Whats the least wind speed ?....

[coyotesbluff]

Hey folks,
Wanted to know whats the least amount of wind speed you would use your .17HMR in? For target or hunting?
I need to finish up sighting mine in @100yrd. mark & want to do it efficiently.
Thanks ! Oh...Happy Holidays !

[coyotesbluff]

I guess I stumpped ya"all. Is 5mph too much to use it in ? I need input what is a realistic mph
to use these little buggers in.

[Keith L]

I look for wind speed clues from nature, not in mph.  If I see grass or small branches lightly moving I go ahead and shoot.  If it is bent over or whipping around I don't.  You have to look at the target as well as on the way.  A wind gust anywhere can change point of impact. 

My advice is to try it and see.  You will get the idea after a few tries at targets.

[coyotesbluff]

I too go by a sign. {By the way thanks for the reply} I tied a orange landmark ribbon on a branch outside
my window. I mention mph so I can get an idea of when people who have the caliber say leave it home and grab the next one.   I did get a couple of shots at 100yrds. The first shot ever taken was dead center of the bullseye. I was impressed then my 2nd shot told me it was about 3in. left & dead center, the 3rd showed me 3-4in. high & 4-5 in. left . I then gave up the wind was intermittent and I was firing at almost a dead calm. This was the first time ever firing this gun and I was excited at first shot & was heart broke @
the end of my outing. I will try again. I have the Marlin 917v {incase anyones wondering.}

[Keith L]

Put a flag by the target and another one half way down.  If all three are limp and you get that kind of variation look for a problem with the gun.  If you have a factory trigger in that gun I am amazed you did that well.  From the factory triggers are crunchy as heck and stiff.  I installed a couple of aftermarket triggers in Marlins, and have done trigger jobs on a couple more.  I don't trust the shim trigger job so popular on the internet: I am concerned there is not enough contact area on the sear any longer to make it safe.  I have seen several that bump fire.

Also, did you clean the bore prior to shooting?  Get all the factory gunk out and shoot ten or twelve shots to foul the bore a little, then try a group and see what you get.  It may not like a clean bore.

With a good trigger, good well mounted glass and the ammo your gun likes you should have tiny little groups.

[Graybeard]

Ya kinda asked your question backwards. It's not what's the least as that's zero it's what's the MOST wind you'd use it in. But as folks say unless ya got a wind speed meter how the heck ya gonna know what it is? Experiment and observe what happens to the bullets at different observed wind speeds based on how trees and weeds react.

[coyotesbluff]

I thought I may have asked it alittle weird but thought people would know what it was I was askin.
I never cleaned the bore out prior. I will though. I have the factory trigger in it I never really mod my guns
at all. How much would something like that cost ?

[Questor]

I shoot at a range where the 17HMR is surprisingly popular. There are berms on the sides and behind the targets, yet I live in a windy area and the wind still plays a factor. It amazes me how much the 17HMR is affected by wind speed, even at just 100 yards. It is EXTREMELY sensitive to wind.

I think the answer to your question is to learn it in a variety of wind conditions because you will need to know when and when not to take a shot with that cartridge.

I will go so far as to say that your gun will never truly be sighted in, except in a laboratory setting, because each shot's placement will vary with the wind.

In calm conditions, the guys that shoot the 17HMR really like it a lot. It's tight grouping and fun to shoot, and not too expensive.

[tangob5]

The 17 HMR is pushed by the wind pretty good.  With a 10 MPH 90 degree crosswind POI should move about 2" at 100 yards.  The 17 is wind sensitive but as long as you know the direction and approximate MPH of the wind it should be easy to compensate within the HMR's range just like we have to do for centerfires at longer distances.  One thing to note is that like 22LR's the 17's can be picky as to which flavor of ammo it likes.  I have owned a few now and they all preferred something different.  The CZ 453 Varmint I have now has been the least picky one shooting all 17 grain and 20 grain in the same 1" circle at 100 yards.  Only thing that changes is where in that circle they will group.  Tightest groups come from Hornady 20 grain XTP of .375" consistantly.  Not going to mention the other 2 brands although they were good I prefer the CZ which I find better.

[Questor]

It seems like the deflection is greater than that. When I see the guys shooting them and things are calm, the groups are tiny. When the wind gusts a bit the groups are about a 3" teardrop shape. These are good shooters and I don't think it's shooter error. I also don't think the wind can gust much more than 10mph in our relatively enclosed range because of the berms. If you say that it should be 2", then I believe it. Maybe we can get more powerful gusts. 

I have gone prairie dog shooting in South Dakota with a guide who got me access to good land. He doesn't like the 17hmr for prairie dogs, partly because of the deflection. But he's really enthusiastic about the .204 Ruger. He's a fair guy. If something works well he praises it, if it's not so good, he speaks his mind.

I should talk to those 17hmr shooters about this to find out what they've learned about  it. They sure shoot enough of them.