17 m2 questions

[swmorg]

Im considering building a 17 m2 for squirrel hunting. Has anyone had any expierence with the 17 m2? What does it do to a squirrel that has been head shot. Is it savable or not? If anyone has pictures of head shots I would like to see. What is the least violent ammo for meat,or does it make a difference? Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[RichinKansas]

I never was one to get a bunch of squirrels, but hunted mostly sitting so the squirrels would not see me and stop. Then tried head shots with standard velocity .22 Didn't make as much noise as HV and sometimes let me shoot several. I would be concerned the .17 would make to much noise and travel to far. I had a cousin who was a better hunter than me that only used solid .22 shorts because they were quieter. Anything hitting a squirrel in the head will drop them. If they are moving I always felt you risked damaging the meat.

 

[sam3030]

The only thing better than the 22 is the 17M2 on small game. I have a Savage and in 2 years it has become the rimfire of choice for me and my sons. It is not as loud as the 22 & it is more accurate.

 

[RichinKansas]

I don't own a .17 but have heard them at the range. Don't they have a sonic crack like a .22 hv. Are they really quieter than a .22 standard velocity? I am sure they are more accurate at distance. But most squirrels are shot at under 50 yards. I would like to hear more.

 

[Flybuster]

I built a 17M2 off a Ruger 10/22 a when it was still a new cartridge. I mainly use it for hunting ground squirrels at distances of 50-100 yards. I think with the right shot placement you won't damage meat on the edible squirrel variety, but the bullets do expand, so the 22LR would have less damage I think. I have a 10/22 22LR also and the 17M2 seems slightly louder than the 22LR, but not at all significant. It could just be the way the action cycles in my semi-auto rifle that makes me believe they sound different. Both cartridges are fairly quiet. The 17M2 is an extremely fun cartridge to shoot, it will shoot nice little groups at 100 yards. Not as cheap as 22LR, but much flatter shooting. I have tried only 2 types of ammo; the Hornady 17 grain v-max and the Eley 17 grain. The Eley shoots better groups with less drop and wind drift between the two types of ammo.

 

[DOGCAPPER]

I used CZ 17 MK2 as backup for p-dog hunting...Accuracy is excellent with CCI but expansion is not there...Good for your application...MK2 round trajectory is nearly the same as HMR out to 125 yds..

 

[KzoneAl]

The M2 IMO is the perfect tree squirrel round does no more damage than a high vol. 22 hollow point.When they are hit with the M2 it like they got struck by lightning DRT...Since the M2 has come out my 22's havnt seen the woods.

 

[Smirker]

I got my hands on a Kimber Pro-Varmiter in .17 M-2.Just got a chance to shoot a couple of tree rats.Head shots are a little spectacular.I aim at eye,17mach 2 takes off top of head.I think if shots are placed behind the shoulder that no edible meat would be damaged.Still playing with this gun.I will post updates and pictures of future kills......I hope

 

[martini]

I built a 17M2 on a 10/22. I use it primarily for short range prairie dog shooting early in the season before all the stupid ones have been shot. I've also shot rabbits and one badger with it. Wouldn't recommend it for meat hunting on the smaller animals. Any aiming error results in waste.

 

[tuck2]

I have been using a 17 HM2 Cooper 57M VLT rifle with a Leupold 4-12X AO scope for spring prairie dog shooting. It is a fine round . I have head shot a few cotten tail rabbits but from the damage I would try to avoid a body shot on small game. I site the 17 HM2 17 Gr bullet in at 90 Yards. The bullet will be about -0.26 @25 Yds, +0.45 @ 50 Yds, +0.45 @75 Yds, 0.0 @ 90 Yds, -0.3 @ 100 Yds, and 1.8 inch @ 125 Yds

 

[markwell]

I am new to this forum but am an old hand with the Mach2. Bought my first Kimber Classic Varmint in 17M2 when they first came out and now have six M2 Rifles.

The M2 is, IMHO, the perfect squirrel/ground squirrel round!!!!!!!!! Faster and flatter than the 22LR ,it is a pin point accurate cartridge. Shoot those squirrels in the head and enjoy your table fair.

outa here

Markwell

 

[hottshott526]

I had a Savage 17m2 once, nice rifle but lacked expansion. I bought it thinking that it would take their heads off. Shot many many tree rats in the head and just poked holes in and out with zero expansion.
Shot 1 looking at me.
Hit under the eye came out the back of the head went between the shoulder blades through the body and out the hind quarter, still saved every bit of meat.

Just poked a small hole all the way through I was NOT impressed, traded it for a .22 mag. Now there's a squirrel getter. Just don't make bad shots with it.

Good hunting
Brian

 

[rebelbell24]

The m2 will do more damage than the 22. Shoot one at the wrong angle and you won't be eating much of it

 

[tdnichols]

I use the 17PMC/Aguila cartridge in the 1hm2 and it is great...

 

[RJinTexas]

We've got a tree rat infectation in our neighborhood. I've unluckly got a woman next door who's feeding them. And now we've been having trouble keeping them out of our attics both of my neighbors to the west of me are having the same problem. I sealed up where they were getting in and they actually tore loose heavy cement roof tiles from the edge of one corner to get back in. They chewed up some wiring in my bass boat, also tore up one of the seats, got up under the fitted cover late in the winter and I found the damage this spring. So she can keep feeding them, and I'll keep shooting them. Shot 12 last week and I haven't yet made a dent in them. Live on a golf coarse and there's a green belt right behind the house. So I purchased a 17M2 barrel for one my T/C and good supply of Hornady 17gr Vmax ammo and have declared war. Using the little T/C with a small 2-7X32 Leupold is just not fair because I'm not trying to head shot them, I just want them gone and so do my other neighbors. All I can say is every one that I've body shot has had a half a dollar size exit wound and they sure wouldn't have been table fair. Some looked as bad as some of P-dogs I've shot with a .223 shooting a 50gr Vmax, so you'd beeter plan on head shots only.

Regards
RJ

 

[Kenny474]

If you want to find a rifle that does as little meat damage as possible, I think an air rifle would be about the best. With the right pellet you will get almost no expansion. I have a Gamo Shadow that has been custom tuned to be just barely sub-sonic (still a very powerful air rifle) and it is the best short range squirrel gun I have ever tried. It makes less noise than most 22's and is super cheap to shoot. I have yet to lose a wounded squirrel, and they are usually DRT.

I don't understand the question about head shots and ruining meat, as there isn't anything in the head that I eat. I have completely removed a few heads with my .222 and not had any meat damage.

The 17m2 does make for a very good squirrel gun. I have a barrel for my Contender that is deadly accurate out to about 110yds. It doesn't seem to do the same damage that a high velocity 22lr does either. Remember that the .17 is smaller in diameter and less than half the weight of a 22lr bullet, so it will usually do less damage even if it does expand. If you buy a quality gun it will be pin point accurate anyway, and that will help with shot placement.

If you are really worried about meat damage, consider a nice air rifle. It will do the job to 75yds, and takes them very cleanly.