Custom .17 HM2 Pistol?

[Trifler]

While I'd much prefer a factory manufactured one, I've done quite a bit of searching online and it appears that not a single manufacturer makes a pistol in .17 HM2. Kimber had a .17 HM2 conversion for one of their 1911s for a while which they no longer sell. Ruger tried to create a .17 HM2 version of their Mark III pistol, but failed, and when I talked with them on the phone they said they have no plans to try again or to develop a new pistol for the round.

So... now I am looking into the possibility of having one made. I figure anyone on THR who does this kind of work would frequent the Gunsmithing forum so I'm posting here. The gun would be for Plinking and Target shooting, as well as possibly some non-professional competition shooting. I like the .17 HM2 for its superior accuracy over the .22LR so the gun should take advantage of that. I would like it to be able to use detachable magazines of both a ten round size and something larger. I would prefer for it to actually look like a pistol and not a cut-down rifle with a pistol grip. I have no plans to use a scope on it at this time.

I'm interested in finding out what possibilities there may be for a project like this and the kind of money it would cost me and go from there. If it costs too much I'll have to give up on it. Constructive thoughts and suggestions would also be appreciated.

I had one recommendation to start from a Ruger 10/22 semi-auto action.

 

[jonjon1885]

probably more than your willing to pay for a .17 pistol, so far the gun smiths i've seen are around the $65-100/hr range figure 200-300+ hrs (probably more, i've never priced out a from scratch gun before. but seeing that custom made 1911 go for well over 4000 with stock cnc parts) and well you get the idea.

 

[Trifler]

Hmm... well I received one estimate to use an aftermarket Ruger 10/22 Receiver, bolt, and barrel, with pistol grip and the barrel cut to 10" for about $600. It's not from scratch, but I'm fine with that. I am concerned with how it would look, but the furniture will determine that. I don't think I could hold it like a regular pistol though. I'd probably have to have my off-hand supporting the fore-end. As a bonus though I should be able to use any of the various magazines available for the 10/22. I actually found at least two companies that sell ready-made pistols made like this, but they're chambered in .22 WMR or .17 HMR only (they used the 10/22 Magnum instead of the 10/22) and I don't like the way they look.

Another option I just found today is a .17 HM2 conversion kit that Volquartsen has for the Ruger Mark III. It's a complete barrel and upper receiver replacement that converts it to .17 HM2. Essentially Volquartsen accomplished the work that Ruger gave up on to make this round work in their gun. Unfortunately Volquartsen wants over $650 just for the kit.

So option 1 has the versatility of allowing me to choose from the many aftermarket barrels and magazines available for the 10/22, but the weapon would be quite large. Option 2 is more expensive but it would result in essentially a Ruger Mark 3 chambered in .17 HM2 with a longer barrel (8"). Option 2 would lock me into the barrel that comes with the kit and the factory magazine.

Now if Tactical Solutions (www.tacticalsol.com) came out with a .17 HM2 conversion, that would be nice because it likely would be less expensive than Volquartsen's and their Pac-Lite upper receivers are much lighter in weight.

Any thoughts?

 

[jonjon1885]

cool ideas, however you may want to check the legal status of option 1, rifles with barrel <16in are considered short barrel rifle and must be registered with NFA. It would be pretty awesome to have a super hi cap pistol though.

option 2 sounds like a better option for practicality and use. but after the 400 for the gun then 600+ for the uppers your into it for over 1000 already.

BTW i was under the impression you wanted to have a complete custom gun made

 

[Trifler]

you may want to check the legal status of option 1, rifles with barrel <16in are considered short barrel rifle and must be registered with NFA

Yes this is why I would want them to use an aftermarket receiver that has not been used in a weapon yet. Then it would be registered as a pistol to start out with.

BTW i was under the impression you wanted to have a complete custom gun made

I just want to find ways to get it done and people interested in doing it since no manufacturer is offering a .17 HM2 semi-auto pistol.

 

[ROMBO]

volquartsen has a17 m2 kit for the ruger mkii about 700.00

 

[rcmodel]

Then it would be registered as a pistol to start out with.

Not unless the manufacture declared it to be a pistol receiver with the ATF when they made it. I don't know of any who do.

The aftermarket receivers serial number from the manufacture, on file with the ATF, would be for a rifle, not a pistol.

The only 10/22 pistol receiver I know of is one off the new Ruger 10/22 Charger pistols they just announced. They were registered as pistol receivers when Ruger put the serial numbers on them.


rcmodel

 

[Trifler]

volquartsen has a17 m2 kit for the ruger mkii about 700.00

This is the best option I have seen, but the price is more than I want to spend ($400 Ruger Mk III + $700 for the conversion kit). I also noticed that they just took the kit off of their website so they may have discontinued it.

 

[JesseL]

Take a look here and here.

Also, lots of good info here.

 

[Clark]

I have a 17M2 reamer.
I bet I could convert a revolver.