Dogbone said:
WyleWD said:
Update:
Am absolutely sold on that 17 Rem that a bunch of fellas talked me into trying. Low recoil, relatively quiet, able to see the hits and a much more reliable killer than the 223 that I used to use. It just plain puts them into a freeze on the spot.
Wondering if you could elaborate on this since so many rave about the 223, especially the low cost of ammo.
The 223 is a fine round and it has many attractions. So don't anyone take it that I'm bad mouthing it. I have great respect for it.
I've been blessed in that I've shot many a 'chuck with an array of calibers. Of all those calibers I've had higher percentage of chucks drag their way to the hole or put on quite a lengthy display of gyrations before sucumbing while using a 223. Especially at 200yds to 300yds. Personally I don't care for that. DRT is my preferance. So for about the last 25 or so years it has only been on rare occasion that my 223 ever gets out of the safe to go hunting. The 220 Swifts, 243's, 6-284's, 22-250's, and now the 6xc have taken up almost all of my varmint and predator hunting.
Over the last 25 years there has been a lot of urban sprawl around here and there are houses nearby no matter where you go. So the thunder of a 6-284, 243,6xc and to some extent the Swift is not always as welcome while folks are eating dinner within hearing distance of them. Something quieter with NO chance of richochet, and yet the DRT effect of the Swift, '250, etc would be an attractive bonus.
That being said, I had an opportunity to get a good deal on a Rem 700 BDL with a sporter barrel in 17 Rem. There were no less than 10 or so hunters who came out of the closet and said to BUY IT. And that I would not be disappointed. I was skeptical to say the least, but given their experience with the round and their eagerness to help me find or share loads, I decided what the heck. In no time flat I had a couple very accurate loads so took it to the chuckin' fields last summer for the first time. I was more than amazed. It shoots like a lazer beam to good distances, low recoil and EVERYTHING that I've hit with it is DRT.... even on some shots where the shooter didn't place the shot very well. It takes some getting used to its MO as when you see the hits there isn't a launching or anything exceptionally violent like the swift or the 243 etc...... they just sort of bounce a little, give ya a tail salute and the bar is closed.
;D ;D
I've found the Hornaday 25gr Vmax and HP to be very accurate and demonstrate DRT on 100% of the hits so far. I have a box of Woodchuck den bullets for it down stairs that I'm anxious to try too. I'm probably up near a hundred with it since I began using it early last summer. There are some small quirks to them but they are easily remedied from my experience and the help of some others that so adamantly talked me into getting this thing.
Surely it will need a new barrel at some point and maybe sooner than I'd like, but what the heck.... the barrel makers gotta eat too and I'm told that Mr. Lilja makes some very nice 17 barrels. It won't be the first time I've done business with him and been pleased.
Skeptical as I was, I'll now admit that I was listening to 17's distractors entirely too much, and am glad that I listened to those fellas that talked me into trying one. And it was nice to have the farmer whose field that I hunted in last week say "get any?" Yeah... 11 and he said "geez didn't even hear ya shoot."
WD
If he tries that again, I may need to drop off a dead chuck in his immediate area so that he can lay in wait for some receptive buzzard or something. 
lol WD
