.17m2 vs .22lr for ~100yd plinking and rifle suggestions

[aliveisalive]

High all. Currently my only rimfire rifle is a 10/22 with a BSA sweet .22 scope. While this combo is quite fun for plinking and general shooting out to 50 yards, i simply am not happy with its long range performance. While i am not a marksman by any account, i can group significantly better with my other 3 firearms [albiet they are all centerfire]. While i know i have a cheap scope on there, and that perhaps a scope and barrel change could do wonders, i come to you with this.

I am content with my 10/22 for what it is - a can plinker and rapid fire .22 that i can shoot all day without breaking my wallet. However, i have no want to upgrade it like many to do shoot consistant groups at the 100yd mark. Id much rather sink my money in a nice savage / cz and scope combo [since i have a love for bolt actions, and the fact that i have heard both savage and cz's are VERY accurate straight out of the box...much like my cz527 ] However, knowing my intent to almost ONLY target shoot, and not much varmiting, is the price increase in .17m2 worth it over quality .22 ammuniton? Or never having handled a quality bolt action in .22, should i just go for the .22 rifle and some quality ammo such as aquila? I am not looking for 1 hole groups here, as i am not that great of a shot that i believe i could even achieve it on a regular basis. However, knowing my wants, and the hope to get consistent groups around 1-1.5moa, what would you go for, the .17m2 or the .22lr.

Also, any suggestions on a quality bolt action for ~350 or under would be appreciated. Thanks alot!

And just for fun, pics of my family

 

[jbird714]

IMO, the HM2 would be the way to go for 100 yd shooting. Both of my HM2s are easily MOA at that range ( Marlin 917M2 and CZ 452 American). Ammo quality really tells with the .22 at longer ranges as the slightest variation in velocity can make a big difference in point of impact that you won't see at fifty yards. Ammo, on avg. may be a bit more with the HM2 but some good deals can be had online. About $4.00 a box if you buy decent quantity.

As to the rifle choice, either CZ or Savage should be very accurate. I give the edge to CZ based on overall build quality. The Savage recv'r, like my Marlins, is basically just a piece of steel tubing with slots cut for the bolt, etc. The CZ is built like a centerfire and feels like one. In other words a REAL rifle. This is just my impression and preference, like I said both should be shooters.

The advantage with the Savage would be lower cost, leaving more money for better glass is you have a fixed amount in mind for the combo.

Good glass is worth it shooting those little bullets at a hundred yards, IMO.

Good luck,

Jay

 

[kart racer]

I have a cz 452 17 mach2 with a mueller apv that is deadly.You can get 2000 rounds of eley 17 mach2 for around 160.00 shipped.I have a little over 500.00 in the rifle and scope and you could not ask for a better combo.

At 50 yards,call your shot.At 100,if the wind isn't blowing you can pretty much do the same.

I also have a 452 fs in 22lr,which at 50 yards is almost as accurate as the 17.At 100 not quite there,but it only has a 2x7 scope.

You can't go wrong with the cz.I also have a savge in 17hmr which is a fine rifle.

 

[rangerruck]

what state are you from? The best mach 2 ammo is usually eley, or remmy, remmy is eley, with a remmy label on it. it is also hot loaded , about 200 fps faster than horny or cci. You can buy mach 2 ammo from Ammunitiontogo.com
for 4 bucks a box, very competitive with the decent 22 ammo.
You can also expect some great accuracy out to 100 yds as well.
I have bought every rifle there is , under 400 bucks, that is made in mach 2.
and they have all been very accurate. Savage, cz, marlin, nef, rossi, ruger,
and others. i have not shot a t/c or kimber or others, but they are more expensive. Everyone of the rifles I havementioned above, were moa capable out at 100 yds, and the round only drops 5 inches at 150, and 11 inches at 200 yds. You can do several trigger jobs and tweeks to rifles yourself, and learn how to do them, over at rimfirecentral.com. to get more accuracy.
I have lots of 22 rifles, and have sold all my 17mach2's, except the stainless laminate Ruger, I just felt too guilty to keep all of them. However, that being said, i love this mach2 , and cannot remember the last time I took one of my 22's to the range. the mach 2 is faster, flatter, and drifts less in the wind. They are just a bbl of fun, and the accuracy can be pretty stunning.
Also , for 4 bucks a box, they are great, and you can buy the remmy mach 2 ammo at several of the box store rifle places, but they are usually closer to 6. bucks at the stores, for remmy.
one more added bonus is that they will also fire the 17 aguila round, a 20 grain fmj-bt bullet, that is better suited for game, they make small holes, coming and going whereas the mach 2 can be explosive on small game.

 

[hotlead]

That 10/22 you have is a beautiful....!

 

[aliveisalive]

With these types of replies, how am i possibly not going to get the mach2??

I'm going to fondle a savage at the local dicks tommorow just to get a feel as to how they are made etc. Depending on how that goes, ill probally either walk out of the store with one, and order a mueller APV, or wait until 2 weeks from now when i get back from vacation and get another paycheck, and order a cz american!

I'd love to spend less money on the rifle [for more bullets of course, can never have too much .223 or 54r!] but i know i LOVE the feel of the action on my cz, and not getting the same love from a rimfire bolt action may be a hard thing to over come.

Thanks for the advice thus far guys, and keep it comming!

edit - thanks hotlead, the forearm really is great looking. However the lackluster [but still perfectly acceptable for plinking] accuracy, and almost too short for me stock kind of detracts from the beauty to me... that and a chip right near the ejection port that i put in it my 2nd trip to the range! =p

 

[gbran]

While i am not a marksman by any account,

A decent 17m2 with good scope will make you a marksman. You'll be amazed.

I thought I was a pretty mediocre shot until I got one.

 

[aliveisalive]

Posts on the internet make my money go away way too fast. First, two weeks ago i looked at saigas online. 1 week ago, i bought one, and ordered 1k ammo to go with that, and 250 more rounds of 54r. Now, i HAVE to get the mach2, along with the 2k rounds from ammuntion to go. When will the money stay with me D=


oh well at least shooting is fun =D

 

[Shawnee]

Agree with you, "Alive..." - if that rimfire ne'er-do-well Rangerruck doesn't quit talking about the Mach 2 and the 5mm soon my checkbook is never going to forgive me.

Speaking of the CZ rifles - has anyone sprung for one of those models with the european style stock ? Am wondering how people like those and if they have posed any special scoping requirements.

 

[rangerruck]

mmm.... the 5mm mag rimfire, will change everything, as far as hunting goes, and target shooting out to .... dare I say it,.... 300 yds, with a 5milly round 32 or 35 grainer, leaving the bbl at 2500+ fps. I am so totally stoked over this round, check this

5mm Remington Magnum: Revival or Resurrection?

5mm Remington Magnum ammunition is back in production. There are also new handguns and long guns for this cartridge.

I have to admit that when I got news on the floor of the NRA Show that there was new-production 5mm Remington Magnum ammunition being offered, I wasn't exactly overwhelmed with interest. As the rest of the story unfolded, however, my curiosity got the better of me.

The 5mm Remington Magnum is a rimfire cartridge announced in 1969, introduced in 1970, and chambered in Remington's Models 591 and 592 rifles. The original load used a 38-grain .2045-inch bullet at a muzzle velocity of 2,100 fps. Though T/C later offered Contender barrels for the 5mm, the cartridge never caught on.

Now that the .17 HMR has generated more interest in high-performance rimfire rounds though, there may be a new chance for the 5mm Remington Magnum. The enhanced load is being made by Aguila and sold under the Centurion name. It offers a new 30-grain jacketed hollow-point bullet at 2,300 fps.


continue article

Click here to find out more!


If those ballistic claims hold true once we get some test ammunition, then the new 5mm Remington Magnum looks like it will have a ballistic edge over both the .17 HMR and .22 Magnum. A box of 50 rounds will reportedly retail in the $17-$20 range, so don't expect the 5mm to give the .22 Long Rifle a run for its money in terms of popularity. But for those wanting something different--and powerful--in a rimfire will want to give this number a look.

Taurus is introducing a 5mm Remington Magnum version in its popular "Tracker" line of revolvers.

The new ammunition won't be just for those with an old Remington or T/C barrel, though. What got my interest is that both Taurus and CZ are chambering new guns for the 5mm.

Taurus has a new 9-shot Model 590 in both blued and stainless steel. The new guns sport 6 ½-inch barrels and adjustable sights. Currently, Taurus is estimating the guns will begin arriving sometime this summer.

CZ's offering is in its positively classic-looking Model 452 American. Shooters familiar with CZ's "American"-style rifles recognize them as the ones where CZ chucked those European features such as hog's back stock combs for American-style features, and my fellow Americans--we responded.

Keep your eye on our site for detailed shooting reviews of these guns as they become available, or check out the print version of Guns & Ammo magazine on a newsstand near you.

The first new rifle in decades to be chambered for the 5mm Remington Magnum is CZ's 452 American.
http://www.gunsandammomag.com/ammunition/GA_NRA2008WO3_200805/index.html

and to add to this, I think that this ammo could come down in price, as it gets hotter selling, and since it has no polytip.
the mfgr has allready stated a heavier , hotter load, if all goes well, that round listed above was made , to make sure it could be used by the 35 yr old remmy rifles. Also beside taurus and cz, savage, t/c, and rossi have also committed to making new arms for this round.