I think I need a 17 HMR

[cal_h]

my t-bolt 17hmr has served my well, i recommend it
gun choices are personal, shoulder every thing you like ,then decide . weight , length of pull , trigger , buddy envy, all come into play. whatever you get ..... get glass that can focus a pdog at 200yd+
luck
cah_h

if you look hard the browning can be found in stainless with gray laminate ( receiver is nickel plated)

 

[sksavenger]

Having both a savage and a ruger, ya the ruger's more money, but is worth it. The five round savage mags are... well, nothing short of average. The magwell and general fit of the mag to rifle, or should I say lack of, is garbage. If all they give you is five rounds, you can expect to want quick changeouts. I have found several times that this is an issue. Just look at the mechanism... half arsed on the savage, excellent on the Ruger. And try as I might I can't get the savage to group as nicely. Don't get me wrong, I do like the looks and feel of the thumbhole stock and generally like savage rifles. I think it was about two hundred dollars difference between the two. I'd pay that to kill the critter I missed last year due to the crap feeding getup on the savage. Even though the Savage comes standard with the accutrigger, the Ruger I have still sits stock with no intention of changing it- is a bit heavy for some tastes (not mine), but very crisp.
Lots of people poo poo'd the hmr cuz 'for that money you can reload 223' yada yada. Sometimes you don't wanna pick up brass in the field, sometimes you don't want the noise. Sometimes your neighbors don't want the noise. I think no matter which rifle you get hmr's a great little round for its intended purpose... which in my opinion doesn't include coyotes unless a clean shot perhaps within 100yrds. I think I've said it before, seen several guys at the shop counters complaining it didn't do its job. Not sure the cartridge is the one to blame in such a situation. Squirrels, rabbits etc... devastating.

If you have issues changing the mags on the savage, i have some bad news for you. Its not the gun. You aint none to handy with your hands. I have had a couple guys try my savage and could not operate it. Cant do nothing but laugh at them. They just ram it in without sliding it on the rail and wonder why it wont feed So for people that cant figure out things like that. For sure spend the extra or buy some mechanical aptitude

 

[Glock4ever]

I had the Ruger 77/17 and it was pretty sweet - the one that Gate had pictured. It was beautiful and shot extremely well... I only got rid of it when I got the Sako.

 

[leveractionjunkie]

You definitly need a .17 Gatehouse. I bought this Savage couple years ago, insane how accurate it is sometimes, and so much fun on gophers! Only suggestion I would have is get a normal stock the cheekpiece on this one won't allow a onepiece cleaning rod without bending. I am gonna get another .17, maybe a CZ or savage classic

 

[Cummins4x4]

Had this and sold it after gopher season was over

I was quite disapointed with the 17HMR's terminal effects from 100yds and out. Gophers getting shot and still running around. Better at shorter ranges but nothing compared to my Hornet. So I sold it and bought the KING OF THE GOPHER PATCH (to coin a phrase)

and I can reload 204 for the same price as 17HMR

 

[proonur]

X2 on the Browning T bolt. I don't know why it doesn't get brought up more often. The straight pull bolt makes it faster on follow up shots, adjustable trigger, VERY ACCURATE and the synthetic model comes with an extra magazine that fits in the back of the buttstock for quick change overs.
I have one in .22 LR and my Dad has one in 17hmr. I've talked one of my friends into buying one and he can't stop grinning every time he takes it out. I've seen him hit gophers at 184 yards off shooting sticks with it! Couldn't believe my eyes on more than one shots he's made. If you shoot the ballistic tip Hornadys it is instant death for any varmints it hits out to 200 yards.

 

[migrant hunter]

I load for a bunch of calibres and I love that I don't have to for the 17 hmr.
When I use my k hornet or .223, I'm trying to watch where my empties are landing while I shoot. With the .22 or .17, I can plink away without worrying about brass, or time spent at the press.
Whatever floats your boat.

 

[Got Juice?]

I love my CZ452 Varmint .22 Shoot all day, 1000 rounds... 50.00

If you shoot a .17 all day, that get's spendy for something you can't reload.

Personally, I think my next gun will be chambered in .204 or .223 Reloading for what the .17's cost is priceless, with devastating shots to 250 yards.

You can even use that argument to appease the greenies in your workplace. 'I reload my own' so I don't waste brass....

 

[JasonS]

Not that you're asking, but I would go 22mag or 17Mach2 before another 17HMR. There is nothing wrong with them, I have killed multiple coyotes, and loads of gophers.... etc with a 17HMR. But I found the 22mag to handle coyotes noticably better, and the 17Mach2 to handle the little stuff just aswell at considerably lower cost. That said, I know where there is a accurate 17HMR CZ american for sale - from a guy thats easy to deal/trade with....

I am sticking with my 22 Magnums too. The terminal performance of the 17 isn't impressive enough for me to pay the extra cost of ammo, another cleaning rod etc. After 100 yards my 22 Mag 40gr W-W JHP's still create better damage than any 17's my Buddies just had to run out and buy.

I would love to get a T-Bolt HB in 22 Mag (lefty).

 

[dastt]

If you shoot a .17 all day, that get's spendy for something you can't reload.

I personally don't shoot my .17 like my .22

Ammo lasts longer, usually because I don't waste shots like with a .22

 

[Legs in the Air]

I personally don't shoot my .17 like my .22

Ammo lasts longer, usually because I don't waste shots like with a .22

Ditto.

When I go to a gopher patch with a buddy, we take one 22 for the gimmes (out to 50 yds our so) and our 17's for the competition. Shooting off bipods, we alternate shots and really bear down. He has the longest run at 29 straight without a miss including a double. No BS.

 

[stubblejumper]

I personally don't shoot my .17 like my .22

Ammo lasts longer, usually because I don't waste shots like with a .22

When in a gopher field,I will shoot my 17Mach2 just like I would shoot a 22lr,since I an not paying $15 per box.

 

[Cummins4x4]

The 17M2 is a great little round! My experience is limited to shooting Fasteel's beautiful little Cooper at the range but I was very impressed, shoots 10 shots into one tiny little hole. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one, especially another Cooper, gotta catch up with stubblejumper in the Cooper department

 

[stubblejumper]

The 17M2 is a great little round! My experience is limited to shooting Fasteel's beautiful little Cooper at the range but I was very impressed, shoots 10 shots into one tiny little hole.

My Cooper puts five Eley rounds into 1/2" to 3/4" at 100 yards on a calm day.It may do better with other loads,but I get the ELEY for too good of a price to try something else.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy one, especially another Cooper, gotta catch up with stubblejumper in the Cooper department

I have four Coopers now,with another one on order.When they come up with a .223 repeater.I will have one of those as well.

 

[Gatehouse]

No gophers too shoot in BC. I'd like to knock off crows at 200 yards, though.

 

[stubblejumper]

No gophers too shoot in BC. I'd like to knock off crows at 200 yards, though.

The easy solution to that is a 22Hornet,it will take care of coyotes out to 200 yards or a bit more as well.And it is just about as loud as a 17HMR.

 

[Gatehouse]

Already got a .223 that I use for yotes.

 

[stubblejumper]

Already got a .223 that I use for yotes.

So this will be a dedicated crow rifle?It sounds like you are just coming up with an excuse to purchase a new rifle.
Not that it is a bad idea.

 

[Gatehouse]

So this will be a dedicated crow rifle?It sounds like you are just coming up with an excuse to purchase a new rifle.
Not that it is a bad idea.

Well, yeah.

Basically I was thinking about a rimfire with a bit more range than my 10/22 HB that I didn't have to load for and wasn't as loud as the .223. Probably shot mostly at the range, shoot some crows sometimes too. Yotes in the yard would likely be a target, too.

I know I can load the .223 up or down to do all this, of course.

 

[stubblejumper]

Basically I was thinking about a rimfire with a bit more range than my 10/22 HB that I didn't have to load for and wasn't as loud as the .223. Probably shot mostly at the range, shoot some crows sometimes too. Yotes in the yard would likely be a target, too.

Out to 150 yards,that describes the 17Mach2.The 17HMR adds about 50 yards,at double the cost of ammunition.