zero range .17HMR

Rawhead

Well lads,
i was just wondering what ye think would be the ideal range to zero a .17HMR. I mainly pop away at rabbits. Any help would be much appreciated.

Jonty

This will depend on ring height, but mine is set less than 1/2 hinch low at 25yds, which is spot on at 50ish and rises to .5ish inch high at 75.

thehair

Rawhead wrote: »

Well lads,
i was just wondering what ye think would be the ideal range to zero a .17HMR. I mainly pop away at rabbits. Any help would be much appreciated.

hello rawhead 100yards is bang on for zero:Di think steve

foxhunter

I've mine set at 1" high at 100yrds its bang on at 150

Rawhead

Thanks for the advice lads, I think i'll go with 100yards. Just on the same line of question, what do ye think would be max effective range of the .17HMR. on a fox. I know that most people on this site say a .223 is the minimum that should be used on foxes but no one had one of these till recently and everyone was shooting foxes with magnums and honets. Thanks again for the advice.

foxhunter

Personally i would not shoot a fox with mine but if i had no other option i would say 80 to 100 yrds max.
You have to remember that the .22 mag is at least twice as heavy a round as the .17 hmr .

Umiq88

I zero @100yards
first zero is 43 rises .4 and then bang on at 100 and drops about 9" out to 200.
I tried zeroing at 125 but its a bit far out im more comfortable at 100 where most groups are sub 1 inch best being under half

As for fox that depends whats your grouping like at 100yards and whats your sucess rate. I can head shot rabbits easily enough at that range and take out magpies and crows at 125 but im sure i would be to excited to shoot a fox at that range i would say 80yards although the round is capable of more its not very forgiving for mis placed shots when you shoot about 5 of them at that range then try 100 or 125.

thehair

foxhunter wrote: »

Personally i would not shoot a fox with mine but if i had no other option i would say 80 to 100 yrds max.
You have to remember that the .22 mag is at least twice as heavy a round as the .17 hmr .

i only have a .22 rinfire:o foxhunter you are spot on steve:D+1

riflehunter77

Good evening Rawhead iv my marlin 17 HMR zeroed in for 100 yards, im happy enough with that range. As for taking the red fella, its all down to good shot placement iv taken a few were they have dropped right on the spot and a few that have run off and droped after 100 odd yards.I would tend to keep it around the 70 yd to 100 yard mark no further. If you are going to take a fox use the 20 grain.

ballistic

psittacosis wrote: »

I zero @100yards
first zero is 43 rises .4 and then bang on at 100 and drops about 9" out to 200.
I tried zeroing at 125 but its a bit far out im more comfortable at 100 where most groups are sub 1 inch best being under half

As for fox that depends whats your grouping like at 100yards and whats your sucess rate. I can head shot rabbits easily enough at that range and take out magpies and crows at 125 but im sure i would be to excited to shoot a fox at that range i would say 80yards although the round is capable of more its not very forgiving for mis placed shots when you shoot about 5 of them at that range then try 100 or 125.

shot placement is the thing. i shot a fox in the forehead at 140 yards (17 grain vmax) and it didnt do a great job he just ran around in circles my mate had to go over and finish him off with a bb from a shotgun. Shot another lad in the chest at 70 yards and he ran into a ditch found him dead the next day. A brno in 223 can be bought for as little as 600 new! and 223 ammo can be bought for as little as 11 euro. I didnt regret trading up!!

bunny shooter

It has been said here before that such calibres are not suitable for fox shooting

thehair

bunny shooter wrote: »

It has been said here before that such calibres are not suitable for fox shooting

+1 with bunny.223 centrefire is the right calibre for shooting foxs:D

wallyhering

to be fair .223 not much good for bunnies and there are plenty more bunnies than foxes to be shot at. if i was in the position to only have one rifle i would have the .177
and pick my shots on the red fellas a little closer

bunny shooter

I reckon you mean .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire (HMR)

marlin vs

I've shot several foxes with the 17gr hornady bullit, furthest one was 123 paces I shot him just behind the right shoulder and he only took about two steps and died on the spot, there was no exit wound, iv'e got my rifle zeroed an inch high at 100 yards which gives me bulls eye at 145 yard's.

spudy

just zero the gun in at 100 yards and your be away . first zero will be about 35 yards second 100 yards .

deerhunter1

Ya I shot a fox at nearly 120Yds last year behind the shoulder,dropped on the spot,made a nice exit wound. 17 Hornady. Great round for Greys and
magpies

marlin vs

Here, this might help you.

lordarpad

marlin vs wrote: »

Here, this might help you.

I have quick target, so if you give me the height you scope is mounted at and which projectile weight I'll print out a ballistics table for you.

philog

shot lots of fox ..but no more than 80 yds with .17hmr....zeroed at 100 yds ..unbelievable accurate little round ..anything from 25 yds to 125 yds

bunny shooter

philog as you say within it's limits it is excellent on foxes it's getting lads to use it within those limits.

Some lads think 200 yards is within it's limits :eek:

philog

also shot foxes with .22 at 50-60 yds max ...cant beat the .22 cz for rabbits...scarce enough up around carlow at the moment

Tackleberry.

I had a marlin 17hmr it was my first rifle looked the job heavey barrel and lovely stock got it threaded for a PES mod in the UK as it has quite a crack off it when fired, zerod for 150 yards 1.5" @100 . mainly used it on greys and mags,taught it was over kill on bunnies as it would blow most there heads off and not enough for the fox as i shot at many only to have some run off wounded.
Bunnyshooter is right it, ain't the cal for fox shooting and i'd agree.
i think myself the 17hmr is bit of a lost round.
I sold my Marlin bought a 243 as it shoots 55-100 grains,i use it on the fox with 55 grain.

deerhunter1

To be fair I have to agree with you,it is not a fox calibre, if I was fox hunting more I would use a bigger calibre, but for the odd shot at reasonable safe distance it is ok.

paddyjoe mo joe

i have 17 hmr to thats as good to shoot foxs at close range 50 to 100 yards as the 223 if you go for head shoots. no good go for body shots have,nt cot the punch. but affective on head shoots. i think for a affective kill you have to go for the head as when your brain dont work neather does the rest or you. but when you hit the body ?lungs or heart or whatever the brian dont die straight away so it lives that few more secs. to me always go for head shoot especially with `17 hmr .

meathstevie

The handiest hunting zero is what's commonly refered to as a "battlesight" zero. Halfway between the lowest and highest point of your trajectory, that leaves the gun good to a little further than the distance where the bullet drops below line of sight for a second time. After that you'll have to practice with aiming high but given the calibre you're using I don't think you'll be taking too many long shots anyway unless it's on targets.

All in all the .17hmr is about the best there is rimfire wise for rabbits and close foxes and the same as with any calibre it has it's limitations. It won't do for foxes at distances but you probably knew that before you bought anyway.

deerhunter1

foxhunter wrote: »

I've mine set at 1" high at 100yrds its bang on at 150

Ya that's the way to go;)