17 Mach 2

[Triple S]

I am considering "turning" a 10/22 into a .17 Mach 2. I have plenty of .22 LR's and .22 mags, but I am intrigued with the .17 M2. What are your thoughts about this cartridge as a hunting & plinking cartridge? Will it be around in another 5 - 10 years, or is it a marketing gimic for the present?

 

[anthony-white]

I have a HM2 conversion gun and can say its a blast. I own a few 10/22's and must say that the HM2 is the most liked. Awesome accuracy, I am amazed everytime I go to the range with this gun. I have a magnum research reciever and barrel, I had the bolt reworked by Randy at CPC, a kidd drop in trigger and a eabco heavy bolt handle, and a few other mods that are irrellevant. I have had no failures to fire or eject, but had some issues with case bulges in the beginning; worked itself out i guess, it doesn't do it anymore. I would go with a Green Mountain barrel if i did it over again, thay are wicked accurate and you can find some seconds for crazy low prices. As for hunting, plan on head shots, its pretty rough on bodies of tree and small ground game. I can shoot dime sized groups @ 100 if I do my part, head shots arent all that hard at reasonable distances.

 

[Triple S]

Cool.....Do you feel as though you gain any extra range over a .22 LR, practically speaking?

 

[anthony-white]

Definately! But thats really a thing of opinion. Can I shoot a varmint at 125 yards with a 22lr? sure but with how much holdover and is it gonna do the trick on the first shot? do yourself a favor and check out the ballistic comparisons of the two, you'll see real fast pros of the HM2

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I think the 17hmr is here to stay, but I have my doubts about the mach 2. Ammo is just too expensive for the average joe and most small game is killed well under 50 yds. Personally, I don't see any use for the mach 2 that the long rifle won't do.

 

[anthony-white]

Too expensive for the average joe?
hornady 17hmr=11.99
hornady 17m2=6.99
prices are for 50 rounds, taken from grafs. I've heard for some time now that it wouldn't last, three years later its more popular then ever.

 

[KFDiesel]

Ive never shot the mach 2 but let me tell you the HMR is incredible. I have the ruger m77 and the savage model 93 I think it is. Tack drivers! I shoot my .22s now for fun but if I really want to make contact(hunting) I always use my .17 HMR. Check out http://rimfirecentral.com

 

[rangerruck]

ammo is typically less than half the cost, than 17 hmr I personally am totally obsessed with the mach 2 round,
it is so quiet, with no recoil, or bbl jump, plus you can get the ammo for 5 bucks a box, 4. bucks a box of eley from http://ammunitiontogo.com/
plus if you get a mach 2 rifle, it may also shoot the 17 aguila round, which is a 20 grain fmj solid, at about 1900 fps.
it is not as explosive as the regular m2 round, plus if you like to save skins, or sell them, it makes teeny entrance holes, and if it does exit, it is tiny as well. your mach 2 rifle may, or may not shoot the Aggie round as accurate, you just have to find out for yourself.
if you go here, you can do some comparisons for yourself,
needless to say, it is now my alltime fave round, so cool!!!
http://www.varminter.com/
http://www.varmintal.com/17hmr.htm
http://www.chuckhawks.com/index2l_rimfire.htm
with half the trajectory of a 22lr round, it has more energy, and is still going faster at 100 yds, than a 22lr is at the muzzle.

 

[bofe954]

deleted

 

[pdh]

I to have been thinking about converting my 10/22 over to the 17 mach 2

http://www.eabco.com/hornady17hm2.html

 

[jamesb]

I have a NEF Sportster in mach2. It makes a great plinking gun, flat and fun at 100yards. If you don't mind the price over regular .22lr ammo go for it. For hunting I am not sold yet, it could of been a problem with my rifle and I have only had it in the woods one day so far, but I missed a squirrel at under 25 yards 4 times. I was repeatedly hitting targets smaller that a squirrel at 100 yards at the range. The .17 being so much lighter than a .22 I think it might deflect off foliage more causing the misses. It could be chalked up to first squirrel of the season jitters (liek buck fever). I am going to try it out again next weekend. I am relining the barrel of my remington 572 to .17HM2 because I like the round and no one offers a pump. Since you already have a 10/22 to convert you are not dumping a whole lot of money if the round tanks in 10 years and could convert the gun back to .22lr.