17HM2 to 17WSM

[Traffer]

I was looking at a really good deal for a 17HM2. My first thought was to "This should be easy to bore out to a 17WSM." Is that true? I would like to do it myself. I thought I would ask the experts. It seems to me that all I would need is a boring bit and a reamer. Am I having a pipe dream? Or is it as easy as that?

 

[Scooter22]

Well unless it's a single shot I doubt it. If it was something that could be put into current 17HMR guns it would be. Savage had to design a new rifle around it.

 

[300Whspr]

I would think that the bolt would need some work also. The WSM is based on a .27 caliber case, where the original 17HM2 is a .22 caliber case.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Won't work

Because you can't move the firing pin to accommodate the new larger diameter case head

 

[rcmodel]

I agree it is a bad idea.

The brass case for the .17WSM is roughly 50% thicker than the 17 HMR, and the max average internal pressure is 33,000 psi, versus the 17 HMR's 26,000 psi..

Very few rim-fire actions would have the firing pin energy reserve to set one off reliably.

And a few .17 HRM actions wouldn't be strong enough to digest a steady diet of them if it could.

Every shot would be like a .17 Hummer Proof-Load!!!

That's just in addition to the bolt face and magazine not fitting.

rc

 

[Traffer]

Forgot about the bolt

Oops, forgot about the bolt. Of course, it wouldn't work with the bolt on the WSM being for a .27" case instead of a .22". And then there is the magazine and feed mechanism. Doh! Sometimes the brain just doesn't work right. Also I was referring to a 17HM2 which is the Mach 2 Which is even much smaller than a 17 HMR.
Thanks for all your input.