.17HMR

[Thefishleclair 175]

Whats the hunting regs on these little fire crackers. Some rumors about them not being classified with rim fires for some strange reason. (Speed and velocitys)

Couldnt quite remember the story but it sounds like some grey areas with this new caliber and small game hunters.

[Guest MNR]

The MNR answer:

The answer to this question is somewhat technical in nature due to the firearms ballistics involved and provincial legislative requirements.

The .17 HMR, is the abbreviation for the .17 Hornady Magnum Rim-fire. The new .17 HMR is a rimfire rifle cartridge that is a descendant of today’s common .22 Winchester Magnum. It was developed by necking down the .22 Winchester Magnum case to take a .17 calibre bullet.

The legislative provisions which govern the use and possession of certain classes of firearm for the purposes of hunting are found in Ontario Regulation 665/98 (pursuant to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997).

In applying sections of Ontario Regulation 665/98 in the scenario involving the .17 HMR to strictly the small game hunter; the regulation states that a small game licence holder can NOT possess or use a rifle during an open big game season (without a big game licence) if that rifle’s “projectile power” (or muzzle energy) is greater than a .22-calibre rim-fire rifle chambered for cartridges known as a .22 short, .22 long or .22 long rifle.

The .17 HMR is commonly loaded with a 17 grain bullet which can deliver muzzle energy in excess of 245 ft - lbs. This far exceeds the muzzle energy of a .22-calibre rim-fire rifle chambered for cartridges known as a .22 short, .22 long or .22 long rifle.

Even though the .17 HMR has a smaller bullet “diameter” than the noted .22 calibres; the .17 HMR has much greater muzzle energy than the mentioned.22 calibres. As well, the .22 Winchester Magnum is in an entirely separate category of cartridges than the .22 calibre rim-fires previously mentioned above and would also have projectile power greater than a .22 short, long or long rifle.

Hence, the calibre known as the .17 Hornady Magnum Rim-fire is permitted for hunting small game in Ontario, but for a licenced small game hunter to legally possess and use a .17 HMR rifle for the purposes of hunting small game in Ontario, he or she must also be the holder of a valid big game licence when hunting small game if the area being hunted has an open season for a species of big game (bear, moose, deer) .