.17 hmr - virtual test drive

[SapperMapper]

I'm thinking about looking at getting a .17 hmr for varminting and wonder what folks opinions are of the various models.

Or would I be better off looking at .223 or even a 22/250?

I'm 6' and long-limbed, so a short length of pull is going to be a minus.

Other than that, I'm not real picky. Just looking for some first hand knowledge.

 

[skinewmexico]

My Savage has a regular pull length. I love it.

 

[Matt304]

LOP is no issue with the 17HMR. Find the right rifle and go for it. You will love it for the price. The cartridge is capable of more than people credit it for, on calm days. On breezy days, it sucks. Plain and simple. But with no wind, I've pushed it further than 250 yards, and it can still do right around 1/2 MOA at that range.

 

[cat_IT_guy]

All of the .17s Ive played with have been 'real' sized guns - they didnt feel likes toys like some .22s Ive handled. It is a great cartridge, esp if you dont reload, as you get lots of performance for about 1/2 the price of most factory loaded .223. Guns are also a lot cheaper and the minimal recoil is a plus - no problem watching the bullet impact whatever the target may be. Report is also a lot less than .223.

 

[DRYHUMOR]

You never mentioned your budget...

Go to Gunbroker and type in "Cooper". Granted, these are higher end, but the rep for quality and service is there, and they are full size rifles.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

cz's are full sized rifles and are known for their accuracy.

 

[unlearned69]

skinewmexico-
Which model do you have? I'd like to get a full-length pulled stock to put on my 93R17-GV.

 

[jhco]

love my marlin 917vsf its dead on every time and a blast to shoot plus she looks great

 

[Z71]

I've got a brandnew Henry bolt 17hmr with a BSA "Sweet 17" scope fitted, and have never fired it!

I guess I should see if it even works.

 

[Zip7]

I have a CZ452 American in 17HMR with a cheap 4-12 scope on it. I love it. It's a full size rifle.

 

[eng23ine]

I have a savage 93r17 with a bsa 6-18x40 sweet 17 scope on it and love it.

 

[EHCRain10]

+1 on the savage 93, mine is more accurate that I am

 

[skinewmexico]

I have a FV93R17.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I love the caliber - have purchased 5 of them - sold 1 and gave 2 away. That leaves me with two (a CZ and a Savage - both very accurate). If you have leery crows, turtles, & p-dogs who won't allow you within 150 yards, then it ain't gonna work (get a .223), but places with lower hunting pressure where the animals aren't so ancy (or if you lie in ambush), it'll do the job just fine. Crows are extremely smart, so you pretty much HAVE to lie in ambush or have a .223 rem or better to get them, at least around here. It's not an ideal cartridge for "pot meat game" like rabbits because it can tear up a lot of meat, but it will certainly work for that use.

 

[SapperMapper]

I'm going to have to go back to the local gunshop and see what model Marlin I picked up the other day. Very small stock, that's why I brought up the LOP in my OP.

jhco - that's a sharp looking rifle! Thanks for the photo.

 

[DWARREN123]

17 HMR is okay for small varmints but medium size and larger I would go with the 223 REM, better chance of first shot kill at longer ranges.

 

[rangerruck]

I regularly take game out to 150 yds with it, and coyotes out to 100 yds, easy.
have even taken some piggies with it, up to about 60 lbs.
20 grainers work well on yotes and piggies.
with a 100 yds zero, it only drops 3 inches at 150 and 8 inches at 200, which is amazing. it also has half or more of less wind driftt, than 22 cal bullets, it is better at bucking wind than most peeps think.
I have shot every made 17 hmr , under 400 bucks; cz, nef, mossy, rossi, marlin, savage, you name it. With the exception of weirdness from the savage, which can tend to only like 20 grainers, they were all accurate.
Now then, I have sold all my 17hmr, and only have mach 2 now. Because ammo is 1/3 the cost, and you only lose 50 yds of trajectory.
If I were you , I would wait on the new 5mm mags to come out;
they have all the same windbucking characteristics, and trajectory of the 17hmr, but with a 204 cal bullet, weighing 30 grains right now, and they are going to be coming out with some 32 or 35 grainers, doing even faster speed.
So it will perform like the hmr, but with a bullet weighing twice as much, it will carry almost 250 lbs of energy out to 200 yds. how freakin awesome is that, from a rimfire????