New Rabbit -Squirrel -Prairie Dog Rifle

[tuck2]

This morning I sited in a new Cal. 17 HM2 CZ452-2EZKM Varmint rifle with a Burris 4-12 X Mini w/ AO scope. Shot six cotten tail rabbits in the head at ranges between 25 and 50 Yds. That little 17 Gr. V-MAX bullet is far more destructive than a 22 LR HP. Had time to go past the prairie dog town and shot one p dog at about 70 Yds. Hit the p dog in the ribs . A very small entery and exit hole but the p dog fell down and kicked a bit. Squirrel season is over untill next fall-darn. I,ll be going out after p dog to see how the 17 GR. V-MAX with a MV 2,050 FPS will work out to 120 Yds.

[tcoop]

Sounds like a fun little round. I would like to have one someday, but I just don't do enough small varmint hunting. I will go for a big game rifle first.

tcoop

[tuck2]

Tcoop-- At my age I have collected a few big game rifles but I was a little short on small game and varmint rifles. Since I retired seven years ago I spend a lot of hours shooting varmints,and small game so I,m trying out the 17 HM2 , 17 HMR, 204 Ruger and 221 Fireball this year. I,ll go after pronghorn and deer this fall but I don,t know about high country elk.

[Tifford]

I've got the 17HMR and that is one nice round.

I love the little round because it is so fun to shoot. As I'm getting older the smaller rounds appeal to me more. Of course for rabbit and smaller game there is no need for a punishing round.

If there is no game available try this:
1) Get some rope or string
2) Get your wife some new clothes pins
3) Take her old clothes pins and clip them to the string
4) Hang the string from a tree branch
5) Fire away at the clothes pins

If it is a windy day it makes it even more fun.

I haven't shot the HM2 yet but they say it is close to the 17HMR. Those 17s seem to put the round where you want it to go. If the rabbit seems to be sort of lazy I tend to aim for the head and out to 100 yards it gets the job done. Nothing like heading out just before sun set and seeing a rabbit come out of the woods to feed. Takes usually under 20-30 minutes to see one. Another ten minutes and he is in the frig..

Tifford

[tuck2]

Tifford---- Shooting games are fun but I live in an area I can, hunt something all year long. Squirrel and rabbits open Aug and Sept end Jan Feb. Prairie dogs ,no season, are out when ever the temp is over 40 degres. Bench rest target shooting is for checking reloads and siteing in a rifle.. But I do need to set up some shooting games for when my grand son visits .

[Tifford]

You're a lucky man to be hunting year round.

Enjoy the days ahead with your Grandson.

[jmclark]

Buddy of mine got a .17HMR. Says it is a blast to shoot. Can't remember what make or model. I heard that it is a .22mag necked down, is that true? And what about the .221fireball. Sounds like some real zingers. Has anyone tried em on anything bigger? Yotes, badgers, coon, etc.?

[Tifford]

Yes the little 17hmr is a 22mag necked down. I've never clocked it but 2,600 fps is what I'm hearing some of the bullets will do. IMHO it is one heck of a nice caliber for hunting, punching paper or for honing your skills before you go out for big game. That little Savage I've got is a tack driver at 100 yards. With the rifle propped up somehow, hitting a dime at 100 yards is easy.

The local gun shop down here has various plexiglass targets that he has shot with various calibers. The little 17 is a destructive round. Great round for squirrel, rabbit or fox. Some guys claim it is a 200 yard round. I don't push it much beyond 100 yards.

[tuck2]

I shot my Cooper HMR rifle with 17 Gr Hornady ammo over a PACT chronograph and got 2700 FPS eight feet from the muzzle. With the CZ Varmint 17 HM2 2050 FPS. The 17 HMR is about a 180 Yd prairie dog rifle while the 17 HM2 should be good out to about 120 Yds. The 22 LR case neck down to 17 Dia. ( 17HM2) is a fun little rifle. -- My 221 Fireball rifle will shoot a 40 Gr. bullet at 3370 FPS at the muzzle with 570 FPE at 200 Yds. At 200 Yds the 221 Fire ball will take care of a Yote but I use a 220 Swift for Yots. The May 2005 issue of Guns & Ammo page 24 has a artical about the 221 Fireball with reloading data. Should make a fair 250-300 Yd prairie dog rifle.

[Evan]

you guys have got me drolling.

going hmr crazy. wantn to get 77/22m so i can have switch barrerl rig.

[Tifford]

Time to get one Evan

[Evan]

well the hmr is more my style with the wind around here and i just might have difrent plans for the 6-18 leo im getting now, but im not positive on that yet.

[tuck2]

Went out after prairie dog pups for a few hours with the CZ Varmint 17 HM2 rifle last week . The pups are just starting to show up but got 34 of them. After glass bedding the action, free floating the barrel, and reducing the trigger pull to 2 3/4 Lb. my best ten shot 100 Yd group is 1.1 inch. The 17 HM2 17 Gr. bullet with a MV of 2050 has fare more splatter factor than the 22 LR HP bullets. Last week my shots were between 25 and 75 Yds but because af the accuracy of the rifle I.ll limit my shots to 100 Yds the next time I go out. An other limiting factor may be on how the little 17 Gr. bullet opens up on the pups at 100 Yd. shots. Snow was forcast for parts of the Nebr. Panhandle last night , dont have the flowers planted this spring. Its ben a windy and or cold April and May ,darn.

[tuck2]

Took out the CZ 17 HM2 May 14 and 16 . 112 PD pups on the first day. Today I had to hold into the wind but got 54 PD pups . The PD s were spookey with the wind and a lot were not out. The 17 GR bullet will drift about 3 1/2 inches with a 10 MPH 90 degree wind at 100 Yds. Some times it was gusting up tp 20 MPH. Make some fun shooting.

[Tifford]

Hitting those PDs sounds like fun. I'm going to have to drive out west one of these days and try a shoot some time.

[tuck2]

Prairie dog pups are out about the last week in May. A 22LR or a 17HM2 rifle that groups 3/4 In. at 75 Yds with a 12 X scope w/ AO will work for most shooting. I site in the 22 LR HP ammo at 60 Yds and the 17 HM2 ammo at 100 Yds. Most shots can be under 100 Yds. The 17 HMR 17 Gr round is sited in at 120 Yds with the rifle haveing a 14 x scope w/ AO for shots out to 180 Yds. Beyond 180 Yds a centerfire varmint rifle that groups 3/4 In at 100 Yds with a 14 or 18 X scope could be used. There are so many good varmint rounds out now . Any 204 Ruger, 221 Rem,223 Rem, 22-250 , and the 220 Swift with a 6-20 X scope will work but with the hot rounds one has to let the barrels cool so that the rifleing is not burnt out. That why I like the first three listed. Prairie dogs will head to there holes when one blast them with 6mm or larger rounds. When I,v shot them with the 243 Win. the muzzle blast have put dogs down into their holes 400 Yds away.Haveing extra ten shot magazines are handy when shooting P D pups . I,v had up to 30 shots per hour when going after pups --

[tuck2]

I liked the 17 HM2 round so well that I added a Cooper LVT 17 HM2 to my battery. I`m looking for a scope in the 4-12 X or 4-14 X w/AO . I`ll use the CZ for small game and the Cooper for prairie dogs. Tifford did you get the pics?