Coyotes sneaking through a hay field at dawn are the kind of target a .17 HMR was made for. The Ruger American Rimfire Target puts that fast little round in a bolt action with an 18 inch threaded barrel and a nine-round magazine.

The .17 HMR shoots flat and fast, with very light recoil. It is a favorite for varmints, ground hogs and squirrels at distances where a .22 LR starts to drop. In North Carolina, that means open pasture and powerline cuts where you can see a long way. Wind affects it, so learn your holdover.

Ruger gave this version a black and wood laminate stock, which resists weather better than plain wood. The bolt action is smooth, and the threaded barrel is ready for muzzle devices where legal. Rimfire accuracy is the draw: the American Rimfire line is known for fine groups.

Mount a scope and zero it at fifty yards. You will be pleased by how far it carries. It ships to a North Carolina FFL dealer, where the background check is done at pickup.