IN DEFENSE OF THE .17 HMR
Dear NRVO:
For someone who shares what I think is a wonderful outlook on gunning and hunting, especially when it comes to your opinions on "utilitarian guns," I am equally surprised to find your disdain for the new .17 rounds that have recently arrived on the market. While I agree with you that many gun manufacturers and makers of hunting equipment prey on the public's profound need to buy something new for the sake of buying something new, I still think that maybe you have overlooked the very nice niche that the .17 HMR round fits into (although I do agree that we probably don't need two .17 rounds and I think the the HM2 will probably eventually fall to the wayside in light of the HMR's performance.)
I found your web-site after I purchased a used, 16 gauge, Stevens 94B single-shot shotgun. I was most pleased to read your article "The Quest" and to find that the shotgun I had purchased was almost identical to the one you found. While I am not old enough to have fond memories of the days of paper shotshells, I have a nostalgic streak. This may come from my still-living grandfather and his tales. I grew up with hunting and fishing. My favorite part of hunting was listening to stories of the "good old days" when my father and grandfather both had the time and inclination to keep a couple of good beagles for the purpose. My brother started breeding and training beagles to run rabbit and pheasant. He had managed to make a few acquaintances who let him hunt on their land and who appreciate it when he clears out a few woodchucks. He suggested that we could probably use rifles in this new round to very effectively kill some groundhogs at these farms and it was a perfect fit. The .17 HMR, with its flat trajectory and high velocity, is an almost perfect varmint round, especially in places where you might not want to use a high-power center-fire round. It also has much tighter groups than .22 LR at 100 yards. We both went out one weekend and purchased .17 HMR rifles, his a Savage and mine a long-coveted Anschutz.
Now, I'm sure that you can see that there is some sentimentality in my argument; however, I still think that your outright dismissal of the new round is hardly fair. The .17 HMR round is not for plinking. I wouldn't even consider it useful for small game hunting. But if you want to shoot something dead or put some nice groups in paper at distances over 100 yards, it sure is a nice round. For someone who loves interesting guns (your article on the .32 Favorite is great) I think you might want to consider the .17 HMR as something more than just a gimmick. And, at least for me, it will forever be remembered as the catalyst for my return to hunting and spending more time with my father and brother.
Did I mention that it sure is fun to shoot?
I enjoy your site and hope you keep updating it with interesting stories.
Sincerely,
C.T. from Pennsylvania
Humane Killers
Dear NRVO:
Just been surfing your site and I thought I 'd drop you a line, to say how much I enjoyed the article on Humane Killers. It's a subject I always wanted to know more about and you have answered the call. As a hunter myself, it's answered some questions i had, about proper bullet placement and Humane despatch, of a wounded animal.
Keep up the good work, take care,
J.P. from the United Kingdom