There are no qualms about it and what we say is that only your hunting pattern can decide which is good for you. It qualifies as an all-round .22 Long Rifle load but is a bit more expensive than standard fodder. Ultimately, it might not be worth it for the average shooter. This means if you chase yotes, then you have to ensure that you get the right gun for it. These bullets tend to act much like high-end controlled-expansion bullets out of centerfire cartridges. No, the .17 HMR Hornady Magnum Rimfire is UNDERKILL for coyote hunting, under average conditions, from a mid-range distance, with a medium grain expanding bullet, and with correct shot placement. That means it carries more kinetic energy further distances and it bucks the wind better than either of the .22-caliber rifle cartridges. Were going to show you the ins and outs of the most popular coyote cartridges in current production. At 300 yards, the 17 HMR's common 17 grain projectile retains a 1,090 fps velocity and 45 ft lbs of energy. We will answer all that you need to know about this big debate over 17 hmr vs 22 mag. I always found the look of the HMR round itself to resemble a miniature 270 Winchester cartridge. font-family: Arial, sans-serif; The .243 Winchester has earned a reputation as a mild-recoiling hunting option for young hunters. Subscribe to our mailing list and get interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox. } Shane Watson is a Co-Founder veteran. Compare that to the 22 LR's standard 40 grain projectile, which only exits the muzzle just faster at 1,200 fps, and you at once spot the key difference between the two rimfire rounds. They're most commonly used in hunting or long-range shooting situations. They're very reliable rounds and cycle smoothly through semi-automatic rimfire rifles. But as we said earlier, not all coyote weigh 29 pounds. This will help you take out the guess work and you will be much nearer to your goal. As you try different brands of ammo, you'll notice that your firearm cycles and shoots specific brands and bullets. On the few occasions that I hunted coyotes with a 17HMR, my preferred round is the Hornady XTP 20-grain HP. The fact that lots of people use rimfires for coyotes doesnt make them ideal for the job. Though the 22 LR is a great choice for hitting targets under 100 yards but 17 HMR is what you'll need to hit those targets at 125-175 yards. The .22 WMR and .17 HMR are adequate for all small game . background-color: #efefef; Thankfully, the .204s soft recoil makes it easy to get a quick follow-up shot on a wounded dog. Most .17 HMRs are bolt-action rifles, but you can get a single-shot, lever gun, or semi-automatic if you desire. The Savage .17 HMR is a great rifle for small game hunting or target shooting. Common 6.5 Creedmoor Problems | What You Need To Know. However, savvy hunters. Please feel free to agree, disagree, and share stories from your own experience in the comments section below. NW. But if you are going to use a rimfire for coyotes, it is critical that you pick the right load. Just $1 per month , The truth is that rimfires are a little on the light side for coyotes, so its critical that you select the right load. The .204 Ruger is the best of the best when it comes to.20-caliber cartridges. Some states have shotgun-only restrictions, while Ive also seen some states that have a centerfire-only rule for coyotes. The design also makes it easy to handle in the field. For target shooting, we recommend CCI 17 HMR 20-grain FMJ because they're reasonably priced, cycle reliably in a bolt-action rifle, and are highly accurate. Obviously, the lighter the bullet, the higher the velocity. Originally a wildcat cartridge, the .17 Hornet is one of the smallest centerfire rifle cartridges ever developed. best 17 hmr ammo for coyotes. Despite its flat-shooting ballistics and respectable muzzle velocities, .17 HMR has plenty of limitations. Top #2411967 - 01/26/13 03:37 PM Re: .17 HMR, Good Coyote Gun? While the 17 HMR is limited in its hunting capabilities due to its size, you can still find top-of-the-line 17 HMR varmint hunting rounds, such as the Hornady 17 HMR 17-grain V-MAX, which is more than capable of taking out a coyote or any small game animal. Make sure you dont over-choke your gun. More and more serious predator hunters are opting for cartridges that shoot smaller pills. The cartridge is capable of taking out game much larger than 175 lbs. While there are several capable .17-caliber coyote cartridges on the market, few offer the dog-dropping performance of the .17 Hornet. While the HMR can effectively hit targets in the 150 to 200-yard range, it loses quite a bit of power at those distances. It is a popular query and it gets brought up all the time. The price isn't the lowest, but it's reasonable considering the ammo quality. As explained earlier 22 mag penetrates deeper and this is why we find this to be a better choice over the .17 HMR rifle. You can easily find .223-chambered rifles in semi-automatic, bolt-action, single-shot, and even lever-action rifles. You may have to fire many more rounds. Hence, if you are thinking about bullets, then you can reconsider .17 HMR or Hornady Magnum Rimfire these days. Location. How Should You Hold A Handgun For Maximum Accuracy? text-align: center; This tiny package produces faster speeds (up to 1400 fps faster) and more downrange energy than the rimfire .17 HMR. Still, many hunters do not have a dedicated centerfire coyote rifle, and so when it comes time to go yote hunting, they grab their trusty rimfire. This is one of the fastest and hardest-hitting 40-grain loads available for the .22 Long Rifle. We dont like recommending an FMJ bullet for hunting anything other than varmints. It will also topple a wolf. As one of the most popular hunting cartridges in current production, ammo is relatively affordable and readily available. font-weight: bold; Answer (1 of 10): It depends on shot placement. This assists the bullet to travel longer distances without much of a problem. Lets start by looking at the .17 HMR caliber and the associated ballistic data. For comparison, Hornadys Varmint Express line features both .223 Remington and .22-250 Rem loads. He grew up hunting nearly every game species that Texas had to offer, including wild pigs, White-tailed deer, and coyotes. border-color: black; There are even several .17 HMR revolvers. The AR-15 is often considered a tactical weapon. Surprisingly, one of the best coyote loads for the .22 Magnum is the common 40-grain hollow point. We offer cheap ammo and bulk ammo deals on the most popular ammo calibers. Rifles chambered in .17 Hornet are some of the softest shooting varmint rifles youll ever lay hands on, which makes high-volume coyote hunting far more enjoyable. To be sure, plenty of folks have fired the 17 HMR to take hares and such at 250+ yards. What is the Best Cartridge for Coyote Hunting? We get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. The best 17 HMR ammo for plinking is the CCI 17 HMR 20-grain FMJ because it's reasonably priced, and the FMJ bullet won't dirty your barrel as quickly as a lead bullet will, so you can spend more time shooting and less time cleaning. All three were harvested during the legal season and at the request of the respective landowners who had lost chickens and outdoor pets to the yotes. 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Currently, 17 HMR ammunition is sold in the following bullet weights: From a bullet type standpoint, this Hornady caliber is available in the following configurations: If you were planning to use a 17 HMR for coyotes, Id completely rule the 15.5 grain rounds out. border-spacing: 0; The second important assumption is slightly-suboptimal to optimal shot placement. For the .22 WMR, it is 125 yards for effective shooting. A bit on the heavy side for fox and varmint targets, the .243 is ideal for coyotes, especially big northern dogs. The full metal jacket (FMJ) 20-grain bullet resists wind drift slightly more than lighter bullets, but all 17 HMR bullets are prone to wind drift because they're so lightweight. A JHP will do just fine as well. What do you say? Sure, some dogs only weigh about 20 pounds, but in the East, they can push the 50-pound mark. The .17 Rem. Even when capped with heavier 40-grain projectiles, the .204 Ruger produces muzzle velocities of 3800 fps or faster. Yes but its not ideal. However, this petite cartridge manages all that performance without destroying hides. However, bolt-action rifles offer the highest level of accuracy for hunters who like to pop coyotes across acres of open prairie or harvested cropland. However, for the purposes of this post dealing with the 17 HMR ballistics and the ethical harvest of coyotes, lets talk foot-pounds of energy on impact. MSRP: $11.69 per 50-rnd. However, if you value quick kills over flawless furs, both cartridges will clobber the heck out of nuisance coyotes. border-style: solid; The second important assumption is 'slightly-suboptimal' to 'optimal' shot placement. It has certainly earned its acclaim fair and square. Shot placement is critical, so make the shot count. That extra speed translates into a flatter trajectory and more kinetic energy. The deeper-penetrating .22 Magnum bullet is better at breaking bones and cutting organs. For example, rarely are the best hunting ammo and the best target shooting ammo the same because the manufacturers have two different goals in mind when they make each type. Hornady makes a 17 and 20 grain selection and. You can now find a plethora of rifles and handguns chambered in 17 HMR. border-collapse: collapse; Female coyote weigh about 15 to 40 pounds for an average of 27.5 pounds. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. I use my 17 a lot for fox hunting and I have started using the 20gr XTP bullets as opposed to the 17gr v-max. While the 17HMR is almost always more accurate than the .22 Magnum, the heavier bullets do a better job on heavier game. This article does not serve as the final say, but simply as a starting point for beginner hunters, as well as a venue for further discussion. The T1x comes in a right- or left-handed action. It's a lead bullet with a metal shell, typically copper. The V-MAXs terminal ballistics do tend to make its wound channel relatively shallow, so shot placement does count for a great deal when youre hunting coyote with this bullet. Hornady V-Max bullet design. This baby oughta be good for at least 5 pages. overflow: hidden; The 17 HMR has a muzzle velocity between 2600 to 2800 feet per second (FPS) and is a very flat shooting round. If that won't take a fat coyote out of the picture, the next two range limits will. However, it isn't easy to justify handloading rimfire rounds because they're inexpensive, and the time you spend handloading is worth something. Copyright Ammotogo.com 2023 All Rights Reserved. Good thing the boy scouts just dropped off the popcorn I ordered. What is the average weight of an adult male coyote? I doubt that it's even 1 in 100 here. 150 yards: the cartridge will handle a 2-pound target. } Federal 17 HMR 17gr Polymer-Tipped is a favorite of many varmint hunters because of its consistency. .223/5.56 is also the most popular chambering for AR platform rifles. To begin, consider what a coyote weighs. However, the .243 isnt just for young deer hunters. Many hunters consider the popular .308 Winchester to be overkill for hunting coyotes. With the .22 Magnum, .17 HMR, and Winchesters .17 Super Magnum, you can opt for a more explosive bullet because the higher velocities will translate to more tissue damage. As an example, it doesn't take extraordinary effort to punch three shots into .8 inch with the 20-grain load. Ben started working in outdoor and sporting goods while in high school and now has 17 years of experience in the hunting industry, including some time as a part-time hunting guide. 50 - 100 yards: The .22 LR gets left behind by the others past the 50 yard line. What this means for varmint hunters, is a bullet that flies flatter, retains more energy and extends your effective range with the .17HMR. With a muzzle velocity of around 2500 fps, you can expect about 7 to 10 inches of penetration with some fragmentation that will enhance tissue damage. It shoots projectiles in the 17- to 20-grain range up to about 2,600 feet per second (fps). One potential method to measure a calibers effectiveness against an animal is to look at the terminal ballistics. The single smallest group measured a diminutive .21-inch. It barely kisses the shoulder which makes for fast, easy follow-up shots. The 17 HMR's fast velocity and flat trajectory . Be finicky with both your range and your shot placement and choose loads with polymer tipped bullets like the Hornady V-Max. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Conversely, the 17 HMR is low on energy which is why it is regarded as a good weapon for hunting small animals like varmints and chipmunks. However, it's easy to burn through several hundred rounds at the range, especially shooting a semi-auto rifle, and those rounds begin to add up at nearly $0.50 apiece quickly. If youd like to look elsewhere, then here are our recommended rounds SKU numbers to assist you on your search. Using the 31-pound male and 27.5 female figures, the average coyote weight is 29.25 pounds, so lets round it down to 29 pounds for more straightforward math.