17HMR huh, what is it good for?

[ColinJ]

Absolutely nothing, say it again...

But seriously, I'm new to . 17HMR and I'm loving it on paper targets. But what is it good for in the real world?
Rabbits, squirrels crows etc I'm sure, but what about foxes?
Is it effective for head shots and heart/shoulder shots on foxes?
Can anyone with practical experience comment please?

 

[HallyButt]

Head shoot foxes within 100M without concern with vmax rounds

 

[sh1kar]

Great for losing a thumb or sight in one eye!

 

[Nickb]

You can shoot foxes with it if you keep your shots to a sensible range.
I have only shot foxes with mine opportunistically when out rabbitting.
I wouldn't intentionally go foxing with it , I take the .22/250
Get lots of runners chest shooting , see SDs videos.

 

[HallyButt]

Great for losing a thumb or sight in one eye!

Yeah my first 17hmr blew up due to a fault round, powder burns to face and hand, and pants ruined … Edgar were grear in admitting fault on behalf of Hornady and replacing gun though

 

[nf-fuse]

My experience with foxes is that its not a totally predictable kill if you go heart/lung Maybe its the small round.

As others said try to keep it in reasonable range and head shot.

I've had no problem with faulty rounds.

 

[Tazz]

Brilliant caliber have a 15/17 Arnie, half inch groups at 100 yds on still day, zero it plumb at 100 head shoot rabbits from 30-130 yds. Have shot a few foxes with mine needs to be sub 100 and preferably head shots

 

[Crowstalker]

Absolutely love mine for shooting corvids. Extremely flat and fast, they don't know what hit them.

 

[old keeper]

It's an occasional close-range fox round at best, but it's the perfect tool for night-shooting rabbits.

 

[Hunter300]

Great for losing a thumb or sight in one eye!

Cate to elaborate, what happened?

 

[sh1kar]

2 friends v v v lucky. Both rifles a write off. I shot another friends on Mull. An odd sound unloaded. Checked bore. Bullet stuck. I can well imagine if fox shooting I’d have assumed a miss and shot again. Don’t get me wrong the rifles are fine but the ammo because of design is v prone to cracked necks and the powder balling with damp. I don’t want to check every case neck with a magnifying glass before I use it
S

 

[Nickb]

2 friends v v v lucky. Both rifles a write off. I shot another friends on Mull. An odd sound unloaded. Checked bore. Bullet stuck. I can well imagine if fox shooting I’d have assumed a miss and shot again. Don’t get me wrong the rifles are fine but the ammo because of design is v prone to cracked necks and the powder balling with damp. I don’t want to check every case neck with a magnifying glass before I use it
S

Used to happen with old ammo , think problem is now sorted. I use Hornady and no split necks but when I used Winchester there was a lot.

 

[jall55]

Yeah my first 17hmr blew up due to a fault round, powder burns to face and hand, and pants ruined … Edgar were grear in admitting fault on behalf of Hornady and replacing gun though

Mine too !

 

[sh1kar]

Used to happen with old ammo , think problem is now sorted. I use Hornady and no split necks but when I used Winchester there was a lot.

It’s just that nagging feeling

 

[Nickb]

It’s just that nagging feeling

Know what you mean but it's no hassle just to check ammo before using.

 

[nuge]

Ive used mine on rabbits, crows, and odd foxe at sensible range with a headshot; they just drop on the spot.

 

[Hunter300]

It’s just that nagging feeling

Definitely. Will check ma amo from now on

 

[billy_boyle_2010]

Who gives a monkeys about split necks?! It doesn't affect accuracy in the slightest. Duff rounds were sorted years ago.

You can hammer squirrels off feeders at significant distances and don't have to hide or be as careful as a result. And rabbits of course HMR is perfect. Occasional foxes close range but I don't like it personally- everything has to be spot on.

 

[Nickb]

Who gives a monkeys about split necks?! It doesn't affect accuracy in the slightest. Duff rounds were sorted years ago.

You can hammer squirrels off feeders at significant distances and don't have to hide or be as careful as a result. And rabbits of course HMR is perfect. Occasional foxes close range but I don't like it personally- everything has to be spot on.

Great for hares too.

 

[Hardy]

I have chest shot many fox with 17hmr Vmax and had no runners to date, I do ensure I have good conditions for accurate shot placement, as I am sure we all try to do, at up to 80 yards ideally but most importantly minimum side wind. I haven't yet attempted a head shot only because I fear a quick, unexpected head movement by the fox could give rise to a disabling outcome.i have suffered from two Hornady squib rounds and a couple of hang fires but that was maybe 10 or 12 years ago and no problem since. I do not check for split necks. I do ensure that for every shot fired the projectile does actually leave the barrel whatever rifle is being fired, whether that be by listening for the sound or watching for the impact, since experiencing that first squib round and the possible consequences.