How effective is the .17?

[cnichols33]

I have a Ruger 77/17. I bought it about a year ago because I had heard some people talking about it and wanted one. I put a BSA Sweet 17 on it. I have killed about 7-8 beavers with it and I love the gun. I was wondering how effective it is on coyotes? Do you have to have a head shot to do the job or what?

[RagnCajn]

The 17 HMR is a good small varmint round. It will leave a lot to be desired in the Coyote hunting ventures.

Before the HMR Followers pass out, let me explain. Will It kill a coyote? Yes. With all the available rounds out there, I wouls use a bigger round. You will get a lot of runners or turn down a lot of shots with the HMR

[FinsnFur]

Oh mannnn, we better crank up the bandwidth if Buker see's this one 

[cnichols33]

The 17 HMR is a good small varmint round. It will leave a lot to be desired in the Coyote hunting ventures.

Before the HMR Followers pass out, let me explain. Will It kill a coyote? Yes. With all the available rounds out there, I wouls use a bigger round. You will get a lot of runners or turn down a lot of shots with the HMR

I shoot a Hornady Varmint Express  (V-Max Bullet) it shoots around 2550fps. I also have a Browning WSSM 243 and I know what it will do. My thing is if I'm going to spend the time and money to go yote hunting, then i don't want to be dissapointed with my weapon of choice. I hunt in the South GA which is different than most of the areas in the south that i have hunted. You don't always get a head shot sometimes you have to take what shot you can get.

[RagnCajn]

Buker shoots the 17 Rem. I personnally think the 17 Rem is the best fur gun made.

CR, if you have the choice of a 243 or the HMR take the 243.

[slagmaker]

I have to agree with cajun. If all I had to choose form was a 17hmr and a 243 i would use the 243. You can even make it fur frendlier with a little reloading magic

[fuzz624]

      IMO leave the 17HMR at home.If you are good enough to shoot them between the eyes on every shot,it would work just fine.If you want to leave a little room for error,use the WSSM.

[Bopeye]

I prefer:



But, given the choice between a .243 or a .17...........I'd take the .243. What do I know though.......I use a scattergun. 

[HaMeR]

I would take the 243 unless a new rig was an option. Then a 223 would make a nice setup with a 4-12 or a 4.5-16 on top. I have carried my HMR on a few coyote stands but never had anything show up. I also tried it in very open areas & that might be why I didn't get an opportunity.

[Ladobe]

Being the owner of what is arguably the first privately owned 17HMR (did field testing of the ammo when Hornady was trying to correct blow up problems with it long before it was released for sale to the public) I can say it was definitely NOT intended to be a coyote round.   That said, I do know of friends taking coyotes with it as far as 180 yards with well placed single hits.   And I have taken small ground squirrels as far as 350 with 2 of my 3 HMR's.   Still comes down to not being a good choice for coyotes as others have already said.

I also have a Winchester Featherweight 243WSSM bought just for coyote ADC for my ranchers (spooked) on windy days with ranges long.   Fine for that, but too much on close coyotes unless you like to sew pelts.   Guess you could load one down but that kind of defeats the original purpose of the round.  

Regardless, if those are your only two choices, go with the 243WSSM and watch where you put your shots on the coyote.

I too think the 17 Remington and 17 wildcats that duplicate it's ballistics (17DT, 17 Athena, etc) are by far the best choice for coyotes as far away as you'd normally shoot them, both in their ability to anchor them and for saving fur.   Don't have one, but expect the 204 Ruger would come close.

---
Bopeye... since (from a previous post) you can't seem to anchor them with that big 10 scattergun reliably, that Gatling gun just might be a better choice for you.   Spray and pray buddy.     

[cnichols33]

Thanks Guys! I don't plan on keeping the pelts so fur damage is not a issue. I guess if I don't want to track them then the 243 is the best option.

[Bopeye]

Thanks Ladobe............it should improve my prayer life for sure.........

[Bowhunter57]

cnicholls33,
You can never have too much rifle. I hear guys saying...."I had to hit him a couple of times, but I got him" or "he didn't go down right away, but I found him later" and simular statments. Personally, I like to hit 'em with the "Hammer of Thor" and get the DTR (dead right there) effect by using more rifle. 

Also, there's no such thing as "overkill", dead is dead. I own a Marlin 17HMR....love its' accuracy and shoot a lot of squirrels with it, but I'm not real impressed with the lack of killing power for larger game....unless you can take a head shot. It depends on how you like to hunt and if you don't mind waiting for a head shot or passing up the animal.

Good hunting, Bowhunter57