Lets Talk .17 HMR

[Coltdriver]

What do you have. What are you shooting???


I picked up a Savage Bolt Model 93R17 GV about a month ago and have been having a lot of fun with it. Right in there with a good .22 at $209 retail but it does have a stock that cries for paint!

I initially tried a Tasco Silver Antler in 3X9 30 on aluminum weaver style rings but it would not hold a zero with the rings.

Now it has a Bausch & Lomb 3X9 40 mounted on steel rings and it holds its zero really well.

When I first sighted it in zero was set at 100 yards. Between arriving at the range with the new scope and rings and getting it to consistently shoot to a 2 inch bullseye at 100 yards only took about 20 rounds of "tinkering".

But I believe that for field use a 100 yard zero leaves you shooting so low at 25 yards that I re zero ed it today at 50 yards.
Once I got it dialed in to 50 yards I could choose one of the one inch squares on the target, hit it and then share the bullet hole with a second shot.

So far I have only got one squirrel but the exercise is good and the scenery in always excellent. I have been hunting in the Pike National Forest in Colorado from just north of the Hayman Burn area to North and West of a town called Bailey.

Yesterday I was sitting in a high meadow (9500 feet) where the Elk bed down overlooking three frozen over beaver ponds. About 30 feet away in the top of a dead tree was a pygmy owl, bout the size of a softball. He just watched as I had no luck calling in a crow although I got a couple of them to fly within a block of my calling.

What are you doing with your .17HMR?

 

[bad_dad_brad]

Coltdriver, I have posted several threads regarding the .17 HMR. Not too many folks out there seem to be interested, so you don't get a lot of responses.

I have the Marlin bolt action. Good solid rifle, cheap stock though. Not too pretty but the thing is a real tack driver.

I like the .17 HMR, especially from where I am at locality wise. You can almost shoot the thing in town, it is not that loud. Makes short work of most small varmints.

Don't know why former TFLers or the new THRers don't respond much to the .17. I think it is a great little cartridge. I know in my area, that gun dealers can't keep them on the shelves. They sell like hotcakes.

 

[P7HVN]

See rimfirecentral. A lot of .17 posts & good info on such.

 

[redneck]

What did that V max do to your squirrel? Was it fit to eat or blown apart?

The .17 is an interesting prospect. I'd like to play around with one sometime an see what the tiny little V max does. Seems like it could be a good small varmint round for close up to mid range work, avoids over penetration and ricochet etc.

 

[Coltdriver]

bad_dad_brad

Well it is bound to catch on. My local gun store can't keep guns or ammo in stock! I understand that both Winchester and Federal are coming out with a .17 round soon. That should bring the ammo cost down to a reasonable level. I don't plink with mine like you would a .22, its just used to stalk and shoot small game even though I have seen a lot more than I have shot.

My Savage has about the ugliest stock I have ever seen. The thing is crying out for some camo paint soon! I sent a note to Savage to ask if their other rifle stocks have compatable inletting to the .17 action. There are plenty of savage replacement stocks, if not I'm going to the rust o leum and gonna try to match my desert camo BDU's. Anything would be better than the ugly stock on it now.

Are you using a scope with your Marlin?? Where did you sight the scope to?

 

[Coltdriver]

redneck

I was only about 50 feet from the squirrel.

The v max made a tiny hole on one side and about a 50 cent piece hole on the other side.

In larger game the reports I have read say that there is no exit. In smaller game it tends to be very destructive.

 

[redneck]

Thanks, thats about what I was expecting to hear. Just gotta make head shots on stuff you wanna eat

 

[cratz2]

I've handled several of them and shot a Marlin laminated stock model. Nice little guns but I personally don't see the point over a 22 magnum.

As was said by someone else, my local dealer can't keep them in stock. Most are presold.

 

[JBP]

I've had my Marlin VS out to the range only one time since I got it but I was really impressed with it. After I zeroed in at 50 yards I took it out to 100 yards and raised POA 4 inches since I figured it would drop like a 22LR. When I checked the target I surprised to see the shot went exactly where I aimed it. It will be nice when ammo becomes available locally and comes down in price some.

 

[9x19]

I have two Rugers, a 77/17 (bought it in March 2002) and a 10/17 M (made with a 10/22M reciever and a factory 96/17 barrel - a direct drop in fit).

They share magazines, and while the bolt is slightly more accurate than the semi-auto... the cool factor of the semi just whumps the bolt gun in every other sense!

 

[ahenry]

I’m gonna ask this in the most sincere manner

What is the purpose of the .17? I don’t know all that much about it, but to my way of thinking this round doesn’t do much that other rounds don’t do better. Bullet energy isn’t any better than a 22 mag, and ammo prices are way above 22 mag prices. I think the cost of ammo is a real downside. Accuracy seems pretty stinkin’ good, but both my 22 mag LR are as accurate (only the mag at longer distances). Recoil is nonexistent, but then its nonexistent on a 22 as well. When I look at this picture I see desirability for 22LR or 22 mag with cheap ammo prices and accurate rounds with good small game power and readily available rifles in all possible configurations. I don’t see anything that screams, “Buy a .17â€. So what am I missing here?



BTW, after shooting my soon to be father in law’s 17 over Christmas I think I just like the round on an intangible emotional level. Nothing wrong with that, but before I buy one I want to know if I am buying it for its emotional appeal or if there is actually a “goodâ reason to own one.

 

[griz]

I just got a 17 HMR barrel for my TC contender. Apparently the only real advatage over the 22 mag is it shoots a little flatter. I got it merely as a new toy to play with, which I consider reason enough.

Hopefully some other will make ammo for it so the price will be more in line with 22 mag.

 

[Smoke]

I bought the Marlin and love it.

Except it has the worst trigger I ever felt. Nad the stock is rather ugly. But it is very accurate. I keep mine zeroed at 75 yards. Mostly shoot paper with it, just for fun.

I think one of the advantages that I've noticed over a 22mag is less drop or a flatter trajectory. Although I have no data to back me up I feel it is somewhat less afected by wind. Both are an advantage when shooting at distance.

My $.02

 

[9x19]

My purchase was strictly a case of "It's new, something completely different in a stagnant rimfire world, and I want one!"

I haven't regretted it for a single moment. It shoots flat, mild, a little quieter than the WMR and is just plain COOOOOL!

Over at www.rimfirecentral.com, we call it the
HHHHUUUUMMMMMMMMMMEEEERRRR!

 

[Fatelvis]

Is this "new" 17 quieter than a 22 Hornet?

 

[sasnofear]

22 hornets a center fire, so im guessin the .17 is quieter

 

[bad_dad_brad]

Coltdriver:

I use a Weaver 4X28 rimfire classic scope. I don't consider the .17 HMR effective greater in range (100 yards ok - 200 yards max) than the .22 mag, so this scope works well.

For those that disdain the .17 HMR I can not argue. New lures catch fishermen not fish. The .17 HMR is really cool and so, for us firearms affeciondoes, that is enough.

 

[ahenry]

I certainly don’t disdain this caliber. In fact I like it a lot and plan on getting myself one. However, while I’m perfectly content purchasing something just because I like it or because it evokes some visceral, emotional “feeling†(I have done this many times), I want to clarify if that is the reason or if there is something else. Nothing bugs me more than people that have that emotional “I just like it†view of a firearm or caliber yet because of that feeling they try to claim that the firearm or caliber is superior to something else even though its not. Don’t convey a superiority to a caliber or firearm, simply because it stirs something deep within you.

 

[bad_dad_brad]

I agree ahenry. I certainly do not think the .17 HMR is a better round than the .22 mag, nor does it invoke an emotional response. I just wanted one because it was something different. Surely it is not superior, and the real reason I bought one early on, was that I thought I could get more money selling it later. I already have a guy offering me 300 for my Marlin. But I don't think I will part with it. Having too much (expensive) fun. It is pretty cool though! Such a cute little bullet!

 

[ahenry]

And that is certainly reason enough. I just need (want?) to make sure I’ve defined the reasons for my purchase(s).

 

[9x19]

BTW, Reminton has announced their entry into the ammo market.

 

[Coltdriver]

Savage 93 Trigger Improvement

The trigger on my Savage had a lot of creep to it. It is a little heavy but between the pull weight and the creep I was not overjoyed with it.

On another forum I learned a simple and effective fix for the trigger.

You remove the barrel/trigger group from the stock by taking out a single hex bolt from the front of the magazine base.

Then you remove the rear trigger group retaining screw and put a thin shim between the trigger group and the barrel. I used a piece of aircraft aluminum in .025 thickness.

100% of all the creep is gone! The trigger lets off as crisp as anything I have. It is still a wee little heavy, but some polishing of the sear will improve that.

Bear in mind that this can be a dangerous modification to make and if you try it you are on your own and responsible for your results. I tried two shims for a total of .050 and the bolt would not remain cocked when closed. The current built in creep is a safety factor and by using too much shim you could make the trigger far too touchy for safe use of any kind.

On the other hand I like this mod because you are not directly changing any of the sear geometry by filing the metal. Getting the trigger exactly right is just a matter of adjusting the shim thickness and if you don't like it, reversing the change is a five minute fix.