I'm still not sure where the 17 HMR fits in the cartridge world but I don't think it should be used on anything bigger than a groundhog. Hell, next thing you know we'll be shooting moose with a .177 pellet gun. I'm not usually one to say a caliber is too small for the job at hand but.....................

Thank you Chester, I mean come on. The 22lr has more knock down than a .17 and im not sure if i'll take a yote with a .22lr. I think the only real way to kill a yote with a .17 is a head shot and those aren't always guranteed.

Before you read the rest of the post ,please look here for the purpose of the rifle twist http://www.savagearms.com/93r17f.htm a 1:9 twist is required to give the bullet stability because it is very light in weight. Typically, rifles chambered in 22 mag have a 1:14 twist for example, the .17 simply being a necked-down version of the 22 mag . Big difference !!
The 17, because of its size simply fails.

Was it David that killed Goliath with a stone, maybe so, but I bet he wouldn't try that again would choose a bigger rock ?

I bought a .17 HMR a while back, only thing I have shot with it was a Jack Rabbit at about 50 Yrds. he jumped about 3 feet in the air and dropped dead. Gut shot and very small exit wound. I think it would work well for small varmints at closer ranges. Coyote maybe, but I would think you need to put it through the eye. I like mine because it is less likely to ricochete, making it safer on small acrage.

I've killed close to a dozen coyotes with mine. Most were head shots at close ranges. Nothing over 100 yards. Haven't had one run off yet. The .17 is not my choice as a varmit rifle when I am out hunting, but when I am out at the ranch and I see one I am going to shoot it with whatever I have in the truck. Whatever it takes to make it a dead coyote will work in a pinch.

Does anybody remember an article in either Field and Stream or Outdoorlife about hunting Elk with a .17 caliber? It was printed about ten years ago. It was a crazy article describing how the light round explodes from the harsh impacted, scattering its fragments throughout the body. The article was nuts, almost hollywood quality.

I have shot many coyotes with my .17 HMR and have never lost one yet. Me and a friend of mine both can consistently hit a two inch steel plate at 250 yards. Of course we have spent a lot of time and money on these rifles. I would only reccomend using one if you can place perfect shots though. Other than that 22-250 is the best choice

Anyone has any experience with SAVAGE 93R17HMR GV? Please share. depending of what hear today, it will be my next rifle on gun safe.

I own that very gun and its fantastic. Spend some time breakin in the barrel and get a scope ballistically calibrated for .17 HMR bullet drop. The best i have found is sold by cabelas. I also reccomend only shootin ballistic tips. the hollow points just arent very accurate after 50 yards. I can consitently shoot 200 plus yards with plenty of knock down power for small varmints. ENJOY!!!!

I PLAN TO , THANK YOU. WHAT SCOPE DO YOU HAVE? IS IT THE SWEET 17?