Newbie in the .17 HMR world

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lyle c

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Hello all,

I just got my very first bolt action rifle about 2 months ago. It's a used Savage 93R17 TR and for my first bolt gun, it's pretty good. I figured a cheap, used bolt gun would be a good way to learn the ropes and prepare me for buying a new one in the future.

For the past 3 years the evil black rifle has been my bread and butter. Pistols are cool (and still have them) but I fell off that boat. Shotguns still have my attention but never got into bolts until recently.

Now to the good part. I like the .17 HMR so much, that I plan to get another bolt rifle in this caliber and sell the Savage down the road. It doesn't seem that these rifles will be that expensive in comparison to any of my black rifles. Am I wrong? I don't mind paying top dollar for a very well made gun but don't know anyone that shoots this calibre. That being said, finding the right one is an obstacle.

The Sako quad was recommended to me by one of the local gun stores but the 3 other calibers don't really get my attention. The CZ 453 Varmint seems like a nice rifle but I've never fired or even handle one. The Anschutz line look great but have no experience with them either. What do they go for? I'm admitting absolutely no knowledge on these rifles or this calibre. My plan for this rifle will not only be a range gun but a bush plinker as well. Basically, I need some help in finding the right .17 HMR ... please.


Lyle
 
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I do not have a .17 HMR, but I too have some interest and have enquired a bit. I have also been directed to CZ, apparently they are very accurate and have a smooth action (so I have been told by people in the industry). They look real nice too.
 
lyle c said:
Not that this purchase will happen anytime soon but what do they go for?
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I got a cz452 in 17hmr this spring for 475 plus taxes. You can pay more for the 453 and get the single set trigger but the trigger on the 452 can be improved with a $15 kit (available on ebay). Love my 452
 
Another vote for the CZ 452 Varmint, I ran my own Savage all last season, then I saw a CZ. Then I had to have a CZ. :)

Now, I'm no .17HMR authority, but I have been shooting rimfires for about 25 years. I don't think anyone here would suggest that a CZ can out-shoot a Savage, but if you look at them side by side, I think there is no doubt that the workmanship, fit/finish on the CZ is leaps and bounds better than the Savage. So, I don't think you'll get a better SHOOTING .17HMR by making a small jump up to the CZ, but I think you'll be getting a nicer gun.

Other options~other than Savage and CZ, I have no first-hand .17HMR experience to pass on. I do own an Anschutz .22, and it might be my favorite rifle. I'm not entirely sure that I'm inclined to shoot enough .17HMR to get everything OUT of an Anschutz...and I'm also not sure whether or not their .17s are any more accurate than Savage/CZ. Maybe someone who has shot all 3 might chime-in.
 
The Cz and the Anschutz are both great guns.

The Anschuts would be your higher end gun. The model 64 is the lower model but have only heard good things. I have heard that they are tack drivers out to 200 yrds and that the actions are smooth. To get an Anschutz you will be spending around $800 to $1100 with out scope.

Anyone please feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

Adam
 
After just shooting a .17hmr all I can say is WOW I love this round. I am looking at a Savage 9317 FV with accutriger and bull barrel in .17hmr now

This round is like a laser at 150yrd like crazy accurate and man do they do damage. i would not want one peppering me.
They fragment in the target and cause massive damage.

I just think it is great for varmits and just target shooting fun 100 150 200yrd shots and the cost is not all that bad.
 
I can't speak for the .17 except to comment on the price of ammo.:eek:

However, I can certainly tell you you'll never go wrong with Anschutz. I have handled the rifles before and they're just AMAZING.
I have an older (I mean OLD, pre-war) single shot Anshutz sporter, and it still has no trouble stacking cheap .22lr bulk ammo at 25yrds with open sights. Definitely my favorite .22.
 
gyates93 said:
I can't speak for the .17 except to comment on the price of ammo.:eek:
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Some time ago, I made a personal decision to comment on posts like this, every time I see them. We're all entitled to our opinions, but this has to be the most misleading thing I see on this site...and I see it said over and over again. This is CGN, and everyone outside of the rimfire section (with very few exceptions) is used to paying a HELL of allot more for ammo. than .17 HMR shooters do. I would FAR prefer to see a more accurate comment..like ".17 HMR, at about $0.36 per round, is approx. 2-1/2 times the price of the cheapest ammo on earth, .22 lr." (and I've used my Federal Gold Medal Target for comparison's sake, and it's far from the cheapest out there)

Other than the fact that they're both rimfires, .22lr and .17 HMR really are different animals in my books, and I'd like to think that those considering the 17 already know that it delivers in a way that .22lr. doesn't. In other words, as .17 HMR owners, let's paint an honest picture of what this amazing round is capable of, let's grow in numbers, and keep the rifle/ammo. options growing too.

See, a grumpy-sounding post turns into a message of hope a few days before Christmas! :)
 
I only got a taste of the .17HMR and I want one. I have a ruger 10/22 and a bolt action. but the .17hmr is wicked. and it is cheap. centerfire velocity in a rimfire mmmmm.
 
Grab one and have fun

go from this

P1030507.jpg


to this

P1030586.jpg


if you wish
 
The .17 hmr was the very first gun I bought. I live in an area where the largest caliber you can shoot is a .270, and can only shoot coyotes with that. Shotgun only for deer.

So I don't have a real need for larger calibers, I'd always have to be worried about shots even with a 223.

All I can say about the .17 is I grab it befor I grab my .22 everyday of the week
 
How is the stoping power for yotes. I have seen what it does to frozen fruit compared to .22lr. which is night and day.
 
I will make about a golf ball sized exit hole in the critter you hit. I have only tested the 17 grain bullets so if anyone has expirence with the 20 grain could you please fill in the rest.
 
I like my Savage 93R17FV and I doubt more expensive rifles would be much if any more accurate. Reason being that there is no match ammo in .17HMR. I think that my savage can shoot close to the limitations of the cartridge and spending any more would be diminishing returns. However there is nothing wrong with a finely made firearm in any caliber, Savages may be a bit rough, but I find the 2 I have are reliable and accurate.
 
I was researching .17 HMR's last year and ended up buying an Anschutz from Clay at Prophet River in Loydminster ($999). I did a lot of research and settled on the Anschutz for my price range. My second choice would have been the CZ 453/452 Varmint. I think the Anschutz is just a tadd more accurate and is definetally finished better than the CZ's I 've handled. I've shot 1/2" - 5 round groups with it at 100 yds and for the most part it is a laser beam. Most of my groups with the right ammo fall between 1/2 and 1" (5 rnd - I always tend to pull one round). If you are looking for a Varmint gun for the spring I would definetly recommend one. Its a gopher slaughtering machine from 0 to 150 yds.

Anschutz1517DHB17HMR.jpg
 
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When you buy your .17 HMR rifle, IMO you're primarily buying the quality of the rifle and not big differences in accuracy. It is a nice flat-shooting, fast round, and the Savages are more than capable of excellent accuracy. As Rugerfan pointed out, there is also no "match ammo" which levels the field even more. I went for the 453 Varmint and I really like it after the limited shooting I've done so far, but it is heavy...very heavy, especially once fitted with the mandatory scope, and a bipod.
 
Being that .17 HMR are rimfire rilfes, does anyone here use higher capacity magazines on theirs? .22LR rifles have tonnes of after market magazines out there, I am not aware of many for the .17HMR.
 
.22LRGUY said:
Some time ago, I made a personal decision to comment on posts like this, every time I see them. We're all entitled to our opinions, but this has to be the most misleading thing I see on this site...and I see it said over and over again. This is CGN, and everyone outside of the rimfire section (with very few exceptions) is used to paying a HELL of allot more for ammo. than .17 HMR shooters do. I would FAR prefer to see a more accurate comment..like ".17 HMR, at about $0.36 per round, is approx. 2-1/2 times the price of the cheapest ammo on earth, .22 lr." (and I've used my Federal Gold Medal Target for comparison's sake, and it's far from the cheapest out there)

Other than the fact that they're both rimfires, .22lr and .17 HMR really are different animals in my books, and I'd like to think that those considering the 17 already know that it delivers in a way that .22lr. doesn't. In other words, as .17 HMR owners, let's paint an honest picture of what this amazing round is capable of, let's grow in numbers, and keep the rifle/ammo. options growing too.

See, a grumpy-sounding post turns into a message of hope a few days before Christmas! :)
Click to expand...

Well said, well taken.
 
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