.17 HMR scoping question

[onemountain]

One of me bestest buds is drooling over a couple .17 HMR rifles (and he's got me doing it too lol). He asked me what kind of magnification he'd need to be varmint shooting out to around 150 yds with it. I realized pretty quickly I'm just not sure. It seems to me that unless you've got the Hubble Telescope strapped to yer rifle pretty much any little critter is gonna look reeaaal small out that far, but maybe that's just my less than optimal eyesight speaking.

I know there's got to be some .17 HMR and .22 WMR shooters on this forum. What're you guys using on your varmint rimmies for that kind of range?

Thanks in advance folks  

[onemountain]

trying to keep it under $200, under $150 if possible (Yeah, yeah, I know, don't expect Zeiss quality optics for that kind of price). Would a Bushnell Banner 4-12x40 work?

[crackshot777]

i know they sell the 4-16-40 centerpoint at walmart for 64 bucks and i have read some pretty good reviews. one guy had it on a 300 win mag so i think the little 17 would be allright.im gunna get one for mine in the spring.17 that is

[TCups]

Eric:

I have one of Bhawana's  Hawke Varmints in 6-24X 42MM AO with a sun shade that is in your price range.  Maybe not Zeiss or top end Leupold glass, but good glass in your price range.  I would say you need at least 18X to see the holes punched by a 17HMR clearly at 100 yards in average light.  Of course, if you are shooting critters or just plinking at cans or lumps of charcoal, you don't need as much magnification.  Hawke makes an adjustable mount that fits either 3/8ths or 11mm rails very nicely and lets you compensate for long range shooting as you can optically center the reticle and adjust the zero for 100 yards -- a big advantage if you plan to "stretch" the HRM's legs and shoot at 150 yards.  You can probably pick up both the Varmint and mounts for under $200.  Tell Bhawana "TCups" sent me."  (he will probably charge extra LOL).

[SDale]

I've mentioned this before and I'll do it again.

For the BEST bang for the buck, a Tasco 6-24x42 Target/Varmint would do the trick. It's got clear optics and a True Mil-Dot reticle. I've got 4 of them. All 4 mounted on my rimfires. They run about $70 bucks or so from Optics Planet. There's even an optics planet coupon in the Bargain Gate. Should drop it down to around $60.

[SDale]

A BSA Platinum 6-24X44 is also another good one! I little more expensive than the Taso, but it's got sharper optics.

OR, you can go with a BSA Sweet .17 with the Bullet Drop compensator. I haven't used one, but folks say it's pretty accurate.

[PeakChick]

I have a Bushnell Trophy, 4-12 x 40 AO on my .17 HMR Savage 93. Good fit, great glass.

[demarisl]

Check the forums at Rimfire Central for .17 HMR specifics.

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/index.php

Larry

[onemountain]

I dropped by the gun shop to see if they had a box I could ship my B28 in (they didn't; they've been burning through them shipping out internet orders since the last presidential election). My curiosity got the better of me and I asked what they had in .17 HMR for someone on a budget.

The guy I asked's face lit up and he said he just might have the perfect thing. He disappeared and came back with a used Savage Model 93R17 F. Lo and behold, there was a Bushnell of some sort parked on top of it; I'll have to look at some pictures to figure out which model. I asked if the scope came with the rifle and he said 'yep.' The price? $179. I guess I should pass this one on to my buddy. Too bad I don't have the money to buy it else I might have snapped it up then and there. Oh well…