The hornet and MIV are bolt rifles, single shots. 17-223 is an AR15, never once had a failure of any kind.
Which 17 for ease and performance?
- Thread starter Leveraction35
- Start date
The hornet and MIV are bolt rifles, single shots. 17-223 is an AR15, never once had a failure of any kind.
17 mach 5
20 vartarg
22-250AI
I like to be different. I like to make brass.
Easy button = 204
Easy button for good components 20 practical.
Every coyote ive shot with a 22-250 melts to the ground in its tracks..
In my honest opinion, a 22-250 is about the best do EVERYTHING caliber there is. From Prairie dogs to deer... it'd just about work for anything in the USA..
20 vartarg
22-250AI
I like to be different. I like to make brass.
Easy button = 204
Easy button for good components 20 practical.
Every coyote ive shot with a 22-250 melts to the ground in its tracks..
In my honest opinion, a 22-250 is about the best do EVERYTHING caliber there is. From Prairie dogs to deer... it'd just about work for anything in the USA..
Although I agree, I have never seen it be easy on the fur .
L.Sherm
Silver $$ Contributor
My nephews 22-250 i load for with the 52 Bergers loves the bullet on coyotes because it goes in and destroy's the internals but doesn't exit. He used to use V-Max factory ammo but says the Bergers are alot more fur friendly.
I would not recommend a 22-250 in a high volume sage rat or P.D patch.
Good info
Berger 52 fb varmint and 14 twist. It doesnt exit. Full explosion and energy dump inside. Tiny entrance hole.
Just like said above. Shoots bugholes too. Stupid accurate.
For deer, I always shoot head or neck anyways to not bloodshot meat in the shoulders and rib cage.... but it never went through a deer head or neck either.
I assume these would be handloads guys? What velocity and powder
Reloader 15. I'd have to look... way faster than you "need".
Do you think they would blowup a bobcat
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
There are some options, thinking outside the box. In a bolt action, we have shot many thousands of the 40 Sierra hp, 40g Vmax, and 40g Nosler ballistic tip in a 223 12-14 twists, with 12.0g of Blue Dot at 3000 fps, and a max of 14.3g at 3200(1.5" groups at 200 yards) with Rem 7 1/2. These Blue Dot loads in the 223 are extremely effective at 200 yards and closer on bobcats and coyotes.
I got rid of my two 17 Ackley hornets, custom 17 Rem, custom 221 Fireball, and 22 K Hornet after finding the Blue dot loads in my Rem 700 788 and Rem 700 sporter 223's, taking many bobcats and coyotes in Arizona.
I was a 17 Freek for years, back when a bobcat pelt was selling for $450 and a fox pelt for $125. Nothing beats the cost and aggravation of a 17, poor bullet choices, warped cleaning rods, etc. 17 Javelina, 17 Mach 4's, custom and factory 17 Remingtons, and 17 Ackley Hornets, they are all a labor of love.
For coyotes, a 223 loaded with 26-26.5g of Win 748, 12-14 twists, is doing 3050 fps with a 55g, which rarely goes through a coyote, and the 55g Winchester SP is incredible in how it puts a tremendous shock on a large coyote without penetration. Blue dot load with the 55g is 2650 fps.
I got rid of my two 17 Ackley hornets, custom 17 Rem, custom 221 Fireball, and 22 K Hornet after finding the Blue dot loads in my Rem 700 788 and Rem 700 sporter 223's, taking many bobcats and coyotes in Arizona.
I was a 17 Freek for years, back when a bobcat pelt was selling for $450 and a fox pelt for $125. Nothing beats the cost and aggravation of a 17, poor bullet choices, warped cleaning rods, etc. 17 Javelina, 17 Mach 4's, custom and factory 17 Remingtons, and 17 Ackley Hornets, they are all a labor of love.
For coyotes, a 223 loaded with 26-26.5g of Win 748, 12-14 twists, is doing 3050 fps with a 55g, which rarely goes through a coyote, and the 55g Winchester SP is incredible in how it puts a tremendous shock on a large coyote without penetration. Blue dot load with the 55g is 2650 fps.
Bobcats are more delicate to begin with. I dont think it would blow it up per se... but it will do more damage than it does on a coyote.
I honestly haven't shot too many Bobcats with it. Don't see then near as much.
If I was trying to save a bobcat pelt I'd use my 17HMR.. id at least try that first... aint like your doing 300+ yard shots on Bobcats often...
I bet 99% of everything ive shot in my life is inside 100 yards. I mean ive made some long shots...
Anyone saying they are smoking Bobcats at coyotes at 500 yards with a spotlight calling is a lier! I did get a coon at 450 one night though with that 52 berger and 22-250 and after a few beers for aiming fluid.
I agree there, usually cats come in to shotgun range or slightly beyond. Maybe I’ll lean into the 22-250 route for coyote and buy a more dedicated bobcat gun rather than trying to bridge the two
STOMP442
Gold $$ Contributor
They work exceptionally well on cats too. I run the 52 berger in both ARs and the 22-250. Killed 3 Bobcats and a badger with the ARs and one cat with the 22-250. Never had an exit or a twitch on any of them. By far the best bullet I have ever used in 22 cal and shoots really small.
Back to the topic of 17s I love my two 17 Remingtons. I use the 25gr berger in those with CFE223 and they both shoot best just over 3900fps and half moa or better. CFE really helps cut down on the fouling as well.
Attachments
swd
Silver $$ Contributor
I’ve shot coyotes with the 17 Ackley Hornet, 17 Mach 4, 17 Rem, Tac20, 22 Hornet, 223 and 22/250 Ackley. While I love the 17’s they are very sensitive to shot placement. The only coyotes I’ve ever had get away were with 17’s. The Mach 4 is probably my favorite but the 17 Rem is a close second and will never leave you wanting more performance out of a 17. The 20’s are probably quite a bit more forgiving with shot placement and would be a nice balance for coyotes and cats. While it seems counterintuitive out to 175-200 yards or so my favorite calling cartridge is the 22 Hornet. I have a Kimber in 22 Hornet that stabilizes 50gr VMax’s at 2800 and it just absolutely hammers coyotes with very little pelt damage. Every one goes straight down. Despite its diminutive size I’ve found it less sensitive to shot placement than any of the 17’s. The 40 and 45gr Sierra Hornet bullets are very effective on coyotes too. Never shot a cat with the Hornet but I’d think it would just about perfect.
Edit, Thinking about it a little more what might the perfect calling cartridge out to about 250 yards might be a 222 with a 50gr VMax.
Edit, Thinking about it a little more what might the perfect calling cartridge out to about 250 yards might be a 222 with a 50gr VMax.
Last edited:
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
Factory 17 Rem has a HUGE neck dia and tremendous freebore amount. If you turn the neck on a 17 Rem in an appropriate chamber, shorten the freebore to no more than .020, you will shoot 1/4" groups. No other cartridge I have used has benefited more from neck turning than the 17 Remington.
ELR LVR
Silver $$ Contributor
I've had a few 17's (17 Hornet up to 17 Rem
Now, I think I'd do a .20 of some sort if I was doing some sort of small caliber build
17 requires more frequent barrel cleaning and the throats burn out rather quickly
Tell me how it’s working out for you… What is your use for it? What bullet? Shot distances?
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