17 Hmr

[blackstaff 488]

Mathmatically you have 2 POI, 1 close ( 35 yards for example ) and 1 far ( 100 yards example ) It's all very well putting round on round at 35 yards but that isn't enough room for erroer on the left / right zero IMO. I've personally zero'd at 100 yards, anything closer a little hold under anything longer a little hold over, simple

[dadioles 68]

take a look at this works with my arnie http://www.chuckhawks.com/17HMR.htm

 

A better way to zero a .17 HMR rifle is to put the 17 grain bullet 1.5" high at 100 yards, for a zero range of 145 yards. It would then hit about 0.9" high at 50 yards, 0.3" low at 150 yards, and 5.5" low at 200 yards. The maximum point blank range (+/- 1.5") of the cartridge would be about 165 yards, at which range the bullet retains about 90 ft. lbs.of energy, enough to remain effective on the smaller varmints.

 

That is quite a lot to remember and you have got a huge kill zone. Your kill zone is 3 inches in diameter which is bigger than a rabbits head. Add in some room for error and a bit of wind and I think you risk too much wounding or at best, body shots which with the hmr is messy and taints the meat. For me, the drop at 200 yards is only of academic interest. 150 yards is a long shot on a rabbit and getting to the 'more luck than judgement' range.

 

There is no substitute for shooting at paper targets, what works for Chuck Hawkes may not be the same for you and your gun.

 

If you are shooting for pure pest control (I don't think Chuck Hawkes eats ground hogs) that is not the same as shooting rabbits for the pot where head shots are preferable.

 

Even Chuck Hawkes said:

 

".... reports from the field suggest that consistent one shot kills on ground hogs are possible at 150 yards if the shooter has the skill to get the bullet into a vital spot....."

 

He went on to point out that at 150 yards a 10mph crosswind will move the bullet 8 inches.

 

I still think that a 1" kill zone for the typical rabbit shooter makes more sense and the maximum distance to head shoot a rabbit is whatever distance you can get EVERY bullet into the area of a 2p coin.

[andyf 144]

You boys must have concrete shooting benches all over the farm? And Rabbits that stand next to range markers to help you out.

Cos at 150 yards through a (less than £750) scope a rabbit looks like a mouse on 8x, zoom up to 20+ and you'll wobble all over

the county.

But I guess you'll be head shooting 1/2 grown bunnies out there??

I guess I must be rubbish, or have bad eyes (shooting for over 50 years).

Ho Ho

[shropshire dan 467]

My furthest is 130yard headshot off a bipod using a bipod. 100yard zero gives me a fraction over 1" drop at 130 yards. I was using a redfield 4-12x40 set on 10x mag although I normally use 8x.

[celticrusader 78]

I had a 145 yard headshot 2 weeks ago from a sat on my ass legs crossed position but then its all about ambush technique and I use a bipod of roughly 23 inch's which is extended to give me greater control and view as apposed to going prone, being as relaxed as can be is a must and being that I'm zeroed for 75 or 100 ( can't remember now without looking on my charts) its given me 2 inch's roughly hold over.

That being said I only use variable scopes and mine is a 4-16x50... I dont know why anyone would use a fixed scope but if it works for you then go for it.