The .204 makes considerably less noise than most other centerfire coyote cartridges. They also happen to be our favorites. The downfall of the .17 HMR when used on coyotes is the explosive properties of the bullet. The .223 Remington is definitely the most popular and affordable option for predator hunting. What is the Best Cartridge for Coyote Hunting? The Best Self Defense Ammo Ballistic Testing. 150 yards: the cartridge will handle a 2-pound target. Every major commercial ammo manufacturer offers .243 ammo in most of its major hunting lines, including varmint-specific options that are capable as well as affordable. Sightron S-Tac. The .17 HMR is better for smaller-bodied predators, such as foxes or bobcats than bigger calibers with more knockdown power. Distance, of course, plays an important role in the viability of a given caliber in coyote hunting. (Plenty of hog hunters use FMJs to sever their preys cervical column in exactly this fashion.) However, its lightweight, low-recoil, semi-automatic design allows for rapid, accurate follow-up shots on wounded yotes. Shop online or in-store at your local Sportsman's Warehouse for high quality with low prices. At 100 yards, it hits like a .22-250 hits at 350 yards. Others like to call them in and pick them off at close range. To be honest, when we talk about 17 HMR vs 22 mag coyote hunting, we will like to add that both are good for this purpose. That being said, coyotes are routinely harvested with the HMR, so take those numbers with a grain of salt. In addition to this, you may have to look for a convenient place for a good shot. Winchester makes some too but not nearly as much as CCI does. CZ USA - 455 AMERICAN 20.5IN 17 HMR As a true-blue American rifle, the CZ 455 Rimfire Rifle is one of the most highly sought after 17 HMR rifles for accuracy. Our website lists special deals on 9mm Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 45-70 Ammo, 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, 300 Blackout Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 5.56 Ammo, Underwood Ammo, Buffalo Bore Ammo and more special deals on bulk ammo. That is to say, we assume the coyote being harvested is shot directly or nearly directly in the vitals (heart and/or lungs). I believe the reason it was designed on the most part is for coyote hunting. Weight sorting and rim thickness have no useful results on accuracy from my experience with measuring an entire brick and checking across a chronograph for all 500 rounds. the .22 mag has a heavier bullet, but the 17 HMR has the plastic tipped bullets, which are extremely explosive when they expand so I would think roughly equal performance on game. It pushes those petite .17-caliber projectiles downrange with a respectable average muzzle velocity of around 2525 fps and delivers ballistics similar to some centerfire cartridges. what is the best ammo for the 17 hmr for bobcats and yotes. Surprisingly, one of the best coyote loads for the .22 Magnum is the common 40-grain hollow point. Both are good firearms, but they have a few limitations. Have a read. Use loads featuring lighter bullets to reduce pelt damage. If youre just trying to do farmers and game animals a favor by reducing the number of coyotes in the area, and you arent worried about selling fur, the .308 Winchester is a highly effective option. Hornady makes a 17 and 20 grain selection and. In this article, we'll be discussing the best cartridge for coyote hunting. Moreover, the explosive property of the .17 HMR makes it apt for small animals with thin skin. Ive taken three coyotes so far with an HMR while coyote hunting. The best-suited prey is like prairie dogs, possum, and rabbits. You can easily find .223-chambered rifles in semi-automatic, bolt-action, single-shot, and even lever-action rifles. In short, if you utilize that precision to land your bullet right in the yotes brain or ticker, youre going to watch the roguish beast go down like a sack of bricks even if you do hit it with significantly less energy than its body weight would optimally call for. Heres the unsatisfying conclusion to our little math exercise: No 17 HMR ammo will transfer 290 ft lbs of energy to its target, even right out of the muzzle. The 17 HMRs suitability for coyote hunting comes with a caveat: Keep a much closer distance between yourself and your quarry than you would if you were varmint hunting. text-align: left; It is capable of sending featherweight 24-grain bullets downrange at blistering velocities (near 4400 fps). Some weather creates opportunities, while bad weather can take away opportunities. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. To begin, consider what a coyote weighs. So there are a couple of ways to save money on all rimfire ammo, from the 22LR, 22 WMR, and of course, the 17 HMR. One of the biggest reasons to downsize your caliber is to minimize pelt damage. When hunting small critters like raccoons, prairie dogs, and other varmints, we've found the best 17 HMR round to be Hornady 17 HMR 17-grain V-MAX due to its high muzzle velocity, reasonable price, and the V-MAX bullet. Another factor for consideration with the Hornady Magnum Rimfire is the distance to the target. No matter how you slice it, coyotes are a bit on the large side for these rounds. None come close to matching the low per-shot costs of .22 LR, but all shoot rings around it. Yet, don't be fooled; it can still take down larger predators such as coyotes. The HMR is built on a 22 Magnum case mated to a 17 caliber bullet. While I concur that the 17 HMR is only suitable for coyotes at shorter ranges (say under 100 yds) and when good shot placement is likely, there is also now a bullet consideration. While Ben is equally comfortable hunting almost any game species, his primary focus today is predator hunting and turkey hunting. Let me start by saying that Im using the terminal ballistics phrase loosely as its the best way to describe the point Im trying to make. What do you say? While the 17 HMR is limited in its hunting capabilities due to its size, you can still find top-of-the-line 17 HMR varmint hunting rounds, such as the Hornady 17 HMR 17-grain V-MAX, which is more than capable of taking out a coyote or any small game animal. We look at the features that matter and choose the top 17 Hmr Ammo For Coyotes based on that. dang didnt know id start a pissing contest! The .204 Ruger is the best of the best when it comes to.20-caliber cartridges. If you want quick humane kills, you probably want a .243 Win pressed against your shoulder. In this zone, a hunter can take the smallest game and vermin up to turkey, beaver, fox, and coyote with any rimfire. It will also topple a wolf. The Hornady V-MAX bullet is an excellent example of a polymer-tipped bullet. The 17 HMR is well-known for its flat shooting capacity and fantastic accuracy. Even when capped with heavier 40-grain projectiles, the .204 Ruger produces muzzle velocities of 3800 fps or faster. border-color: #656565; Plus, plenty of passing yotes have fallen victim to a deer hunters .308 bolt-action. Coyotes have an expansive range, which means hunters use very diverse tactics. Much against the 1900 FPS with 321 FPE of the 22 WMR, the 17 HMR really looks good. But as we said earlier, not all coyote weigh 29 pounds. Buying bulk ammo increases the overall price but decreases the cost per round. Barrels-Choke Tubes-Muzzle Devices; Handgun Ammo .17 HMR.357 MAG.357 SIG.44 MAG Ammo.45 ACP Ammo; 10mm Ammo While the HMR can effectively hit targets in the 150 to 200-yard range, it loses quite a bit of power at those distances. These are also excellent rounds for varmint hunting thanks to the polymer-tipped hollow point, so if you plan to go plinking and hunt varmints, you can easily accomplish both when using these rounds. There are even several .17 HMR revolvers. However, some cartridges are better suited to the task than others. The HMR portion of the name is an acronym of the Hornady Magnum Rimfire name. For example, shot placement, bullet configuration, penetration, bullet performance, etc., all play a part in determining the actual effectiveness of a caliber on a game species. Have no experience shooting yotes or bobcat with hmr, but good luck. A JHP will do just fine as well. The 17 HMR first came out as a rifle cartridge, but it didn't take long for firearms manufacturers to see this round's potential as a handgun cartridge. The best 17 HMR ammo for plinking is the CCI 17 HMR 20-grain FMJ because it's reasonably priced, and the FMJ bullet won't dirty your barrel as quickly as a lead bullet will, so you can spend more time shooting and less time cleaning. Even when capped with heavier 40-grain projectiles, the .204 Ruger produces muzzle velocities of 3800 fps or faster. As a result, the NRA is forced to restrict the sending of certain materials and information into California. For simplicitys sake, lets combine those two figures and say an average coyote weighs 29 pounds. The little .17 HMR (Hornady Magnum Rimfire) has been used by plenty of hunters to put small game in the stew pot. Honestly, there are a few who would not want squirrel hunting to get expensive. Winchester 17 HMR 20gr JHP is the best 17HMR ammo for coyote hunting because the bullet is a little heavier, so it will pack more of a punch than lighter bullets. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. The Ruger Marksman adjustable trigger with a pull weight range of 2.25 to 5.0 pounds also contributes to the excellent accuracy. The word cartridge refers to an entire unit of ammunition - bullet, casing, powder, and primer. I can personally attest to that many times over. California recently rushed through legislation making it unlawful to communicate to those under 18 about broad categories of firearms, parts, and accessories. text-align: center; According to Wikipedia, the average male coyote weighs between 18 and 44 pounds, while the average female weighs between 15 and 40 pounds. Test: Averaging 2166 fps, the Hornady 30-grain V-Max load was the fastest of the group. In 2022, he was named as the brands Shooting Editor. However, in recent years, many shooters have noticed the reliability of Winchester ammo decline. The .17 HMR cant keep up with the .17 Hornet, particularly at ranges beyond 200 yards. For comparison, Hornadys Varmint Express line features both .223 Remington and .22-250 Rem loads. This high performance round is fine tuned for long range varmint and small game hunting with a flat trajectory and an abundance of energy for effective terminal ballistics. Once again, we dont advise relying on a JHPs raw power for hunting coyote with a 17 HMR. Top 17 Hmr Ammo For Coyotes brands try to offer some unique features that make them stand out in the crowd. The jacketed hollow point is used for self-defense and hunting because it expands on impact just as a traditional hollow point does, but it feeds better in semi-auto handguns and rifles. There really is no perfect cartridge for hunting these wily canine predators. Promising durability and performance in equal measure, this rifle has justly earned its place on our list. While a lot of people believe CCI, Federal, Hornady or Remington ammo is most accurate in their .17 HMR, all those "brands" are made by CCI, using the same powder, cases, and bullets. font-size: 14px; Many hunters consider the popular .308 Winchester to be overkill for hunting coyotes. The second important assumption is 'slightly-suboptimal' to 'optimal' shot placement. Remember the two Hs: head and heart. Just $1 per month , The truth is that rimfires are a little on the light side for coyotes, so its critical that you select the right load. Anything over 100 yards wont have enough juice left for a consistent and ethical killing shot. Although this load is substantially slower than the 20-grain offering, it delivers the same energy and will penetrate about twice as deep. Ammo ; Hornady Varmint Express 17 Grain 17 HMR 50 Rounds; Skip to the end of the . When it comes to rimfire ammo, it's generally inexpensive, but if you're a serious shooter, you can still rack up a high-dollar ammo bill. There are also plenty of different rifles to choose from, including everything from semi-automatic MSRs like the AR-10 to more traditional walnut-stocked bolt action rifles. box; midwayusa.com. .tg .tg-hwi9 { This caliber is perfect for youth hunters as a dual-purpose firearm, good for coyotes and deer. In this case, the average weight of an adult male coyote is approximately 30 lbs. Of rimfire design, it's ideal for prairie dogs, potgut gophers and most of the smaller furbearers out to a couple of hundred yards. The 17 HMR is not effective in displacing enough energy from a coyote to produce a quick and humane kill. But, again, this is not an exact science but merely an exercise to make a point. First, the average bullet weight is encapsulated in the average muzzle energy for the .17 HMR Hornady Magnum Rimfire. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Only hunting or plinking ammo. You must read and understand your own local laws before hunting coyote to know whether your caliber of choice is a legal option. Although some shooters use the terms caliber and cartridge interchangeably, the words refer to vastly different things. The Bushnell Prime scope comes with several turret system options including one for the 17 HMR and a 17-grain bullet. The .22 LR can be used in many different firearms, but the .17 HMR can only be used in rifles. Both the 6.5 Creedmoor and the 6.5 Grendel are hard on pelts. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Instead, stick to a modified choke tube if possible. In fact, an entire hunting market has developed that includes dedicated coyote hunting guns (shotguns and rifles), calls, clothing, scents, etc. Top #2411967 - 01/26/13 03:37 PM Re: .17 HMR, Good Coyote Gun? The .17 HMR can also be used in a wider variety of firearms than the .22 LR. We have a variety of deals on Rifle Ammo, Handgun Ammo, Shotgun Ammo & Rimfire Ammo, as well as ammo for target practice, plinking, hunting, or shooting competitions. Rifles chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor are available in everything from AR-10s to traditional lever-actions. However, choosing the best 17 HMR ammo will help you maximize the potential of your 17 HMR target and hunting rifle. With a muzzle velocity of around 2500 fps, you can expect about 7 to 10 inches of penetration with some fragmentation that will enhance tissue damage. That means if you like to call them in hot or youre hunting thick brush, a shotgun is a capable dog dropper, especially when it is loaded with a heavy payload of Number 4 or 00 buckshot. Lots of 17hmr ammo still on the shelves. This article does not serve as the final say, but simply as a starting point for beginner hunters, as well as a venue for further discussion. Typically, I dont recommend an FMJ round for game, but the FMJ 17 bullets penetrate better than the polymer tipped rounds, in my experience. Its also important to check the coyote hunting rules and regulations for any area where youll be hunting. text-align: center Female coyote weigh about 15 to 40 pounds for an average of 27.5 pounds. How well your ammo performs also depends on the situations in which you use it. The most notable difference between the .17 HMR and the .17 Hornet comes in looking at the base of the cartridge. It is excellent for decent range and stopping power providing it's the rig. The smaller sized .17HMR is more than enough when hunting these smaller predators. So, think about it and make your decision based on proper information. If youd like to look elsewhere, then here are our recommended rounds SKU numbers to assist you on your search. Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn. 23m! Although I still hunt other game species (whitetail deer, mule deer, etc. also reigns as one of the fastest commercial cartridges around, breaking 4,300 fps with 20-grain bullets and 4,100 fps with 25-grain pills. Wound cavities will be shallower but wider than those from a .22 Magnum due to the higher velocity, which is almost 2500 fps at the muzzle, and it will shoot flatter, too. Hornadys high-tech XTP, which has little notches radiating from its nose cavity to promote faster and more uniform terminal expansion, is an excellent choice for hunting coyote, but a generic JHP will do the trick as well. As with anything, the devil is in the details. The .223 load shoves a 55-grain bullet out the muzzle at a respectable velocity of 3240 fps. First, the average bullet weight is encapsulated in the average muzzle energy for the .22 WMR Winchester Magnum Rimfire. Although the 6.5 Grendel may not have the same superstar-level status as the 6.5 Creedmoor, it may have more to offer modern coyote hunters. We recommend all the cartridges compared in our ballistic data for coyote hunting except for the Hornady NTX load. It has to be simple and fun. To tell you the truth, we will have to clarify one thing that the 17 HMR has a better ballistic coefficient in comparison to the .22 mag. Ben started working in outdoor and sporting goods while in high school and now has 17 years of experience in the hunting industry, including some time as a part-time hunting guide. Here we have leaned conservative by taking the average weight of a male individual of the species, since females generally weigh less and require less stopping power. Its lightweight, spitzer-style projectiles have a higher velocity, ballistic coefficient and a resultant flatter trajectory. Polymer tip and thin jacket. If you want to curtail some of that pelt damage, look for loads with a controlled expansion bullet, like Hornadys ELD-X. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute("id","a46e7b9f902311952422bf271018dcc9");document.getElementById("d82504c398").setAttribute("id","comment"); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Weather is the one constant that can make or break any hunting, fishing, or outdoor experience. 200 yards: the target weight drops to 1 pound. border-width: 1px; Is the .17 HMR Hornady Magnum Rimfire a viable caliber/load/round/cartridge for coyote hunting? For example, at 150 yards, a 17 averages between 80 and 100 foot-pounds of energy, and at 200 yards, that number drops to 55 to 75 foot-pounds. Most every manufacture offers this load, and they all perform very similarly; pick the one that shoots best in your rifle. The Tikka T1x MTR .17 HMR is a 10-shot synthetic-stock bolt-action rifle. As far as bullet types are concerned, I prefer the jacked hollow points first, followed by the full metal jacket rounds, and then the polymer tipped rounds (like the Hornady v-max) last. This is why it is a popular choice for shooting varmints. Ammo costs per box of 50 run $12 to $13 for 17 HMR, about $1 less for .22 WMR, and $2 to $3 more for .17 WSM. Because the bullet is heavier, you'll see the velocity is slightly slower, but these rounds are still very fast, which helps maintain the flat trajectory out to 200yds; the 17HMR is known for in most instances. There are a few different types of bullets used in 17 HMR ammo, and each has its purpose. [fbcommentssync] No related posts. You must have often come across this question, which one is better the 17 HMR or 22 mag. However, in recent years, many shooters have noticed the reliability of Winchester ammo decline. vertical-align: top background-color: #efefef; It excels at small varmint species like prairie dogs, groundhogs, ground squirrels, and foxes. The internet celebrity, who is a member of Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. In this conversation about the 17 hmr vs 22 wmr, we have to agree that 2550 FPS giving with 246 FPE or foot-pounds of energy stands out. But dont let its small size fool you. It qualifies as an all-round .22 Long Rifle load but is a bit more expensive than standard fodder. The6.5 Creedmoor is one of the hottest cartridges on the market today. i thought for . Range If you hunt varmints with a rimfire rifle, extract maximum range and power from the platform with Federal Premium Hornady V-Max loads. And it will do the job. This includes not only information about their purchase and use, but also the promotion of firearm safety and training. 679. .tg .tg-xhut { Often the bullet will dump all its energy inside the animal without leaving an exit wound, which is a major perk for hunters pursuing pristine pelts. Make sure you dont over-choke your gun. Remington 783 Vs 700: Which One Is Better? border-width: 1px; In 2015, Mann began contributing to Field & Stream to cover guns, ammunition, ballistics, and hunting. Cost. The cartridge is capable of taking out game much larger than 175 lbs. This is one of the fastest and hardest-hitting 40-grain loads available for the .22 Long Rifle. I will take the 270 instead. border-color: black; Obviously, the lighter the bullet, the higher the velocity. Although rimfire ammo is relatively cheap, these rounds are on the higher end of 17 HMR ammunition. border-style: solid; This assists the bullet to travel longer distances without much of a problem. .223/5.56 is also the most popular chambering for AR platform rifles. Share it with your friends! The saving grace here would only be a brain . More and more serious predator hunters are opting for cartridges that shoot smaller pills. In the case of shooting yotes they do little intrenal damge and more damage to the impact spot. With the .22 Magnum, .17 HMR, and Winchesters .17 Super Magnum, you can opt for a more explosive bullet because the higher velocities will translate to more tissue damage. The .17 HMR is the dream cartridge for medium-range varminters, small-game hunters and plinkers alike; it offers flat trajectories, indiscernible recoil and terminal performance way out of proportion to its diminutive size. What we can do is provide a framework to understand what average conditions might look like, and whether those are reasonably viable for a shot from the average shooter to harvest a coyote in the fewest number of shots possible, i.e., ethically. However, the first thing that you need to focus on is what kind of hunting interests you. Plus the ammo is cheap, easy to get your hands on, and comes in a wide variety of varmint-specific loads. a local hunting guide was in the gun shop last summer telling the guy behind the counter that the 17 hmr was the best coyote gun ever! However, it also has plenty to offer coyote hunters. Initially, Hornady only offered the 17 caliber in a polymer-tipped bullet, but there are several other bullet options and bullet weights on the market today. The 17 HMR has a muzzle velocity between 2600 to 2800 feet per second (FPS) and is a very flat shooting round. Here are five of the best coyote loads for these four rimfires. This is appropriate for target shooting and small game hunting. Granted, if a non-expanding bullets wound channel overlaps with the heart or some crucial vertebra, the animals going down pronto. A .22 mag is way more affordable with magazines than a .17 HMR. Winchester .17 WSM ammo is a great choice for taking care of varmints and pests. I know this is obvious, but you should always stay within your budget. If you are considering the 17 HMR as a yote hunting round, there are several factors to take into consideration, including the following: Today the HMR caliber is available in several different bullet weights and configurations beyond the original 17-grain polymer tipped rounds.