A bit more range

kellzar

was thinking of adding a new child to the family and was looking for some advice.
i have been shooting game for a good while and this year got my first rifle, a cheap as chips .22 and have loved it. i'm consistently hitting targets smaller then 1" groups at 100yards so now i'm looking to take a step up and get something with some more distance. i've very few foxes in my area so it will mainly be rabbits, so i think all the centre fires are too much.
so i was thinking of a .17hmr, i've read they can effectively take down a bunny at 200+ yards. i've never fired one so if anybody with some first hand knowledge can give me some advice that would be great.


cheers

Cass

I'll start by saying i've never owned a .17 before however i've shot with many before and they are a fantastic little rifle. They have great range and depending on round/rifle combo can be effective up to and past 150 yards. How much more they will work as effectively i'm not sure, but the longest shot i've seen with one, and a clean shot at that was 187 yards.

The idea of a .17 has been slowly growing on my to the point that i was in with my local RFD today looking about one of the new Savage TRR-SR's that are coming here shortly.



I love the .22, but sometimes find myself lacking in either power or distance. I had a .223, but due to problems with the dealer (a new one i said i would try, but never again) i waited 8+ months to get my scope, its replacement after the original broke, and my mod that i paid for in advance and it took the good out of the rifle. So i traded it shortly after getting it. I have the .308 for deer and the odd fox, but would like a rimfire with more range than the .22.

All in all if its rabbits and the occassional fox within distance the .17hmr would be a good choice.

declan1980

I used to have a cz452 varmint in 17hmr, and I found it to be a deadly little rifle. With a bit of practice 200 yard bunnies are no bother, but don't go past 100 yards for a fox as it's lacking in power after this and shot placement is critical with such a small round on that size of an animal anyway

robbie mars

hi declan what about a 22 mag had one they are superb for 200+++ little bit more expensive for ammo but truly a great gun

ArseLtd

Can't go wrong with the 17hmr, I have one a cz 452 american and it's a lovely gun.

I never realised how good a shot i was until i got it! Consistent 3/4 inch groups at 100 yards. It feels alot more powerful than the 22lr and a nice healthy bang. Shot a few rabbits and theres no dying at all with them, just bang-plop and not a twitch from them.

I considered the 22wmr but to me it has all the signs of an outdated cartridge, big and slow. Too much so to break up on impact. It has more energy at the muzzle than the 17 but at just 50 yards the 17 is already gaining on it. I read that the 17 just kills better, the 22 magnum tends to pass through without expanding much. I also considered 223 but that's way too expensive for some mags and rabbits, at least to me anyway.

Shot a magpie at 122 yards, i could hear a huge plop from that! Its funny because they fly off to 100 or so yards and think they're safe! A fox at 80 yards dead on the spot. Come to think of it nothing ran after being hit yet, i also only remember missing once! Haha not braggin or anything. :P

cavan shooter

http://www.ubertireplicas.com/foto/lever_babyrolling/11%20big.jpg

this baby in 22 hornet a classic cartridge and often looked over for all those fast shooting modern fan dangos:D