17 HMR ammo

[gareth08 1]

Hi,

 

Just bought myself a CZ 452 American in 17HMR. Very impressive little rifle. Unbelievably accurate right out to 150yds With the flat shooting 17HMR.

 

Now I know different rifles favour different brands of ammo - but I was out today, reducing the local rabbit population, and found a few issues.

 

I'm currently using CCI 20 grain gamepoint and Federal Premium 17 grain V - shock. It's all they had at the local dealers and I wanted to test a couple of brands. Both seem to produce fairly good groups (1-1.5 inches) out to 100-120 yds.

 

If I'm hitting rabbits at 60-100yds either round is pretty effective. However beyond 100 yds the CCI gamepoints actually knock the bunnies about 3 feet backwards and then then the poor buggers get up and try to run off, before I have to reload and put another one in! I realise a large part of this is shot placement - I'm aiming for chest shots as I'm not eating the rabbits, but inevitably a few shots have gone higher up towards the back of the neck/shoulder area. I'm surprised they can still move!

 

With the Federal v shocks - they leave one hell of a wound! The entry hole is a mess and the exit wound is almost the size of the palm of my hand inside 100yds - beyond that I've had 1 rabbit knocked down then try to scamper off with a shot to the shoulder. I had to get another one in the head before he stopped. Again I know this is poor shot placement on my part.

 

Had anyone had any good results with other ammo types? I need to try out some Hornady ammo if I can find it. The 20 grain small game ammo I'm aware is good if you want to maintain some meat for eating, but doesn't seem to have the same 'knockdown' energy as the varmint ammo. I'm not really interested in eating them at the mo, unless the local butcher is interested - so I'm only interested in humanely killing these little guys - mostly at 100 yds + distances.

[The Seeker 3,048]

I've found 17gr Hornady Vmax to be the best round for my CZ, it is the nature of the thing though with a 17HMR meat damage is unavoidable unless head shot.

 

I am surprised at beyond 100 yards they are managing to run, it may be you are only clipping them as any shot to the neck,head,chest or even gut shot @ 100yards would put the rabbit down.

[optelic2 48]

Ive recently bought another .17 cz 452 after not owning one for 4 years and find the 17 grain Hornady v-max rounds very good. I use a rangefinder on my shoot and furthest shot rabbit up to now is 138yds. Most of the bunnies ive shot at 120yds+ often have no sign of an external entry wound with the v-max round. Every rabbit shot at these ranges have been clean kills with this ammo. I must add these have been chest shot.

[gareth08 1]

Yeah I'm gonna take a trip to another local firearms dealer and try out some Hornady ammo. There is always the odd flyer (usually my dodgy shot) that might be clipping them.

 

Will try sighting in a few different brands and then work from there.

 

Have to say though. The 17HMR ammo really is impressive. I've had a couple of paper targets with holes almost on top of each other at 100yds on a calm day!