Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles 17 HMR on coyotes?

If you use one for this purpose, what do you think?

They will kill a coyote, and I've killed several with mine. However, I much prefer something bigger, such as the 223.

I don't use one for that reason. I use a rifle of whatever caliber, so I have it with me on whatever piece of equipment I'm driving.
I have used one to shoot a couple of coyotes & a 22 mag also. I'd rather have an AR, but both of the rimfires can work if thats all you have. Sometimes the rimfires surprise me.

sure the .17 hmr can kill a coyote, but without tracking snow just be prepared to lose a few because if they run there won't be enough blood to follow them without snow.

I don't and won't. Coyotes are great game animals that I can hunt 24/7 they deserve the same ethical treatment as deer. 17hmr is for ground squirrels!

No, they have been found to be underwhelming. Even a 22WMR with a heavy JHP is much more effective.

My 'light' rifle for coyote is a 22 Hornet, with 45gr Barnes XLC's, my 'medium' is a 222RemMag and my 'heavy' is a 243.

Coyotes are my favorite animal to hunt.

Coyotes are tough. If you choose to use the 17HMR, limit the distance you will shoot them at, and try to hit them in the neck.

With the Hornet, I limit the head-on shot, typical of a calling situation, to about 100yds, and the rare broadside shot to about 150yds. Much beyond that and I get runners and floppers.

I have shot a couple with the 17 HMR both were around 80 yds and in both instances it took took three shots to get them down, the final shot being head shots. It is just not enough cartridge to do the job properly.

It is a great ground squirrel round but for coyotes it is just not enough for an ethical kill - even coyotes don't deserve to suffer.

drover

ok, I have my choice of truck guns, one in 223 custm 700 or AR the other custom 700 .243/6mm

Too small by a good margin in my book. Even the 17 Hornet is on the minimum side, but is a whole lot better than the 17 HMR. I use my HMR mostly for rabbits and squirrels.

Head shots only inside 100 yds.

Have and it worked. Lung shots, short death runs.

Same with the Mach2. 1 was luck between the eyes at just over 100 and the others were lung shots. 1 was sitting watching me and took a little V-Max right between the front legs in the chest, just fell to the side and never wiggled.

All were targets of opportunity while doing something else.

I wouldn't pack one when on the lookout for coyotes only as there are better choices but use what you brought when the opportunity arises.

Remember they are just flesh and blood like any other critter, take out the support system and stuff is extremely easy to make un alive.

YMMV.

With a FMJ bullet, the .17 HMR will whack a hog.

Not hearsay. I’ve killed several with that round.

Not my first choice. But it will do the job.

Not my first choice for ‘yotes, but again it does a job on them with appropriate bullet.

DF

I have a few boxes of the 17 HMR Gamepoints and the XTP loads. Would like to try them on a coyote, cat or fox.

TNT ammo is the most accurate in my Annie 1717. They shot tighter groups than any of the “tipped” ammo, like quarter MOA. Others are MOA, some better.

I keep a few FMJ rounds handy for bigger stuff. Not quite as accurate but will drill a hog. Most hog shooting is not that far, so penetration is way more important than pin point accuracy. Ya still gotta place the bullet in the right spot. But that’s with most rounds, not just .17 HMR.

DF

Those TNT rounds are super explosive. Wont exit a lung shot puss cat that's paper thin.

I have had a couple of guys tell me that the 17HMR is destructive on grey squirrels and not enough for coyote

My observation on those is at the range. Never shot a critter with them. Use FMJ on hogs, tipped bullets on other stuff.

I don’t use it that much, prefer my 7 twist Rem model 7 Brux .22-204 on critters up to and including hogs with 75 gr SSII’s over Varget.

DF

Annie 1717 and TNT target.

Rem 7 with Brux .22-204, Lone Wolf stock and Jewell trigger.

If you kill a squirrel with it make damn sure he is shot in the head. More specifically the ear to the eye.