.17 Cal Roundup

[Dr.Rob]

Dad announced he'd like a .17 HMR for Christmas and I've been looking looking looking...

I've handled the Savage 93R17 BVSS bolt gun with a 5 shot mag, bull barrel, laminated stock, aluminum bases... nice overall feel, least expensive... fat fore-end. Around $259 with the accutrigger. Light for its size.

I looked at Marlin's stainless fluted 917VSF... the receiver is grooved for a scope mount but the ridges are considerably smaller than those on my 995... real mounts and rings would be needed. The stock was nice but overall the receiver looked no different than the 982VS Dad already has... didn't seem like the $359 price tag was worth that much more than the Savage. The mags for this rifle are robust... just like the 22 mag version.

Ruger M77/17 definitely overbuilt for a rimfire but feels more like a 'real' varminter... fore end and palm swells... but a LOT of money (I think this was over $500) Good solid weld, LOP was about perfect.

Hoping to look at a Remington model 504T... which is looking like the most expensive of the 17HMR's... but it's got a target stock (palm swells, fat fore end high cheek piece) a barrel almost an inch in diameter by 20 long (compared to the Ruger's 24) No one locally seems to have the "T" model in stock but the std 504 runs around $550.

Might see if I can find a CZ452 Varminter as well. (Also made with a mannlicher stock)

Anyone care to share opinions on these?

The Marlin is the only one I didn't like at first glance. For the price it doesn't seem as nice as the Savage... and while the Ruger was definitely a step up it's twice the price of the Savage. The Remington might go as high a $650.

Some feedback would be most appreciated on ANY of these models.

17 HMR only...

 

[Shalako]

Well, I've got the Savage 93R17 with the plain wood stock and heavy barrel and thinks its great. I got it for $200 and put a cheap scope on it and now it is pure-d squirrel poison. I've also been using it to teach my wife how to target shoot. She got bored with bench shooting and just stood up and hit all the targets shooting offhand without me telling her how to..DAng. I wish I was that good.

Its fun to shoot, lightweight, handy, super accurate, flat shooting, and much more powerfull than a .22lr. The bolt travel is fairly smooth and it has solid lockup. Feeding is ok but some folks have to tweak the magazine guide a touch to seat the mag higher (easy). The trigger is heavy and creepy, but the simple shim trick (savageshooters.net) got me to a fairly crisp 4 pounds, and ....Voila! a fun little rifle.

Check here for comparisons and details of other brands of 17HMRs, and have fun shootin with your Dad.
Rimfire Central 17HMR Page

 

[Dr.Rob]

Thnaks for the info... I've been hunting with a Savage 116 for years... I trust the brand... dad likes Marlins and also has a Ruger varminter in 25-06 and hunts with a Remington.

(Just so you know there is no brand preference here)

 

[Matt-man]

I have a Marlin 917V, the blued version that comes with the hardwood stock. The factory trigger in these guns is not so hot, so I put a Rifle Basix trigger in it. It'll shoot 50 yard groups in the .3" range. Mine came with real scope bases. I think I got it for $189. If that Savage is $259 with the Accutrigger, in stainless with a laminated stock, then it sounds like a much better buy.

 

[Cindog]

I have a Marlin 917VS (grey laminate stock/stainless barrel) and if ammo were cheaper it might just be my favorite rifle. Even with the lousy factory trigger it is still a shooter and sub 1" groups at 100 yards is a realistic expectation. That being said, had Savage been using the AccuTrigger in its rimfires when I bought my Marlin, my Marlin would still be at the store.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

I have the pre-Accu-Trigger Savage with a Tasco 4-12 on it. Less than $300 retail and I couldn't be happier. I've dispatched countless rock squirrels and Prairie dogs with it over the past three years or so. The trigger could use some improvement I guess, but I do my best shooting with my 1903 Springfields, so it suits me fine.

Mine was one of the first built so it had some problems with misfires. The shop I bought it from smoothed up the burrs and it shoots fine now. If Savage is still making their magazines like they were then, you may want to smooth up the edges with some fine sandpaper. Mine was like trying to load ammo into a box full of razors.

 

[adaman04]

You will get a lot of opinions on this, but for the money it is hard to beat the Savage with the wood stock or the laminated Marlin. They are both great guns and my hardest decision was picking which I wanted. He will love either of them and they are both tackdrivers. My stock Savage shoots 3/4" groups and under. The Marlin shoots about the same from what I hear and read. Good luck!

Here is a link to a pic of my Savage...
http://www.perfectunion.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=17825

 

[Dr.Rob]

Dad picked out the one he wanted... and so a new Marlin 917VSF is in the safe... 200 assorted rounds, Millet rings will meet a Tasco EXP 1.5-6x scope later this week and hopefully we'll have a range report (and some dead prarie dogs) to show off soon!

Oh I got it for $309.

 

[Dr.Rob]

PS several other Marlin rifles will make the trip... including a Golden 39A .22LR, a 995 .22LR and an 882SSV in .22mag.

Gophers beware and coyotes rejoice... we are gonna feed you well.