I finally got to shoot the new Cooper 17 Mach2 in calm conditions this morning,and the results were what I expected.With my cataract worsening,I can no longer see the target quite as clearly,but the gun had no problems averaging 3/4" for five shots at 100 yards.Once my eye is healed after cataract surgery in November,I have no doubt that 1/2" is possible with the rifle and the Eley loads.
New Cooper 17Mach2
- Thread starter stubblejumper
- Start date
17 Mach 2
I bought a new Marlin .17HM2 on the EE at a good price. I was kind of curious about what the round would do and how it would perform. After a bit of tweeking and adjusting, I was quite amazed at the ability of this small cartridge to get the job done.
100 yard groups go well under an inch. The rifle is used mostly for Prairie Dogs, Raccoons, Skunks, and other smaller Varmints. It anchors them out to 150 yards.
The cost of ammo is less than half of the .17HMR or about the same as lower end .22 Long Rifle Target ammo. For me, the difference between the .17 HMR and the .17 HM2 is not worth the extra cost. It is quieter, a plus where there is more population, the ricochet problem of the .22 Long Rifle is almost non-existant, I have shot in pastures without disturbing the cows too much and perforating Farmer Jones's prize Jersey, and I find if I show it to the Landowner, I can usually get permission to hunt. After all, (they think), how much damage can that little itty bitty bullet do.
Please do not try to crap all over me with quotes of ballistics, etc., about the superiority of your .17 HMR. I have already acknowledged that the performance of the .17 HMR is better than the .17 HM2. What I am saying is that the .17 HM2 fits my style of hunting and shooting better than the .17 HMR.
Would I give up the .22 LR. Nope! For shooting Gophers, the .22 LR is just fine given my hunting areas in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The .17 HM2 goes along for those harder to reach targets, where a little more oomph and accuracy is needed.
I bought a new Marlin .17HM2 on the EE at a good price. I was kind of curious about what the round would do and how it would perform. After a bit of tweeking and adjusting, I was quite amazed at the ability of this small cartridge to get the job done.
100 yard groups go well under an inch. The rifle is used mostly for Prairie Dogs, Raccoons, Skunks, and other smaller Varmints. It anchors them out to 150 yards.
The cost of ammo is less than half of the .17HMR or about the same as lower end .22 Long Rifle Target ammo. For me, the difference between the .17 HMR and the .17 HM2 is not worth the extra cost. It is quieter, a plus where there is more population, the ricochet problem of the .22 Long Rifle is almost non-existant, I have shot in pastures without disturbing the cows too much and perforating Farmer Jones's prize Jersey, and I find if I show it to the Landowner, I can usually get permission to hunt. After all, (they think), how much damage can that little itty bitty bullet do.
Please do not try to crap all over me with quotes of ballistics, etc., about the superiority of your .17 HMR. I have already acknowledged that the performance of the .17 HMR is better than the .17 HM2. What I am saying is that the .17 HM2 fits my style of hunting and shooting better than the .17 HMR.
Would I give up the .22 LR. Nope! For shooting Gophers, the .22 LR is just fine given my hunting areas in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The .17 HM2 goes along for those harder to reach targets, where a little more oomph and accuracy is needed.
- Location
- Lloydminster
Its amazing the interest in 17 Mach2's right now. Lots of Coopers on order and a waiting list for CZ's.
The 17 HM2
KDX - " That's interesting as it seemed like the caliber was going to die out a year or two ago"
Some people just don't get it! Some people never get the word!
In our "magnum" society today, there are those people who just have to have something that will shoot two miles, then throw rocks when it lands.
However, there are others who have discovered the usefullness and utility of less potent cartridges. As such, the .17 HM2 seems to fill a niche and purpose. A lot of opinion about the .17 HM2 tends to be from someone who has not really worked with the cartridge, and their "book learning" and ballistic tables proves (to them, anyways) that the little Mach 2 cartridge can not possibly be that effective.
Meanwhile, those of us who have one continue on our contented way, having fun with our "inadequate" cartridge. Kind of like the old guy with a 30-30 who puts meat into his freezer using his obsolete rifle, and the younger knowall who comes back with 3/4 of a deer and 1/4 of jello, and a bruised shoulder.
The .17 HM2 is not for everyone, but those who really try one and get to know what it is all about, they can just smile, nod their heads, and buy another carton of ammunition.
KDX - " That's interesting as it seemed like the caliber was going to die out a year or two ago"
Some people just don't get it! Some people never get the word!
In our "magnum" society today, there are those people who just have to have something that will shoot two miles, then throw rocks when it lands.
However, there are others who have discovered the usefullness and utility of less potent cartridges. As such, the .17 HM2 seems to fill a niche and purpose. A lot of opinion about the .17 HM2 tends to be from someone who has not really worked with the cartridge, and their "book learning" and ballistic tables proves (to them, anyways) that the little Mach 2 cartridge can not possibly be that effective.
Meanwhile, those of us who have one continue on our contented way, having fun with our "inadequate" cartridge. Kind of like the old guy with a 30-30 who puts meat into his freezer using his obsolete rifle, and the younger knowall who comes back with 3/4 of a deer and 1/4 of jello, and a bruised shoulder.
The .17 HM2 is not for everyone, but those who really try one and get to know what it is all about, they can just smile, nod their heads, and buy another carton of ammunition.
