Gunno go pick up my first .17 likely tomorrow. Wondering - does .17 heat up a skinny barrel, under fairly rapid fire? I know from my centerfire experience that generally I prefer heavy barrels for bench work (I ain't the most patient etc.), putting strings fairly close together without overheating the tube. Same apply to .17? I've not found it to be an issue with .22LR but I don't know how much that would be an apples to oranges comparison....
.17 HMR - HB or No?
- Thread starter Redhouse
- Start date
I just bought a savage .17 hmr with heavy barrel, full well knowing the cost of ammo.
Atleast it's not a buck a round. I can live with it. I bout a dealer exclusive btv with "forest camo" laminate stock and heavy barrel. I can't tell you that I've shot a "skinny" barrel .17 or ANY other .17 hmr for that matter but.... I CAN tell you that out of the sixty or 70 rounds I've put through this rifle that I was already getting 1" groups at 100 yards. And a little over that at 150....
I love this round and this gun WILL be in my collection for many many years to come!
Atleast it's not a buck a round. I can live with it. I bout a dealer exclusive btv with "forest camo" laminate stock and heavy barrel. I can't tell you that I've shot a "skinny" barrel .17 or ANY other .17 hmr for that matter but.... I CAN tell you that out of the sixty or 70 rounds I've put through this rifle that I was already getting 1" groups at 100 yards. And a little over that at 150....
I love this round and this gun WILL be in my collection for many many years to come!
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
I've had my heavy barrel savage 93 pretty hot. Didnt take that long really.
Most HMR's readily available are bolt actions with a five or seven shot clip... you will never have to worry about overheating a heavy barrel when you consider time to cycle and reload... I would be more concerned about a cold barrel flier... when we are shooting for groups, I have a flier target set-up and the first shot goes to that target, the rest are on the best group target... it is rare to find a tight group on the flier target, but it does happen... here is one from yesterday... this five "first" shots from five different 17 HMR magazines;
Heat may not be an issue but the ability to hold steady sure is. And considering the size of targets normally gone after with this gun, the steadier the better. And whether off a rest or off hand....the heavy bbl just " hangs" better for me. Makes a huge difference. And when handling rifles in the store most don' t have scopes on them. The weight distribution on a light bbl moves even further back with a scope. Ymmv
Alex
With your concern on ammo pricing I doubt if you shot enough rounds to get your barrel warm never mind hot.
On a warm day in the gopher patch with some active gophers you can get your CZ varmint very hot. FS
Thanks G, and everyone else. I didn't get one yet, fondled a couple but didn't find *the one*. I'll be going HB, like everything else I own lol.
Ammo price was not part of my question, I have my eyes open going in.
- Location
- calgaryish
Ammo is not that expensive, and they always have a case at wholesale for me. Get 22-250 50 grain vmax that is tough!
Cabelas has their .17 ammo (.17gr) on sale now for 11.99/box. I have the HB and have never had heat issues, but have never really shot a lot of quick shots either. Tried the new 10 shot clip out this weekend, works well, with the exception of the last round which did not always cylcle in smoothly.
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