New .17 HMR

[petemi]

Well, I bit the bullet yesterday and ordered a new Handi .17HMR, Bull Barrel, Synthetic.  My dealer is charging me $170.00, which I don't think is too awful.  Now I need ammo and a 6-24x50 mil dot scope.  Off we go shopping again!  Fun, isn't it???  It's a good thing the wife isn't too sure which Handi is which.  I don't think she'll even notice a new one!!!!

The .17 HMR is really nice here in Michigan because they only allow rimfires for Fox and Coyote at night.  It should get a good workout this winter.  The timing is good, the cataract goes off my shooting eye on the 25th of September and I'll have time to dial it in before the fur gets good.

Tim and Stimpy, why is it we always need just one more?

[ELMO]

         Your going to really like the.17 HMR. I've had one for several years and it is my #1 squirrel gun. I have a 3x9 Bushnell Trophy scope on it and have it sighted in at about 40 yards. I shoot the CCI TNT bullets and I can keep the point of impact inside a dime at 40 yards. I only go for head shots because this bullet is kind of explosive and does alot of meat damage if squirrel is hit other than the head. They have several brands of ammo to choose from now, but I haven't tried any of them because of the TNT accuracy.....

[d_hiker]

The 6-24x50 scope might be a little much on the power for fox and coyote at the ranges you'll be shooting at.  If you were shooting prairie dogs, I would say go for it.  The 50mm would be nice for light gathering in twilight hours.  I have the BSA Sweet "17" on my .17HMR Sportster, in the 3-12 power version with 40mm objective lens.  I like it.  I have heard others say they have had problems with clarity, not mine.  For the longer ranges and to help fight the wind I use the 20gr bullets instead of the 17gr.  I put a piece of white tape around the bullet drop turret knob and made my own marks by shooting at know distances of 50yd, 100yd, 150yd & 200yd.  Even with the 17gr bullets, the turret was not calibrated well at 200yds.  When shooting 17gr bullets at 100yd with the turret set at 100yd, when I moved the target to 200yds I would have to set the dial at 240 to 250yds to be centered.

[petemi]

Hopefully, I'll be using it for fox, coyotes, and Prairie Dogs.  I'll just dial it down to 6 X for dusk to dark shooting.  On a moon lit night with snow on the ground, you can shoot all night.

I have a Sweet .30-06 that I love, and am pretty sure I'm going to try the Sweet 17. 

[chip-don]

  i bet my 17 hmr shoots faster than yours   i also use the sweet 17 remember it is not  for real long range see you in october

[petemi]

I was thinking I'd do some scouting and baiting for you here.  It's all Newberry District.  It might just double your chances of getting a bear.  See you in October, and I'll keep you posted in the meantime.

[PHATINJUN]

Pete I think the 6x24 is maybe a little much also .The 4x12 or even a 4x16 may be better but then there has never been a scope with more than x14 that I was happy with, my 4.5x14 Mueller is not to bad for the money though. The only ones that I have seen that make sense to me at the higher powers are some Leopolds and Burris that a buddy has on some of his guns .But they are way out of my price range.If youv'e used them and are happy with them though thats whats important. I have a 8.5x25-44 Mueller on my 225win HANDI it is acceptable but I bought it used and may not of been happy had I bought it new. I had a 4x16-50 Simmons on my 223 that I thought was very good to about10 or 12 but after that it sucked I sold it. Kurt

[dano]

Kurt  I was just talking about you last weekend  I had some guys up from texas hunting dogs.I was telling them about your 5mm. I sure hope you all can make it again next year

[petemi]

I went with the 3-9x50.

[Singleshotsam]

I've been planning on getting a .17HMR handi for my ride around truck gun.  We have a lot of fun taking .22's out on the farm roads and pasting a number of small nocturnal varmi - I'm going to put a red-dot on it for nighttime and prolly get a bushnell banner to put on it for taking PD shooting.

[petemi]

Sam, that's exactly what I put on it 3-9x50 Bushnell Banner with lighted recticle.