Expected Accuracy? 17HMR in Bolt, Lever, Semi Auto
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From a bolt gun I expect sub minute of angle accuracy in good conditions. I've owned two 17 HMRs and handled and shot at least a half dozen others and only one... one of mine unfortunately.... Would not shoot under MOA at 100 yards.
I don't know about 17 lever guns at all, I've never seen one on the range.... Or at least I can't remember right now having seen one.
But the semis I've seen we're all a17s and those shot about 1-1.5moa.
I don't know about 17 lever guns at all, I've never seen one on the range.... Or at least I can't remember right now having seen one.
But the semis I've seen we're all a17s and those shot about 1-1.5moa.
troy fairweather
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With no wind, under moa, I had a few savage 93 and marlins shoot ten rounds into a dime at 100. I've yet to shoot the new ruger I got but expect moa.
My old sporter weight 93R17 will do 3/4" four shot groups at 50 meters
I've had four 17HMRs and shot one other. I kept my two Anschutz 1517 MPRs and both will shoot sub MOA on calm days Sold the Ruger77/17 because it would not. Had a Sako FF II which shot sub-moa, sold it to fund another buy. Shot a friend's Marlin and it's a very good shooter. No experience with a semi-autos, but CZ 512 Semi might be worth a try. I shot one the other day in 22WMR and it was amazingly accurate. Friend of mine had a Henry lever 17HMR, but it did not shoot very well.
I have a Ruger American Rimfire in 17HMR. It will easily shoot groups under an inch at 100yds, though it is a little picky ammo-wise. It will do better with 17g and lighter projectiles than the 20g ones. Also seems to do better with CCI or Hornady rather than the Winchester, Browning, and Remington ammo I've tried. I have no experience with semi-autos or levers in this caliber.
Nature Boy
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I have an A17 and that’s about right, maybe a bit better. I’d say a consistent 1 MOA at 100 yards
wiscoaster
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For a Savage 93R17 & decent scope consistent sub-MOA at 100 yds. If I can do it - and I'm no expert marksman by any long shot (pun intended) - you and anybody can do it. I'm not into saving my targets, so I guess you have to take my word. I just spend 10 minutes looking for the "squirrel" target where I shot the little guy in his occiput at 25 yards with that rifle, but I can't find the dang thing.
My 17 HMR shoots just under 1" groups at 100 yards, but the round is sensitive to wind deflection, so it doesn't often do it in Spring-time winds.
Fortunately, I haven't been attacked by charging golf balls lately, so it hasn't been a problem.
.308 Norma
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My 17HMR (H&R single-shot) will do minute of starling at 35 yards in the currant bushes behind the garden. Starlings in the apple tree at 90 to100 yards from the rear deck are pretty much safe when the wind is blowing - which is most of the time in this part of Idaho.
BreechFace
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Depends on the lot of ammo. There is no match 17HMR ammo out there which is really dissapointing. I’ve emailed Hornady about making match 17HMR and their reply was they have no plans for it.
A common talking point about 17HMR is that it’s all “match” grade. That has not been my experience. When one looks at the ES and SD’s over a chronograph on lots there is too much variability to be considered “match.”
My CZ 457 bull barrel with a good lot of ammo will shoot .875 MOA, but once that lot is over and move to something else it’s a solid 1.125-1.375 MOA.
One needs to watch copper fouling on the 17HMR.
With all that was said above, it is still one of my favorite cartridges to shoot, so flat and better ballistic’s than 22 caliber.
A common talking point about 17HMR is that it’s all “match” grade. That has not been my experience. When one looks at the ES and SD’s over a chronograph on lots there is too much variability to be considered “match.”
My CZ 457 bull barrel with a good lot of ammo will shoot .875 MOA, but once that lot is over and move to something else it’s a solid 1.125-1.375 MOA.
One needs to watch copper fouling on the 17HMR.
With all that was said above, it is still one of my favorite cartridges to shoot, so flat and better ballistic’s than 22 caliber.
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Howland937
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I've owned 5 bolt action 17HMRs over the years, but own none now. The CZ 453 (I think it was) was my favorite. It was literally a tack driver...shooting the thumb tacks holding the targets up at 50 yards was no problem. I wanted to love the 77/17 Ruger, but it was no shooter.
2 Marlins and a Savage that would easily shoot 3/4 moa at 100, but I lost interest in the 17 because there are very few perfectly still days for shooting it.
2 Marlins and a Savage that would easily shoot 3/4 moa at 100, but I lost interest in the 17 because there are very few perfectly still days for shooting it.
Varminterror
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There’s no “match” in which a 17HMR is allowed, so there’s no standard to which “match” ammo for it would be made.
In the regard that there really isn’t any “bulk” or “cheap junk” ammo for the 17HMR, it’s not relatively false to say “all 17HMR ammo is match ammo.” Not all centerfire or rimfire match ammo displays small SD’s or small groups downrange, so it’s not a fair standard to default the 17HMR ammo for also failing to meet that standard. The only tricks we have for rimfire rifles to “develop” performance is selecting a well matched ammo for our firearm, then stacking an adjustable muzzle tuner on top of that. Divining whether a rifle has a critical flaw, or the ammo available is simply poorly matched for the rifle is difficult when no control is offered, so we gets what we gets...
Until there’s a match standard which demands truly enhanced, match ammo for 17 HMR, 22WMR, or 17WSM, there simply won’t be such.
I see the .17 HMR as a hunting round for critters up to 150 yards. If the critters are likely going to be 125 yards or farther, I have .223 bolt-actions that will do the deed. Larger or farther yet, one of two .243s can take care of some huge varmints. Beyond and larger critters and deer, one of two .270 Win bolt-actions will drill about anything here within 450 yards. It did a big antlered moose for me at about 270 yards with ONE handloaded round, delivered within a couple of seconds as it crossed the fairly narrow woods road. It only went about 10 yards and went down dead.
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BreechFace
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Well the consistency of 17HMR ammo from lot to lot is not great by any means. I guess you are addressing my post by what the definition of is, is, in regards to the use of "match."
It is common vernacular in the commercial cartridge world that "match" loading's are loading's in which said commercial cartridge manufacturer has a higher level of QC on the reloading process.
wiscoaster
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Ya, I take the label of "match" as applied to ammo to be mostly marketing...
trackskippy
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That was my experience as well. I had a Savage as well, although I don't remember the model. Heavy SS barrel with a thumbhole stock. I was using a BSA "Sweet 17" scope.
As long as there was no wind, 10 rounds into a dime was pretty easy. Once that wind puffed up, even just a little, and all bets were off.
I will say, the 17 was always a giggle with the critters in the wifes garden at 50 yards. I was always amazed at the damage that tiny little BT bullet would do. They didn't do too well going through any kind of vegetation though.
I don't think a ton of us have owned lever action 17's.....
milsurpguy
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I can get nearly 1 inch, but under 2 for sure at 100yd cold or cool barrel on my A17. Then when it would heat up that would double.
Indoor range at 25 yards off a rest I could easily get holes touching with the worst ammo.
Indoor range at 25 yards off a rest I could easily get holes touching with the worst ammo.
loose noose
Member
My Savage bolt action HMR17 will shoot dime size groups (7 round groups) all day providing it is a qualm day at 100 yards, and that is only if I can find the A17 in 17 grain projectiles. I've used CCI, Winchester, and Hornady 20 grain w/o the same results, however, the other cartridges would shoot 1.5-2.0 moa, after I did a simple trigger job. All at 100 yards.
dranrab
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It is common to see a 200 FPS extreme spread from the same box of 17HMR ammo. That can be a limiting factor.
irishlad
Contributing Member
Savage b17 at a 100 yards. It's a fun round.
It was kinda windy this morning...@8 o'clock, but I managed to get two 5/8" groups (a 5 shot and a 3) at 100 yards with my Tikka bull-barreled .17 HMR. It looked really calm earlier, but by the time I got stuff together and went down to the blueberry fields, it was blowing 10 mph or more most of the time. The HMR doesn't like wind like that, but I was very happy with those last two groups, picking and choosing the times to shoot between the heaviest gusts. Never got calm winds like I'd expected though. Bottom middle group was last, aiming between the bottom squares and amazingly hit the intersection of lines (aim point) on the first shot! Accidents can happen. CCI V-Max was the best of three "brands/types" that day.
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