forced2workborn2fish Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 have any of you used a .17 to hunt coyote? or is this rifle to small? a guy at work was suppose to sale me a gun but he had a change of heart, after talking to him about wanting a gun that would kill but not cause a lot of damage to the pelt, he suggested a .17, but I've never shot one, I know its a varmint gun but not sure if I could use it for coyotes or not. :gunsmilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coles Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 Are you talking .17 rimfire like the 17HMR? If so, i would limit my shots to 50-100 yards and head shots only. If you are talking about the .17 Remington or the .17 Remington Fireball, I have heard great things about them for coyotes and they are supposed to be an ideal fox gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coles Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 Are you talking .17 rimfire like the 17HMR? If so, i would limit my shots to 50-100 yards and head shots only. If you are talking about the .17 Remington or the .17 Remington Fireball, I have heard great things about them for coyotes and they are supposed to be an ideal fox gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb11 Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 .17 fireball or centerfire is great, the .17hmr is not quite enough in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slugger Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 .17 fireball or centerfire is great, the .17hmr is not quite enough in my opinion. ditto, coyotes are tough as nails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Givan Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 Yep .17hmr is little on the small side for me. A .223 or a .22-250 is a better choice in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forced2workborn2fish Posted January 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2010 I like what I've read about the fireball, I think I'm leaning towards that for now :ninja: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted January 13, 2010 Report Share Posted January 13, 2010 Yeah, they will work but a .22lr will kill a deer too. I personally wouldnt use a .17 (of any flavor) for yote sized animals. They are a great round for Fox and a hoot to shoot. Ive hunted squirrels with them but you better take head shots. They are also deadly on Crow. I sold one last year and regret it. Im buying another as soon as funds become available. Think .22mag on Steroids. I second the choice of .223. Pick the right bullet and youll have little pelt damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TN Bucknasty Posted January 13, 2010 Report Share Posted January 13, 2010 (edited) A .17 is really great round for shooting piss ants. That's about it. You'd be just as well off with a .22 mag which I wouldn't recommend either. Speed does not equal greater killing power, it just makes it easier to hit at long ranges. The .17's are not wind tolerant so I don't even like them for that. I prefer a heavier bullet that is more likely to result in an immediate kill and is less likely to be deterred by wind, grass, etc. Of course, I'm the type of person who wants to make sure that something is going to drop dead when I pull the trigger. I can't stand worrying about my equipment. Edited January 13, 2010 by TN Bucknasty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted January 13, 2010 Report Share Posted January 13, 2010 I have had a 17 HMR for quite a while. It has flattented woodchucks at 100 yards. This was a standing shot, no wind and a good rest. Through the head and down. For coyotes though, I wouldn't use it. I use my .22-250 Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prairiepredator Posted January 13, 2010 Report Share Posted January 13, 2010 I have heard of people using them before but I never would. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardwood_HD Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 i shot my first ever yote with a .17 HMR, i hit him in the neck and dropped in his tracks.. that was the only rifle i had at the time and it worked good but i wouldnt reccomend it i bought a 22-250 for them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntinman802 Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 i love the .17 HMR and i have killed yotes with them, but i prefer my .243 because it has more kill power and range. i use the .17 mainly for chucks in the hay feilds and have killed em at close to 200 yds, but i definitly wouldnt try that on a yote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb11 Posted January 16, 2010 Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 I use my 25-06 with a 85 grain bullet. Drops em everytime, shoots flat as a board and little pelt damage (not my main concern). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted January 18, 2010 Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 The .17 Remington is a nice little gun but personally don't like 25 grain bullets, a little on the small side. For varmints I use my .220 Swift, it's got a bit more snort, the ultimate .22 cal in my opinion. With reloads it can launch 50 grain pills at well over 4100fps. Either that or I use my .25-06 with 75gr bullets flying at 3700fps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunterbrian Posted February 1, 2010 Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 I had a guy who knows his stuff he showed me a bullet he recovered from a .17hmr don't recall what yardage he was shooting but it was no bigger than the lead at the end of a sharpened pencil. go with a .223 or 22-250 you won't be sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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