What do you think of the .17HMR and what rifle?
- Thread starter Kestrel
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Mr. Chitlin
Member
My son and I use Marlin 17VS rifles to hunt squirrels, crows etc with, and love it. This rifle is the most accurate and easy to shoot rifle I have ever fired. Ours chrono between 2575 and 2600 fps. It is devestating on small game, head shots only on squirrels if you eat them.
Here is a pic of mine...
Here is a pic of mine...
Smoke
Member
I bought a Marlin heavy barrel 17v.
Nice gun, tack driver, cheap wood, worst trigger I ever pulled.
Had trigger worked over, put a decent scope on it, now I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Love the gun, love the round.
I mainly use mine to punch itty bitty holes in paper and pat myself on the back at how good I am. (If I could only do the same with the .270 or larger guns
)
Smoke
Nice gun, tack driver, cheap wood, worst trigger I ever pulled.
Had trigger worked over, put a decent scope on it, now I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Love the gun, love the round.
I mainly use mine to punch itty bitty holes in paper and pat myself on the back at how good I am. (If I could only do the same with the .270 or larger guns
)Smoke
Early on in the introduction of the .17 HMR, I was quite sceptical of the round thinking the .22 mag would do just as well, just needs to be held a little higher. After a few months of reports here and at other forums of exceptional accuracy, I had to see for myself. I had a Ruger 10/22M (.22 mag) I wasn't using much and converted it with a Butler Creek .17 HMR barrel and stock (set). I had originally thought of getting the 452 Varmint in .17 HMR also but decided to go the cheap route first to test the cartridge first hand. After a few teething problems that were solve with some investigation and replacement, I have found that the .17 HMR is truly an exceptionally accurate round. This is considering the BC barrels aren't known for their accuracy. (I based my 'exceptionally accrate' rating as compared to its .22 mag performance.)
[Problems with .17 HMR hanging up in the 10/22M mag. Solution was to loosen bolt of the the mag by ~1/8 of a turn with an Allen-type wrench. Tasco SS 20X scope broke and was replaced by SWFA.]
Some of my results can be found here.
Currently working on why I am getting one shot fliers (1 out of 9 rounds in a group). I had found on my last outing that on occassion when the crosshairs of the scope were ~0.50-1.00" above the center of the target, I was applying a slight pressure downward on the grip just behind the reciever. Since the BC stock isn't free floating, this applied a pressure (from the front rest) to the bottom of the forearm upward on the barrel and a very slight shift in POI. I've since freefloated the stock but have yet to shoot groups. I did get a 0.40" 5 round group at 100 yds one time in the last outing but this is abnormal as I normally shoot a full mag for groups. (Had to stop at 5 as it was the best group I had ever gotten from a semi. I knew I would have screwed it up if I went the full 9. I don't consider it an official group but one to think happy thoughts about. Rest of the 9 round groups were 1" +/- 0.125". This was before I figured out my flier problem.) The converted gun has shot exponentially better than in its original .22 mag configuration.
Note : The 10/22M has a steel reciever. I don't mind freefloating a steel bull barrel on it as I think the reciever can handle it. I'm hesitant on doing it on a regular 10/22 with the aluminum alloy reciever. There are aftermarket steel 10/22 receivers out there.
In short, I am a .17 HMR convert.
[Problems with .17 HMR hanging up in the 10/22M mag. Solution was to loosen bolt of the the mag by ~1/8 of a turn with an Allen-type wrench. Tasco SS 20X scope broke and was replaced by SWFA.]
Some of my results can be found here.
Currently working on why I am getting one shot fliers (1 out of 9 rounds in a group). I had found on my last outing that on occassion when the crosshairs of the scope were ~0.50-1.00" above the center of the target, I was applying a slight pressure downward on the grip just behind the reciever. Since the BC stock isn't free floating, this applied a pressure (from the front rest) to the bottom of the forearm upward on the barrel and a very slight shift in POI. I've since freefloated the stock but have yet to shoot groups. I did get a 0.40" 5 round group at 100 yds one time in the last outing but this is abnormal as I normally shoot a full mag for groups. (Had to stop at 5 as it was the best group I had ever gotten from a semi. I knew I would have screwed it up if I went the full 9. I don't consider it an official group but one to think happy thoughts about. Rest of the 9 round groups were 1" +/- 0.125". This was before I figured out my flier problem.) The converted gun has shot exponentially better than in its original .22 mag configuration.
Note : The 10/22M has a steel reciever. I don't mind freefloating a steel bull barrel on it as I think the reciever can handle it. I'm hesitant on doing it on a regular 10/22 with the aluminum alloy reciever. There are aftermarket steel 10/22 receivers out there.
In short, I am a .17 HMR convert.
I bought a Marlin 17V - for $189 I figured it was hard to go wrong. Have not shot it yet. The stock is hideous with the impressed checkering but I am going to replace it with a laminate stock. From what I have heard the Marlin 17s shoot extremely well.
Coltdriver
Member
I will chime in here.
Bought a Savage heavy barrel for about $200 out the door a year ago November.
Unbelieveable accuracy. Easily the most accurate rifle I have ever owned. I can consisitently shoot a quarter at 100 yards, no problem. I mounted a Simmons 6-22 X 33 with an adjustable parallax. Great scope for this rifle as you can set it for very short focus for squirrels out to further than the round will reach.
The stock is typical of a relatively cheap rifle. Great candidate for camo paint, mine is painted in winter black/white/greys.
Ammo is now readily available and the prices are in line with 22 mag ammo. I have found the hornady v max to be the most accurate out of mine and that is all I shoot.
Bought a Savage heavy barrel for about $200 out the door a year ago November.
Unbelieveable accuracy. Easily the most accurate rifle I have ever owned. I can consisitently shoot a quarter at 100 yards, no problem. I mounted a Simmons 6-22 X 33 with an adjustable parallax. Great scope for this rifle as you can set it for very short focus for squirrels out to further than the round will reach.
The stock is typical of a relatively cheap rifle. Great candidate for camo paint, mine is painted in winter black/white/greys.
Ammo is now readily available and the prices are in line with 22 mag ammo. I have found the hornady v max to be the most accurate out of mine and that is all I shoot.
mrming
Member
Another 17v here. Accuracy potential seems excellent.. first outing I was getting 2 and 3 shots touching out of 5 shot strings. Trigger can be reworked with a different return spring, and a bit of very light stoning. Had to free float the barrel on mine.. am waiting for another warm day to get out to the range.
Hot brass
Member
Get the 17hmr. You won`t look back.
Tropical Z
Member
I was thinking about getting a rifle in .17hmr until the .204 Ruger came out.Now im on hold.
Hemicuda
member
Great fun!
ad bought a Savage bolt gun, buddy bought a Marlin bolt gun, and I grabbed me a henry Lever Action "Varmint Express" in .17 HMR...
it is a BIT pricier to shoot than my .22 Mag, but it is TONS of fun... if you have the means, I sugguest picking one up at the EARLIEST possible convenience, in the brand and action style of your choice!
ad bought a Savage bolt gun, buddy bought a Marlin bolt gun, and I grabbed me a henry Lever Action "Varmint Express" in .17 HMR...
it is a BIT pricier to shoot than my .22 Mag, but it is TONS of fun... if you have the means, I sugguest picking one up at the EARLIEST possible convenience, in the brand and action style of your choice!
A good friend bought a Marlin 17VS at a gun show a few weeks ago. We zeroed the scope in my back yard. I am very impressed with the round and that rifle. We were getting better than .5 MOA from a bench rest. For a 17 grain bullet, it is devastating. There's no doubt that that rifle is going to be my next small caliber purchase.
I thought the fit and finish was very good considering the price of the rifle - around $280. I liked the grayish sand blasted look of the stainless barrel and receiver. That's desirable if the rifle is used for varmints. The bolt was well made and comes apart as easy as any bolt I've ever seen for ease of cleaning. The magazine is first rate, also stainless but with a plastic follower, and fits tight - it holds 7 rounds. The stock is laminated and well finished.
The barrel crown was a standout. It is recessed about 1/8th inch as you would expect in a good target rifle.
The barrel crown was a standout. It is recessed about 1/8th inch as you would expect in a good target rifle.
Moparmike
Member
Get an Iowa-class battleship. Sabot the 16in gun down to .17, and put a standard powder load in the breech. Aim at crow.
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