We love the .17HMR's - Len uses a particularly accurate Marlin and I a Martini Cadet that I re-barreled and chambered up. We use the HMR's to 200yards, stretching to 240yards at one ranch close to the house, just to keep the noise down a bit. At 200, you can make head or chest shots routinely on our Columbia Ground Squirrels. I have a 6.5X-20Xx44 Simmons Mildot on mine while Len uses a 6x-24x X 40 M4200 Bushnel mildot on his.
We use the .17 centrefires for long range shooting, to 450yards - his a .17AckBee I chambered up and mounted on his Sako, while I use a re-barreled .22 Hornet in .17 Ackley Hornet. Nice having both reamers.

Unfortunately, our Columbia Ground Squirrels (gophers) don't come out until the end of April. Also, the little buggers go back down by the 24th of August. They are the biggest 'gopher' of all, but are out and about the shortest time frame of all the different varieties. Around here, they'd have to burrow up through 5' of snow to see the sun.

Just loading up the last 300 cases for my .17AH's now, to be ready for Spring. 2,000 rounds total ready. 25gr. Vmax Moly @ 3,640fps. My other load is 20gr. Vmax at 3,925fps. Len is driving 20gr. Vmax at 4,100fps from his .17AB. for walkarond guns this year, we're going to use our flintlock longrifles, just for a change, mine a .40 and Len's a .54. I guess the .54 will kill 'em if you hit them right. Nothing but chunks and spray.