.17HMR accuracy....this for real??

[spacesaver]

Hey all,
In a fantastic trade with a fellow CGNer I am the new owner of a Savage 93R17 FV w/BSA Sweet 17 scope. now, I'd heard that the .17 was pretty accurate, and that the Savages were a real good rifle so I was expecting decent results. As this was my first time out I may have been a bit TOO excited, but, DAMN!!, this thing shoots!! My average groups at distance were as follows: 25M-@.390"
50M-@.600"
100M-@1.25"
150M-@1.70"
200M-@2.80"
Now this is with the trigger as set from the factory, kinda flimsy plastic stock, shooting 20 grain Hornady ammo. Some groups were smaller, some a little larger, but none the less I'm real happy with this rifle. With the laminated stock and a calmer hand can these groups get smaller? And if so, by how much? I'm real curious as to how small I can shrink my groups.

 

[stubblejumper]

My Marlin in 17Mach2 does slightly better than that.My Cooper in 17Mach2 averaged close to 1/2" at 100 yards.

 

[rustysdream]

spacesaver,

The 93R17 is a great rifle.
What type of rest are you using?

 

[mwjones]

I didn't really believe it myself, until i saw my dad shoot a 5 shot group at 125 yards that you could cover with a penny last week. Savage 93r17 btv with accutrigger, 17gr cci ammo off of a bipod.

 

[fuzzynuts54]

Sand bag rests will be even better than bipod.

 

[sl66ICEcuba]

Try shooting 17 grain ballistic tip they seemed to be more accurate then the 20 grain in all my Savage 17 rifles That was my finding others may chime in as well. 17 HMR is one accurate rimfire round!

 

[diemaco]

Seems about right, it'll likely shoot even better as it breaks in and you try different ammo. I only fired 2 groups at 200 yards with my .17 this weekend. 2.6-2.9" with ~20km wind gusts and a crappy rest. ( 2.6 was 10 rnds, 2.9 was 5)

 

[spacesaver]

rustydream,
Was shooting off of a friends bench rest deal; two feet in front and a single point in the rear. Held the rifle real well but usually I shoot off of a sand-bagged front and my left hand rear. I feel its more representative of MY shooting, not the rest.
sl66ICEcuba,
Even though my scope is calibrated for 17grain rounds and in yards, I find that i just set the elevation to the range(100 meters for example) and back off one click and I'm pretty much bang on. Will try 17grainers next time out.

 

[zupermann]

An in-law has a Marlin .17 hmr. You can create a whole new "light sniping" class with this little rifle/caliber. We were getting similar groups, AND were doing 250 and 300 meter shooting (with a lot of hold-over). Still, with a light to moderate breeze, I recall getting groups of around 6 to 8 ".

Pretty respectable for a rimfire I'd say.

 

[Fenix.NZ]

my 93R17 FV would tack out .5-.7" groups at 100m when i was shooting off a pod and rear bag.. this is with 17gr ballistic tips

great little round..

 

[rar]

seen one of our members at our club shoot a 10 shot .1.5 inch group at 200 yards .