Need some advice on 17hmr .. what to do...

crazy_train04

crazy_train04

New member
Currently I own a Savage in .17hmr... Its a great gun and very accurate.
But I really have the itch for a semi-auto .17hmr and I was thinking of getting myself a new remington 597 with the Laminated stock.
I was thinking of maybe selling my savage to get a remington..
Anyone have any input on this??? I figured a semi-auto would be to my benefit for varmint hunting (most shot are between 50 to 150 yards)

Thanks for your help guys!

Derek
 
There wont be any advantage to a auto if you cant hit what you're aiming at. I would stick with the Savage that you know is accurate, rather than take a chance with a less accurate semi-auto.

IYM
 
I agree with the others! Stay with what you know, not what you don't know. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif Savage and Marlin rifles, in .17HMR, have many very comparable qualities. I can not put Remtington in the same catagory with them. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

You currently have a good shooter. I'd hang on to it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Good hunting, Bowhunter57
 
I've got a 597 LS in 17 HMR and it's more than accurate enough for hunting purposes. There's a thread under the "Firearms" section about the 597. It's worth a look. MI VHNTR
 
My 597 in 17 HMR with the standard barrel puts 5 shots well under I inch at 100 yards. I use the 20 gr XTP load. What more would you want for the yardage this can cover.

This was why for this round I went with a semi.

Skinner 2
 
I have owned a CZ, NEF, 597, 77/17 all in 17 HMR and they all shoot less than an inch at 100 yards. So it all depends on what turns you on. I am not an auto lover, in fact I had a dislike for them until in came to the 17HMR. I bought the 597/17 and fell in love. One day my son and I were at the rifle range and he didn't like the 17 or autos. Then a small flock of starlings flew in and landed between the 100 and 200 yd berms. He said let's see how good that 597 is? He powdered 3 out of 4 starlings before they knew what hit them. There is nothing more fun than spotting a family of PDs sitting on their mound and taking them all down in about 3 seconds. I have since sold or gave to my sons all of those 17s and bought a Volquartsen. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
My Savage 9317 is dead-on accurate and has been a great little gun, much like you and others have said. But look at it this way, if you sell it, you're probably only going to get $125 at the most out of it, mayb less depending on the condition. Not all that much towards the price of a new 597, all things considered. The only way I could see a semi being an advantage over a bolt action for varmint hunting is if you're talking about jump shooting rabbits. Otherwise, a semi has no inherent advantage over a bolt action for varminting as far as I can see.

If it were me, I'd either keep the Savage and buy the Remington after saving my pennies a little while longer, or just forget about the Remington.
 
I am a big Remington fan but their auto 22's are pieces of crap! I don't have alot of experience with the Remi auto 17's but I hope there better then the 22's.
 
Originally posted by scattergunner:
[qb] The only way I could see a semi being an advantage over a bolt action for varmint hunting is if you're talking about jump shooting rabbits. Otherwise, a semi has no inherent advantage over a bolt action for varminting as far as I can see.[/qb]
Click to expand...
The advantage of a semi is that you do not have to move the rifle or scope off of the target for a follow up shot. The disadvantage is that you have to have some self control to make the first shot good and not always count on the second shot.
 
The advantage of a semi is that you do not have to move the rifle or scope off of the target for a follow up shot. The disadvantage is that you have to have some self control to make the first shot good and not always count on the second shot.
Click to expand...
Well, a couple of thoughts. First off, why are you having "to move the rifle or scope off the target for a follow up shot"? If you are shooting prarie dogs or some other assorted vermin from a rest, table, or bi-pod there's no need to lift your head from the comb of a bolt action rifle to work the action, is there? Now, I'm operating under the assumption that when someone says they're shooting varmints, they are doing so as mentioned previously with some sort of a shooting table, rest, bags, bi-pod, etc. Unless of course you're jumping said varmints, as I mentioned in my first post, then of course the shot would be off hand and again, I see an advantage of shooting an auto over a bolt rifle in this specific set of circumstances. But, maybe that's just me.

You're absolutely right about the self control issue. It's awful tempting to just "spray and pray" rather than wait for the right shot.

Not that I have anything against semi-autos, quite the opposite. My old 10/22 and my Bushmaster AR are two of my most favorite shooting irons. I just don't see that an autoloader has an advatage over a bolt gun for shooting varmints, except in a few isolated scenarios.
 
My reason for the semi is night time use. I call and run the light. We CANNOT use any centerfire to do so. My thought was because I'm by myself, calling, spotting, shining, shooting that with the scope mounted light I will not loose the sight picture and a second shot ready if needed.

All my other rifles are bolts or singleshots. NO need for a semi lets hear from the guys who use AR styles.

This is also a very fun gun for tree squirrels and for groundhogs naround and near building and livestock.

Quite a few people intechange varmint and predator to mean the same things. So I think this helps the confusion.

Skinner 2
 
I'd go borrow a semi-auto first and then shoot whatever ammo it shoots. See how fast you burn up the shells, and then think again about them pricey .17 HMR shells.

I know your reasoning is sound, but sooner or later you're gonna want to rock and roll!
 
Get the 597 and keep the savage,The 597 is one heck of a good gun,My friend has one and it is more accurate than a semi has any right to be.:)I plan on buying one in the very near future even though I already have a 452 varmint C.Z.
 
I am not that fond of my 17 on anything larger than coons and skunks. I exploded (Pooof) a rat the other day...that was fun but the cat was mad for me breaking his toy.

I dont know what you want to spend but I think I have seen conversion kits to turn Ruger 10/22 into 17s. With all of the barrell and trigger options that would really be a sweet rifle. Heck my factory 10/22 is a tack driver.

Just something to think about. I hate buying something and thinking I have the neatest toy on the block until I open the next Gunlist or ShotgunNEws.

Good luck,

Jay
 
the 10/22 conversion kit is for the 17mh2 the 17hmr is too long for the 10/22 but there aint nothin i cant kill wit a my 22. at a hunnert yards i can wit a 17. i can stack em at hunnert yards wit my 22. 10 shots coverd wit a quarter fir a 22. thats awsome course i put a lil money in my 22. i can shoots it at 150 yrds and hit cans in a low wind condidtion course that 17. i got marlin 17v or somthin like that
walmart gun 179 dolla i can drive tacks at 150 yrds cover very small groups
at 100 yrds i can cover groups wit anickel
this is on the ground in prone with a bulls bag
when i get my rifle basix trigger and get rid of that 10 lb trigger pull imm realy git-r-dun
stick with the bolt gun a semi for me at least is to much of ab ammmo waster i cant stand it i get my 10/22 i got by somthin like an oldfreezer or metal drum i goto shoot it and then i goto unload on it lol i can sit at the range and shoot a 550 rnd box of 22. up FAST and 17. ammo is way to exspensive for that but if u got self restraint go ahead but i jus cant see the point if there is 1 i can bolt fast and never take my eye off scope
 
I have the savage and would never get rid of it. I also wouldnt mind getting a 597 but i wouldnt get rid of the savage for it. Why not keep the savage and add the 597. You can never have to many guns.
 
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