17 hmr for coyotes

[hunter]

I was thinking of trying out my new 17 hmr on coyotes. The bullets seam lite weight. Any recommendations on which bullet will penetrate better? I was thinking about the vmax 17 gr., What do you think?

[whyohe]

i would not use the 17 grn V-MAX. it, IMO, is a too fragile a bullet for a coyote. i would use a 20 grn preferably. and a good head shot. i dont know if a shoulder or lung shot would do it, depending on yardage. JMO.

[wilmsmeyer]

Coyotes are big, big game for the .17 HMR. Unless you are coup de gracing them in a leg trap you should use a strong bullet and precise placement. AND...don't expect to bowl them over.

Luckily the .17 HMW is inherently accurate and there are 2 bullets I've shot woodchucks with that do a good job with penetration. The better slug is the CCI 20 gr FMJ. However, this bullet does expand...it had a lead core and thin FMJ jacket. The other is the 20 gr game point/XTP. I've gotten full body penetration on woodchucks many times with both these slugs.

Close and still enough and I'd shoot heads. Under 125 yds, I'd take an archery angle shot as lungs and heart will only require 2-5 inches of pentration. Expect "death runs"and minor tracking. A semi-auto may be preferable because you may be able to get another one in them for good measure. Expect no pelt damage.

[jeremylong]

Save the HMR for the neighbors cats. Once you get a good chance at a yote, make sure you have enough gun.

[ozark]

Like with most calibers shot placement is the key to a humane quick kill. The 17HMR using a 20 grain fmj bullet will penetrate into or through the vitals on a coyote or a bear. It isn't what hits them but where it hits them that decides the issue of dying quickly or suffering wounded.
I took a black bear with a brain shot at 60 yards using the 17 gr. Didn't even thrash about. I would feel comfortable with a coyote out to 150 yards provided It was standing with a good point of entry for the bullet to get to the heart lung area. That would be a need for me using a .243 or larger rifle. Ozark

[wilmsmeyer]

Ozark,

A bear with a .17 HMR to the head? That's awesome. How big was the bear? Were you a little surprised when that mouse gun roared and Goliath collapsed? You've mentioned this occurance before but not many details surfaced.

Bears can be like big racoons...except bigger. A pest. A big pest when they get a snout full of something in your garage.

[jims]

You are more daring than I. There is a book about Africa that says always use enough gun. I remember reading where one of the ivory hunters collected a great deal of it with a 6.5mm and very careful brain shots with solids. Both the .17 and the 6.5mm seem too small to me but the shooters behind both knew the exact shot placement needed and it worked for them, I would favor a bigger bullet myself.

[ozark]

Wilms here is the story: I try to keep feeders for wildlife stocked. I also have ponds with fish that I like to feed. A few years ago we begin having bear problems which included climbing into trees and tearing down hanging electronic feeders plus tearing sheet iron roofing of the side of a storage shed to get our cat fish food. We asked the game wardens to trap and remove the bears which they did three. But after one was removed another would show up and start pilfering with our stuff. Muddy footprints were found on the outside walls where bear had stood up looking into our cabin. I then chained a 55 gallon steel drum to a hickory tree and the bear wrestled with it two week causing the chain to ring the tree and cause it to dye. Eventually the drum waist became small enough for the bear to get a toenail or tooth in a rusted area at the bottom and tore a hole so the feed would pour out. The wardens told me that for them bear was a headache and problems all around the area. One said: "Ben, I can't tell you how to solve your problem but I really don't need to because I think you know how to take care of it." We had found that deer leave areas where bear hang out.. This meant that we had bear but nothing else. No 1. was a 500 pound male killed with a .22 Mag. fmj shot behing the right shoulder. It ran about 50 yards before dying. The second was a 175 pound fellow that ran about the same distance after being taking a .223 bullet in the same place. Then three or four took up residence where my stock type feeder is located. I took pictures and posted some on this forum. Eventually, I had to forget feeding all but the bear or again start shooting. One afternoon as I sit in my Sta-Cab one came rambling down a trail toward the feeder. I aimed the .17 cal. at it as it walked toward me. It stopped and stood facing me at about 60 yards. The devil took over and I put the crosshairs in the center of its forehead about an inch above eye level and fired. The bear, about 160 pound male, dropped straight down and just quivvered a bit and then lay still. No struggle or leg jerks. I got help to drag it into the bushes hoping that its scent would keep others away. It worked and soon I had deer returning. I might like to hunt bears as a sport but with my experience I refuse to try to be good neighbors with the stinking rascals. They are covered with ticks and followed by a swarm of flies and If I have done something illegal then consider me the biggest liar in these parts. But believe this. That 17 HMR is a good little cartridge for pest control of all sizes.
OK, now call me to attention, tell me I am a bad guy, and chew me out or ban me from posting. But please don't dress up like a bear and come around trying to scare me away from my choosen location, Ozark

[Hossdaniels]

I shot a small coyote with a 17hmr just behind the shoulder, a little over 100 yds away. It ran 60 yds and layed down. Took another shot to the head to finish(would have died in a another minute anyway). From what I can tell, it will kill them, just not fast as I'm used to. I was using a 20g xtp.

I shot another yote with the savage ml, it works better(faster atleast) than a 17hmr! If I was going after coyotes, I'd take a bigger gun than a 17. If I see another and just have the 17 in the truck, I wont hesitate to shoot another with it.

[wilmsmeyer]

Ozark,

Mountain law...we used to call it. People can take care of situations that need taking care of. It may be against the grain to some, but there are not enough police or wardens to handle all situations. Responsible people can handle those situations without the help of officials. From your accounts, there were more then enough reasons to take charge of the situation.

Last night, at dusk, I put a 17 gr 17 HMR into the rib cage of a mangy fox from my living room window. (150 yds) It jumped and side stepped when hit. It then ran like a barron until it hit the woods. Tomorrow when I check my trail cam I will look for the bugger and try to confirm the kill. Did him a favor I hope. His tail looked like a welding rod and he had tufts of hair missing on his back. Fox is in season now but if I saw him like that in the summer....bang.

[hunter]

The 17 is a present and I was looking for something to put it to good use besides punching paper. I think I will try the xtp's and the fmj's and shoot into damp phone books to see how they penetrate. Thanks for the input.

[ozark]

hunter, you will be pleasantly shocked at the penetration and force.

[jims]

;D ; ;D Ozark: I have heard the term "the devil made me do it", but never in reference to shooting a black bear.

[ozark]

jims, I used that expression because I love wildlife and the great outdoors. I surely don't like killing for the sake of seeing something die. But, in some cases certain animals learn to take over and dominate everything. Nothing here is going to get far out of hand during my watch. I have had to get control of squirrel, crow and even raccoons. One day my grandson and I killed over 75 squirrel in one day. Yes, they were attracted to my feeders and since there was feed they would not leave. Crows are easy. Shoot one and hang it up and the message gets to the flock. I never feel good eradicating pests with a rifle and will not resort to that unless it is needed for the health and welfare of other wildlife. The big problem with bear is that they come and they stay as long as there is a handout. I guess when I have to destroy a pet or pest it goes against my nature but I will act if necessary. We don't have hogs here bothering us but the State is overran. The Game and Fish authorities are asking hunters to shoot them and if they don't want the meat to leave them where they fall. I see a need of this when they simply take over an area depriving the deer and other wildlife of food. To each their own.

[hunter]

I shot a yote today at about 50-60 yards, hit right behind the shoulder. It only went 20 yds. and was dead when I got there. It was on a flat above me so it was a couple of minutes before I was sure it was not getting away before I went up to find it. I did not check to see if it hit a rib but the entrance hole looked like a 30 cal hole, no exit.

[whyohe]

what bullet did you choose? did you look to see internal damage? if so how bad or good was it. just curios.

[hunter]

I was just using the vmax that I already had. I could not find the fmj locally and this was not a planned hunt. I was going out to play a little with the 17 and the yote just showed up before I got targets set up. I did not check internal damage, just looked at the entrance hole and checked for pass thru. He never went far so I would only guess that bullet did a fair amount of damage inside. They sure seam to be too brave around the farm. This is the 2'nd one killed at this location in the last month or so, and they sure don't appear to be too alarmed by a human's presence.

[ozark]

Animals range from tough to easy. For example, the rabbit is stone dead with a wound that a squirrel will slowly die from. A deer is not the same as a member of the dog family. Coyotes are pretty tough to take out instantly. Bobcats are relatively tough characters also. Another thing I have witnessed is that a wounded animal in an excited state clings to life longer and can take what would be a Drop Righ There shot while calm and keep going.

[jeremylong]

Ozark - I like your straight truth. Its kinda nice to see someone that lives the way I grew up. I have a few more houses around and the family has a little more money than back several years ago. Things are a little different now(at least temporarily). Back in the day it was meat on the table.
I can not even remember how many deer I seen shot with a 22 DRT, thrown in the trunk of the car, and on the electric skillet in the same night.

Although it will work, I still like a little more for a coyote. Most of the pelts I get around here have secondary growth at a minimum and generally have some degree of mange. I really like the 243 or my favorite25-06AI. No running away.
More of an issue is getting the dang shot. They are tough to call in and making the shot is tougher. They are sly and great noses.
Truthfully for calling yotes around here its tough to beat the 12ga and #4 buck.

[jeremylong]

One more note though, I do love the .17 It has protected many rabbits from the feathered creatures of death.