Have any of you used CCI 17HMR FMJ 20 grain ammo?

[DalesCarpentry]

Have any of you used CCI 17HMR FMJ 20 grain ammo? It will not be long before the Groundhogs around here will be waking up. I have a Marlin 917V and have not had the chance to get one of these little buggers with it yet because I got it just before winter and they were going to sleep for the winter.  From my understanding 150 yards or so is the max distance for 17 grain Hornady Vmax ammo. I was wondering today if much of that is because the Vmax blows up on contact and is lacking power much past 150 yards. Then I got to thinking a head shot on one at 200 yards with CCI 17HMR FMJ 20 grain ammo might just do it because the bullet will penatrate and not blow up. What do you guys think? Do you think a 200 yard shot on a Groundhog with this ammo would turn out his lights or not? This is my first 17 HMR and have not killed any game with it as of yet but I sure have shot a pretty good bit of paper with it. So I know it is accurate enough to make a 200 yard shot on one but don't know about the knock down power. Let me know what you think. Thanks Dale
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[trotterlg]

I think you need a bigger gun.  I would not use my .17 FB with 20gr bullets at 200 yards, the RF's just run out of gas past 100.  Bet the next post is from someone who's Uncle's friends Wife's third Cousin knew someone who killed a GH at 400 yards with one.  Larry

[DalesCarpentry]

I am just asking because I don't know. I have yet to kill any game with it. Dale

[jls]

Dale, I use a h+r bull barrel sportster with a 4-12 scope and limit all my shots to 150 yds. regardless of the weight it just does'nt have the oommph past that. any gophers or pd's in that range are toast

[woodchukhntr]

Please don't shoot at groundhogs at 200 yds. with .17 HRM solids.  I can't think of a better way to wound them.  I wouldn't shoot the .17 at that range, and I wouldn't use solids except for small game that I was going to eat.  It isn't that the solids won't kill, but they are much more likely to wound.  I limit my shots to 150 yds. with the 17 gr. loads.

[tangob5]

The FMJ's will just punch a hole and not be as explosive as V-max or TNT's.  Jackrabbits at 100 yards with a 17 gr. V-Max will actually leave a big pile of guts outside the body cavity.  I have seen red mists with ground squirrels also using the V-max.  Mostly I use 20 gr. XTP"s and found them to be very effective out to 150 yards on jacks, rabbits and squirrels.

[Catfish]

I will not use any FMJ bullet to hunt with period. The chance of a rickochet is just to great. I would not even use them for head shooting squirrels.

[Sourdough]

I shoot a H&R Sportster in .17HMR.  I have BSA's Sweet 17 mounted. 

Hitting a Ground Hog out to 300 yards would not be a problem, even for a head shot.  But, and a big BUT.  The 17 HMR runs out of power after about 150 yards.  Does not matter which bullet you are shooting, just not enough to be effective.

I let kids shoot clay targets a lot with mine.  At 100 yards the targets explode into tiny bits.  At 200 yards they break into large pieces.  At 300 yards they will sometimes break into three or four pieces, but sometimes only in half.  And a few times only a small hole through the target without breaking.

I have been thinking if I could hit one at 400 yards (would be next to impossiable) it just might bounce off the clay target.

[torpedoman]

the v max will blow up out to about 50 yds  past that it will give decent penetration.

[NebrHunter]

I use the 17 gr. V-Max on P.D.s , and have tried the 20gr. XTP's on them. I like the
17gr. pills a lot better.  I get a lot of ricochets with the 20 grainers.   mc

[nova71]

sourdough, what do you think about the BSA Sweet 17 scope? I have been thinking about getting one for my 17HMR. Is it accurate when changing for different distances ?
.... Larry

[mcwoodduck]

Yes,
My rifle likes the 17 grain Hornady stuff the best,
Yes I know Hornady or CCi makes all of the 17 stuff but for some reason mine likes the red box.
I thought the 20 grainers would be better for Coyote and hoped they would make a 25 grain Soft point for Coyote, but my buddy has poped a few with the 17's and they worked.  So why ask for something else when the little 17's work.
We have been using the 17 to clean out rabbits out of a horse farm (owner was worried about the number and if they could get the rescue horses sick.)  and we shots out to 150 yards.  hitting yes kiling no.  Once we figured out if moved to the top of a hill we could lay down and shoot and then it became a game.

[ironglow]

Dale;
   Read my post in this forum entitled. "I just got my first groundhog of the season..about 25 minutes ago". That one was taken bwith a 17gr hollowpoint CCI..TNT. Read about it there. I have had an NEF in .17 HMR for 3-4 years now and found through quite a few groundhogs, that the 17 gr V-max bullets work best on them. In the case of the NEF, it has been the Hornadys, the Savage I'll have to use a bit more yet to decide. The 20 gr hoillowpoints are a pass through bullet also..and less accurate in the NEF at least.