Best 17 hmr that won't tear-up small game meat

[therussman]

I am looking for the best 17 HMR ammo to use on small game that will do the least amount of damage to the meat so it's not inedible. I realize .22 LR is a better choice in this regard but all my rim fires are 17 hmr. I would imagine a 20 grain hollow point would likely be best as opposed to a 17 grain polymer tipped round. What 17 cal round would you recommend for small game hunting like rabbits?

[zxstevens54]

I have used Hornady 17 grain polymer tip for squirrel, rabbit, coon, groundhog, etc... for the past few years. Just make sure you hit the head if you plan on keeping the meat.

[therussman]

Originally Posted by zxstevens54

I have used Hornady 17 grain polymer tip for squirrel, rabbit, coon, groundhog, etc... for the past few years. Just make sure you hit the head if you plan on keeping the meat.

That would normally be the plan but in some circumstances may be difficult. From some of the ballistic video's I've seen the hollow point bullet explodes along with the best of them. I guess the hyper velocity of the hmr round precludes any mushrooming of the slug keeping it intact.

Does anyone make a low velocity high grain hollow point HMR round?

[tbates66]

I've killed 100s of squirrels and many rabbits with Hornady 17 HMR V-Max, which is 17 gr. I almost always do head shots and when I goof and hit a shoulder, I still lose little meat. Now if you gut shoot them, it's a different story. Wait until the right shot presents itself.

[zxstevens54]

Originally Posted by tbates66

I've killed 100s of squirrels and many rabbits with Hornady 17 HMR V-Max, which is 17 gr. I almost always do head shots and when I goof and hit a shoulder, I still lose little meat. Now if you gut shoot them, it's a different story. Wait until the right shot presents itself.

Agreed

[Hobbiest]

Originally Posted by therussman

That would normally be the plan but in some circumstances may be difficult. From some of the ballistic video's I've seen the hollow point bullet explodes along with the best of them. I guess the hyper velocity of the hmr round precludes any mushrooming of the slug keeping it intact.

Does anyone make a low velocity high grain hollow point HMR round?

I think its called a hm2 :roll eyes: JK. GL,following this thread.

[therussman]

Originally Posted by Hobbiest

I think its called a hm2 :roll eyes: JK. GL,following this thread.

I think this is will have more knockdown power than an HM2 and can take reloads

[jaia]

jacketed soft points, 'nuff said?

the 17hmr fmj's are supersonic icepicks,
in one side, out the other, minimal pelt damage.



hollowpoints and ballistic tips result in meat spray if you go for a chest shot,
ok for varminting or head shots

[PKHansen]

I sighted in my cz455 varmint with the CCI gamepoints yesterday as I want to use them on foxes. They did really well. About 1/4" at 50 meters

[therussman]

Originally Posted by jaia

jacketed soft points, 'nuff said?

the 17hmr fmj's are supersonic icepicks,
in one side, out the other, minimal pelt damage.



hollowpoints and ballistic tips result in meat spray if you go for a chest shot,
ok for varminting or head shots

Jaia

This appears to be what I'm looking for

I found this on youtube. The kid is shooting apples from an open window in his house but it shows the difference between a polymer tip which exploded the apple and the FMJ round which the bullet appears to have passed thru intact.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPxU7J3yw5I

I'd like to see this round plugged into some ballistic gel but something tells me the round will stay in 1 peice.

youd da man!


.............. now if I can only find a 500 rd brick of these

[jaia]

I've had no trouble finding or purchasing any style of 17 hmr
The 20 gr jsp mushrooms cleanly, leaving an easily retrievable slug.
The polymer tips disintegrate leaving fragments everywhere.
I've never found a 20 gr fmj in a critter after shooting. In one side, out the other.

http://www.glensoutdoors.com/cci-gam...oft-point.html

http://vizardsgunsandammo.com/cci-00...-50box-40case/

http://www.swva-arms.com/p-99808-cci...48247_ba6ddbde

http://www.luckygunner.com/cci-17-hm...n#rid=AmmoSeek

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/produc...-20gr-fmj-ammo

[therussman]

Originally Posted by jaia

I've had no trouble finding or purchasing any style of 17 hmr
The 20 gr jsp mushrooms cleanly, leaving an easily retrievable slug.
The polymer tips disintegrate leaving fragments everywhere.
I've never found a 20 gr fmj in a critter after shooting. In one side, out the other.

http://www.glensoutdoors.com/cci-gam...oft-point.html

Jaia

I found quite a few vendors carrying the CCI FMJ in 50 rd boxes but not 500 rd bricks but Glen's has it cheap enough where you can buy it at the same price as bulk. I found Hornady V-Max in bulk when getting any rim fire ammo was next to impossible now it appears the FMJ in lots of 500 are hard to find Thanks for coming thru again.

Russ

[therussman]

I got a brick of 500 rd's of CC soft point for from Glens for about $140 delivered







Next to a Hornady V-max



I was looking for any ballistic gel performance video's to see if or how the slug mushrooms and if it stays intact but had no luck. Maybe I'll conduct this test at some point it would be interesting to see how the different rounds perform.

So I take it the .17 FMJ is probably only useful for target or to punch thru a hard target. Other then minimizing pelts damage what's the point using a FMJ round in this caliber?

[jaia]

The fmj is for minimizing meat spray,
head shots are clean, not an explosive decapitation.
Also handy for armor plated critters.

or zombies wearing crash helmets.

[Al the Infidel]

Originally Posted by therussman

I got a brick of 500 rd's of CC soft point for from Glens for about $140 delivered







Next to a Hornady V-max



You're still gonna blow the snot out of bunnies with a body shot, go for the head.

I was looking for any ballistic gel performance video's to see if or how the slug mushrooms and if it stays intact but had no luck. Maybe I'll conduct this test at some point it would be interesting to see how the different rounds perform.

So I take it the .17 FMJ is probably only useful for target or to punch thru a hard target. Other then minimizing pelts damage what's the point using a FMJ round in this caliber?

FMJ for critter brain shots.