The biggest animal I expect to kill every time I shoot one with my .17HMR is a badger.I won't make shots on them if they're past 75 yards though and I think 75 yards is even pushin the limit.It wouldn't be a bad idea to set a limit to how far you'll shoot at a different types of critters based on how confident you are with your rifle and also the size of the animal you plan on killing.For example I could hit a prairie dog out to 200 yards with a 17gr. V-Max and kill it easier than I could a badger at 200 yards using the same type of bullet.
I've seen alot of critters take hits from the .17HMR and die right on the spot.That list of critters includes starlings,prairie dogs,armadillos,feral cats,skunks,jackrabbits,porcupines,badgers and a coyote.
Even though I've shot alot of animals with the .17HMR and had them die right on the spot I've also seen some critters take a hit that should have killed them but instead they kept on going like nothin happened.
One example from this year is a feral cat that I shot in the chest with a .17gr V-Max.It didn't stop until it tryed to run up a fairly steep hill.It ran head first into the side of the hill and fell over dead.I also shot a jackrabbit through the neck with a 17gr V-Max and it ran every bit of 40 yards before falling over dead.It wasn't no flesh wound either.It was easy to tell where it had been before it piled up because it was bleedin like a stuck hog.But that doesn't mean the .17HMR aint any good.Because you probably know just as well as I do that every once in a while you're gonna run into a critter that seems a little tougher than normal.
I will also mention the time that I shot a sparrow with a 20gr FMJ and it actually flew up into a tree before it died.And yes I said a sparrow.....as in one of those little birds that you'd think a .20gr bullet would blow in half.Anyway....Like I said it took a hit from a FMJ and it flew up into a tree before falling out of the tree deader than a hammer.If you say you're gonna use FMJ's for huntin with a .17HMR I can make a prediction right now.I'd say 9 times out of 10 you aint gonna find whatever you shoot with them unless you're shootin a paper target or a pop can.I've been called a liar after telling that story before but that's alright I saw it with my own eyes so it doesnt matter.I also had several prairie dogs and jackrabbits run off after gettin hit with bullets out of the same box of shells.Maybe that bird was just one of those critters that was alot tougher than most.I don't know all I can tell you is that in my experiences with them,FMJ's are terrible for anything but target practice.If you don't believe me pick up a box of 20gr FMJ's and go huntin with them is about the only thing I can tell you.If you use a .17HMR for any type of huntin use V-Maxes,HP's or Gamepoints and stay away from shoulder shots on cats or any heavy bodied critters.It'll just splash and make a fairly big hole but it won't kill them.That's about the only good advice I have about all that .17HMR business.