.17 HMR Consistant Accuracy

[dtvburns]

I own a Savage 93R17 BVSS http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/models/
I need to keep this rifle very clean to get any type of consistency out of it, and even then I am not impressed with the group sizes. 1.25 to 1.5 inch groups at 100 yards. I tried a bipod but it was more accurate off of a front bag.

At 50 yards off of bags my Savage MK II G http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/models/ is more than twice as accurate as the .17 I clean the .22 a few times a year, it takes a few shots to settle down after cleaning but with Wolf target ammo I can get consistent groups of 5 with all shots touching. The .17 is .75 inch groups at 50 yards at best.

I also have a Savage 93 BRJ .22 WMR http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/models/ that gets sub 1 inch groups with regular consistently at 100 yards off of bipod, it is virtually the same gun in a different caliber.


I have switched scopes off of the .17 and it has not helped.
The muzzle crown of the .17 looks perfect.

Is .17 harder to keep consistent than other calibers?

What can I do to the .17 cal to make it more accurate?

Am I expecting too much from the .17?

 

[JBP]

I have a Marlin 17VS that gives me groups at 100 yards comparable to what I get with my Ruger 10/22T at 50 yards (all rounds touching). At 100 yards my Ruger 10/22M groups spread out a bit more than the 17 and 22. I always clean my firearms after use so I don't know if that affects the accuracy or not. I've found that the 17 is more affected by wind than the 22 Mag.

 

[CraigC]

How many rounds are you putting through it before cleaning? Most .17HMR's prefer a dirty bore and may take quite a few to settle down. You may be cleaning too much, which is a foreign concept to some folks.

 

[dtvburns]

I was treating it like a regular rim fire, cleaning every 300 rounds or so.

 

[wingman]

I have the same gun except BTV version, it came with a target showing 5shot group of .750 @100 yards after trying various ammo types best I could get was 1.50-1.75 I called Savage and they said send it in, it was returned in4 weeks with target showing a 5 shot groups of .900, 4 rounds of that group was .500. I mounted my scope and using same ammo they used shot a .750 groups all groups now under 1.00 some .500 or less depending on me. Called savage but never could get a clear answer to "repairs", but it is a keeper now. Did not appear they had touched the crown nor any stock work.

Note: The 17 could be improved with match grade ammo current stuff IMO is not that consistent.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Could be your ammo.
I saw no reference to which ammo you are using.

The v-max loaded ammo is all loaded by Hornady. The TNT, and other ammo is loaded by CCI.

None of the CCI loaded ammo has shot that well for me. All the V-max loaded ammo (Federal, Winchester, Hornady) has shot exceptionally well, with some lot#'s shooting even better.

Try some of the v-max ammo and see what you get.

To my knowledge, there is no such thing as "match" ammo, as I know of no "match competiton" that uses or allows the use of the .17HMR. It's all either hunting or "plinking" grade ammo. Very good though with the v-max bullets which fulfill the purpose of the cartridge which is pest destruction and paper-punching. the .17HMR is not a cartridge for edible small game..... Not much left to eat......

 

[dtvburns]

I have tried most of the ammo out there. The 17 grain Hornaday VMax works the best. 20 grain Solid points second best and CCI Hollow point the worst

 

[CraigC]

I was treating it like a regular rim fire, cleaning every 300 rounds or so.

How did shoot around the 300rd mark, versus a clean barrel? Try letting it go further without cleaning. Some folks, my own Savage 93R17 included, have best results with what most would consider a very dirty bore. The Hornady 20gr XTP is the most consistent and will do half an inch at 100yds with boring regularity.

Note: The 17 could be improved with match grade ammo current stuff IMO is not that consistent.

All the factory .17HMR could be considered premium and nothing short of "match grade", whatever that means. You don't get $350 rifles that shoot half-MOA if the ammo is anything less than stellar.

 

[dtvburns]

I tore it down this morning and found that the receiver was way over torqued to the stock and that the barrel was not free floating and making contact with half of the forend of the stock.

I did a little sanding to the stock and attached the stock at 15 inch pounds.

The wind here is gusting to 20 mph today but it did out shoot the 22 mag at 50 and 100 yards. Not under 1 MOA but good considering the conditions... I will see what happens when the wind calms down. I am hopeful it is better than before since it has never outshot the 22 mag

 

[wingman]

All the factory .17HMR could be considered premium and nothing short of "match grade", whatever that means. You don't get $350 rifles that shoot half-MOA if the ammo is anything less than stellar.

I disagree how could all 17Hmr be considered premium unless simply because few brands and/or new. Match grade 22LR is far superior then standard brand22lr. Match grade is just that selected by weight more closely monitored in production,etc, much like experienced re loaders. The point I made still stands with "Match Grade" 17HMR groups would be more consistent it's just that simple. certainly match ammo would be more expensive but the true accuracy potential of the round could then be seen.


Barrel making has reached the point many rifles will achieve under 1.0 moa nothing unusual even with $350 rifles, most barrels today are superior but
most manufactures cut cost on cheap stocks.

 

[CraigC]

I disagree how could all 17Hmr be considered premium...

Because it is! It all comes from the same factory, all produced by CCI and it all shoots extremely well. There is no cheap stuff on the market, period. If you're having issues, it's not the ammo. Lots of folks are getting unbelievable groups out to 250yds. It's not the ammo.

Barrel making has reached the point many rifles will achieve under 1.0 moa nothing unusual even with $350 rifles...

I would strongly disagree with this statement and I think most experienced shooters would. A $350 rifle that shoots half-MOA with ammo that is not tailored specifically to it is indeed a rare thing but is par for the course for .17HMR's.

 

[wingman]

[Quote:
I disagree how could all 17Hmr be considered premium...

Because it is! It all comes from the same factory, all produced by CCI and it all shoots extremely well. There is no cheap stuff on the market, period. If you're having issues, it's not the ammo. Lots of folks are getting unbelievable groups out to 250yds. It's not the ammo.



Quote:
Barrel making has reached the point many rifles will achieve under 1.0 moa nothing unusual even with $350 rifles...

I would strongly disagree with this statement and I think most experienced shooters would. A $350 rifle that shoots half-MOA with ammo that is not tailored specifically to it is indeed a rare thing but is par for the course for .17HMR's.

/QUOTE]


Clearly your knowledge is far superior to mine so you have convinced me the17hmr is one of the greatest calibers that exist the match grade ammo is magical, I'm sure they hand roll each round, thank you for your information.

Please understand I never misaligned your love, and stand by my statement it is not match grade ammo,I'm having no problem with my rifle my original statement was that the ammo could be improved as a reloader I can improve any commerical load normally with trial and error. So go shoot your magical rifle and we will agree to disagree.

 

[Kachok]

SIMPLE FIX. I owned a Savage 93 in .17 and it hated poly tip bullets, but it shot perfect with 17gr TNTs. Once I switched it was not just sub moa but one semi smooth hole! Guys at the range were amazed. That was the most accurate rifle I have ever owned.