what to buy for first .17 hmr

[rusty75]

i am ready to buy my first 17 hmr and i need advice.  i already have a good scope, i just need the rifle.  i have a max of $250 to spend.  i know i want a bolt gun.  stock material does not matter, i just do not want to have to make any modifications to shoot moa. thanks for the advice

[Keith L]

Good luck.  Maybe NEF but that will likely need trigger work.  Marlin and Savage both are possibilities but need trigger work.  I don't know of any other guns in your range.

[mjbgalt]

read the post below this one in the forum, about my savage. i am VERY impressed with its ability to shoot MOA.

Mine has a heavy trigger like most of them do, but i am going to have it lightened by a gunsmith to see if it can shoot even better.

they tend to shoot better after a couple hundred shots through the barrel, i am told. however if my accuracy were to stay as it was the other night i would be fine with that, as it touched holes and grouped like i wanted it to.

the ammo is cheap too...only about $9 for the CCI TNTs i shoot.

thats a heck of a lot less than my other varmint rig...a .243 weatherby vanguard. i think last time i got 80 grain varmint bullets for it, it was in the neighborhood of $14 for 20 shots.

i love my .17 and if youre looking to shoot tiny groups and not empty your wallet the savage is a great buy. mine was $200 with wood stock and heavy barrel. if you get a sporter barrel and synthetic stocks you should be in the area of $179.

hope this helps.

-Matt

[quickdtoo]

I'd recommend either the Savage 93R17-F or the Marlin 917V, either will be ~$180 or less. Add a Rifle Basix trigger for $80 or less, and you'll have your moa shooter after some range time and several boxes of ammo. All entry level .17hmrs(<$350) are going to need some trigger work, the Rifle Basix makes it about as easy as it gets. Even the next step up, the CZ452 American or Varmint can use some trigger work, but at $310 minimum, it's over your intended budget.

[rusty75]

i just left bass pro with a savage 93-gv, the wood stocked version with a heavy barrel.  i am having the scope installed and will hit the range this weekend. thanks for the advice.  is $199 a good price?

[quickdtoo]

That's a good choice! If I were to buy a savage, that would be the first pick for me. I have 2 Marlins, a 917V and 917VS, the 917V is a model match to the GV. Once you do a little trigger work, it will be a great shooter. Price is good, I've seen em from $180-$225. What scope you puttin on it? Most .17hmr shooters like 4-12x to 6-24x depending on their intended use, those that start with a 3-9x usually upgrade. Check the 10 page poll below. Happy shootin!

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26060&highlight=huck70

[ruger22com]

I choose a Marlin 917V and and $180 at Walmart, I could not be happier (except for the heavy trigger, but they all have that today).
Go to http://17caliber.com and you can see pics and a review I wrote on it.
Bob

[mjbgalt]

i paid $199 for mine too...sounds like we got the exact same rifle.

i am very happy except for the lack of sling swivels and the heavy trigger. the swivels i will fix myself and the trigger will take some gunsmith tweaking but otherwise its a great gun.

[rusty75]

i hit the range this weekend and with a swift 4x scope i shot 3  5 shot groups at 50 yds. under 1/2".  this is one awesome little rimfire.

[Paul Barnard]

I bought a Savage 93 bull barrel stainless synthetic for $230 this weekend.  I shot it for accuracy at 50, 75, and 200 yards. Best groups (with different ammo) were .30, .40, and .82 respectively.  The .82 at 200 yards does not appear to be a fluke either.  Out of 4 groups, I had two other groups that crowded one inch.  I have the same rifle in 22lr and it is a jewel too.  My triggers are not as objectionable as most here describe theirs.  Box stock, the Savage rimfires are the best value going.  They are kind of crude, but they function as intended and are unsurpassed on the accuracy per dollar front.

Paul

[Glenny]

Hi Guys,
Just noticed your discussion on the 17 HMR and the brand CZ. I've used the CZ alongside other good brands over the years and the CZ has always come up trumps.  For some reason you feel like you've made a good choice on buying a CZ. I bought a new CZ 17 Classic in early October and have pushed nearly 500rds up the spout. .4" at 50m 1" at 100m with the red tips, add a quarter inch for the Hornady 20gr Hp"s-realisticaly this is all the accuracy you need with this caliber. The rifle started shooting better after about 200rds with proper run in. I've found the smaller weight of animal, use the red tips, for animals over 10kg go the 20Gr HP because on small varmints they dont open up and zip straight through. With the 20Grainers I get 20cm of penetration in flesh out to 70m, after that, head shots only. Absolutely forget the expense of ammo-every thing costs these days.....A very fun rifle....

[toolman6]

The better half purchased a Savage heavy barrel for my b day.Put a cheap bushnell scope on it, sighted it in and went squralen.
WOW !!! I have never seen a weapon do so much damage with one shot in my 45 years of hunting.
The trigger is a little heavy, use it first then get the trigger job, but this is so impressive.

[S.S.]

I have the Marlin and could not be more pleased with it.
Mine is deadly accurate and actually came with a very
good trigger. Lets off at about 3 pounds very crisply.
I have heard other people complain about Marlins triggers,
but I have several of them ( A model 10, a model 20, a model 25mn
and a Model 17v.) and all have really good triggers.

[hylander]

Howd'y Rusty75 :
Congrates on your new Hummer .
I just ordered the same gun yesterday, but here in
Kalifornia An honest man must wait 10 day's for a gun, of coarse the
Criminals get to cash and carry :x .
Can't wait to pic it up, all the good results everyone is posting has got me Drooling :-D .