SmallCaliberCentral

Got a call last evening from my horse rancher neighbor lady asking me to come over this morning and thin out some rockchucks and sage rats. This is a bi-annual event for me, and I usually take my Cooper M38 20VT, but today I decided to take my Anschutz 1517HB in 17HMR.

Most shots at this place don't go much over 200 yards, so I was hoping the little HMR would anchor large chucks at this range. I was not disappointed. "Annie" on her bipod in the field:



The scope is a Leupold VX2 4-12X 40mm AO with their excellent LR Duplex reticle in Talley rings & mounts....perfect for use on the HMR. I was using Hornady Varmint Express 17gr V-Max's, and it appears my early fears about adequate stopping power on the larger chucks was unfounded, as least at these ranges. In all, I shot 8 chucks, 2 large adults, and six juveniles:



Not a bad way to spend a morning before mowing the lawn. I'm getting used to this retirement thing more every day. Another shot of the area:



All these chucks were shot from a fixed prone position firing from 188 yards on a long sprawling rock pile:



One area had a large squirrel mound complex. I wacked quite a few at 133 yards all coming out of and running into a single hole.....bad move on their part:



At this limited range, the little HMR really puts the hurt on Skippy and his pals:



Parting shot at the ranch looking NW to Mt. Jefferson, an extinct volcano, one a dozens around here:



I won't be using my HMR's for chucks all the time, but this trip proved to me that for ranges under 200 yards, and taking head shots only if possible, it's completely adequate. Not to mention a fun morning prior to lawn duties...... (But next spring, I know "Scooter", my Cooper 20VT will get the nod. )

Thank you Rick, as usual very nice photo's and shots of critters and rifle/s. Bill K

Those 17's are a hoot for sure. Thanks for the tour.

Jim

Great write up, Rick, and great pics as usual. I have to agree that times like these are way better than lawn duties!

I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoy shooting groundhogs with my 17HMR!! If the groundhog didn't fall over at the break of the trigger I wouldn't even realize the fire was lit under those little 17gr'ers.

Nice mess of chucks Rick!!

Have you tried the 20gr XTP offerings from Hornady in your HMR? For head shots I like them better than the V-Max. They just hit harder IMO.

Glen wrote:Have you tried the 20gr XTP offerings from Hornady in your HMR? For head shots I like them better than the V-Max. They just hit harder IMO.

Glen, have not, but after spending a day shooting chucks with the Hornady 17gr offering, if I take the HMR out again for chucks, it will most likely be loaded with the 20gr XTP's for the added bullet weight. Some of these boys get upwards of 16 lbs, so want as much smack as I can get.

This HMR-shot female probably weighed about 12lbs herself:



Truth be known, I'll most likely be using my 20VT again at this ranch though......never any doubt about the hit being "completely effective"...... But man-alive, what an excellent rat caliber the 17HMR is!

I hear ya on those big hogs Rick!! We've pounded some in the 14lb range here as well. It can take a lot to anchor those ones sometimes.

FWIW-- I've found with the 20gr'ers that unless I hit some solid bone like the skull,, they just tended to pass right thru with a small wound channel most of the time. Even on chest shots. Now complete broadside shots were very effective by keeping the shot going thru the shoulder joint. But I've found that head shots are where those 20's shine brightest.