any input on the 17 remington

nbsanders

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Dec 26, 2010
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I was wondering if any of you guys shoot a 17 Remington. I would like to know its maximum. Range.also the damage it leaves on fur. Would this be good for Bobcats coyotes as far as fur damage
 
I was wondering if any of you guys shoot a 17 Remington. I would like to know its maximum. Range.also the damage it leaves on fur. Would this be good for Bobcats coyotes as far as fur damage


I definately wouldn't use the 17 as a primary gun for coyotes. At 200 yards I'm not sure the 17 has enough energy to kill a bigger predator like a coyote or a fox. Prarie dogs or squirrels sure, but even then it's not always a 1 shot kill. In my opinion the 17 has a max USABLE range of 150 yards. That's not saying you can't make a 250 yard shot, but good luck :)
 
I was out shooting a few weeks ago to check the zero on mine and shot this group at 100 yards.

DSC00742.jpg



Don't know anything about shooting coyotes or foxes but it is a very capable gun out to 300 yards and if there is no wind you can get out to 500 yards.
 
I was out shooting a few weeks ago to check the zero on mine and shot this group at 100 yards.

DSC00742.jpg



Don't know anything about shooting coyotes or foxes but it is a very capable gun out to 300 yards and if there is no wind you can get out to 500 yards.

It's not the accuracy in question but the velocity, which is what's needed for the kill.
 
Sure it does. I have shot 4 deer and 2 antelope with the 17. All were 150-350 yard shots. Not the best caliber to use but it gets the job done. Works the best on coyotes and fox. It was made for the fur chasers back when you could pay your truck payment with only two or three coyotes. My truck anyway:rolleyes:
 
I definately wouldn't use the 17 as a primary gun for coyotes. At 200 yards I'm not sure the 17 has enough energy to kill a bigger predator like a coyote or a fox. Prarie dogs or squirrels sure, but even then it's not always a 1 shot kill. In my opinion the 17 has a max USABLE range of 150 yards. That's not saying you can't make a 250 yard shot, but good luck :)

It's a great coyote rifle for 350 yrds and under. My choice for sure!
 
I wouldnt be afraid to shoot at a coyote with a 17 remington out to 300yards. Ive seen more one shot kills on a coyote with 17 remington and 20gr vmax than I have with a 204 ruger and 40gr vmax.
 
If a 17 HMR works on coyotes at 50 to 100 yards, why wouldn't the 17 Remington work well to 300 to 350 yards, barring wind conditions. As the 17 penetrates, it fragments and does a lot of internal damage to the organs. That is why it doesn't make a massive exit wound. Perfect for the fur trade. But proper shot placement will always be an important part of the equation.
 
I have had at least one 17 Remington in my safe for around 30 years. With a 25g Hornady HP going 4100fps is dynamite on foxes, pelts can sometimes tear, but that is only at close range.
You want a frangible bullet like a Varmageddon to get in and blow up.
I have taken 200lb hogs with mine, so a coyote or fox don't stand a chance.

Cheers.
 
My regret is selling my 17 Rem. It put a hole in the heads about the size of the head of a pin. REALLY. No exit. Shoot it in the head and you'll have trouble finding a hole DRT. I'll take another one.
 
I wore out a .17 Remington barrel (Lilja) on ground squirrels. The gunsmith said it had no rifling for the first two inches. Chronograph readings are not reliable or repeatable with the tiny bullets but I found excellent accuracy with IMR-8208 and 25 gr Nosler Varmagedon and Bergers. Both are hollow point flat base bullets. The tipped bullets are less accurate, because it is such a tiny tip and hard to attach at the same overall length and concentricity. Nosler brass is only what I used. Excellent, many loadings after annealing. It still has my longest squirrel hit, 338 yards. The .17 HMR is not lethal enough. Plenty of them crawl into their holes and die. I shoot a factory barreled .17 Fireball which I nitrocuarburized. For great accuracy, clean your barrel much more often than other caliblers. My .17 Rem barrel was nitrocarburized and I only shoot coated HBN bullets (helps with the fowling). Many happy memories of ground squirrel trips.
 

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