.17Mach 2 effective range?

[Pa.Mike]

I would like your opinions as to what range the 17grain Mach2 load would be affective on an average size Groundhog. This would assume a chest / shoulder hit. I realize a head shot would work further but I want a humane kill foremost. Thanks for any thoughts you may have !

 

[Walt Krafft]

Ihave had good luck on armadillos out to 50-75 yards

 

[TrapperBR549]

I've never shot one with a mach 2 but I shot a couple with a 17hmr and wasn't particularly impressed with the terminal performance. I didn't spend much time experimenting with different bullets so maybe there are better options but I just went back to the 22 Hornet.

 

[Rocky Mt High]

While stuck in the Midwest on a farm for several years recently, I shot hundreds of starlings and pigeons with the Mach 2. It is a great little round.
Longest on pigeon was 132 yards. On paper it’s tight past 100.
Im now back in Colorado and have been knocking off crows in my yard- over 50 or so yearly the last couple years rite out the window from my tv chair!
Crow shots at about 60 yards knock a quarter size holes in em. Last year 55 kills and only one walk away.
I like it cuz it’s quieter than the Hornet and HMR, yet range and accuracy way better than .22 LR.
I had 17 22LRs when I bought a HM 2 when they first came out. I took it out for a sight in, wow. Didn’t say a word to to anyone and immediately started selling 22 LR s…..

 

[Preacher]

A ground hog inside of a 100 yards is gonna get dead if a 17 HM2 is close at hand...
Mine has a Lilja barrel on it and is crazy accurate, under a inch at 100 is pretty normal.
Put it in the right spot and I wouldn't have a problem with a broad sided coyote inside a hundred..

 

[jepp2]

Thanks for any thoughts you may have !

In the past 4 years I've shot around 7,000 rounds of HMR and Mach2 during my prairie dog hunts. And I shot a coyote with a 17 HMR. My furthest shot with the HMR on a prairie dog was 283 yards. But since the bullet drops below sonic velocity the effect was significantly less than when the bullet is still super sonic.

Neither the HMR or the Mach2 is going to have the same affect on a ground hog as if you shot it with a high velocity 223 varmint bullet. But it is still going to be dead. I shoot a lot of the pd's in the chest and I will see them head for the mound with blood pumping out like a deer shot through the chest. And they normally fun out of life after going several feet. Shot in the head the results are more dramatic.

Most of my shots on pd's with the mach2 are out to around 175 yards. With the HMR I routinely shoot them out to 250 yards. The HMR provides somewhat better accuracy and of course higher velocity. But the mach2 is no slouch.

A frequent shot I get is a pd looking over the top of the mound. All that is visible is the eye and the portion of the head above that. This is what the HMR does on that shot.

 

[Yote Hunter]

150 yards is not unreasonable For the 17 Mach2. 17 HMR is pretty deadly out to 200 yards. My longest one shot kill on a groundhog using pure “Kentucky Windage” on a groundhog at 274 yards With the 17 HMR. Rolled him like a ball then ran 50 yards or less into a Rotten opening at the base of a Beech tree. Upon walking down range and finding no blood I went in the direction I saw him running and he was laying inside the tree in plain view like he was asleep. No sign of an entrance or exit wound. Perfect heart shot I presume. That’s where I was aiming anyhow…Obviously not a 275 yard cartridge and not the best choice

 

[snert]

I have kilt a couple dozen or more with a 17HMR (groundhogs) and I find it to be a reliable killer to 125 yards. Almost every one not hit in the head will head full bore toward the hole. If at the hole they self-bury. If 30 feet away they generally poop out shy of the hole. Better than a 22 for sure, but frankly, I retired it to PD shooting only. As far as the m2 is concerned, I understand it to be more accurate, generally, but not as much gas. I would very confidently shoot a groundhog with one to 75 yards, and carefully to 100. Just don't expect em to always DRT.

 

[savoy6]

I bought a Kimber rifle in M2 years back, planning on using it to shoot groudhogs near my rural home in noise sensitive areas. It was a disappointment, as most shot in the body made it into their holes and I eventually sold the rifle. I thought that, if I had to shoot them in the head, I might probably just use a 22LR. I've found that the 17 HMR typically stops them pretty well. The M2 would be great for crows and such.

 

[Kylongrifle32]

I use a 17 mach 2 for many of the reasons mentioned above. It's quite and very effective for me up to 100 yards so far. I have gained access to shoot groundhogs in several small farm lots around my house with the 17 mach 2.
When I stop to talk to a new land owner I always carry a little mach 2 round with me. Once the farmer mentions noise and ricochets I pull the little round from my pocket and promise to use this cartridge only if I stop by and hunt. If I'm lucky I get a giggle and the same old are you sure this will kill a groundhog? There even more impressed when they stop by to check on me set up with the 14 inch Contender resting on sand bags on the hood of the car and a dead hog or two laying on the ground.
. Mine is accurate enough up to 100 yards that with a good solid rest I go for head shots only. I've seen many groundhogs chest shot with 223 rem or even 22-250's crawl several feet to get back into a hole. Granted most were dead but didn't know it yet. But a picture of a bloody trail ain't the proof that most land owners want that want there place rid of the pest. Nothing gets you invited back like the sight of a dead groundhog at there feet.

 

[Turkeytider]

In the past 4 years I've shot around 7,000 rounds of HMR and Mach2 during my prairie dog hunts. And I shot a coyote with a 17 HMR. My furthest shot with the HMR on a prairie dog was 283 yards. But since the bullet drops below sonic velocity the effect was significantly less than when the bullet is still super sonic.

Neither the HMR or the Mach2 is going to have the same affect on a ground hog as if you shot it with a high velocity 223 varmint bullet. But it is still going to be dead. I shoot a lot of the pd's in the chest and I will see them head for the mound with blood pumping out like a deer shot through the chest. And they normally fun out of life after going several feet. Shot in the head the results are more dramatic.

Most of my shots on pd's with the mach2 are out to around 175 yards. With the HMR I routinely shoot them out to 250 yards. The HMR provides somewhat better accuracy and of course higher velocity. But the mach2 is no slouch.

A frequent shot I get is a pd looking over the top of the mound. All that is visible is the eye and the portion of the head above that. This is what the HMR does on that shot.

View attachment 1535191

Considering the variability of 17HMR ammo, if you are consistently hitting PD`s at 250 yards, what 17HMR rifle and ammo are you shooting? Shooting CCI 17grain TNT out to 200 yards with my Savage 93R17 is "pretty good " once I get the scope set for whatever the wind ( better be a light breeze! ) is doing.

 

[jepp2]

what 17HMR rifle and ammo are you shooting?

Lilja barrels make a huge difference. I typically shoot 17 gr tipped bullets. Hornady Vmax groups about as well as any. But I have also had very good success with Speer TNT HP's.

I started with an Anschutz, had 2 Coopers, and when I did a shoot off between those and my CZ, I sold them. The CZ wearing the Lilja barrel just shoots that much better. And yes, favorable wind conditions improve the hit percentage. And occasionally a bullet just doesn't land with the rest. I haven't owned a Savage yet.

 

[Turkeytider]

Lilja barrels make a huge difference. I typically shoot 17 gr tipped bullets. Hornady Vmax groups about as well as any. But I have also had very good success with Speer TNT HP's.

I started with an Anschutz, had 2 Coopers, and when I did a shoot off between those and my CZ, I sold them. The CZ wearing the Lilja barrel just shoots that much better. And yes, favorable wind conditions improve the hit percentage. And occasionally a bullet just doesn't land with the rest. I haven't owned a Savage yet.

Thank you sir. I think you`re certainly shooting higher grade equipment than I am. My 93R17 is pretty " baseline". Between ammo, gun , and my ability to shoot, I wouldn`t shoot at anything alive past 200 yards. Your post has me thinking about putting up some paper crow and PD targets at 200 just for fun to see how I do!

 

[searcher]

Thank you sir. I think you`re certainly shooting higher grade equipment than I am. My 93R17 is pretty " baseline". Between ammo, gun , and my ability to shoot, I wouldn`t shoot at anything alive past 200 yards. Your post has me thinking about putting up some paper crow and PD targets at 200 just for fun to see how I do!

I have a few expensive .17 HMR's, yet my 93R17 outshoots them all with the Hornady V-Max ammo. I put on an aftermarket trigger, pillar and glass bedded it. Have killed many ground squirrels in the 300-350 yard range. Past that, bullets drop as though shot from a mortar and killing power is sketchy. I try not to shoot past 300 for that reason.

 

[Pa.Mike]

I just wanted to thank all of you for responding with a lot of very useful information.

Mike

 

[Turkeytider]

I have a few expensive .17 HMR's, yet my 93R17 outshoots them all with the Hornady V-Max ammo. I put on an aftermarket trigger, pillar and glass bedded it. Have killed many ground squirrels in the 300-350 yard range. Past that, bullets drop as though shot from a mortar and killing power is sketchy. I try not to shoot past 300 for that reason.

Ground squirrels at 300-350 yards with a 17 HMR? Man, you need to be getting that on video and posting it on the internet. That`s world class shooting!

 

[RedMenace]

If you want a quick kill, go to at least a .222. Those little .17 bullets have a hard time with bones. Most of them will crawl off to die, or just have a broken leg.

 

[webfoot56]

I know it is challenging to see how far you can shoot varmints to hit them. For something big shot placement is key still it would have to be inside 100 yards for groundhog size. !25 yards for small vermin such as gophers and ground squirrels. Any further better choices are out there and proven 22 hornet, 222, and 223.Nothing worse than seeing a varmint that is hit and crawling back to hole or den.

 

[searcher]

Ground squirrels at 300-350 yards with a 17 HMR? Man, you need to be getting that on video and posting it on the internet. That`s world class shooting!

That would be a good idea, given how many people seem to think that is so difficult. It really isn't if one first has a rifle that will shoot at or under 1/2 " MOA. Both my Savage and Volquartson will - as well as two of my buddies. Then, a matter of shooting at incremental yardage to get true dop for the rifle. After 200 yards, this needs to be at 10-yard intervals and 1/8-minute click scopes are best for this. At 200+ yards, those little pills start dropping like mortars. Accurate range finder is a must and wind reading abilities are stretched. The good thing is the .17 HMR makes little noise to squirrels over 200 yards out (especially if shooting into the wind). A miss most often allows for a quick follow-up (or many more) to adjust from as the squirrels don't run as they do when shot with the bigger guns. I have found, for me, it is SIGNIFICANTLY harder to hit them once past around 315 yards. I tend to believe they lose stabilization somewhat - and combined with the steep bullet drop, it is very challenging. Sometimes, we break them out when the wind is howling just for a bit of fun to see if one of use can hit one way out there. I've held off as much as 30". That is a lot, given the relatively short distance.

For the guys trying to hit one at 300+ without having good dope on the rifle, a range finder and a dialed in rifle - I'd place money against the first shot. And maybe more.......

Need to get a scope cam.

 

[Turkeytider]

That would be a good idea, given how many people seem to think that is so difficult. It really isn't if one first has a rifle that will shoot at or under 1/2 " MOA. Both my Savage and Volquartson will - as well as two of my buddies. Then, a matter of shooting at incremental yardage to get true dop for the rifle. After 200 yards, this needs to be at 10-yard intervals and 1/8-minute click scopes are best for this. At 200+ yards, those little pills start dropping like mortars. Accurate range finder is a must and wind reading abilities are stretched. The good thing is the .17 HMR makes little noise to squirrels over 200 yards out (especially if shooting into the wind). A miss most often allows for a quick follow-up (or many more) to adjust from as the squirrels don't run as they do when shot with the bigger guns. I have found, for me, it is SIGNIFICANTLY harder to hit them once past around 315 yards. I tend to believe they lose stabilization somewhat - and combined with the steep bullet drop, it is very challenging. Sometimes, we break them out when the wind is howling just for a bit of fun to see if one of use can hit one way out there. I've held off as much as 30". That is a lot, given the relatively short distance.

For the guys trying to hit one at 300+ without having good dope on the rifle, a range finder and a dialed in rifle - I'd place money against the first shot. And maybe more.......

Need to get a scope cam.

Yep, looking forward to the movies!