Lets talk 17's for fur.

[436]

For you guys shooting the hotter 17s, assuming a max of 350 yards. Does the velocity in practice help overcome the wind enough to be noticed in the field?

I thought so if the shots were in the 300 and under range, 25gr HP at 4040 fps, the time of light isn't long. I guess the question is "How much wind" There is a point where everything struggles, but.. for the aforementioned range, I took my .17 Remington far more than I did my .223s. If I thought the wind was going to be a problem I took my M700 1-8 twist 26" barrel using an 80gr Berger match, or my Weatherby MkV Varmintmaster in 6XC... problem was solved for that day. Cheers

 

[17CalFan]

I shoot a 12 pound prairie dog rifle in 17 Fireball pushing 20 grain Nosler tipped bullets. Most of my shots are under 300 and I don't believe the wind bothers it much. Flight time is incredible. Maybe other 4k shooters can confirm this but I swear you can see the bullet impact before you hear the rifle fire. You touch the trigger, the bullets there and then you hear the gun.

 

[comfisherman]

It's always the game of enough, but saving pelts can be a balance. Have visions of black hole bullet 30 grainers from a 17 remington or 17 kak. Have bigger for truly windy days, but we mostly shoot fox's and some of the wind bucking rounds can make a mess. Having limited time with anything 17 bigger than hornet, it kinda holds a mystic of blitzing speed without pelt damage.

My last trip my 17 wsm did fine until the wind hit hard, then the fellow with the 20-250 dominated. Catch one in a little close as that berger can make a mess.

Enjoying the little rounds more than I expected, used to hate loading anything under a 6mm bore. Do wish the 17 hornet brass was a little tougher, but loss rate is reasonable enough given cost of factory ammo.

Fun getting hyper performance without rum levels of powder burn.

 

[436]

It's always the game of enough, but saving pelts can be a balance. Have visions of black hole bullet 30 grainers from a 17 remington or 17 kak. Have bigger for truly windy days, but we mostly shoot fox's and some of the wind bucking rounds can make a mess. Having limited time with anything 17 bigger than hornet, it kinda holds a mystic of blitzing speed without pelt damage.

My last trip my 17 wsm did fine until the wind hit hard, then the fellow with the 20-250 dominated. Catch one in a little close as that berger can make a mess.

Enjoying the little rounds more than I expected, used to hate loading anything under a 6mm bore. Do wish the 17 hornet brass was a little tougher, but loss rate is reasonable enough given cost of factory ammo.

Fun getting hyper performance without rum levels of powder burn.

If you haven't read P.O. Ackley: Volumes 1&2 you might see if you can find them, Ackley goes into some great field stories on the .17 cal and his theory as to why the cartridge shoots way about its weight class. Cheers

 

[CNY Yote Hunter]

I've used the 17 hornet for a long time now. Up until last year when I made the switch to 204. I love the hornet, without a doubt one of the most friendly fur rounds I have ever used. I did not like the 20 grain vmax, they will put them down for sure but they also splashed a lot. I have seen that projectile cause a softball sized entrance hole and down the dog but required a couple more shots to finish it off and that sucked. May have been a bad batch of projectiles but it made me switch to the 25 hp Hornady. Those have been discontinued by Hornady unfortunately but I was able to grab a box of 500 from midway a few years ago. Those definitely put them down and do not exit. Entrance hole almost non existent as well but I have had some lost dogs with them too. Most of the time it was like a bolt of lightning had hit them, I'd say 1 out of every 5 would run off. The 25 vmax I am going to play with this year, they group well so I will have an answer on those within a month. Season is just kicking off for me since deer is over. I don't shoot a lot of dogs every year like some do, but I do manage 10-15 a season most of the time. My opinion, you will like the 17. Happy shooting and best of luck!!

 

[sika64]

Try EAB , E. Authur Brown for barrels or Bullberry

 

[Donneric]

I am deviating from the 17 caliber topic. However have you considered the 20 caliber Family? I am 22 months waiting for the completion of a 20 Tactical from a local rifle builder. After considerable research about a fur friendly load I settled on the 20 Tactical for coyotes. I trap, snare and call them and bad exit holes are a no bueno. The 20 fares somewhat better in the wind than the 17s. I told the builder it'll use the Hornady 32 gr Vmax. In a conversation with the head of Biological Services here in Montana his team of " coyote specialists " have 100% switched from the Swift and 22-250s to the 260 Rem because of the wind and coyotes hanging up at 350-400 yds when calling. But they are not allowed to keep them so exit holes are of no concern. With the collapse of the coyote market I think in a couple years they might not be as shy. The 20 Tactical's time of flight is so short that wind concern somewhat diminishes out to 400. I'm hoping it'll be the answer to my dreams if I ever get it.

 

[Murtfree]

Been hunting with and building 17's for nearly 40 years. I have a Rem Model 7 in 17 Rem that is a pleasure to carry and accurate. It does give up a little in velocity with the short barrel but still more than enough for under 200 yard shots. A Model 700 in 17 Rem as well which I use for crows, fox and goundhogs when I'm setting up on a field. I built a 17wsm AR 15 which is great for plinking and 100 yard small game. And last I built a 17-204 recently because I wanted a longer range coyote/fox rifle that I could push a 30 grain Gold to over 4100FPS. I had to switch over to 30 grain Nagel bullets after the Gold's dried up. Accuracy, speed and DRT effects make it tough to beat on predators.

 

[lyotehunter]

I don't see this subject breached all that often but i know there's some 17 fans out there. I personally only have experience with the 17 wsm, which has proven to be quite the effective round for me in a savage bmag HB. That thing continues to blow me away with its accuracy. I have verified many times it will shoot 3/8" 3 shot groups or better. It is very sensitive to how you "hold" the rifle, but at least i have figured out how to make it hit exactly where I aim on a cold bore shot. I chalk that up to the garbage tupperware stock and will be making a new steel tubing stock like several of my previous renditions but better.

All that said, 17 wsm ammo is in short supply so I'll be switching to a 17 fireball soon. Already found a pile of brass, several different bullets and powders to try, and dies so now its just a matter of ordering up a barrel for my contender.

I plan on making a blanket and a coat out of the fur so I need something that won't exit. Plus, around my place the more frangible bullets shot at high speed make me worry less about ricochets than say a 6mm.

Do any of you have an experience with the few different contender barrel shops? Dont mind paying more for the best quality.

I have killed 800 coyotes with my 17rem. I bought a used 17 rem 700 and shot the barrel out ( it wasn't great when i got it) I put a pac-nor barrel on it and it shoots .25" groups when I do my part. I use berger.25gr match hollow points. it kills coyotes better than my 22-250 . it makes their insides turn into jelly. and I watch the bullet hit because there is almost no recoil.

 

[BobHu]

I don't see this subject breached all that often but i know there's some 17 fans out there. I personally only have experience with the 17 wsm, which has proven to be quite the effective round for me in a savage bmag HB. That thing continues to blow me away with its accuracy. I have verified many times it will shoot 3/8" 3 shot groups or better. It is very sensitive to how you "hold" the rifle, but at least i have figured out how to make it hit exactly where I aim on a cold bore shot. I chalk that up to the garbage tupperware stock and will be making a new steel tubing stock like several of my previous renditions but better.

All that said, 17 wsm ammo is in short supply so I'll be switching to a 17 fireball soon. Already found a pile of brass, several different bullets and powders to try, and dies so now its just a matter of ordering up a barrel for my contender.

I plan on making a blanket and a coat out of the fur so I need something that won't exit. Plus, around my place the more frangible bullets shot at high speed make me worry less about ricochets than say a 6mm.

Do any of you have a experience with the few different contender barrel shops? Dont mind paying more for the best quality.

I've got a 17HMR. I haven't seen any thoughts on this on this thread. Cost of ammo isn't bad shoots tiny little holes or groups. I'm thinking hundred and fifty yards it should be good. Thoughts on this please.

 

[BobHu]

I don't see this subject breached all that often but i know there's some 17 fans out there. I personally only have experience with the 17 wsm, which has proven to be quite the effective round for me in a savage bmag HB. That thing continues to blow me away with its accuracy. I have verified many times it will shoot 3/8" 3 shot groups or better. It is very sensitive to how you "hold" the rifle, but at least i have figured out how to make it hit exactly where I aim on a cold bore shot. I chalk that up to the garbage tupperware stock and will be making a new steel tubing stock like several of my previous renditions but better.

All that said, 17 wsm ammo is in short supply so I'll be switching to a 17 fireball soon. Already found a pile of brass, several different bullets and powders to try, and dies so now its just a matter of ordering up a barrel for my contender.

I plan on making a blanket and a coat out of the fur so I need something that won't exit. Plus, around my place the more frangible bullets shot at high speed make me worry less about ricochets than say a 6mm.

Do any of you have a experience with the few different contender barrel shops? Dont mind paying more for the best quality.

I've got a 17HMR and I haven't seen anybody speaking about it on this thread. Are there any thoughts on this? Seems quite accurate. Shoots tiny little groups. I think it should be good out too 150 yd anyway. Thoughts please please

 

[rickiesrevenge]

The HMR isn't in the same league as any of the centerfires. Huge difference in speed, which is probably why you're not seeing guys talking about them here. I feel like 17's need speed to kill efficiently.

 

[comfisherman]

Shot some coyotes in college with the hmr, it was all I had with me at school at the time. Couldn't wait for something with more oomph.


On the 30 grain pills, are the golds still available? Was under the impression it was down to black hole for 30 grain bullets.

 

[Donneric]

Hammer makes a 31 gr .20