Accurate 3way .17HMR comparison Sub $1000?

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ADHDCanuck

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OK I'm narrowing my search, been to some stores and am closing in on my first rimfire.
Would you all consider this rundown of the three main consumer level competitors to be accurate?
It seems the ruger slams the competition... the savage is an excellent contender... and the marlin is a bit sub-par.

I really like the magazine system on the ruger, as well as the straight barrel end (no steel sights on the tip)
I prefer the target grey barrel and a non wood finish stock bu this is the rifle
http://www.nioa.net.au/Images/Ruger/HM77R.jpg
HM77R.jpg


It seems that an extra $200 in MSRP gets you every component of the rifle higher quality than all other competitors in the class... even if the others are reliable as well... is that an accurate assessment?
 
While i am a Ruger fan, I have not heard of one shooting better then the Savage, certainly not in .17HMR. I'm kinda fussy and the only one that I have heard of that shoots with the Savage is the Cooper.
 
It seems the ruger slams the competition... the savage is an excellent contender... and the marlin is a bit sub-par.
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Accuracy wise CZ and Savage usually do significantly better than Ruger. Ruger does not have a reputation for extreme accuracy,

I'm kinda fussy and the only one that I have heard of that shoots with the Savage is the Cooper.
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Below are a couple of my five shot fifty yard groups fired with my Cooper,however it isn't under $1000. However, my CZ452 wasn't all that far behind, and it was well under $1000.

cooperlvtgroups.jpg
 
I have a Savage .17, and its decently accurate with ammo it prefers. i doubt there is a major difference between any of them though, given the ammunition is always going to be factory loaded and, therefore a limiting factor.

The way the bolt and magazine operate on my savage I can only describe as "toy-like" It does shoot, don't get me wrong, but the parts are a bit sloppy (magazine fit, etc), And i tend to doubt its long term durability.

Now, on the other hand, That Ruger looks really solid. Don't hold my name against me on this.... :) Just sayin'

Only reason I never went with the Ruger is I can't bring myself to drop $800.00 on a rimfire, and if i did drop 8 bills on a rimfire, it would be a .22 not a .17.
 
While the bolt is not the smoothest, and the way the magazine goes into the rifle is kind of finicky, my Savage 93 .17 HMR shoots very well. At 200 yards, I can pick off pieces of clay pigeon that are left behind by the guys shooting larger calibers. Heck of a deal for the price point.
 
I remember reading a three way review of the ruger, savage 93 and marlin 917 when i first got my marlin. After all the reviewing was said and done, the conclusions were:

The ruger was the prettiest, but most expensive with the worst out of box accuracy.

The savage has the best trigger bar none (accutrigger) and was in the middle of the road for price.

The marlin was the least expensive and most accurate out of the box, but has a heavy trigger that can take a little getting used to.


For mine, i replaced the trigger return spring with the spring from a pen. Lowered the trigger pull from about 7 lbs to about 3 1/2. I deburred the trigger and sear and polished the mating surfaces, and reassembled to produce a trigger that is clean, smooth, breaks like glass with no take up or sideways play. I've been able to keep groups about 3/4 inch at 100 yards using winchester supreme 17gr ammo. The 20 gr super x shoots about 3" for me. I haven't tried any of the more expensive ammo in it, as it's hard to find here.

My dad has a savage, and it shoots 10 shots in a dime at 100 with hornady and CCI ammo. The accutrigger definitely rocks.
 
Don't overlook the CZ 452/453 rifles.
They are very accurate out-of-box, and you do not have to put a bag over you head when you have one in your hands.
Regards, Eagleye.
 
Your first rimfire?

I shoot a Henry 17 HMR Lever with a Chinese clone of the Leupold sniper, and I'm blowing the heads off gophers at 250 yards--and at 30 yards, courtesy of the BDC, properly sighted.

Start inexpensive with open sights. Learn how to shoot at 50 yards comfortably and competently with a 22. If you like it, and you're good at it, then consider spending a few bucks on a scope, and extending your range. Learn how to shoot that style. Then move up.

No matter how good the gun, the first element of accuracy is the shooter. Get some coaching from an excellent shot, then shoot box after box until you're a confident shooter. Then spend the money.
 
YES That's what I was reading also.
Based on the descriptions alone the Ruger seems to be the best overall rifle by far. I'm sad to hear they are inferior to the others on accuracy :( Why is that? SHouldn't better components and design, more advanced technology lead to better results? I'm particularly interested in the rotating magazine.

mwjones said:
Found it:

http://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_17HMR_varmint_rifles.htm
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I've never shot any Ruger rimfire other than a pistol (which I'd LOVE to have) but will say this~I've owned Savage and CZ HMRs, and shot 2 other Savage HMRs, and for some reason (that reason might be my limitations) I could NEVER shoot the CZ as well I could shoot the Savage.

I wish Savage sent their barrels and triggers to CZ..then have CZ do all the metal finishing, put they're great receiver/mag on, fit they're beautiful stock, then watch me sell my Savage and buy that gun!

Until then, I'll stick with Savage.
 
stubblejumper said:
What makes you think that Rugers have better components? They have a reputation of not having the greatest barrels.
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purely based on descriptions in a couple comparison articles, the detailed description of the safety, the bolt, the trigger pull... not that i know its better, it just seems to be.

not the most knowledgeable consumer of firearms.

currently drooling all the hell over the MAKO edition Savage... my god... its gorgeous.
 
purely based on descriptions in a couple comparison articles, the detailed description of the safety, the bolt, the trigger pull... not that i know its better, it just seems to be.
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I purchased a like new 77/17 in 17mach2 that was averaging 3/4" groups at 50 yards. I replaced the barrel with a Green Mountain barrel costing about $200, and the group size dropped to 3/8". The only change was the barrel, so obviously the factory barrel wasn't very good.
 
The Ruger's magazine system and actual locking lugs on the bolt, to me at least, put it in a different class than the rimires that lock up on the bolt handle. The '77 is much more like a centrefire in this regard, and is the basis for a .22 hornet chambering if i am not wrong.

Whether or not it is the most extremely accurate rimfire you can get remains to be seen and will depend on the factory loaded ammo, but it is a solid, solid, rifle that is built to outlast a lot of the contenders.
 
The Ruger's magazine system and actual locking lugs on the bolt, to me at least, put it in a different class than the rimires that lock up on the bolt handle. The '77 is much more like a centrefire in this regard, and is the basis for a .22 hornet chambering if i am not wrong.
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And the barrel being held on by two capscrews and a v-block on most previous 77/22s and 77/17s was very unlike most centerfires which have the barrels threaded into the receiver.This system makes it easy to change barrels, but it isn't the best for strength or for barrel/receiver alignment. At least Ruger has changed that with the current models.
 
ADHDCanuck said:
YES That's what I was reading also.
Based on the descriptions alone the Ruger seems to be the best overall rifle by far. I'm sad to hear they are inferior to the others on accuracy :( Why is that? SHouldn't better components and design, more advanced technology lead to better results? I'm particularly interested in the rotating magazine.
Click to expand...

Maybe because they use the same barrel technology on their .17 HMR that they use on their 10/22's. :D J/K...I love Rugers...have had a number of them over the years...but I like them for their dependability and durability more than their accuracy.
 
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