New to .17HMR Help!

[DC300a]

Hey guys,

I am looking into .17hmr and have two models available. I searched the high road for posts and found good information but now I am down to the final decision...

Savage Model 93R17 for $194.00

or

Marlin Model 917v for $234.00

No scope packages, just the rifles. Let me know what ya'll think.

 

[rangerruck]

leaving it up to just the plane jane rifle, i would go with the marlin.
I would only do the savage unless I got their most expensive thumbhole/ heavy bbl version. Very , very little needs to be done to the marlin, to make it shoot fabulous. the savage will need some tweeks as well, but the prob is it may or may not shoot good, and it may prefer 20 grainers... the 17 grainer is the way to go with the hmr's trajectory-wise...

 

[doubleh]

I can't comment on the Savage other than to say if it does as well as it's little cousin, the Mark II in .22 LR it's a great gun. The accutrigger is excellent.

I have owned a Marlin 917VS for a few years and love it. Very accurate. The trigger is it's only drawback as it it heavy. I worked on it for awhile and have it to a 3# pull. and a crisp let off. I may give up and go to a Rifle Basixs trigger but only after I play with the factory one some more. The accutrigger is better, hands down. The trigger work is not a high priority now as the wind is too much for the .17 right now and the only game it is suited for in this area, rabbits and prairie dogs, are very scarce.

 

[DC300a]

Thanks to both of you for the help.

-Drew

 

[Pulsar]

I have both

The marlin is a heavy barrel and super accurate, the trigger was replace with rifle basix, and has been glass bedded.
The savage I have is a light weight barrel and very accurate not as much as the marlin
but has its stock trigger.

both are awesome guns

 

[DC300a]

Pulsar,

I am leaning heavily toward the Marlin. Hvae you found a great deal of difference between the two bullet weights? Does the Marlin seem to prefer one over the other?

 

[Pulsar]

not really I mostly shoot 17gr out of the marlin
but the groups for the 20grs are 1moa while the 17gr groups are around 3/4moa

 

[Dookie]

I have owned marlins and savages. Savages outshot the marlins on every single occurrence when the right ammo is found. But both are plenty accurate. Yet my factory Ruger 77/17 out shot them all, go figure.

The Savage has a far superior trigger but the marlin is built a touch better. The marlin seems to have a bit better QC and the savage seems to have a specifically annoying magazine problem that is fixed in about 30 seconds. The new savages are built way nicer than the older models. The savage also has many more options to upgrade.

Personal opinion? Go Savage. The new models are built very nice and have much better quality control.