Originally Posted By: tyler cagleHey man im just going off the reviews ive seen on the internet and my own personal experiance with savage
You may want to do a little more research then just reading a review/s, before you run out and buy a Ruger 77 17WSM or you could end up pretty disappointed. I know the folks I've talked to that have them sure were.
I'm sure you'll get those that praise how awesome they shoot right out of the box and, maybe, some of them even do but based on information I've got from actual owners, they were anything but impressed.
The Ruger 77 17WSM is by no means superior in it's shooting ability over the Savage Bmag and the Ruger, much like the Bmag, is NOT without it's issues. The triggers suck, the comb, like the other 77's, is to low, and most of the ones that, honestly, are shooting well have had the stock bed and or the muzzle re-crowned. Much like the Bmag, the Ruger tends to benefit quite nicely from having the stock either replaced or at the least, bed to the receiver. The trigger in the Ruger 17WSM is not good at all and at the least, you'll want to install a VQ target sear kit or better yet, replace it with an aftermarket trigger. The trigger in the Savage is pretty decent.
If you just like the Ruger better, it's your money, spend it however it pleases you but don't be surprised when your new 17 WSM shoots groups that are measured in inches and when someone tells you how great theirs is grouping, make sure you ask if those groups were shot at 50 or 100 yards. I hear all the time about these one inch groups but then you find out they were shot at 25 or 50 yards. lol
I'm in no way saying one is any better than the other, that's up to the individual to decide. It makes no difference to me what name is on the side of it, I just want it to shoot well and being that it's still just a rimfire, I'd rather spend my money on ammo, not the gun.
Here's a $$$ spent comparison for you on what I all have into my Savage HB SS Bmag and mine came with the POS plastic stock.
Gun $335-$25 Savage mail in rebate= $305
Boyd's Pro Varmint&metal trigger guard from DIP Inc. $140
Bedding+Shorten barrel 2in&re-crowned+threaded&thread protector made out of piece cut off=$220
Glades bolt handle=$52 (wasn't a needed item just like how they look)
1 Piece Pic rail from DIP Inc $38 (personal preference only, it comes with 2 pc weaver mount)
Total $755 I weight sorted some American Eagle 20gr ammo and the first group shot 1/2 and the second went 3/8 both at 100yds. I've chronographed mine with my Magnetospeed chronograph, with my 20in barrel the 20 grainers averaged 2984 FPS. The 24in barrel on the Ruger only shoots about 30 FPS faster with the same AE 20gr ammo.
If this was a Ruger 77 17WSM I'd have $750 in just the gun alone. Then add $220 for the same bedding job and barrel work. At least $40 for VQ target sear up to $125 for trigger replacement. Boyd's stock($100) or at the least a cheek pad for better cheek weld ($25). One piece Pic rail($38) but like the Savage, optional only. Total $1035 or $1233 if you choose to replace the stock, trigger, and used a 1pc pic rail.
You certainly don't have to do any of these things, well, except for the trigger because they're terrible, who knows, maybe, you'll luck out and just get one of those "good ones"...
