Author Topic: 17 M2 & squirrels (Read 2603 times)

jack19512 · « **on:** October 13, 2006, 03:37:52 PM »

Went squirrel hunting for the first time this year. Took my 17 M2 Sportster. That little round sure is devastating on squirrel size game.

Swampman · « **Reply #1 on:** October 14, 2006, 09:30:02 AM »

I like to eat them. I'd rather use a .22 or a shotgun.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #2 on:** October 15, 2006, 02:26:14 AM »

Quote from: jack19512 on October 13, 2006, 03:37:52 PM

Went squirrel hunting for the first time this year. Took my 17 M2 Sportster. That little round sure is devastating on squirrel size game.

Two words....HEAD SHOTS!!

I eat em too, but its more a fun sport so the numbers I get are unimportant. I ONLY shoot head shots now, helps hone your shooting/hunting. waiting for the perfect shot.

Your certainly right about the destruction!!!

Some years back I bought a contender carbine barrel with a match chamber for the 22RF. It was wonderfully accurate. I decided to shelve my long time favorite squirrel rifle and use this one with CCI CB LONGS. I shot and shot to get a feel for the hold over and such. I made some incredible shots limiting myself to ONLY head shots. I did it because I wanted a quiet rifle and CB's where not powerful enough to reliable kill squirrels at much past 30/50FEET in the body. BUT head shots killed them at 50 YARDS!!!

CW

jack19512 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 15, 2006, 04:01:21 PM »

I would have liked to take a head shot but my 17M2 Sportster isn't up to the task yet. It has a very heavy trigger pull and my groups aren't that good with it yet. I have only tried Hornady and I need to try other brands of ammo to see how it is going to shoot with them.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #4 on:** October 16, 2006, 02:20:52 AM »

jack19512, keep at it with the .17 Mach2 and you will be very satisfied, perhaps do a trigger job, the instructions are posted on this site. You might even try the old standard of pushing frimly but not with excessive force on the back of the hammer, an attempt to push it forward while cocked and then pulling the trigger. This method has been tried and sometimes successfully, to smooth up a trigger and has been around for many years, be careful of the rimfire firing pin though.
My .17 Mach2 Sportster is the most accurate rifle I have at 50 yards but it does seem like overkill on squirrels, although if you wanted to do head shots out to a reasonable distance the .17 Mach2 will be up to the task once it gets shooting well. I have shot over 250 grey squirrels with Super Colibris out of several guns using head shots, most fell to my .22 LR Sportster and a Marlin Model 60. Super Colibris (red box) are VERY quiet and out to about 15 yards and deadly on squirrels with head shots. The Super Colibris have no powder, only the power of the primer is used. Do not get the (regular) Colibris in the yellow box, they are to weak but fun to shoot out of a revolver in your cellar. As an alternative I would suggest anything from CB Caps to .22 Shorts...Best of Luck....<><....

jack19512 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 16, 2006, 02:41:25 AM »

I am seriously contemplating doing a trigger job on my 17 M2 Sportster. I have read up on doing the trigger job several times but I am afraid of messing something up. Don't ask me why I feel this way.

I guess it is just me but I don't like the stock on the 17 M2 Sportster. Every time I shoot this rifle it just doesn't feel right to me. I think I would do better if I had a heavier stock for it.

When I was walking with the rifle and using the sling over my shoulder it aggravated me to death. The weight of the rifle was all in the barrel and action and not the stock so the rifle would constantly want to go muzzle down so to speak.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #6 on:** October 16, 2006, 08:16:57 AM »

Many people feel they prefer the feel of a bit heavier stock on thier rifles, in fact I think the idea behind the plastic stock was as much for weight reduction as it was for weather resistance and to save a few dollars in manufacture. The problem as you see is luckily an easy fix, go to a standard pallet wood stock for more weight, and for even a bit more weight and a bit fancier look go to a laminated stock. My favorite is the camo laminate stock set but others here prefer the cinnamon color. Thats one of the great things about these fine little rifles and shotguns, mix and match to get your favorite feel and look....<><....

jack19512 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 16, 2006, 02:46:35 PM »

I think I will check into another stock. I know this rifle will shoot, I just have to figure it out. The rifle shoots OK, just not as good as it should. I think a trigger job and a good stock would make a lot of difference.

The forearm was putting pressure on the barrel so I free-floated the forearm today. I haven't got a chance to try it yet because of the rain. My local Walmart only carries Hornady ammo so I took a trip to my local gun shop and picked up a box of CCI ammo to try.

I couldn't believe it, my Walmart sells the 17M2 Hornady for I believe almost $8 a box or maybe more. The gun shop sells either the CCI or Hornady for the same price, $6.88 a box out the door.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #8 on:** October 16, 2006, 02:48:27 PM »

Good Luck and have fun Jack, keep us up to date on how it works out....<><....

cwlongshot · « **Reply #9 on:** October 25, 2006, 01:07:23 AM »

I didnt like the feel of the plastic stocks either...

I installed a set of ULTRA Laminated stocks and its all better now!!

CW

jack19512 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 25, 2006, 06:15:13 AM »

Quote from: jack19512 on October 16, 2006, 02:46:35 PM

My local Walmart only carries Hornady ammo so I took a trip to my local gun shop and picked up a box of CCI ammo to try.

I tried the CCI and it shoots to the same poi as the Hornady does. I think the Hornady shot a little better group but exactly the same poi as the CCI.

northjdr · « **Reply #11 on:** November 30, 2006, 05:07:24 PM »

I've put over 2500 rounds through my NEF m2. No trigger job. At 50 yrds the gun will consistantly shoot 1/2" to 3/4" 5 shot groups. Mine shoots the Hornady SLIGHTLY tighter than CCI. I've tried ELEY and Federal as well. Hornady is the most consistant but we're only talking small difference between the brands. Some pretty good prices online. Should be able to get the Hornady's for not much more than$6.00. I just bought a choate varmint stock so I'm excited about trying it. Don't forget to keep it clean. My groups will open up even after 30-40 rounds. Plus, I put a qualty scope on. A Nikon Prostaff. Not top of the line but not bottem either. Make sure your mounts are tight. My gun likes a soft rest. If i shot with a bipod I cushon the legs so it doesnt tend to hop. Well, I guess I've said enough. It's sure fun sniping squirles though.

jack19512 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 01, 2006, 02:55:59 AM »

Quote from: cwlongshot on October 25, 2006, 01:07:23 AM

I didnt like the feel of the plastic stocks either...

I installed a set of ULTRA Laminated stocks and its all better now!!

CW

I did that just yesterday. I had a 22 mag ultra. Switched the forearms and stocks and sold the 22 mag. The 17 M2 looks and feels better now. Havn't got a chance to shoot it yet.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #13 on:** December 01, 2006, 03:13:15 AM »

Just another suggestion for those that like to sling thier guns and don't like the muzzle heavy feel of a bull barrel especially with the lightwieght synthetic stocks. Since we are not in the military and on parade try what I call the "hunter" sling method of slinging a long gun. if you are right handed sling your gun over your left shoulder, muzzle down. Carrying it muzzle down prevents rain and snow from falling in the muzzle. To use this position smoothly and effectively simply place your left hand on the forearm of the slung gun, then simply pull the gun forward and up into shooting position while grasping the wrist (trigger) area with your right hand. You can quickly, quietly, and with a minimum of motion raise the gun into the shooting position. This also positions the heaviest part of the gun, the barrel, at the bottom. Just be careful of kneeling to check sign with the gun carried in this position, if you have a long barrel, such as you might on a turkey shotgun, you do not want to place the barrel on the ground and get dirt or debris in it. Although that has never happened to me and the barrel of a gun slung and carried this way by me has never touched to ground, I thought I would mention it before someone else did. Try it, it's more comfortable and quicker to get on target than a gun slung in the military manner of muzzle up and getting into shooting position is accomplished with less game scaring movement. When now used, all my hunting slings are now mounted with the wider or softer shoulder area up front and right next to the barrel instead of close to the buttstock....<><....

reyn 61 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 01, 2006, 04:49:52 AM »

Ive killed around 70 squirrels with my HM2 and honestly do not find them to be any more destructive than a 22 shooting minimags.

jack19512 · « **Reply #15 on:** December 02, 2006, 12:03:04 AM »

Quote from: reyn 61 on December 01, 2006, 04:49:52 AM

Ive killed around 70 squirrels with my HM2 and honestly do not find them to be any more destructive than a 22 shooting minimags.

I have shot a lot of squirrels with a 22 lr and very few with the 17 M2 so far but I shot one of them in the chest area and it almost removed the entire front leg and shoulder, only thing holding it on was a small piece of skin. Don't ever remember doing this with a 22 lr. The 17 M2 just seems to hit them so much harder.

myarmor · « **Reply #16 on:** December 08, 2006, 07:46:55 PM »

That little V-Max bullet is designed for maximum expansion. Not to mention the copper jacket it does have is very thin. I have shot many squirrels with the 17HMR and with bad shot placement there's nothing left. But it does make up for it with the ability of easier head shots.
Still, for the little tree jumpers, I like the solid lead bullet of a 22LR or 22Mag. These do not explode on contact.
To each his own.

-Aaron

quickdtoo · « **Reply #17 on:** December 08, 2006, 08:39:22 PM »

Aaron, that's true of the 17hmr, but the 17M2 is about 500-600fps slower, so it doesn't do as much damage, yet is just as accurate as the 17hmr, it's a real go to round for a lot of squirrel snipers.

Not as inexpensive as the 22lr, but accuracy is its forte.

Tim

mag-check · « **Reply #18 on:** December 10, 2006, 01:36:15 PM »

Guys that I hunt with and that have hunted with all three rimfire mags and the M2 say the M2 is the best squirrel round ever made! And these guys are hard core tree squirrel hunters and have been for 30years! I don't have one but have seen them in action and they work very good!

jack19512 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 10, 2006, 03:32:58 PM »

Quote from: mag-check on December 10, 2006, 01:36:15 PM

Guys that I hunt with and that have hunted with all three rimfire mags and the M2 say the M2 is the best squirrel round ever made!

That's how I feel also. I have squirrel hunted a lot with the 22 lr and not much with my M2 so far but even with the increased ammo cost of the M2 I won't go back to the 22 lr. It could just be me but the M2 seems to really put the smack down on them.

myarmor · « **Reply #20 on:** December 11, 2006, 09:29:17 PM »

Quote from: quickdtoo on December 08, 2006, 08:39:22 PM

Aaron, that's true of the 17hmr, but the 17M2 is about 500-600fps slower, so it doesn't do as much damage, yet is just as accurate as the 17hmr, it's a real go to round for a lot of squirrel snipers. Not as inexpensive as the 22lr, but accuracy is its forte.

Tim

Well I can't knock it till I try it

And I would like to try the little M2...
It's funny how so many calibers can fill their own distinct role and application.

-Aaron

Dank · « **Reply #21 on:** December 12, 2006, 09:14:07 PM »

i've shot a few squirrels with my 17 hmr. blew the whole side out. so i just stuck with 22lr. when i hunt them.

georgeld · « **Reply #22 on:** December 20, 2006, 05:16:51 PM »

Some one told me to search Zanders, they have M2 ammo, I think Eley for less than $4.
But, they only sell to dealers, maybe you can find one that will do a case buy for you and
not charge too much to do it.

I have three of these guns. a wood .410 I got by mistake thinking it would shoot .45 Colts too and won't. So haveto replace the barrel. This has a great trigger of course, less than 3#.

The M2 is the same way but, black plastic, I like that and intend to get all of the guns with this stock.
To balance them, still a bit of lead in the stock right under the butt plate. A pound should be plenty.

The HMR maxes my trigger scale and then a bunch over, it reads to 9lbs. Can't believe two out of three are so good, and this one's so hard. It's just like the M2 other than the trigger pull.

I don't have any 3/16" rod to make a pin out of, was going to do the trigger job a few weeks ago. Will order some rod soon and do it. My 'smith don't want to mess with it for some reason.

Someone else said Graf & Sons has M2's pretty cheap too. I bought a carton for $7 at the gun store when I got the gun. Of course within days I was told about half that price at Graf. Jeeze, what do I need 20 boxes of it for? Just might do it because it's cheaper just beat the mark up.

George

quickdtoo · « **Reply #23 on:** December 20, 2006, 05:30:56 PM »

George, if you mean a 3/16" rod for the slave pin, any old bolt or even a wood dowel will work for that, it's not a critical piece in the trigger job, it just holds the trigger in position in the trigger guard temporarily until you push the pins thru the frame.

Keep an eye on the 17M2 ammo forum at RFC, good buys are usually posted there as is the Midway Eley ammo at $3.99 a box!

Tim

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=134258

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=132

njanear · « **Reply #24 on:** December 31, 2006, 10:33:05 AM »

Grafs has the Eley HM2 for $4.39 a box http://www.grafs.com/product/69867 They have very reasonable shipping and if you spend over $150 in ammo, you get an additional 5% off.

Sourdough · « **Reply #25 on:** January 01, 2007, 03:53:57 PM »

Way I understand it CCI makes all the .17RF ammo. They contract to make Hornady, and Federal, and all other brands. Can't remember where I read this. Rog

Author Topic: 17 M2 & squirrels (Read 2603 times)

Swampman