iLOVEthehunt
New member
Early this year I purchased a Savage 93 in .17 hmr. I heard mixed reviews on whether it was too much gun for squirrels. There are three main bullet types for the .17 hmr, ballistic tip, hollow point, and full metal jacket. I thought the ballistic tip and hollow point may be too much for squirrels, but I wanted to try the fmj because I knew it was less likely to fragment on impact.
This morning I took my first squirrel with the .17 hmr using fmj bullets. I took two shots and connected twice. The first shot entered the underside of the neck with a small entry wound and exited the shoulder with a large exit wound. The second shot was a running shot and it went through the rib cage. The entry and exit holes on the second shot were the same size and were the same diameter as the bullet. Based on the two types of exit wounds, I think the first shot hit some bone and began to tumble sideways before exiting. I've seen .22 bullets do the same, with about the same size exit wound. Pictures are below.
For me, I have found my new favorite squirrel gun and bullet type. I will continue to use the .17 hmr with fmj bullets as my first option for squirrels. It is super accurate and these two shots prove that even without perfect shot placement meat damage can be minimized with the fmj bullet.
First Shot Entry Wound
By davicas at 2011-09-29
First Shot Exit Wound (The shoulder wound)
By davicas at 2011-09-29
Second Shot Entry Wound
By davicas at 2011-09-29
Second Shot Exit Wound
By davicas at 2011-09-29
This morning I took my first squirrel with the .17 hmr using fmj bullets. I took two shots and connected twice. The first shot entered the underside of the neck with a small entry wound and exited the shoulder with a large exit wound. The second shot was a running shot and it went through the rib cage. The entry and exit holes on the second shot were the same size and were the same diameter as the bullet. Based on the two types of exit wounds, I think the first shot hit some bone and began to tumble sideways before exiting. I've seen .22 bullets do the same, with about the same size exit wound. Pictures are below.
For me, I have found my new favorite squirrel gun and bullet type. I will continue to use the .17 hmr with fmj bullets as my first option for squirrels. It is super accurate and these two shots prove that even without perfect shot placement meat damage can be minimized with the fmj bullet.
First Shot Entry Wound
By davicas at 2011-09-29
First Shot Exit Wound (The shoulder wound)
By davicas at 2011-09-29
Second Shot Entry Wound
By davicas at 2011-09-29
Second Shot Exit Wound
By davicas at 2011-09-29
