.17 Mach 2 rifles

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magnum3s

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I know they are getting scarce out there and the few I have seen are either out west or in the states ,but is there nobody shooting Mach 2 rifles in Ontario ? Been to a few gun shows in Southwestern Ontario and haven't seen a one . Half the dealers , when asked don't have a clue of what I'm talking about . So far there was only one fellow around Toronto was selling an H&R single and said he had a couple other models he was keeping . Almost seems like a underground society of followers or everyone ditched them a long time ago ( like the 5 mm for those who remember that white elephant ) . Does anyone at least have a list of the manufacturers and models produced in the past ? Maybe those who either have or have had one in the past , could pass down some info on preferred models . I've seen one sporter barreled Savage , they referred to as a Gen 2 , but when I found someone with ammo that gun was gone . Are they accurate enough , that a heavier barrel model isn't required for squirrels at 100 or say varmints out to 150 yards ? Thanks Magnum
 
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Personally I have not seen one in a retail store in over 10 years.
That doesnt mean they do not exist especially when every now and then I stumbled upon fresh ammo in the Mach2 at Cabelas.
So many choices so little gun time for every caliber.
Tight Groups,
Rob
 
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I had a Marlin in 17 HM2 a while ago, A guy just had to have it, so I sold it to him. I found it was a very accurate cartridge, and even took some larger things like Racoons and Coyotes with it out West. Deadly on Gophers at the longer ranges and several Crows ended up being a pile of feathers. Ammunition is still available, but you have to look a bit for it.
 
I have had half a dozen plus HM2 rifles... three Savage MKII's, two H&R SB1's, a Volquartsen and a TC that went "Kaboom"... I shot them for many years, it is still my favourite squirrel cartridge and the Savage pictured below has the distinction of being the most accurate rifle @ 100 yards that I have ever owned. When the writing on the wall became clear that HM2 was on "shakey legs", I sold off my last rifles... I only shoot .22 LR in rimfire now.
 
I've owned 2 rifles in 17M2, both Marlin 917 heavy barrels...and in both, I upgraded the triggers with Rifle Basix ones I ordered from the US. (about $150 landed) It's definitely a fun caliber and were ammo availability ALLOT better, I might have stuck with it. In calm conditions, I had very good accuracy out to about 75 yards or so but it never seemed to take much to blow those little bullets off course. In my final attempt to keep inspired about 17M2, I tried to find a CZ452 chambered in this caliber but after months of that...I abandoned the whole idea altogether. As the OP has pointed out, most people I spoke to had never even heard of it, including almost every gun shop I ever walked into. Including one that actually had ammo on the shelf! lol

As for who made them~I probably don't know the exact answer, but they include H&R, Cooper, Savage, Marlin (917 and 717), Thompson and CZ. Today, I think that list would be Savage and Cooper.
 
I have a savage mk2 fv and a ruger 77/17 in mach2. Ammo should become more available since CCI opened their new rimfire manufacturing facility last year. They are loading M2 for Hornady and are listing it on their website under their own brand.
bowstringz.
 
a j cave said:
I sold mine, hard to get enough ammo. It will only get harder. Shootable in 20 years?
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^this. For a while, I thought the more we all (collectively) buy/shoot...the more likely ammo availability will improve. Altruism isn't my thing though...and I grew to strongly dislike looking at 17M2 ammo in my lock box, and feeling I had to conserve it/not use it until I lined-up more. With SO many 22LR options out there (ammo AND rifles) the 17M2 just made a little less sense to me.
 
I have 2 rifles that are in 17 Mach2, and I really like the calibre. The recent drought of ammo was a drag, but now even Cabila's had it at $110 a brick so I have enough to keep going for quite sometime.

I use both of the rifles for hunting, so the amount of ammo used / available is not a factor.

The outlook for the future is not great, very few rifles available / sold in this calibre, but for the next 20 years I am sure availibility of ammo at least, will be around. There is still quite a following south of the border, it appears to be a popular gopher round, so as long as that continues there is hope!

Candocad.
 
I had one for a while, I also had a pile of ammo for it. But like mentioned above, I think it'll be like the 5mm Remington and probably the 17 wan. It'll fade away and you won't find ammo anymore.... as for rifles, I've had two savage heavy barrels, a righty and a lefty, both shot under 1" groups at 50 yards, which we call "minute of gopher". If I was seriously going to dedicate my self to a Mach 2 and stick with it, I'd try and build a stockpile of 5000+ rounds and source a CZ 452 heavy barrel chambered in it. Out of all your "cheaper" rimfires, CZ has to be the most accurate/bang for your buck out of the box rifle.
 
I haven’t been able to find a Savage Sporter barreled Mark 2 rifle in 17 HM2, and no one’s been interested in my new 17 HM2 Ruger barrels on the EE. I’m thinking I may have to fit them to a Savage Mark 2 .22 rifle as a donor to build one. The drought is real.
 
.22LRGUY said:
As for who made them~I probably don't know the exact answer, but they include H&R, Cooper, Savage, Marlin (917 and 717), Thompson and CZ. Today, I think that list would be Savage and Cooper.
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Ha! Old age... I totally forgot my CZ's... make that NINE HM2'S over the years... one of the 452 Americans was the last to go.
 
I'm late into the 17M2 group. A couple years ago I started to gather ammo. Picked up a 1K here and there at various online dealers as well as some EE scores. Once I had about 2K rounds, I picked up a Marlin 817 or something and it shot decent. Next I managed to land the last in stock barrel that Lilja had for a CZ 455, and bought a 455 for that project.

Then one day on RFC, there is a discussion about what is your most and least used CZ rimfire....One of the mods said his 452 Varmint 17M2 was his least used. I sent a PM and a few days later, it was on its way to Prophet Rivers US exporter. Clay and the crew got this into my hands really fast and it shoots like a dream.

I've gathered more ammo, as well as a Magnum Research stainless action with a Volquartsen barrel. I have the heavy handle, extra power hammer spring and just need to pick up a Wolff extra power recoil spring. I was just out in the yard trying it out and had no bulging with Hornady Vmax. It's very windy right now and 5 of 6 were under 1/2" at 50....only 10 rounds fired just for a quick test and zero.

I saw a 13 striper on my driveway yesterday, might have to take a Mach2 for a stroll.....
 
3screwsloose said:
I haven’t been able to find a Savage Sporter barreled Mark 2 rifle in 17 HM2, and no one’s been interested in my new 17 HM2 Ruger barrels on the EE. I’m thinking I may have to fit them to a Savage Mark 2 .22 rifle as a donor to build one. The drought is real.
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The Canadian Tire location Macleod Trail and Southland Drive in Calgary has one new Savage Sporter in stock in .17 Mach 2. It was there on Thursday last week. It is not on open display, but is in stock and sealed in its box in thier storeroom. HTH,
 
.22LRGUY said:
I tried to find a CZ452 chambered in this caliber but after months of that...I abandoned the whole idea altogether. As the OP has pointed out, most people I spoke to had never even heard of it, including almost every gun shop I ever walked into. Including one that actually had ammo on the shelf! lol

As for who made them~I probably don't know the exact answer, but they include H&R, Cooper, Savage, Marlin (917 and 717), Thompson and CZ. Today, I think that list would be Savage and Cooper.
Click to expand...

22lrguy, if I ever sell my CZ 452V I will message you first. It's my favorite gopher gun ever and I know you have been looking.
 
I was looking for a 452 in this caliber ended up with a salvage. Expensive to shoot, accurate enough (my 22's shot better) and at 200 yards groups were about 4 moa and bullets were hitting paper sideways. I prefer 22lr and hmr no need for something in-between that is hard to get ammo for
 
I have owned Marlin, Ruger, and Cooper rifles in 17mach2, and friends own CZ and Savage rifles. The odd used one shows up for sale, but I haven't seen a new one in years. Ammunition is still being produced, but you need to keep a fair amount on hand to get you from one run to another.
 
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