worth it to get a .17 HMR?

Everyone should own a 17 HMR! They are extremely accurate and a joy to shoot! Get one, and you may never shoot your .22 or .22 mag again!
 
That's a sweet gun! I want one like that but don't think it's in the budget. If I bought a plain savage can I buy a stock like that later on?

I know this isn't 5he optics forum but I was just curious what everyone has run on their .17 and liked? There isn't much out with .17 BDC turrets. I may consider pulling the Mueller APV off my .22.
 
I have one I used to use on groundhogs where, as mentioned, the small, frangible bullet was a necessity. Kinda lost interest in it since, especially since the accuracy went away. Give me a good old .22 Mag any day - something like a C-Z 512 semi-auto.
 
Originally Posted By: tomcat388thI was in the same fix as you can't hardly find any 22lr ammo around here. I ended up buying a savage 93r17 with a standard barrel to use for this years squirrel hunting. Mine prefers 20 grain bullets over the 17 grain 50 yards they just about cut the same hole of the bench. But so far I've been really pleased with it.
I've had the same experience with my Savage as Tomcat. They do tend to be finnicky in what brand and gr. ammo you shoot in them so, if you get one, try different loads to find what it prefers. I thought I had a real lemon when I got mine and tried .17 gr.. Then I went to .20 gr (all but TNT for some reason) and the accuracy's been amazing.

I also find that, in general, they like to be shot a little dirty. So I only clean mine when I need to and fire 3-4 rounds through it to grit it up a bit before taking it afield. That's been true of any .17 cal that I've owned.

Personally, I'm not sold on it for groundhogs. I've had several hits that should have been clean kills but weren't. So I stay with a least a .17 centerfire up to and including the .223 for them.
 

The HMR works great on groundhogs with head shots. Body shots are "iffy" so we try to only take head shots. We did shoot one groundhog, body shot, at 117 yards with a 17 gr. V-Max that dropped the hog where it sat, which was directly on top of it's mound. It was dead and didn't make it down the hole. Another body resulted in the groundhog running / crawling off. However, we shot lots of groundhogs at ranges up to 100 yards and a bit over, made perfect hits to the head (due to the HMR's accuracy potential) and none were lost and no misses. I have the results recorded on video.

We use CCI 20 gr. Game Points which are a bit tougher constructed than the lighter V-Max rounds. I also hear that the 20 gr. XTP ammo is good and tougher constructed though I haven't tried that round.

Have fun with your HMR. It's a wonderful small cartridge. You just have to use it within reason and you will be very satisfied.
 
my boy has a 17hmr mossberg international 817 bolt action rifle. it really is an odd looking rifle. or maybe just call it different looking. but that darn thing shoots better than both my savage 17hmr rifles and my marlin 17hmr. thinking hard about getting me one.
 
Originally Posted By: the noobieThat's a sweet gun! I want one like that but don't think it's in the budget. If I bought a plain savage can I buy a stock like that later on?

I know this isn't 5he optics forum but I was just curious what everyone has run on their .17 and liked? There isn't much out with .17 BDC turrets. I may consider pulling the Mueller APV off my .22.

I have a Mueller APT on my 17 HMR. Mine is a Savage 93-17BRJ. Boyd's vertical grip stock from the factory and a heavy bbl. I swapped the Accu-Trigger for a Rifle Basix. I really like the HMR for what it is. Prairie Dogs and such, Rabbits...not a squirrel gun if you want to eat em (head shots only!) Mine is very accurate and a hoot to shoot.
 
Originally Posted By: MPFDI have a Savage 93fv17 and a Marlin 22 mag. The Marlin is plently accurate and has a high capacity mag, but the trigger is [beeep]. I spent $70 on a rifle basix trigger for it and it was a huge dissapointment, over travel is almost 3/8". The Savage with the accutrigger I was able to get down to 1.5 lbs with spring work and it will put 5 shots under a nickel at 100 yards. I would go savage if I was you. My 17 hmr has killed more varmints than any rifle I own.

I have the same two rifles! I, too, upgraded the trigger on the Marlin with a RB and the difference was night and day for me. With Fiocchi ammo I was able to put 15 rounds almost literally in the same hole.

The Savage in 17HMR is a no-joke giggle-fest. Tack driver, 0 recoil and with a couple of extra mags you can hunt for a while either from a bench or walking about. I'm not getting the groups nickel-size like you with 17HMR but I can almost cover my 100yd groups with a quarter and that's good enough for Gov't work.

To the OP, get a 17HMR. And get ready for a perma-grin!
 
I have one in the Ruger American and really like it, I use it to keep the ground hogs off my runway in Montana and for this it works great out to 150 yards or so.

 
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I was just about to ask about the Ruger American. Anyone have one? I like the price and like Ruger's familiar rotary magazine. Just curious about accuracy and such.
 
Mine is good for 3/4 of a inch with my shooting, so most people should be able to keep it a 1/2 an inch. I really like the feel of the rifle and that was the main reason for the purchase.
 
I have a .17 WSM and the 25 Grain bullet is deadly on Fox and bobcat! I know you stated the ease of buying ammo for the .17 HMR, but here in VA the local stores are carrying the WSM ammo on the regular now! Great gun to plink with and devastating results on Fox!!!
 
Originally Posted By: Heretic
I have the same two rifles! I, too, upgraded the trigger on the Marlin with a RB and the difference was night and day for me. With Fiocchi ammo I was able to put 15 rounds almost literally in the same hole.

The Savage in 17HMR is a no-joke giggle-fest. Tack driver, 0 recoil and with a couple of extra mags you can hunt for a while either from a bench or walking about. I'm not getting the groups nickel-size like you with 17HMR but I can almost cover my 100yd groups with a quarter and that's good enough for Gov't work.

To the OP, get a 17HMR. And get ready for a perma-grin!

Don't get me wrong, the Rifle Basix trigger tightened up my groups quite a bit, I just wasn't happy with the over travel. It breaks clean and plently light enough for me. Mine has been very accurate with Hornady 30 grain Vmax.
 
Originally Posted By: MPFDOriginally Posted By: Heretic
I have the same two rifles! I, too, upgraded the trigger on the Marlin with a RB and the difference was night and day for me. With Fiocchi ammo I was able to put 15 rounds almost literally in the same hole.

The Savage in 17HMR is a no-joke giggle-fest. Tack driver, 0 recoil and with a couple of extra mags you can hunt for a while either from a bench or walking about. I'm not getting the groups nickel-size like you with 17HMR but I can almost cover my 100yd groups with a quarter and that's good enough for Gov't work.

To the OP, get a 17HMR. And get ready for a perma-grin!

Don't get me wrong, the Rifle Basix trigger tightened up my groups quite a bit, I just wasn't happy with the over travel. It breaks clean and plently light enough for me. Mine has been very accurate with Hornady 30 grain Vmax.

I personally like a little bit of noticeable over travel. I find it helps me with follow through...I can not stand creep however. And, to me, the Accu-Trigger blade feels just like creep to me...JMO!!!!
 

Originally Posted By: AC7IONI have a .17 WSM and the 25 Grain bullet is deadly on Fox and bobcat! Great gun to plink with and devastating results on Fox!!!

I assume the bullet goes to pieces inside the fox and doesn't exit? Ever since I first heard of the 17 WSM, I figured it would make a great fox cartridge.

What has been your experience with the round on fox and bobcat? I mean, do they drop on the spot, no exits?

 


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