Savage BMag .17 Winchester Super Magnum

[Geno]

I have been reading up on Savage Arms' latest rifle in rimfire, the "BMag", chambered in .17 Winchester Super Magnum.

Here is a link: http://www.savagearms.com/bmag

There are links at the bottom of the above page, and worth reading. It sounds very, very promising, but I can't get past the rifle's appearance. Far be it for me to judge a firearm as being "ugly", but this one, inspite of the extraordinary accuracy, comes mighty close!

Thoughts? Was there really a "need" for an additional .17 caliber?

Geno

 

[jrdolall]

I will have one sometime in July if things go according to plan and will let you know.

 

[12many]

I agree. Not so pretty. I don't like any bolt gun without a wood stock. I suppose it is functional.

I also saw another ad for a hornady 17 caliber that was at about 3600 fps. I think that is what it was. Don't know much about it. Pretty fast though. The ad said it could be used for elephants.

 

[Geno]

The Hornady is the .17 Hornet, a necked down .22 Hornet.

Geno

 

[cat_IT_guy]

Not much of a looker, for sure. That said, I've had good luck with Savage in the past, so if after some time it looks like the 17 win super mag (or w/e they are calling it) will stick around it might just interest me.

 

[clay_07]

BMAG

I have the Bmag and I love it. I have found around 200 rounds so far and still looking for more. If anyone knows where I can get some let me know.

 

[ECVMatt]

I handled a BMag in Colorado last weekend and really like it. It is not much of a looker, but seems like a heck of a truck/varmint rifle. All that being said, I have a Ruger .17 Hornet and much prefer being able to reload the cases, higher velocity, and cost per round of the reloaded ammo.

For folks that don't reload, this would make a great choice for varminting.

 

[HOOfan_1]

Who else has advertised that they will sell a rifle for this cartridge? I am thinking if it doesn't get off the ground fast it might not make it past infancy.

 

[frankenstein406]

17 and shorts are the only rimfire I see in stock, if the shortage keeps up it might go over well if guns are cheap and available.

 

[303tom]

I think the Rim Fire is making a come back, look for the .25 to be next !...............

 

[gibble888]

I shot a 32 rimfire and loved it...throws a nice hunk of lead

 

[gpjoe]

It looks OK, but I'm guessing it feels cheap. I have a Savage .17 HMR that came with a black plastic stock. I eneded up putting a Boyd's laminate Rimfire Hunter stock on it and it still shoots lights-out and looks good.

I know Savage offers many of their current rimfires in plastic and/or wood, so maybe they will offer the .17 WSM in wood or laminate in addition to the plastic.

Anyone know?

 

[Gtscotty]

The .25 rimfire would be cool, but I'd imagine there is a deficit of .25 rimfire type bullets in current production. Surely Winchester will bring out the .22 WSM though... seems like a no-brainer. I'll probably wind up picking up a .17 WSM, but I'd definitely be pushing old ladies out of the way to get to a .22 WSM if it was offered. Hopefully it will be like a .22 Hornet that I don't have to reload for, perfect for squirrel-season hog hunting on public land.

 

[stonecoldy]

I would have rather seen it offered in .22 right off the bat instead of /17 caliber, but will be interested to hear more reviews in the near future.

 

[benzy2]

I may be one of the minority, but after buying a .17hmr I gave up on it. The round was no cheaper than match grade .22lr to shoot at paper while also no more accurate. It was no cheaper than I could reload .223 (and I enjoy reloading) and at much range beyond 100 yards even the cheaper .223 reloads held in the wind better. It was loud enough to put it into the category where I always wear hearing protection. The ballistic tip ammo is also excessively hard on small game, to the point I was told explicitly to not bring it for any game we were shooting to eat. I've never had a shot in the woods long enough that a .22lr wouldn't have done an effective job on small game.

The .17 WSM seems to fit the same bill but to a greater extent. I have also not seen it available anywhere, though that may change when ammo supply for everything else returns to normal and manufacturers can focus on more specialty rounds than the basic staples.

To be honest, I'm really interested in the .17 hornet simply for the fact I can reload for it. That flexibility wins me over. If the .17WSM is similar to or exceeds the .17 hornet in exterior ballistics it will be a great choice for those wanting more than the current rimfire rounds offer but I have yet to see a situation where a .17hmr was too little and a .223 was too much. Not to say there shouldn't be a middle ground to split the difference, but both .17hmr and .223 are in great abundance (when panics aren't in effect, even now, hunting rounds for both can be found at many stores) and in a great number of rifles. I'd rather not be the guinea pig on a rimfire round. At least in the centerfire world you can buy a bunch of cases and load your own, regardless of if factory ammo is being produced.

 

[Geno]

benzy2:

Well-said. I agree very much, especially regarding the .17 Hornet.

Geno