17 hmr for Groundhogs

[aglass1987]

Or opinions on any other brands?

[buffermop]

Head shots!!!

[Double D]

None of the above.

[mjbgalt]

they're pretty much the same in power.

however, 250 yards is way too far for a .17. they don't maintain velocity or energy that far and the wind will blow them far away from your aiming point.

i would trust one on a calm day on a  groundhog to about 125 yards.

-Matt

[Graybeard]

Sorry but the .17 HMR is NOT a 250 yard groundhog gun regardless of the ammo you feed it. Sure it "might" do the job some of the time but not most of the time. Shorten your range expectations or buy more gun.

[aglass1987]

well, say around 150 yds. what ammo would be best?

[KAYR1]

For me, even 150 is stretching it, regardless of ammo. It may be at best, the outer limits for this round. However, I have had dramatic results with the 17 gr Hornady ammo inside, say 100 or so yards. It is deady accurate, easy shooting, and explosive on groundhogs. I like to use it when I want to keep the noise level down. Great round, just no way a 250 yarder. Get a .22 centerfire for that.

[mjbgalt]

i have shot a .17 HMR at 100 yards many times and the groups are usually not affected too much by wind. however on a flat plain with heavy wind i am sure i would not shoot more than 75 yards or so.

that said, i have shot one at 80 yards that crumpled like i hit it with my truck.

i think the HMR is a great small varmint round but you have to stay inside the useful range, which to me is 100 yards or so.

-Matt

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  the little I have shot the 17hmr, it is not as many have said a long range chuck rifle. Even the little .222 has let some well hit chucks lurch into their holes rather than a clean kill.   I love to shoot em, but we owe it to make clean ,quick kills.  As someone said get a .22 center fire for 250 yard chucks, I would start with a .22-250

[OLDHandgunner]

The 17HMR is definitely not an 250yrd woodchuck gun. This super accurate, flat shooting little rimfire is a excellent small game gun with it's limitations. Woodchucks can be a tough animal to humanely kill with this little 17gr or 20gr bullet. I haven't owned my T/C Carbine in 17HMR long enough to shoot any woodchucks with, but I've shot crows, squirrels, partridge & rabbits with it, with great success. My son has shot woodchucks with his Savage 17HMR with some clean kills and some wounded chucks in the hole.
I prefer my 22 Hornet, 22K Hornet, 222's, 223 & 22-250 for woodchucks. Hopefully I'll get a chance to use my 17HMR on a woodchuck soon then I'll know first hand how it works.

[KAYR1]

OLDHANGUNNER, like you said, within limitations. I have experienced pretty devastating results on grounhogs out to about 120 yards and in. I have only killed about 50 or so with it, but the 17 HMR is all my brother-in-law uses, and I dont know how many hundreds of groundhogs and feral cats he's piled up, but it is a bunch.I was suprised to find exit hole on most of them. It is defintitely enough gun, just not a long-range one.

[ironglow]

  I answered the poll, but with the idea of a .17 HMR being maxed out at 150 yards for chucks. My NEF likes the Hornady .17 gr best for accuracy & chucks...others may like somewthing else.