Need Some Help

[Stan from Pa.]

Need some advice,
A friend called last evening, tells me he would like to purchase a 17 caliber rifle. He's leaving in exactly 3 weeks to attend a wedding in Nevada and his brother in law said, make sure you bring a gun to shoot ground squirrels with. His brother in law recommended a 17 caliber.
So I ask, rim fire or center fire? He says most of his shooting will start at 200 yards and go out from there. I've never shot ground squirrels, but I think a center fire would be what he wants, and that is also what he would prefer for more local hunting when he returns.
There's only 3 17 factory cartridges currently that I'm aware of.

17 Hornady Hornet: Hornady and Federal offer ammunition.

17 Fireball: Only Remington offers ammunition and limited amount of factory rifles available.

17 Remington: Only Remington offers ammunition but more factory rifles available.

I do have the capability to chamber a 17 Hornet or the 17 Fireball, so this does open up a few possibilities.
This friend does not reload, so if reloading is required, it will be me and frankly, I'm not sure 3 weeks is enough time. He's completely new to anything under 22 caliber, so I want to keep this as simple as possible.

Give me your thoughts,
Stan

[sgtg]

CZ 527 in 17 Hornet , they are amazing, mine shot the 17 HH superformance very well. He will absolutely dig it. sgtg out

PS. What he intends to hunt after he gets home should drive his decision, (coyotes ??) 204 in CZ 527

[long shot]

Factory 17 Rem. ammo is at $40.00 a box......

Fireball ammo is harder to locate and it's not cheap.

Everybody has 17 Hornet on the shelf at a much more reasonable cost.

If I did not reload I know which direction I would head.

Aaron

[df06]

I have several in 17FB and 17 Rem. They are great for varmints, but unless you reload, hard to find and spendy.

[Alex]

... then the 17 Hornet is not the way to go. I have shot groundhogs at 150 yards, but lots run off using the standard 20 gr. Vmax factory loads.

The 17FB would be ideal if the ammo was more available and cheaper.

The 17 REm is tough to find and a touch hot for ground squirrels.

Next best would be the 204 Ruger. Ammo available. Good for most anytning, but a touch hot for lots of ground squirrels hunting.

Tough choice. Hope Montdoug chimes in.

Alex

[drewh]

Starting at 200 is pushing the range of the 17 Hornet in windy NV. If enough Fireball ammo is available it would be a much better choice. You might also give some thought to a plain old .223, not small caliber I know, but there are lots of rifles and ammo available and may be a better choice long term for a non reloader.

[Stevo]

I have a good friend from the Boseman Mt. area that has been hunting these things for years. His advise to me was for maximum launching ability the 20 caliber is what you want. Not that the 17 can't do it, just the 20 calibers do it better


I can't wait to see the launchability a Triple Deuce has on the Vermin.

[sgtg]

204 all the way, 32 will incinerate squirrels and reach out and touch ground hogs or coyotes. Ammo available.
I am a spending mentor also, get a CZ527 in 17 HH and one in 204, problem solved. sgtg out

[rrwildlife]

I think the 204R advice is sound. More off the shelf ammo options available and more firearm selections as well.

Just my .02

Ryan

[sgtg]

Please allow me to make a slight correction . Buy a CZ527 17 HH go shoot the heck out of squirrels, then sell that crappy 17 HH to me at a drastically reduced price, so you can then go buy the CZ 527 in 204. sgtg out