Savage B-mag .17 WSM... thoughts?

[Newtosavage]

Looking for a new plinker/range rifle, and after a lot of thought, I have decided I need (want) a .17 rimfire. I handled a thumbhole stock .17HMR Savage 93r17 BTVSS at Academy yesterday and it nearly went home with me.

But I also enjoy doing my homework, esp. since I am new to the caliber and knew nothing about that particular rifle, other than it seemed like something I'd really enjoy shooting.

Another rifle that's caught my eye is the Savage B-mag in .17WSM, but the reviews on it are pretty awful in some places.

I am intrigued by the idea of inexpensive rimfire ammo that's capable of shooting MOA at 100 yards and feel I'd be disappointed if I invested in another rifle that wasn't up to that task, esp. since my 1927 Winchester model 57 can already give me excellent groups at 50 yards.

Does anyone here have any experience with either of these .17 caliber rimfires, or have a recommendation? My budget for this rifle would be no more than $400. The 93 BTVSS was $389 and I've seen the B-mag for about $300 used.

 

[ironworkerwill]

I'd think about ammo. I don't think the WSM will outlast the HMR.

I like the Savage A-Mag it's got a barrel nut!

 

[Newtosavage]

I'd think about ammo. I don't think the WSM will outlast the HMR.

I like the Savage A-Mag it's got a barrel nut!

ha, ha. I saw that! I looked at an A-17 as well.

 

[basicblur]

Looking for a new plinker/range rifle, and after a lot of thought, I have decided I need (want) a .17 rimfire. I handled a thumbhole stock .17HMR Savage 93r17 BTVSS at Academy yesterday and it nearly went home with me.

Another rifle that's caught my eye is the Savage B-mag in .17WSM, but the reviews on it are pretty awful in some places.

Does anyone here have any experience with either of these .17 caliber rimfires, or have a recommendation? My budget for this rifle would be no more than $400. The 93 BTVSS was $389 and I've seen the B-mag for about $300 used.

It just so happens that I do - own both of them, but unfortunately I haven't had a chance to take the 17 WSM to the range yet. It was at the gunsmith for quite a while waiting for the barrel to be threaded for suppressor use.

My 93R17 BTVSS-RJ seems to be a shooter - I've only shot / zeroed at 50 yards, but after dialing it in on paper, hitting UTZ Cheese Balls at 50 yards got boring quickly as I never missed. I'm going to hit the 100 yard range next trip to the range. I also had this one threaded by the local gunsmith - the thread protector he made I had him leave smooth (no knurling) so it matched that lovely SS barrel.
Everybody that looks at it tells me I have to get the barrel threaded, but when I tell them it is, they have to examine closely as they don't believe me - I really like the look of the smooth thread protector.

I was so impressed with the 17 HMR that I got a B-Mag Target almost 2 years later, but haven't had it to the range yet.

Both guns have a Nikon PROSTAFF 5 3.5-14X40 Silver BDC with sunshade mounted using Burris 1" Signature Zee Rings with nickel finish.

Makes for a beautiful package on the 93R17 - slightly less so on the B-Mag Target as the barrel on it has a darker finish than the machined, semi-polished finish on the 93R17 barrel. The gunsmith couldn't quite match the finish on the barrel when he made a thread protector for it (non-knurled as on my 93R-17).

A few years ago I went with the 17 HMR as I wanted to wait a while to see if the 17 WSM caught on, and at the time Savage had only the original Axis in 17 WSM, which was / is generally regarded as junk.
A few years later, I stumbled upon all the different models of 17 WSM Savage now has out - reviews of the B-Mag Target seem good, so I took a chance.

BTW - my 93R-17 has less of an orange finish than pictures show and more of a gray finish, which is fine by me as it matches the barrel / scope / rings better.

 

[Newtosavage]

Thanks for the reply. I really liked that thumbhole stainless .17 HMR . If it's the tack driver you and everyone else says it is, I can see it as my next rifle. It seems that these days, I spend more time teaching at the range than I do shooting, and that would fill the gap nicely between my .22 bolt action and my 7.62x39 bolt action, for young and new shooters.

 

[basicblur]

Thanks for the reply. I really liked that thumbhole stainless .17 HMR . If it's the tack driver you and everyone else says it is, I can see it as my next rifle. It seems that these days, I spend more time teaching at the range than I do shooting, and that would fill the gap nicely between my .22 bolt action and my 7.62x39 bolt action, for young and new shooters.

One more benefit of the 17HMR (if that's important to ya) is the ammo takes up much less space.
As you no doubt know, 17HMR comes in compact, plastic cases (similar to CCI MiniMags) but 17WSM comes in cardboard boxes 3 times larger than 17HMR.

I don't know what your purpose is - currently I'm just punching holes / killing cheese balls with the 17 HMR.
I ran across this guy's video when doing research before buying my 17WSM.


BTW - I went to the range the other day with both the VisiShot targets as seen in his video, and a trial pack of Splatterburst targets, which are my new favorite splatter targets (better, cheaper).

Imagine that same gun with a big old Nikon scope / sunshade in silver, with silver rings, etc.
The 17HMR model's barrel is a shinier finish. Mebbe I'll take some pix to post later tonight?

Hey, up until I got into the Savages with those purty stocks, everything I had was black with lots of plastic!
I now have 3 of the Savage Thumbhole stock models (also have a MKII BTVSS), so I've got 22, 17HMR, and 17WSM in pretty much the same gun.

FWIW, last time to the range (more research required), when using a silencer (AAC Element 2 & Silencerco Sparrow) POI shifted 1" low at 50 yards - no windage change.
I guess harmonics etc. is a screwy subject, as I took my 2 Savage FVSR's to the range the other day and neither one of them has any POI shift when using either of the above silencers.

Just by looking at 'em, you'd think those heavy SS barrels would have less POI shift than the FVSR's?

 

[basicblur]

And another thing...
Don't know if this matters - assuming the B-Mag rotary magazine works OK, I do prefer the internal rotary magazine over the external (and kinda cheap looking) mags for the 17HMR - not that I've ever had a problem with the 17HMR mags, but on these particular guns, the gun looks a lot better without an exposed magazine.

I just bought my first Ruger rifle - stumbled across the 10/22 Takedown Heavy Barrel, and I really like those Ruger rotary magazines! This Ruger is now one of my favorite plinkers - no muss, no fuss - just take out of bag, insert barrel, and have at it! I have a Bushnell TRS-25 mounted on the Ruger.

I'm hoping my Savage rotary mags work as well as the Ruger's.

 

[Newtosavage]

Agree on the appearances of the rotary mag, but there's a reason the spring stack mag's have been around for over 100 years... they just plain work.

Purpose? Mostly plinking and training. A "next step up" from my .22 bolt action but still not as loud, as expensive or as much recoil as my 7.62x39

 

[ZGunner]

I had one of the B-Mags when they first came out and was super disappointed in it. Winchester was the only ammo manufacturer at the time so that might have played a part. I'd either be interested in another maker if the 17 WSM ever spreads or the laminate stock, heavy barrel version of the B-Mag.

But as of right now my money would go towards the thumb hole 93R17. I'd probably top it with a Nikon Prostate Rimfire ($119.99 at Academy) with Leupold Rifleman medium rings (19.99).

 

[Newtosavage]

I'm reading too many great things about the Savage thumbhole 93r17. I think I'm gonna have to own one and see for myself.

Thanks for the recommendations ZGunner. That's right along my lines of thinking.

 

[basicblur]

I'm reading too many great things about the Savage thumbhole 93r17. I think I'm gonna have to own one and see for myself.

Well now that you've decided, what finish are you looking for?

I just checked Savage's site - they've completely changed it, and (of course) it now really sucks.

I know they have the brown finish - I got the Royal Jacaranda on the 17HMR - I think it was a distributor special finish, but there are still plenty of them floating around out there.

No telling what other finishes are available - you'll just have to search Google images and see what you come across (which is how I stumbled onto the Royal Jacaranda finish).
https://www.google.com/search?q=93R...ved=0ahUKEwiP9OzbpqfRAhXEeCYKHdO9DocQ_AUIBygC

 

[Varminterror]

Newtosavage - the Rotary magazine was patented in 1856, so it's been around for 160 years. They're notoriously reliable with rimmed cartridges, but they are limited for capacity for their size, and the rotary magazine for the B Mag is no different.

I have a couple 93's in 17HMR, as well as a Marlin 917 and a pair of Taurus Tracker revolvers. Every 17HMR I have ever seen has been very accurate.

I also have a B Mag. Mine is a stainless heavy barrel, and I have upgraded to a laminate stock. The power differential between the 17WSM and other rimfire cartridges is incredibly obvious. Accuracy with the B Mag is satisfactory, mine has been sub-MOA in every group I have fired with both bullets available for it. Impact on game is very different as well - the power is there.

The downside for both of these is ammo cost. I tend to buy HMR for about $13/50, and WSM for $17/50, while I can reload .17 Rem for about the same and get far more power, or even .223rem.

But I do absolutely love rimfire rifles. I would be hard pressed to pick between my 93R17 and my B Mag - which is why I don't live in a country where I have to choose, and why I own both.

 

[Newtosavage]

Well now that you've decided, what finish are you looking for?

I just checked Savage's site - they've completely changed it, and (of course) it now really sucks.

I know they have the brown finish - I got the Royal Jacaranda on the 17HMR - I think it was a distributor special finish, but there are still plenty of them floating around out there.

No telling what other finishes are available - you'll just have to search Google images and see what you come across (which is how I stumbled onto the Royal Jacaranda finish).
https://www.google.com/search?q=93R...ved=0ahUKEwiP9OzbpqfRAhXEeCYKHdO9DocQ_AUIBygC

Call me a simpleton, but the plain wood finish on the rifle that Academy sells looked really good to me. A rimfire with a nice looking wood stock... what's not to like?

 

[Newtosavage]

. I would be hard pressed to pick between my 93R17 and my B Mag - which is why I don't live in a country where I have to choose, and why I own both.

Nice!

 

[MrGiggles]

There's some that don't like the cock on close design of the Bmag.. After watching a couple videos, I tend to agree that it's a little bit silly.

My local Academy had a full stock of 17 WSM and HMR on the shelf, with no .22 LR or WMR to be found.

 

[Newtosavage]

There's some that don't like the cock on close design of the Bmag.. After watching a couple videos, I tend to agree that it's a little bit silly.

My local Academy had a full stock of 17 WSM and HMR on the shelf, with no .22 LR or WMR to be found.

My very old Win. model 57 .22 rifle is cock on close. New shooters take to it very easily, moreso in fact than my cock on open rifles that they often struggle with. I think it's easier for weaker/smaller shooters to push the bolt to cock than it is to lift the bolt to cock, but that's just what I've observed. I know my new shooter from the other day was struggling to open both my Savage 10 and Ruger 77 bolt guns, but had no issues with my 57.

 

[Newtosavage]

Pulled the trigger on a Savage 93r17. Just gotta wait for it now...

 

[basicblur]

Shop around for ammo - since I was in no big hurry, I could afford to wait for online specials, which fortunately seem to come around pretty often on 17HMR. I bought quite a bit for $9.99 / box from Selway Armory (plus shipping). I think they currently show it for $10.99 / box:
http://www.selwayarmory.com/shop-by-category/rimfire-ammunition/17-hmr.html
https://www.slickguns.com/search/apachesolr_search/Hornady+17HMR

Unless things have changed, this is what I've found when doing research (both online and with local shooters):
1. True or not, word seems to be Hornady is making about all the 17HMR - other companies are getting it from them and slapping their name on it.
2. Most folks seem to report best results with the 17 grain Hornady vs. 20 grain - would be a good place to start?

Congrats on the new gun - I'm sure you'll be pleased with it's accuracy.

 

[Newtosavage]

Thanks for the tip!

I look forward to shooting it.

 

[basicblur]

Thanks for the tip!

I look forward to shooting it.

Talk of ammo got me to shopping again (got a few gaps in my inventory).
You might want to check out Manventure Outpost - I've ordered from them before with no problems.
http://www.manventureoutpost.com/categories/Ammunition/Rimfire-Ammunition/17HMR/

I've got a few Federal 17HMR (I have no Federal HMR) and Hornady 17WSM (I have no Hornady WSM) in my cart - waiting a few days for another billing cycle.

Shipping might get you - shipping on 12 boxes of Federal 17HMR was $18 or so - adding 12 boxes of 17WSM only upped shipping to $20.

Code MVOSummer may or may not work for 5% off.