[WebSlave]

Has anyone fired a .17HMR rifle yet? I have one (Remington) but just haven't had the time to sight it in yet. What's the noise level like?

One thing I like about my 10/22 is that I don't need to use ear protection even with the CCI Stingers. Sure would put a crimp on hearing the tree rats in the trees if I have to use muffs with that Remington.

Any experience out there?

Thanks.

 

[G-lock]

I think that it's just a bit louder and "deeper" than a .22. I wouldn't wear full ear protection, if you needed something, a pair of those cheap foam plugs would be more than enough.

 

[Guest]

leave off the muffs until it's time for

the shot, use electronic muffs, or Norton "sonic" earvalve plugs, which let in normal sounds, but block loud blasts.

 

[Rich Z]

Yeah, I do have electronic muffs, but I find it difficult to determine direction of the sources of sounds using them. You can hear them, but figuring out which tree a squirrel is scrambling around on will take longer than necessary that way.

 

[Guest]

squirrels are typically such a short range

propositon that subsonic lr's, or even Shorts, suffice. IN a long barrel, they make so little noise that no ear protection is necessary. Like I said, leave the muffs off until you are going to fire. Take them off after the shot. When you are shooting at one squirrel, you aint focusing on the noise that others are making, anyway.

 

[Adam]

I have a Tracker in .17 and I was shocked at how loud the damn thing was! I don't use ear protection for my 10/22 either but I don't know what effect the longer barrel will have on the .17, if you're okay with a .22 mag you should be fine with the .17 as they're about the same.

 

[Rich Z]

I have never fired a .22 mag rifle, so that doesn't help me much. I know that CCI Stingers in 10/22 are MUCH louder than standard .22 long rifle rounds, and I don't need ear protection shooting them, but I have no idea how much louder the .17 HMR will be. Guess I just need to go out and shoot the darn thing one of these days. I have my Leupold scope mounted on it and need to sight it in, just waiting for my workload to let up a bit, I guess.

Thanks.