Savage 93R17 bullet preference

[Red Tornado]

I'm looking at a 93R17 in some flavor, and I keep reading references to the Savages preferring the 20gr bullet and being less accurate with the standard 17gr bullet.

Does anybody have personal experience with the 93R17 being somewhat inaccurate with the light load? If so, what kind of accuracy are we talking about?

In general, do the 17's have marked ammo preferences like 22's do? I'm a .22 guy and this will be my first 17. The only Savage I had was a Model 12 in .223 and it was a one-holer.
Thanks,
RT

 

[All4eyes]

I have one, and it seems to like the Hornady 17 gr. VMax's best. It's a one hole shooter, if I do my part. I am not real fond of the accutrigger , and am thinking of swapping that out. All in all I am happy with the rifle, just wish ammo was a little less expensive.

 

[RonE]

I have been having good luck with 17 gr. CCI ammo....The box says 2,550 fps and I measured it at only 2,545 fps but I can live with that. This is the only ammo I've shot in my 93R17. I don't have the accutrigger but wish I did, my trigger is lousy.

 

[CH47gunner]

I tried nearly every 17gn stuff I could get my hot little hands on. My 93R17-BV still wouldn't group less than 2" - 3" @ 100yds.
It wasn't until I started using the CCI 20gn Gamepoints that I could get my groups consistantly down to 1".

Bruce

 

[Red Tornado]

That's what randomly keeps popping up. Most shoot like you expect the Savages, but some just like the 20 grain bullets. That's the only thing that makes me a little nervous, since I just ordered a bunch of 17gr Hornady.

I may just stick with my original plan for an H&R HB Sportster.

All4,
Sportsmans Guide has the best prices I found. The Hornady V-Max was ~$106 for 500 rounds. Someone has the 20gr on sale for $109, but I can't remember who.

Thanks for the responses.
RT

 

[ken22250]

NONSENSE! i have a savage 93R17BV heavy bbl, with a 4x nikon scope, with 17gr v-max bullets loaded by winchester supreme, will put 5 shots in 1 hole at 50 yards, ive never tried another bullet, but i have also shot hornady ammo with the same result.
ken

 

[MotorOilMcCall]

Well keep in mind Ken not all rifles are the same, even if they're off the same production line. My 93 does well with everything, but likes the 20gr Hornady's at 100 yards. Thats a 93SS with the standard barrel.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Yeah, not all rifles are the same, but IIRC, my Savage 93 shoots better with CCI 17s than with Hornady 20s.

 

[NCsmitty]

I have a NEF Sportster and it will group the Hornady 17gr BT in 1" or less. The 20gr opens up to almost double that.

NCsmitty