[COYOTE10663]

Last night wile installing yet another scope on my .17 HMR, it dawned on me as I stood there looking at my rimfire collection what I have managed to do.
I bought the Marlin 17HMR (standard, non bull bbl.model) for it's long range accuracy & power. But yet, my 2 pet Marlins are set up exactly backwards!
Let me explain.
OK, I have a Marlin model 880SQ .22LR, wich is a bull bbl., with a 4-12X x 40mm AO scope on it and a bi-pod. It is set up for "long range" .22LR shooting. And for that it does good. 1.5" 5-shot groups all day long with CCI Stingers at 100 yards.
And then I have a Marlin 917 17HMR, wich has a lightweight barell, a long eye relief 2X x 20mm scout scope & lightweight flashlight on it!

So infacto: The short range round is in a long range platform, and the long range round is in a "blast 'em up close" platform!

LMAO !!!!!!! BUT, not all is lost! As these riffles were made this way out of neccecity! The 880SQ I have had for 8 years before aquireing the 917 17HMR (bought this year).
I was really getting into extended range .22LR shooting (200+ yards) and loving every minit of it ! It becomes a real challange much past 130 yards!!
However, of all the .22's I have, the Armscor M1600 has allways been my "backyard varmit" gun to grab. It is set up with a 40mm red dot sight and a mini-mag light flashlight. One night after shooting a skunk 3 times to put him down, I decided something with more killing power was needed for the Opossums & Skunks that keep getting my cat's food & spraying around the house.
My one & only .22 MAG is a beautiful gun in 99.95% condition, so I did not wan tto mess it up. ( It's a safe queen. )
Plus, this gave me an excuse to get a new gun.
I was looking for a .22MAG when this lillte sweetheart 17HMR leaped into my arms. And it has been love every since.

Then it occured to me
Makes perfect sense when you stop & think about it! Just because a 17HMR is known for it's long range accuracy & power, does not mean it HAS to be used only at long range. If it packs a wollup at 100 yards, it is going to hit even harder at 25yds!
And I will say this, when one attacking Opossum meets one mean 17HMR hollow point bullet at 15 yards, it no longer has to worry where it next meal is going to come from!

[G. Green]

Quote:       Originally Posted by COYOTE10663

Plus, this gave me an excuse to get a new gun.

This is known as a "no lose situation" or around her "sijeeeashun". And them possums gots some sharp chompers!

[big shrek]

Two words...Shot Placement

And if ya ever wanna get rid of that armscor....

I truly miss mine...my uncle said he'ed leave it to me in his will, but he's only 11 years older than me...the stinker

[MLN1963]

Skunks can take a lot of 22 rounds. I found that out when I had to eradicate three of the things. I think the supposed HPs just zing right through them. I'll try head shots next time but that isn't always an option. They all died but it wasn't an instant kill.

My buddy says that a 17 HMR or 17M2 varmit round will explode inside without coming out the other side. That sounds like just the ticket and just the excuse I need to buy one. Of course then I would need to decide on Mach2 or HMR.

[COYOTE10663]

I have shot both the 17M2 and the 17HMR (obviously), and unless you plan on shooting ALLOT, i would not get the 17M2. The HMR ammo is still inexpensive. (Compaired to centerfire ammo)
And the 17HMR is,,,,,"explosive",,,,,on critters up to about 20 lbs!
Gutted a Opossum after being shot with one and his innards just kinda ran out like a gooey blood soup. Ick ! lol.

[Big Dog]

For tough varmints up close - .22 Sniper SubSonic is the key! Puts a hard-headed possum DOWN.

My Marlin 25MN and 17V rifles are setup nearly the same - birchwood stocks, Bushnell 4-14X40AO scopes. The 17V has the heavy barrel though. The similarity keeps the learning curve down. Just have to remember NOT to put the .17 rounds into the .22WMR gun.

Replace those Stingers with Greentags or Standards, and your group size will shrink by 100%.