get but I've heard that the Savage is tack driver right out of the box.

I own a savage and it will center punch a quarter at 100 yards.   

[Special T]

Shot a couple of savages,Awesome. Not really a choice, but the only real option IMO. 

[ouchfoss]

I love the Savage, but many raccoons I have met don't. Lethal rimfire, but high winds push it around. Great gun if you know its limitations for hunting,

My uncle owns one and he mentioned the same thing about the wind which is understandable considering how small the bullet is.

Anyone use it for Coyote hunting? Part of my reason for wanting one is to do some fur hunting for yotes, bobcats and coons. I would think 100 yard head shots would drop anyone of those animals in there tracks.

[fastdam]

Shoot them in the neck or there is a good chance they will run off and die somewhere else

[b23]

I was a 22mag hold out for a longgggg time.  My dad was even worse, he's old school and felt his 22mags could do anything and everything those 17's could do and as far as he was concerned, they were nothing more than a passing trend.  About 10-12 years ago I succumbed to the 17HMR hype and bought a Savage 93 stainless with laminated thumbhole stock.  I believe it was right around the time they started putting the accutrigger in the 93's because I remember they still had both style triggers when I bought mine.  After handling both, it was a no brainer, I went with the accutrigger version.

I scoped it up with a 4.5-14x40ao Leupold I had just taken off another rifle and sighted it in.  It was spring and sage rats were really starting to pop so I took it along on when my dad and I made our first sage rat trip.  He with his 77/22mag, me with my new 93 in 17HMR.  I still wasn't completely sold on my new HMR so at first, anywhere my 17 went my 22mag followed.  It didn't take long before I could see my tricked out HB 594 22mag was never going to see the light of day again.  I was not only impressed with how well my Savage 93 shot but how explosive those little 17gr Vmax bullets were.  Hundred yard hits became chip shots and that extra FPS the HMR has, really makes sage rats burst, even at the extended distances.  The 30gr Vmax in my 22mag made them just as dead but the 17 HMR made making longer shots easier and certainly more fun with its splat factor.  It wasn't long before my dad was taking notice and a few weeks later when we went again, his Ruger 77/22mag was wearing a new Lilja 17 HMR drop in barrel. lol     My sister got in on the action a few years ago and she has a Savage 93/17 also, hers shoots every bit as good as mine does.  If the Mossberg's shoot as well as the Savage, you're golden and for what it's worth, if the Mossy doesn't come with the Accutrigger, I'd highly recommend buying whichever one comes with it.  I put a Jard trigger group in my 594 and it was sweet but it also cost $250 so if one cost a hundred dollars more than the other but you get the Accutrigger,  for me, that would be money well spent.  I'm just itching to screw the Thunderbeast 22L-1 on the end of it as soon as I get my tax stamp approved.  I should have it by spring, the sage rats will never hear me coming. 

[C-Money]

I am a 17hmr fan. They are so accurate. Like said above, know the limitations of the cartridge. I shoot the Marlin.

[Bofire]

  cool little cartridge fun to shoot, it aint a coyote gun.
Carl

[b23]

cool little cartridge fun to shoot, it aint a coyote gun.
Carl

Completely agree!  They are fun as he77 to shoot and don't cost much to shoot a lot but, IMO, their intended purpose is small critters and such.  I shot a couple ground hogs with my 17HMR, both were right 85 yards away.  There was no splat factor and they were able to drag themselves back to their hole before they died.  Like other rimfires, they'll kill coyotes but I just don't believe they do it well, unless everything is nearly perfect.

[DRobnsn]

Agreed, I have a Savage and its a tack driver for sure. As mentioned it has limitations. I personally wouldn't hunt anything bigger then Racoons with it. I feel its not enough gun for Coyotes. 

[ouchfoss]

Thanks for the replies. The accutrigger sounds like the deciding factor so I'll think I'll spend the extra $100 and get the Savage.
I guess I might have to borrow a 223 from someone if I'm going to go nuts for yotes though.

[grundy53]

I love my savage in .17hmr

[BULLBLASTER]

I have a marlin 917 v that is very accurate. Part of me still wishes it was a 22 mag tho.

[Special T]

I dont consider my self a great shot, but if i can hit a praire dog at 200 plus yards, hitting a coyote in the head shouldnt be that hard, provided its not running. The Vmax seem to be consitintly better groupers but the FMJ might work pretty good on a head.

[Bofire]

When hunting coyotes I want a rifle I can hit a 4 inch target at a minimum of 300 yards, every time. Most of the time you are shooting at a small part of the coyote or it is moving. I want full penetration and enough punch and bullet size for instant kills, even if its a "texas heart shot". I do not beleive in giving a sporting chance I am out to kill them. I have shot lots of coyotes and I consider a 223 minimum, 22-250 better and a 243 better yet. I have never tried a 204.
That is why I do not endorse the 17HMR for coyote hunting.
Carl