17 rimfires for hunting

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kd4rgwml

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Oct 26, 2009
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Keithville La.
:roll: is it legal to hunt small game in your state with 17 rimfire? looking at Louisiana hunting regulations it appears that a 17 doe not meet State laws for hunting game animals (squirrels, rabbits, and raccoons) minimum here is 22Lr.
 

kd4rgwml

Single-Sixer
Joined
Oct 26, 2009
Messages
205
Location
Keithville La.
I was going to get one, but after reading regulations I think I'll stay with 22 cal. should have posted this on hunting forum but it was a rimfire question
 

Hunter6657

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Jun 13, 2002
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145
Location
Denham Springs, LA.
.17 rimfires are legal for hunting small game in LA.
I live in Baton Rouge and have read the regulations. It has to be .22 rimfire or smaller. Just can't use a centerfire to hunt small game.
 

kd4rgwml

Single-Sixer
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Oct 26, 2009
Messages
205
Location
Keithville La.
it does not say "or smaller" but a call to wildlife and fisheries assured me that 17"s are legal and a change in wording will be in the new regs. Now Xmas looks like a lot more fun! woo woo!
 

Hunter6657

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Jun 13, 2002
Messages
145
Location
Denham Springs, LA.
Ok, my bad.
On page 17 of the hunting regs its says:
It shall be illegal to hunt or take squirrel or rabbits at any time with a breech-loaded rifle or handgun larger than a .22 caliber rimfire or a primitive firearm larger than a .36 caliber.

The .17 is clearly smaller than a .22 caliber rimfire.
 

Shoot44

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Oct 11, 2008
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150
Location
The Ozarks
Depending on what you are hunting, you will find that the 17HMR will really 'damage' a lot of meat!! Unless you can 'head shoot' a squirrel, forget trying to harvest much usable meat from it!

It's great for eliminating pests, but not so good for a hunting rifle if you want to harvest something for the pot.
 

Shoot44

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Joined
Oct 11, 2008
Messages
150
Location
The Ozarks
kd4rgwml":3cn5d6gr said:
shoot44 i understand the mess a 17 will make of the meat BUT I'll use any excuse for a new gun LOL :lol:

Sure, understand that completely! Just didn't know if you were aware of the effect of that tiny little 17 grain polymer-tipped HP at over 2500 fps. (And you won't believe what it does to ground squirrels!)

I bought one for use on squirrels 'cause I didn't care about the meat, and I couldn't really shoot my 22 up in the trees due to my surroundings. The 17 bullet just disintegrates when it hits ANYTHING, so there is no danger of shooting someone/something a mile away like there clearly is with the 22.

I found out afterward that this is a very accurate little caliber, even when shot in a pretty 'run-of-the-mill' rifle. So if you ARE interested in the meat, head shots are not difficult at most ranges.

If you are interested in the cartridge, there is a website named "varmint shooter", or something like that, that has a very long article on it, and the different ammo that is available for it, and how it differs. That guy has done a LOT of experimentation with it.

Edit: the URL is: http://varmintal.com/17hmr.htm
 
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