I have succumbed.....

[philpot 4,967]

For some years I have avoided going the hmr route as I never found a reason to have one, instead I went the wmr route, a round I really liked but my mistake in buying a varmint barrel version which I found just too heavy on the front end and sold it to a guy who wanted exactly what I had.  Recently my shooting partner and I have been toying with an hmr for a few of perms where the land is very open and no hedges to creep down, several of which are over 110 acres so the advantage of the hmr might be ideal in terms of range.

In the rfd whilst having a good root around in the back store room, I came across several guns I liked but one stood out, a Sako Quad with hmr and wmr barrels and the fit was perfect and so was the price so a deal was done. I will be picking up the gun on wednesday fitting a scope in the shop along with my Wildcat Panther mod and carrying out a basic zero in the 25mt range ready to zero properly at 100mt when these fcuking winds p1ss off.  I know some of you use the hmr for foxes so I would be interested to know up to what range do you shoot them with the hmr although it's principle fuction will be long range bunnies.  Not sure if I will use the wmr barrel to be honest as the barrel changeover is not a two minute job and then farting around with new zero but it was in the deal and for peanuts so it would have been foolish not to have had it.

Looking forward to testing it when the weather allows.

Phil

[Stavross 15,283]

Welcome to the dark side

I’ve shot a lot of foxes with mine 99% of them under 100 yards, I like to kill them between 70/80 yards, despite what some say about its shortcomings for fox I’ve not had many run after been shot with it, had a few flip about a bit from body shots but 9 times out of 10 when head shot they drop on the spot

[Sausagedog 7,381]

About 130 yards has been my longest so far with 17.

Most are under 100yds.

I drill their ribs and if they do run it is not far. If ever I do lose one I know I have killed it by shooting them across the ribs as opposed to possibly smashing jaw. I must admit to one or two being head shots mind!

It's better than one would think.

[Deker 3,478]

I've had them to 150 yards with the HMR but that is definitely the exception, I'm very confident to 100 yards and happy enough to 120ish. (although most of mine are much closer)

The weather and individual situation has a lot to do with it but the HMR is a very capable fox calibre when used sensibly.

Experience has led me to the 17g V-Max for the job!

[Deker 3,478]

13 hours ago, philpot said:

For some years I have avoided going the hmr route as I never found a reason to have one, instead I went the wmr route, a round I really liked but my mistake in buying a varmint barrel version which I found just too heavy on the front end and sold it to a guy who wanted exactly what I had.  Recently my shooting partner and I have been toying with an hmr for a few of perms where the land is very open and no hedges to creep down, several of which are over 110 acres so the advantage of the hmr might be ideal in terms of range.

In the rfd whilst having a good root around in the back store room, I came across several guns I liked but one stood out, a Sako Quad with hmr and wmr barrels and the fit was perfect and so was the price so a deal was done. I will be picking up the gun on wednesday fitting a scope in the shop along with my Wildcat Panther mod and carrying out a basic zero in the 25mt range ready to zero properly at 100mt when these fcuking winds p1ss off.  I know some of you use the hmr for foxes so I would be interested to know up to what range do you shoot them with the hmr although it's principle fuction will be long range bunnies.  Not sure if I will use the wmr barrel to be honest as the barrel changeover is not a two minute job and then farting around with new zero but it was in the deal and for peanuts so it would have been foolish not to have had it.

Looking forward to testing it when the weather allows.

Phil

The only people I know with the Quad use it as a single calibre gun, but as you are after a HMR and it comes with a WMR as well, sounds a deal.   Nothing wrong with the gun at all but the Quad side never really took off in the UK, (don't shout, of course the 4 calibre option is useful for some) despite them also having a dedicated scope available to make re-zeroing easier with barrel change.   Actually I think it was meant to eliminate re-zeroing with barrel change!  

I had one on order years back before CZ did a HMR in the American, but the CZ arrived in the UK first!

[Dervburner 2,549]

1 hour ago, Deker said:

The only people I know with the Quad use it as a single calibre gun, but as you are after a HMR and it comes with a WMR as well, sounds a deal.   Nothing wrong with the gun at all but the Quad side never really took off in the UK, (don't shout, of course the 4 calibre option is useful for some) despite them also having a dedicated scope available to make re-zeroing easier with barrel change.   Actually I think it was meant to eliminate re-zeroing with barrel change!  

I had one on order years back before CZ did a HMR in the American, but the CZ arrived in the UK first!

A friend of mine has a quad with two hmr barrels? He says the spare is in case the other one gets shot out.

[philpot 4,967]

Thanks guys for the info, most interesting.  Hornady V-Max 17gr is what I was going to use unless any of you have any other suggestions although I have heard od some people using, I think it was 20 or 22gr but not sure, I am guessing the 17gr helps to keep the point of impact on the zero point for longer range.

I will establish this later but as a matter of interest, if I zero at 75 - 100mt using 17gr V-Max, how far would you expect it to stay on target without holdover. I am curious about this as I have, like many people, had to use holdover for most of my shooting. Tests will show this but worth asking you guys who have experience with hmr.

Phil

[BenBhoy 4,706]

50 minutes ago, philpot said:

I think it was 20

Yeah 20 Phil. But mine didn't like them one bit. Think most folks stock to 17gr. V max if you can get at minute. 

[Deker 3,478]

1 hour ago, philpot said:

Thanks guys for the info, most interesting.  Hornady V-Max 17gr is what I was going to use unless any of you have any other suggestions although I have heard od some people using, I think it was 20 or 22gr but not sure, I am guessing the 17gr helps to keep the point of impact on the zero point for longer range.

I will establish this later but as a matter of interest, if I zero at 75 - 100mt using 17gr V-Max, how far would you expect it to stay on target without holdover. I am curious about this as I have, like many people, had to use holdover for most of my shooting. Tests will show this but worth asking you guys who have experience with hmr.

Phil

Everyone will have their own experiences and preferences. 

I found the 20g zipped right through and led to a handful of runners (they died pretty quick just the same) so you were limited in your shot placement.   

The V-Max does what the V-Max does pretty well, and is very good at stopping them on the spot, its not so much to do with holding the point of impact, it's terminal effect!

My experience!

[Deker 3,478]

1 hour ago, Dervburner said:

A friend of mine has a quad with two hmr barrels? He says the spare is in case the other one gets shot out.

That's interesting, I heard folklore of someone who shot out a HMR barrel but never known of one for certain, does anyone else?

Been thinking, I use 500-1000HMR a year so I must be around the 10,000 mark, and mine is still accurate and repeatable with no issues!

[Sausagedog 7,381]

I've used 20gn and 17gn bullets on foxes and there is very little  in it so I just stick to 17gn ammunition  now. Hornady mostly.

[Sausagedog 7,381]

I think with a 100yd zero you will be minute of rabbits head close to 150yds. 200yds it will need 6" of hold over though. It starts  really  dropping after 150 but still dependable at 200 sans wind.

Wind doesn't really bother it up to 100yds. If its really windy I take a shotgun etc.

[Dervburner 2,549]

3 hours ago, Deker said:

That's interesting, I heard folklore of someone who shot out a HMR barrel but never known of one for certain, does anyone else?

Been thinking, I use 500-1000HMR a year so I must be around the 10,000 mark, and mine is still accurate and repeatable with no issues!

Hmm, I think his money would’ve been better spent on a wmr barrel as he uses it for foxing on a smallish area of land. Most shot well inside 100 yards. Not sure if or when he’ll actually need to use the spare .17 barrel, but who knows?

[villaman 9,983]

Try different ammo Phil same as any gun , every barrel is different. My tikka 17 HMR hates hornady but federal premium & Norma are absolutely spot on 

[philpot 4,967]

23 minutes ago, villaman said:

Try different ammo Phil same as any gun , every barrel is different. My tikka 17 HMR hates hornady but federal premium & Norma are absolutely spot on 

I had some feed back today that Norma is not good but as you say every barrel is different although our firearms specialist rfd says V-Max is by far their biggest seller for hmr.   RWS produce a superb wmr round but have no feedback on an hmr round either performance or availability.   First test will be Hornady V-Max as they are easily available but just checking Forest Lodge site, they sell Norma, Winchester, CCI, Remington, Federal and of course Hornady so my pal and myself may well buy a few different ones to try.

Phil