Hey all.....I just wanted to share my experience last weekend. I read all the posts over the last year or so about a 17 hmr being a bit much for Squirrel and often ruining the meat and I actually agree. I do not have a 17 rifle, nor have I shot one. Last winter I picked up the Tracker revolver and have been doing only target shooting with it this summer.
I got pretty good with it up to 50 yards so decided to try it for some bushy tails last weekend. I hunted with it 3 straight afternoons and took 11 squirrels. Out of the 11, I only lost 1 front shoulder due to damage.
I was using "Hornandy Varmint Express" rounds. I'm wondering if the lack of explosive damage at impact is because it's a pistol. Maybe with the shorter barrel the bullet does not hit the velocity that it does in a rifle therefore minimizing damage.
Below is a pic of the first days success. In any case I absolutely love the gun and the 17hmr. It makes it so much more challenging. I missed alot of squirrels:)