17HMR ?'s

[Canazes9]

Love my Savage 93 in 17hmr! My only indulgence in a "gaudy rifle":



If a rifle is going to look like that, it better be accurate - this group was shot from a bench rest at 100yds:



Do your self a favor if you didn't when you bought your rifle. Take the scope off, take the bases off, degrease & remount using some blue loctite. The bases as the come from the factory seem like they are mounted properly - they are not! They will loosen up and the reason for your rifle suddenly shooting inaccurately won't be obvious at first. Very common on '93's - ask me how I know :banghead:

David

 

[Maverick223]

The bases as the come from the factory seem like they are mounted properly - they are not!

Mine certainly were. In fact I believe they used RED Loctite on the fasteners (they swore they didn't, but I don't see how they could be that tight, without shearing off, otherwise). I used heat and proper tools and couldn't remove them...had to send the dang rifle back to Savage to have the mounts removed. It returned with reasonably loose mounts, ready for the replacement. This may have been due to the finish on the TR series, or just one that got away (a friend with a 93R17-FV did not have the same issue), but either way it should be checked before attempting to further tighten the fasteners.

 

[viking499]

I was a little worried when I got mine since I have a 22 mag. The more I shoot my HMR, the more I like it. It is not going to replace my mag, it is just going to fill a few spots in between the 22's and 22 mags.

Did I really need it, probably not. Is it going to come out of the safe on windy days, no. Does it look cool with the new Boyds SS stock, yes. Could I have lived without it, yes, but will enjoy it now that I have it.

 

[Jeff F]

I went to exam it. Things that were suppose to be inside the the rabbit were outside of it. In other words I disembowled the creature. I left it for the scavengers to eat. It was going to be any easy meal for them, the HMR did all the hard work for them.

I told you they go to pieces with the little .17HMR. What load are you using?

 

[lizziedog1]

re:jeff f

What load are you using?

The Hornady 17 grain V Max.

 

[CraigC]

The 17gr loads disintegrate on impact with anything, very safe. The 20gr loads are tougher and better suited for larger varmints and predators. I would rate the 17HMR as a wonderful 250yd cartridge on small pests, 150yds on game up to coyote. Never had a songdog run more than 20yds after a good hit with the 20gr XTP.

 

[Maverick223]

FWIW, I have found that both performance and accuracy is better with the 20gr. HPs (either Hornady XTP or Win. Supreme) in my Savage. A friend shooting a similar rifle has experienced similar results.

 

[CraigC]

I switched to XTP's for everything. The V-Max is very destructive and if it doesn't hit any major bones, is devastating on small predators. The XTP is more consistently accurate and a more consistent killer. Penetration is much improved as well. It behaves more like a scaled down big game bullet.

 

[Maverick223]

Exactly my conclusion (though I will still use the Winchester Supreme 20gr. HPs on the rare occasions that they are found on sale, as I believe they are identical).

I believe the only ammunition that I have yet to try (at about $18USD, that condition is likely to persist) is the unusually costly 17gr. Remington BTs, which I have heard perform well from an accuracy stanpoint.

 

[lizziedog1]

I want to thank everyone for the feedback.

I am really amazed by this little cartridge. It looks like a scale version of a centerfire cartridge. It looks sort of like a small 223 Remington. It doesn't look like any other rimfire I have ever seen. It is sort of the Ferrari of rimfires.

Speaking of small, I am amazed at the destructive powers of its tiny projectile. Hold it in your hand and you wonder if it would be humane to use against mice or hummingbirds.

Destructive it is! Like I said above, that last hare I nailed looked like a Biology student's disection experiment gone horribly wrong. I have hit rabbits with centerfires and the carnage was similar.

I know some handguns have been made for the 17HMR. In fact, not too long ago, I saw a Ruger Single Action in this chambering at a gun shop.

Does anyone here have any experience with handguns in this caliber?

 

[Maverick223]

Does anyone here have any experience with handguns in this caliber?

No experience, but everything that makes this cartridge an excellent rifle cartridge (particularly for varmints) also makes it a poor fit for a pistol. You will loose quite a bit of velocity due to the dimensions and (by rimfire standards) lack of efficiency. IMO this makes it impractical, not only doe to the relative weakness, but also because of the increased noise and unnecessary flat trajectory for a pistol cartridge. I realize that there are a few .17HMR pistols on the market, but I believe a .22WMR (which isn't ideal either, because it was designed for a rifle) would be a far better fit in this particular instance (if you insist on a "magnum"). Particularly when utilizing the new ballistic tip cartridges, which should yield similar terminal performance on small quarry. Just off the top of my head the .17HMR is probably similar in efficiency to the .30-30WCF, which does poorly in pistols (hence the lack thereof), the .22WMR is likely similar to the .30Carbine (perhaps even as good as the .357Mag.), which still isn't ideal in a pistol platform, but is serviceable. Honestly a .22LR with a load like Quik-Shok would probably do nearly as well (from a pistol platform), despite the reduced case capacity.

 

[vaupet]

IIRC there where a few problems with semi-auto rifles in 17HMR, to the point as to nobody makes them anymore and the one's already sold where withdrawn from use by the factory. Something about going full auto?
Seems like a pistol would have the same troubles.

Should work in a wheel gun.

 

[Maverick223]

Something about going full auto?

Nope, everything to do with manufacturers trying to make the higher pressure/faster cyclic rate cartridge work in previous .22WMR designs. The problem is timing...the action opens before the pressure has subsided, which causes all sorts of mechanical and safety problems.

Seems like a pistol would have the same troubles. [...] Should work in a wheel gun.

All the pistols I have seen were revolvers, for the same reason as above (and a new design wouldn't likely be cost effective due to lack of sufficient demand).

 

[627PCFan]

I think Taurus makes a revolver in 17hmr.

Couple of general themes I have noticed: More people report better accuracy with the 20 grain vs the 17 grainers, however I have had many more "crawl offs" with groundhogs and squirrels with the 20's vs the 17's (body shots).

And both rounds richochete on flat hard ground at narrow angles. Its happened a few times ground hog hunting for me. And I have bounced a 17grainer off the ground into a groundhog (misjudged my holdover) before so dont assume because they hit anything the disintegrate.

 

[wtjoker]

.17 HMR ammo question

Hey guys, great forum. I recently bought a Savage (see pic). I put a 6x24 scope on it and man it kills prairie dogs LOL. I did have a question. The ground is very dry and hard here, and I actually am getting some ricochet from this gun. I'm sure whatever is left of the bullet is minimal, but it is none the less. I am using 2550 fps 17 grain with plastic tips. Is there a round that would further minimize this? Thanks!

 

[Maverick223]

Welcome to THR, wtjoker. I think your chosen cartridge should minimize ricochet better than any other.

Try missing less.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

coyotes and "humanely" maybe you dont need to bother shooting them or have a good reason to. any way to kill a coyote is right or dont bother.

 

[Maple_City_Woodsman]

The only pistol on the market that has enough barrel to make any use of the 17 HMR is the TC 'Contender' with its 14" barrel. It is the G2 model.

It cost around $600, and is available in both Blue/Walnut and Stainless/Synthetic. Model number for the synthetic version is 3209.