Rimfire 17 HMR Lefty woes - any suggestions?

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microscope

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Hi,

I was hoping CZ 455 Varmint in 17 HMR came in lefty - but it does not.
That is my focus - CZ, 17 HMR, heavy barrel, and lefty.
I wanted it for a particular purpose - shooting groundhogs, and target
shooting (wind is not a real factor where I am)
My 22lr was not cutting it - and a .223 would be too much.

I spoke to CZ and the only one in 17 HMR lefty is their 452 American.
So if the CZ 452 American is my only choice in CZ 17 HMR lefty, can
someone please weigh in on whether it's a good choice, and what
some other 17 hmr lefty choices might be?

Thanks
 
Give learning to shoot right a try. I've been a lefty all my life and when I got my first pistol I decided enough is enough, I'm going to learn to shoot right instead. I shoot a pistol better right handed now than left. Rifles still require more getting used to.
 
I can't get my eye to close naturally, and it just doesn't feel good for me.
Trust me, I would prefer to shoot righty, but I think I need to stick with what is natural.
 
What about Savage 93R17 (they have lefty) and Marlin 917VS (not sure)?
Compared to CZ 452 American?
Other suggestions within this criteria?

Thanks
 
Just shoot a right handed gun. I'm a lefty and can't stand to use a left handed gun. Btw my 452 american hmr shoots amazing.
Had savages and sold em all due to lacking in accuracy and fit and finish compared to the cz's I have now. Wont even look at salvage anymore.
 
Unless you're going to be doing a lot of off hand shooting a right handed gun will work fine for you shooting from a bench or a supported prone position.
 
Browning offers a T-bolt in left hand with a varmint contour barrel in .17HMR, haven't heard anything bad about them.
 
Thanks will check it out.
Why do I not hear a lot about Browning in best of lists, forums, etc?
And why is it like double the price of the CZ?
 
Funny thing is I prefer right for pistols : )
Because I am better with my right hand and can still use my left eye or both to aim.
 
This is kind of off topic...but .223 is NOT too much for groundhogs. I hunt them more often than anybody I know, and have gone through 3, 17HMR rifles trying to convince myself it IS a good choice for them. Truth is, it's marginal at best. Unless the report is the issue, .223 is an excellent choice but it should be said~anywhere I can make 17 HMR-level-noise, I can shoot the .223 as well. It can feel like a big jump going from rimfire to centerfire, but in all honesty...223 is a better groundhog gun in every respect.

If you're hell-bent on keeping it in the rimfire arena and just putting-off the .223 another year :) :) :) look for a .22WMR. It's better at dispatching groundhogs out to about 125 yards, and a shot to the old thinker with a 30gr. Hornady V-Max round is something no groundhog will survive. BUT...again...I'd urge you to make the jump to .223. Savage offers a nice varmint gun in .223, IN LEFT HAND, a Model 12 FLV. Savage SKU# 17690

EDIT~here are a couple of the last groundhogs I shot with the .22WMR, and both went down hard. I've had smaller groundhogs than these miraculously come back to life and wiggle their way back to their holes after getting hit with 17 HMR. Believe me...I wanted that caliber to be a stellar groundhog caliber, but it proved otherwise. Haven't picked-up a rimfire for groundhogging since I started shooting them with a .223.

IMG-20110813-00115.jpg


IMG-20110813-00114.jpg
 
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No fair - now you got me looking into .223 : )
But once I look at .223 I'm going for semi-auto over bolt - I'm just a sucker for it and there are few if any in 17 hmr
that are under $1000

But noise and kick are definitely more than 17 hmr - and .223 will make a mess (ie. overkill vs the 17 hmr - no?
 
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microscope said:
No fair - now you got me looking into .223 : )
But once I look at .223 I'm going for semi-auto over bolt - I'm just a sucker for it and there are few if any in 17 hmr
that are under $1000

But noise and kick are definitely more than 17 hmr - and .223 will make a mess (ie. overkill vs the 17 hmr - no?
Click to expand...

I get digging the semi, but I ran a .223 semi all last summer, and a nice one at that. Sold it. Too heavy, follow-up shot never needed/never required, bigger pain to clean, not as accurate as a bolt gun~pick a reason! :) Get your semi "fill" in with a .22 and pop cans, get a bolt gun for serious varmint work. Learn from my expensive journey. :)

As for "overkill"...your answer is "no". The purpose of shooting groundhogs is to dispatch them quickly, from a distance if required. And as for recoil~it's next to nothing, trust me. My 12 year old daughter hunts groundhogs with my .223. The rifle moves so little you can watch the impact of the bullet through the scope. Noise~that's subjective. .233 is louder than .17 HMR, but in rural settings where you encounter groundhogs the most, it's simply not an issue. I have a friend who shoots them with a .243, and a .270. It could be said THOSE heavy-hitters might be overkill, but not .223.
 
microscope said:
Thanks will check it out.
Why do I not hear a lot about Browning in best of lists, forums, etc?
And why is it like double the price of the CZ?
Click to expand...

They run for about $715-750 depending on where you look, so not exactly double the price of the CZ. I don't own one but most reviews are saying the fit and finish are quite nice. The trigger comes adjustable and it has a flush fitting 10 round mag. Also it has a straight pull bolt allowing for quicker follow up shots. If I had the money at the moment I'd definitely pick one up most likely a the varmint model in lefthand as well. Digressing, I'm not trying to sell you on one, it is however a good option and appears to be a quality firearm in the calibre you're looking for.
 
H&R handi rifle single shot. pretty accurate and an ambi rifle.
edit: in rimfire they are called the sportster.
 
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Just bought a Browning T bolt in .17 HMR and a lefty to boot. Walnut stock, sporter version. Nice little gun. People seem pissed that they're a little more money and that there are some plastic parts on it whereas the original ones were all metal, eg trigger guard. Didn't bother me though, and I figure I have a good little shooter in my cabinet. Happy with my choice.
 
Redbike said:
Just bought a Browning T bolt in .17 HMR and a lefty to boot. Walnut stock, sporter version. Nice little gun. People seem pissed that they're a little more money and that there are some plastic parts on it whereas the original ones were all metal, eg trigger guard. Didn't bother me though, and I figure I have a good little shooter in my cabinet. Happy with my choice.
Click to expand...

I got the varmint model a couple years ago and they are a beautiful rifle. Monte carlo stock and the flush fitting double helix mag is great. I never wanted plastic magazines either but once talked into it I prefer them. My x-bolt polymer mag is the easiest and quickest to load of any of my rifles. Used to have a savage 17 with stainless heavy barrel but always wanted a t-bolt ever since my uncle would bring his home from the west for me to shoot. Would never go back to my 22 mag for small varmints since getting the t-bolt, too much fun.
 
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