Just got new Marlin 17HMR. Anyone do any varmit hunting with 17HMR ?

I have used the .17 HMR extensively on Belding ground squirrels. A very satisfactory and useful round out to 125 yards or so

I have a marlin aswell, Shot a few prarie dogs, and one coyote with it. Great for little varmints, Quite accurate as long as its not too windy out, at 50 yards it prints tiny groups < 1/2" at 100 they are always over 1", I think because the slightest wind pushes the light bullets so easy.

I havent hunted coyotes with it just happened upon one, killed him but he went about 80 yards before he dropped.

Makes a mess out of things you want to eat though, I wouldent recomend it for ruffed grouse or rabbits unless youre strictly head shooting.

I have used one quite a bit, taking prairie dogs out past 280 yards, and marmots past 260.
I use the Hornady 17 gr. V-Max for varmints, and the 20 gr Hornady XTP bullets for things I want to eat. I have shot several turkeys with the XTP's. They punch a nice hole all the way through them, but don't fragment and tear them up.
My rifle is a Cooper that has shot many half MOA groups at the 100 yard mark, as long as there is no breeze, and I use a Pride-Fowler scope with ballistic reticle specifically for the HMR.

Have not shot PDs with a .l7HMR as far as cobrad has, but have hit them at 227yds in front of witnesses. A week ago Monday, a friend and I went out on a cold day and hit over 100 of the little buggers in less than 4 hours. There are six of us that have Savage bolt gun .17s, four right hand and two left hand, and all of them shoot a maximum 100yd 5-shot group of an inch or smaller. They work.

I have a left handed heavy barrel Savage and I love the cartridge. Mine is reliably accurate. I've shot many groundhogs and crows out to 200 yards. I took the gun to South Africa and used it to harvest multiple birds, a porcupine and a fox. What amazes me is how effectively it kills. That being said, I have not used it on game larger than a fox and do not intend to. When it comes to critters like coyote, I use my .223. I'm sure the .17 will kill a coyote and I am not being critical of those who use the .17 on coyotes, but my personal choice is to use the .223 when they are on the menu. The .17 HRM is a great cartridge and tons of fun to shoot.

prof, I could be envious. Where I shoot I am lucky if I get 20 in a day. There are not big colonies, just scattered dens. Usually I use a 22-250 because the shooting is mostly 300 to over 500 yards.

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I have a left handed heavy barrel Savage and I love the cartridge.

Me, too.

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..... out to 125 yards or so.

My sentiments exactly; after that the bullets are pretty wind sensitive; although we've made some pretty long Hails Mary's on occaision, too.

End of May is the "month of the 17HMR" when P-D pups come up to take a gander at the world above ground level for the first time. They stand there like coke can sized 10-pins as you pick 'em off. Mom & Dad scram right back down into the burrow although the mild mannered report of the 17HMR seems to take awhile before they catch on.

We start with the 17HMR on the Darwinian Dogs out to @ 125 yds. prior to getting the "Big Boomers"; .223's & 22-250's into action.

It's a Death Ray on Rabbits out to 100 meters, too. With a good scope and calm mornings you can plant 'em right in the eyeball. Foxes are another Kettle of Fish with this cartridge; even with solid hits they can go a ways.

Have fun with your Marlin.

Cobrad: My pd partner and I have access to two ranches 35 miles east of Colorado Springs. We were told we would never get access in the area. Guess we were luck because, after the first two trips on the properties, all we have to do is stop by to tell them we are there, OR leave a note in the door. Whew!

There are huge colonies in the southeast part of the state, but those are usually overnight trips.

Have five witnessed (required for patches) shots at over 700yds in Wyoming with the .22-250 to get in the Varmint Hunting Assn 500yd club. Now have a rifle being built up for a crack at the 1,000yd club.

Good for you prof. I last had a place like that several years ago. It was great while it lasted.
I plan to join VHA again this spring. I had a long range 7 rem mag built last spring for LR marmots. Longest to date is 1156 yards. I've done some shooting out to 1400, and the goal for next year is 1320 - 3/4 mile.

Cobrad,

what bullet and weight will you use for the 7mm?

To date I have fired well over 12,000 rounds at prairie dogs with the 17HMR. They are effective out to 300 yards with no or light wind on both ground squirrels and prairie dogs with the 17gr V-max bullet.

I shot one Iowa snapper (35 pounds) with a 20gr XTP, made a nice hole right through it. I would happily use either bullet out to 125 yards on coyotes if that is what I had in my hands at the time, but would always use something bigger giver the choice.

f224, your comments mirror my experience perzactly.

Norseman, I am using 180 gr. Berger Hunting VLD's at 2980 fps.

I have the heavy barreled Savage. I shoot the Hornady 17 grain V-Maxs. It is most effective on coyotes out to 200 yards.

I had a beautiful Volquartsen in 17 HMR - loved the rifle but not the cartridge. I didn't find enough appreciable difference between it and the 22 mag to justify the added expense. Out to 100 yards my 22 LR works great...anything beyond that I use my 22-250 or 223. Like many new cartridges, I find the 17 rimfires a solution to a problem that didn't exist. YMMV.