small caliber - kill zone?

[Rustywreck]

Quote:
Head shots aren't ever a great idea unless you're very close and the target is stationary, which is seldom the case when shooting stray dogs

The heart / lung area is always a better choice

To each their own I guess. I've shot many hogs and a few yotes in Texas with head shots successfully past 200 yards. I have no intent on shooting dogs, infact it would be illegal here; but if I did it would be a head shot.

 

[patman75]

What .17 hmr round are you using? The 20 or 22 grain? Who makes it?

20 grain does not fragment (turn to dust on impact) like the 22 grain round.

With a 17hmr you should be getting 1 inch groups at 100+ yards. Sounds like your gun could use some cleaning.

 

[panner123]

You CAN NOT KILL a dog at 75 yards with that gun. You may wound it and cause an infection which will cause it to die a slow death. The best rule of thumb is to make a target using two inches of cardbroad and set it up at the range you will be shooting. Any gun that goes though that is the gun you want to use. Most of the time you will have the law on your side if you make a clean kill. But if you only wound the predator you may have to pay some VERY HIGH BET BILL. Plus, being charged with animal endangerment charges. I am the first one in line to kill a predator, but it MUST be a clean quick kill.

 

[hoping4better]

In defence of this gun, it will punch a clean hole in solid 1/4" ply at 50 yards. It really packs a punch due to velocity. I have no doubts it will penetrate flesh at 75 yards. My doubt was whether it could pentrate a thick bone at 75 yards and I kinda doubt it. The suggested kill zone seems like it would be a fairly quick and definitely lethal hit. Two punctured lungs, or one and several vital organs (if it deflects off a rib) will definitely be a kill and not a vet bill.

As for the cleaning, I think I just need to lean out some cobwebs and dust from the old trigger finger and breathing practice.

The round in use is the CCI copper jacketed hollow point, 17 grain. IT should frag some, but it has the higher velocity 2550 fps. I also have some CCI 20 grain FMJ, should I use those instead?

 

[mywifewasonherenowiamalso]

how many shots do you have? you will need more than one
one behind shoulder will knock it down, run up to it and empty rest in the head (i did this with a 22 pistol)

just shoot in the same spot so you can get through bone cause i think hollow point metal jacket is for tearing flesh

 

[Teach97]

those CCI bullets are actually better for the larger varmits than the hornady bullets which do gragment fairly quickly as they were designed for the smaller animals...out to 100 yds you are still in the 140ft/lbs of energy. I wouldn't want to go beyond that myself on a coyote. have fun and keep it safe!

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

To each their own I guess. I've shot many hogs and a few yotes in Texas with head shots successfully past 200 yards

And you've probably missed a lot more than you've taken.

A hunting scenario is far different than handling predators after your livestock.

Choosing a 2" target over a 6" target makes no sense when most cannot shoot "minute of angle" under field conditions

It's all about percentages, and the highest likelyhood of a clean kill is still the chest area​

 

[Rustywreck]

Quote:
And you've probably missed a lot more than you've taken.

A hunting scenario is far different than handling predators after your livestock.

Choosing a 2" target over a 6" target makes no sense when most cannot shoot "minute of angle" under field conditions

It's all about percentages, and the highest likelyhood of a clean kill is still the chest area

And you'd be wrong: Haven't missed a hog yet.

 

[Josh45640]

With a good shot, the .17 will kill them just fine. I have shot many coyotes out to 125 with this round. Do not go for head shots though. You would be better off with a .223 or 22-250 though.

 

[patman75]

Quote:
My bad, 17 grain and 20 grain. There is no 22 grain.

The 17 grain that Hormandy make is the high frag round. The 20 grain holds together more and is recomended for hunting because it does not tear up the meat as much but you dont care about that. I pretty sure the CCI and the Hormandy rounds have similar frag patterns between the 17 and 20 grain.

Is your 17 hmr a single shot, semi auto or bolt action?

Personally I would stick with the 17 grain, higher velocity and go for the head/ear. If you have a semi auto I would definately go for the head and then follow up with a few more rounds.