Hello P53Enfield,
I am sorry to hear about your issues with your Savage Model 25 in 17 Hornet. Oddly enough, this isn't the first time this has happened.....
I'm a former Savage Gold Dealer (now retired), who used to sell over 500 Savage rifles per year. Out of that number, approximately 2% or 10 of those guns required warranty repair or replacement.
I do not normally respond or talk much on Gunnutz anymore. It has become a WOKE cesspool of Liberal idiots and I do not want any part of it after being a member for over 18 years. In saying this, I have met a lot of great people and even made some friends over my 235 transactions. There are some real good folks here on Gunnutz, unfortunately the aforementioned is a problem......
I digress.
My first question is, were you using Hornady Superformance Varmint ammunition in 17 Hornet, with the 20 grain V-Max bullet? Hornady product #83005. The reason I ask is, this was the ammo that blew up my customer's rifle. It is loaded very hot, and does not do well in some Savage Model 25 rifles. This is not an attack on Hornady. I faithfully use Hornady factory ammunition and love it!.....
However, they can load this Superformance ammo very hot. This ammo works well in my Ruger 77/17 in 17 Hornet......
Your issue with your Savage Model 25 in 17 Hornet also happened to one of my customers and employees. In his case, the fired factory Hornady brass expanded so hard in the chamber, it seized itself to the chamber and could not be removed. Even with tools. The bolt would not open, it was seized shut. Rather than go through the hassle of sending his rifle back to Savage Canada for warranty repair, he chose to send it to the gunsmith we use in Creston, BC. This gunsmith's name is Josh Salzman, Accurate Rifle Company, 250-254-0489. He has a 17 Hornet reamer.
Apparently the pressure from the Hornady 17 Hornet factory round, literally wielded the fired brass to the chamber and the bolt face. Josh had to remove the barrel from the action and cut off the tenon and re-thread and rechamber the barrel, now being approximately 1.5" shorter.
The newly chambered barrel in 17 Hornet now works flawlessly. However, the factory Hornady ammo still makes the bolt difficult to lift, and sometimes is stiff on the extraction. The customer changed his ammunition to Federal factory 17 Hornet ammo, and now has no issues. This entire redo cost the customer $350.00 which he gladly paid out of his own pocket.
Keep in mind this was the customers personal choice, he could have gone through the hoops and sent his rifle back to Savage Canada for warranty repair, or replacement.
Savage Canada no longer takes phone calls or emails from Canadian customers. It all has to be completed through Savage USA. The number is 705-652-8000, or 413-568-7001. I might ad having to contact Savage USA for Canadian warranty is not pleasant. I have a couple of Savage rifles that require some warranty replacement parts, and I have been waiting seven months, to no avail......
(a little frustrating to say the least)
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions I might be able to help with. As a former dealer, I am truly sorry you had to experience this.
Savage USA and Canada need to pull up their socks on quality control, customer service, and get back to making nice firearms. Yes I realize there are many Savage haters, however I am not one of them.
Regards,
TH
