17 HMR Barrel Life

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David Henry

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I,m positive that this subject has been tossed around before but I must have missed it, Took a look in Rimfire but saw nothing.
So here is the question the 17 HMR has been around for 5 or so years now, what kind of throat wear are we begining to see and how many rounds did it take to get there.
My reason for the interest is I am having some well used rifles come in with accuracy issues, flyers and keyholes etc. The bores have been inspected with a gradient lense, copper and fouling removed and crowns checked but still poor accuracy from guns that were once excellent shooters. The estimated volume of rounds fired is in the 5000 to 7000 catagory, is that enough to wash these throats out??
If any of you 17 HMR shooters have kept track of your rounds fired and have noticed a down slide in accuracy at some point I would be interested to here your remarks. Best Regards David Henry.
 
i have 5 17s, two that are used lot last i checked they were at 4500 each,i use in the spring for beavers ,the summerfor gohpers, the fall for chicken ,and the winter for squirrels . One of the best rimfires next tothe 5mmmag. My17s one a marlin the other remington have not lost to much accuracy. Just let the barrel cool and switch out between other guns and u willbe fine.
 
17 hmr

Thanks 280 Ackley, Yes its not so much as how to cure the problem more so some stats on barrel life.
I've had a couple of P.M.s that say they are over 10,000 and no trouble others claim they traded theirs off after a couple of cartons of ammo??
I,m just interested in whatever feedback comes to the surface, thanks everybody for your two cents worth. Regards David.
 
The Anschutz and Coopers probably less so then the more economical guns.
This is not related to your query, but some of these rifle barrels in 416L are very soft, including some of the center fire barrels. It makes it easy to machine a very nice thread on the end of the barrel for a muzzle brake, but you have to wonder...how long will they last.
 
Stainless alloys are nice to machine allright, but the shot out bores that I am seeing are in chrome moly and to be more specific mostly CZ.
This is not a knock at CZ products in any way as I have a high opinion of them but perhapse they were the best sellers early on in the life of 17 HMR and hence showing more wear. David.
 
I have a Savage 17HMR that throws rounds all over the map. I bought mine after using a colleague's Mark 2 in 22LR. I was very impressed with the rifle's function and tight groupings and so bought the same model in 17HMR. Mine however shoots 2 inches at 25 metres. I am an experienced shooter doing everything from biathlon, through F-class and real world trigger time. I played with the bedding, various loads, triggers, etc. Worst gun I ever bought. Wish I had never seen it.
 
In accuracy to 125 yards I think the 17HM2 is a better cartridge than the 17HMR and I think it was Lilja who said the barrel life is better as well... that would only make sense as bigger does wear barrels faster.

That being said I have not had any 17 rim fires in for accuracy problems... just not that many around here.

I have built one 17 HM2 for myself using a liner and the accuracy with Hornady ammunition is fantastic. (http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=363894)

I probably will only shoot about 100 rounds a year though...

All other things equal the barrel itself is a big determiner in barrel life... I had two 17 Hornet barrels wear the throat out in 300 rounds... I have had other make barrels chambered for 17 Remington last for a couple of thousand...

With the 17 rim fires there is no way to know if the "load" is exactly the same that shot well or if the barrel isn't as accurate...
 
Duncan Idaho said:
I have a Savage 17HMR that throws rounds all over the map. I bought mine after using a colleague's Mark 2 in 22LR. I was very impressed with the rifle's function and tight groupings and so bought the same model in 17HMR. Mine however shoots 2 inches at 25 metres. I am an experienced shooter doing everything from biathlon, through F-class and real world trigger time. I played with the bedding, various loads, triggers, etc. Worst gun I ever bought. Wish I had never seen it.
Click to expand...

Can we expect to see it on the EE soon?:D
 
17 hmr

Duncan Idaho, I have seen this before as well, but also saw the same gun shoot very tight groups at 100yds. In other words the bullets didn't start to stabalize untill downrange at some point past 50 yds.
I think the benchrest/precision shooters refer to this condition of bullet instability as "YAW" possibly caused by barrel harmonics, you may wish to try your gun at a greater distance that 25 yds. David.
 
My Savage 93R17 is the most accurate rifle I've ever owned or shot. Like a laser and not picky on ammo.

It is still accurate after about 800 rounds and has a stainless bull barrel. Just regular, or slightly less than regular cleaning. I damn well hope it lasts more than the round counts some are posting here. It is a gun, a durable good, not a cookie meant for one time consumption. :(
 
Hey Double Gun. That made me laugh. Not me. I could never do that to someone. Didn't you bust a guy on AO for flogging a rifle as a great shooter, then complaining about how poorly it performed after he sold it?

David Henry - Thanks for the info. I tried it at arounf the 70 metre mark, but similar groupings. After several shots, the paper looked more like I took a crack at it with a 410. Maybe I can pound the barrel into a couple of nice knives? Maybe I can cut a few handle scales from the laminate? Sell the knives and get my $500 back.
 
I also have a 93R17. Although I have not kept accurate records as to how many rounds I've put through it, for starters it's been on 5 annual gopher safaris as well as misc small game and plinking for the same number of years. I would estimate 5-6K.

I never actually considered that the barrel would wear and lose accuracy, it still shoots as good as the day it was new. I was thinking since it was a rimfire..... but I guess that doesn't really apply, does it? Hmmmmmm.......
 
I have a Savage 93R17 too. I am 100% pleased with it, not picky on ammo, mine is @2000 fired and still very accurate. I like it...no ... I luv it. :p
 
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