17 v-max squirrel --- ok

[Purebred Redneck]

I heard some very negative things about this round and the damage it causes to squirrels.

Well I don't have very much experience but today I did manage to kill two.

1. Bullet entered inbetween the eye and the nose. Exit hole blew the lower half of the jaw off. About a nickel sized exit hole.

2. Bullet entered the neck and exited the neck/shoulder. About a nickel sized exit hole.

I feel the round in these two instances compared to the damage done by Stingers or Velocitors. Both squirrels acted the same as they would if hit by a 22lr --- they imediatly turned upside down in the tree and fell 3 seconds later.

Obvouisly there is a lot more experimenting to be done as far as double shoulder shots, chest shots, etc.

But I do have a feeling that if you lose body part to bullet damage with a 17, you would of lost it with a 22 as well.

I do think the round is just a little too powerful for squirrel --- but no where near as bad as I've been led to believe.
Perhaps the CCI Gamepoints would be the ultimate squirrel round as they are not a balistic tip. I'll have to wait and see.

Overall, I would not nessisarily recomend the v-max but it's not the point that I will not use it.

[dovehunter]

I've always thought CCI Stingers did way too much damage on squirrels if you had to take other than a head shot. Same way with .22 WMR hollow points. I think I'll leave the howitzers to you guys and stick with my old .22 LR solids. Even if I hit a bone or front or rear leg or shoulder, I'll have something other than mush when they hit the ground.

[Purebred Redneck]

Well I tried the 20gr gamepoints and took some body shots (not by choice but it's what was offered).

THOSE THINGS RIPPED THE SQUIRRELS IN HALF
And I suspect the v-max probably would of as well.
But to it's credit, the squirrels didn't twitch once they hit the ground. With my "troublesome" experiences with a 22lr, I do believe if hit by a 22 the same squirrels would have made an attempt to run. I would rather waste the front legs and ribs if that means that every single squirrel lays right where he falls.

So upon further review, I think the round does live up to the explosive hype.
However, I will use the 17 in the fall and winter where shots can be over 50 yards.

[dovehunter]

Maybe I haven't killed that many squirrels(in over 40 yrs. of hunting them), but I can't recall ever having had one get away (when I knew I hit it) that I shot with a .22 LR solid point. I've had more problems over the years with mush from the hollow and exploding point bullets than I ever had from loosing game with the solids. I am going to stick with the solids.