17HMR penatration

[backstrap]

Yesterday i did a penatration test on the 17HMR i shot a thick wet phone book with cci 17gr tnt JHP at 45 yards it went through the book and stoped half way through the 1/2 plywood shot fedraul v-max 17gr at 45 yards blew up half way through the phone book shot the tnt JHP at 100 yards riped right through the book and board. i would have thought at close range the thing would have whent through the book and at long yardeg it would have stoped in the book i am wanting to shoot ammo out of my savage the penatrats deep for the 17HMR and i think i have found it, never tried the v-maxes at 100 yards i just asumed they would have blew up like the first test

[Keith L]

Sounds like the Vmax did just what it was supposed to do.  It is a varmint bullet ment to explode just after penitration.  We like them around here as there is little fear of them bouncing somewhere they shouldn't.  I have seen them come apart when hitting a snow bank.

[backstrap]

But Keith u think hitting like some kind of small game animal  or rodent they would blow up before penatrateing  i plan on useing my 17 this spring shooting turtles while i am fishing and want something thats going to take them out not blow up before penatrating, i just think the vmax will not work as well do to them blowing up on impact, as the tnt JHP like on coons or bobcats or what ever i might be shooting at just my thought

[Keith L]

Then you will need one of the other bullet options.  The Vmax does group better in mine than the hollowpoints, but that doesn't matter if they don't work for what you want them to do.  They will penitrate well in small critters, but may not in a turtle.

If you haven't already checked make sure that it is legal in your state to take turtles with a firearm.  Many places it isn't.

Have fun.

[quickdtoo]

Varmint Al has a bunch of penetration test results on his web site. If you want better penetration without explosive results, shoot the 20gr XTP or Gamepoint, or even the FMJ.

Tim

http://www.varmintal.com/17hmr.htm

[backstrap]

So whats these gamepoints your talking about never have seen them i dont guess and for all u 17 HMR shooters wich bullet would u use out of the 17grain bullets for deeper penatration??

[kyelkhunter3006]

I've shot all kinds of stuff with the .17HMR I picked up a couple of weeks ago (thanks Redhawk1), with both the CCI and the V-max, and I'll tell you, I wouldn't want anyone shooting at me with one.  I've shot (targets of opportunity  ) 2x4's, an old wheelbarrow, a phone book, the pipes to a chain link fence (probably about 1/8" thick) and both loads just blast right through all of it.  The V-max is definitely expanding faster than the CCI HP, but both of them went through the pipes and passed through the 2x4 about 4 feet behind the pipe.  I'm about to break down and start hitting the meat counters at the supermarket and try to find a rack of ribs on discount, just to satisfy my curiosity of how the bullets perform in meat and bones.  Varmint Al's webpage has a lot of good info on the .17HMR, great reading.

The game point is a soft point load for the .17, it's version of the hunting load for bigger varmints.  More penetration and less expansion, just like deer/game loads, I suppose.

[quickdtoo]

Depends on how accurate they are, if they shoot good for ya, use em. The Gamepoints and XTP are controlled expansion bullets, they make nice little mushrooms when expanded.

Tim

https://www.hornady.com/shop/?ps_session=a2968bdbccb104177bd256f7b6b00743&page=shop%2Fbrowse&category_id=e4c1104b0d6d112d2b80155f75b83ff2

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=925553

http://www.cci-ammunition.com/ballistics/detail.aspx?loadNo=0052

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=479224

http://www.cci-ammunition.com/ballistics/detail.aspx?loadNo=0055

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=970191

[Doc T]

The Hornady V-Max 17 HMR ammo is great on turtles, even the big ones that are big as dinner plates.  I have a big beaver pond with lots of logs in it on my deer lease and I shoot turtles every spring.  The HMR will flip a big one even at 150 yds.  I was really surprised.

Doc T

[backstrap]

Doc is this hiting them in the head or the shell??

[Doc T]

Either one, it doesn't matter.  Most of my shots are "shell shots" since they are usually shot offhand without a rest or with a poor rest like the side of a tree.

Doc T