.17hmr

[Night goat]

I’ve had a CZ 452 with the full mannlicher stock since about 2006 in .17hmr, but I’ve put less than 3 boxes thru it, and it never gets shot although it’s a nice little rifle, I’m just trying to find a use for it, wondering what the 17hmr is actually good for. I used it at the range and mainly used it to pick off the clothes pins holding up my buddys targets at 100 yards when I got bored of my 10/22 lol, it was the first gun I bought when I turned 18, which is the main reason why I kept it, but never really have considered it a practical rifle beyond target shooting. It’s been at least 10 years since I’ve shot it… I’ve considered trying to use it on grouse, head shots only, but figured it would just blow a bird apart. It’s got a 10-40x50 scope on it, it shoots like a laser, but I, personally, struggle to find a use for the caliber. What do y’all use the 17 for?

[huntnphool]

 It’s a fantastic caliber for prairie dogs!

[MADMAX]

Gophers on the eastside
Coyotes
Any varmint for the most part

[Bob33]

I take mine to Wyoming every fall for prairie dogs.

[birdshooter1189]

17 HMR is great for lots of small critters.
Rock chucks. Prairie dogs. Squirrels. Rats. Possums. Racoons. Coyotes (with well placed shot). Muskrats. Nutria.  Use it to finish off carp when bowfishing from shore.

Once or twice when flying RC planes on my property I crashed my plane into a doug fir or hemlock tree 50+ feet up and the plane got stuck on a branch.  I've used the 17HMR to shoot the branches off and get the plane down.  I walk around the tree to a spot where the trunk of the tree is the "backstop".  Worked great. 

[b23]

Sage rats aka Belding's ground squirrels.

[Rem14]

Checkout the Internet, 17 hmr out performs 22 mag.

[CarbonHunter]

It can be used for anything that a 22lr is used for with 3x the distance. I honestly put away my 22lr when I got the 17hmr and I have shot heads off grouse out to 90 yards.

[TeacherMan]

No idea how many coyotes I’ve killed with mine under 200 yards. A lot 😂

[JDHasty]

Checkout the Internet, 17 hmr out performs 22 mag.

Maybe so, maybe not so much.  Depends.  In the real world it is very similar to the 22 Hornet vs 17 Hornet comparison.  Going off what is posted on the internet... you pays your money and you takes your chances.  There are conditions wherein either one outperforms the other. 

[DaveR]

Ground squirrels. 75 yds and less. Anything farther doesn’t have the desired effect. More speed is needed🤪. The accuracy is there tho. To me. All the bigger rodents need something bigger. 😀

[metlhead]

First to hand on my farm. That .17 has dropped everything I deem a problem. I think it would make a great turkey gun if legal. Pred and varmint control is about the only legal use

[6haase6]

Mine is a rig gun for all the critters I see from home to work and back. For awhile we liked them for coyotes we were selling. CCI made/makes a fml that we used spotlighting and calling winter dogs, right between the eyes and makes virtually no hole. Shot more than a few snakes too, get them coiled up ready to strike then wave the end of the barrel so they focus on it and bang you have a headless buzz worm.

[MeatMissile]

My 455 in 17 HMr gets used for everything where a 22 LR would be suitable.  Just adds range.

[Fletch]

I have a 17 wsm and it eats ground squirrels like nothing else.   Ground hogs, coyotes... I agree that we used to use 22lr but I dont think ive shot my 22 since I got the 17.  Accurate, fast, deadly and fun.