17 HMR or 17 M2?

[SourMash]

I'm sure similar discussion has taken place already, but........

Why would/did you choose one over the other?

I'd just like to hear the comments and opinions.

[quickdtoo]

I've not shot any eatable critters with either of mine, but if I was after squirrel and other game meat, the M2 would be my first choice, the Hmr is just too hard on small critters. For plinking, the M2 ammo is $3-$4 a box cheaper than the M2.also. If you're after varmints past 125yds or so, the Hmr would be my first choice of the two. They're both scary accurate, so it depends on your preference and whatcha want to do with it. FWIW, I have four 17hmrs, but only one M2. The M2 can also shoot 17Aquila ammo if you have a mind to.

Tim

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,55989.msg332877.html#msg332877

http://www.jesseshunting.com/articles/guns/category16/41.html

[jack19512]

A lot depends on just what your goal is.  I have both and find they each have their own duties.  If you are interested in varmint control then to me the HMR hands down because you don't have to worry about meat damage, unless it is a small critter then the M2 would be fine.  The M2 in my opinion is one great squirrel round and would be a good rabbit round within reasonable distances.

Size of the quarry is also an important factor to me.  The size of the game or varmint matters as does distance you think you might be taking your shots.  To me anything over 100 yards calls for the HMR.

As Tim pointed out the M2 ammo is cheaper than the HMR.  You just need to match the round to the job it is expected to do.

[georgeld]

I have both in a NEF and find they are both very accurate.

So far I havent' killed anything with the HMR.
But, I shot some prairie dogs with the M2 and was disappointed in the results.

One was a head shot and was a good result with half the head gone.

The other was a center body shot laying across the mound sideways to me. Both
were on the same mound at 60+- yds.

The body shot rolled it over and I figured that's a dead one too. So went to the other end
of the town and started shooting working my way back. There wasn't many out that day for
some reason.  Think they recognized my truck and knew what I was up to. Although I've only
shot them up about ten times this summer, they learn fast.

When I got back to the first two, decided I'd go check out the damage this round did to them.
Like I said, the head shot was half gone, very good.

But, the body shot dog was still alive!!  This was some half hour or so after it had been shot in
the diaphram area.  To me, this is more than unacceptable!

I want to warn anyone to make damned sure you can make head shots, or proper chest, spine shots
or else don't shoot animals of any kind with this cartridge.

I will be careful of my shots from now on and may very well use this barrel for my center fire conversion
to .17x28mm.

George

[tuck2]

The 17 Gr V-max bullet has about 100 ft/lb energy at 80 Yds when fired from a 17 HM2 rifle  and the same bullet has about 100 ft/lb energy  at 150 Yds when fired from a 17 HMR rifle. I use the two rifles for prairie dog  shooting out to the range  where the bullet energy drops to 100 ft/lb energy. I have shot a few cotton tail rabbits  in the head with the 17 HM2  17 Gr bullet . Head shots are the only  if you you plan on eating them. At 100 ft/lb energy  the 17 Gr V-Max bullet will destroy meat.