KyWindageII: I actually burst out laughing when I read your post the first time - then in disbelief I read it again to look for some sign of satire, like you might be joking about this cartridge!
No luck with that re-read.
I have been using the 17 HMR on Varmints and small game since day one!
To date I have used my 17 HMR Rifles (and one pistol) to cleanly kill:
Coyotes
Fox
Badgers (these Varmints take a LOT of killing by the way!)
Porcupine
Raccoon
Snowshoe Hares
Rock Chucks
Skunks
Jack Rabbits
Prairie Dogs
Rattle Snakes
Wild Turkeys
feral cats
Grouse
large flying Varmints
Cottontail Rabbits
Ground Squirrels
Weasels (and Ermine)
If you can not cleanly kill a Wood Chuck with your 17 HMR Rifle then you are either trying to stretch the range beyond the cartridges capability or you are not hitting them in a lethal portion of their anatomy!
Speaking of Wild Turkey, in addition to the 17 HMR, I have killed them with the 22 L.R. and the 22 Magnum - simply strike the bird with your rimfire projectile at the base of their neck and go pick'em up and start plucking.
I 100% absolutely disagree with your depiction of the wonderful 17 HMR cartridge and its lethality!
Long live the 17 HMR.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
