Hunting & Fishing 17 HMR 20gr FMJ for grey squirrels?

[JelloStorm]

Hey all,

For the past few years I've been hunting squirrels with my trusty 17 HMR but I'm getting real sick of wasting meat due to the damage the polymer tip Hornady rounds.

Grey squirrels here in Northeast PA aren't very big so such an explosive round might be overkill.

I've been thinking about trying the 20gr FMJ CCI's to see how they do. Or would a 20gr have more of a damaging effect due to the increased mass of the bullet?

I really wish they would make a 17gr FMJ.

Any of you guys work through the same dilemma?

 

[Twitch2120]

Re: 17 HMR 20gr FMJ for grey squirrels?

headshots? i think CCI makes an FMJ.

 

[glocker17]

Re: 17 HMR 20gr FMJ for grey squirrels?

FMJ is the best choice, I use them for game birds here and it worked out fine.

 

[bohem]

Re: 17 HMR 20gr FMJ for grey squirrels?

I did this search a few years ago. Now I use this ammo, no wasted meat because there's no hydrostatic shock... double-lung or headshot takes them out in a jif.

And, I use a suppressor on the end, so if there are more than 1 in the immediate area I generally get 2-3 shots before the rest figure out something's going on.

 

[MontanaMarine]

Re: 17 HMR 20gr FMJ for grey squirrels?

Tough to beat a standard velocity or subsonic 22 for small game.

 

[RobertB]

Re: 17 HMR 20gr FMJ for grey squirrels?

I remember using a 22 short as a kid and killing critters. My uncles 17 HMR we have shot animals and blew them to pieces. We shot a rabbit with one and found out it was pregnant because of a few lil babies thrown about by the high velocity. My .22's never did that. I still don't own a 17. To me the 22 is perfect just because of ammo prices. The ballistics of the 17 blow it away. For me its a shotgun or 22, then a .223 is the next step up

 

[KHill3611]

Re: 17 HMR 20gr FMJ for grey squirrels?

fmj is the ticket, I use them on cat squirrels

 

[bohem]

Re: 17 HMR 20gr FMJ for grey squirrels?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KHill</div><div class="ubbcode-body">fmj is the ticket, I use them on cat squirrels </div></div>

Please forgive my ignorance, but what is a "cat squirrel"?

 

[RobertB]

Re: 17 HMR 20gr FMJ for grey squirrels?

Just a smaller squirrel

 

[bohem]

Re: 17 HMR 20gr FMJ for grey squirrels?

Ah, thanks. Wondered if it was something like our "Fox Squirrels" as those things can be the size of a small cat.

 

[vwhugger]

Re: 17 HMR 20gr FMJ for grey squirrels?

17HMR? Kinda expensive, if you ask me.