Ok. Lets hear about your Marlin 917V!!! Pictures added

[DalesCarpentry]

I just received my Marlin 917V today. I just mounted a BSA Sweet 17 in the 6X18X40. It also has the side focus and the chart for 17 and 20 grain bullets. I have never shot a 17 HMR before so this is new ground for me. I would like to kill a couple groundhogs out to about 200 yards with it. I know that is probably stretching it's legs a bit but if I find 200 is to far I will drop back a bit. Like I said I am new to this round. How far would you take a head shot on a groundhog? I don't like wounding animals so when I hit it I like them to drop right there. I will be headed to the range in the morning. I have bought 100 rounds of CCI 17 grain HP'S and 100 rounds of Hornady 17 grain VMAX. They both are rated at 2550 feet per second. I really dont know if there will be any difference between the two. To me it seems like they are the same ammo. I will find out tomorrow if my rifle likes either. Thanks Dale

[Wynn]

My 917VSS is boringly accurate with the 17 Grain VMax out to 200 yds on a windless day and almost, but not quit as accurate with the 20 grain CCI Gamepoint. I stopped using the 17 gr for hunting coons as it just does not have the penetration or knockdown power they require. They just come apart practically on impact. The 20 gr Gamepoint gets it done pretty well. The 17 gr will turn a crow into a cloud of feathers however. The 17 gr actually clocks at nearly 2700 FPS on my chrono out of the Marlin.

[DalesCarpentry]

I have kind of figured I might have to step up to a 20 grain bulet on groundhogs. They do get big at this time of year. Even so a head shot will do it. Dale

[Thebear_78]

I've had really good luck with the 17gr vmax on fox, usually bang flop with a chest hit and no exit wounds.  The 17gr HP weren't nearly as accurate and never got around to trying the 20gr loads.   There is a pretty extensive test on varmint al's website of the various 17 HMR loads.   http://www.varmintal.com/17hmr.htm

[Graybeard]

The one I had was a MAJOR disappointment. Even using Burris Signature rings I was unable to get it to hit the target at 25 yards. Using the maximum scope adjustment and the plus and minus 20 offset inserts in both rings it would not shoot to point of aim even at 25 yards. I took it back to the store where I got it and dumped it on them.

I'm sure Marlin would have made it right but it was such a disappointment I was no longer interested in owning it.

[coyotejoe]

Well Bill, my 917 wasn't nearly that bad but I too was disappointed. I had seen an American Rifleman test where they reported 1/2" groups at 100 yards. I bought the exact same rifle, scope and mounts, tried every type of ammo I could find, experimented with bedding, lightened the trigger and never got better than 1 1/2" groups. Now that is not really awful for a cheap rifle but just wasn't what I wanted. I sold it and got a CZ which really does shoot 1/2" groups without any tinkering.

[Old Fart]

I had one of them. Liked it a lot.
Received a Savage as a gift that really stole my heart so I sold the Marlin.
I've got a couple targets hanging in my office from a couple different range trips.
Both were at 84 yards on a calm day.
One you can cover the three holes with the end of your pinky finger.
The other is just a little bigger than one hole.

Accurate? Yup.
Will wind blow them around? Yup.

Still I'm a big fan of them little 17's, great little plinkers.
I've got a Marlin in it's little brother 17M2 and enjoy it also.

[Ladobe]

I swear Bill, if it wasn't for bad luck you wouldn't have any luck at all.   

I'm not a Marlin fan, but a friend twisted my arm and my Marlin Hummer is a 17VS.   When I got it (late 2002 I think) I put a Rifle Basix trigger - BKL mounts on it and had two 5-shot mags made for it before I ever shot it.   Was my second Hummer, not as accurate as my first but still very accurate with both the Hornady 17 V-Max and CCI 17 TNT loads.   It shoots them both so close to the same POI the difference can be ignored.   I've taken bigger than ground hogs with it out to 180 yards, and small diggers way farther out than that.   I also used it for night time jackrabbit ADC for a rancher friend out to about 125 yards (mainly because my other two Hummers are single-shots and he has a lot of Jacks).



Shot these coins off a bipod across the hood of my truck with 5 consecutive CCI 17 TNT's at 100 yards (late 2003).     So minute of predator or varmint is a breeze with it.   

[Graybeard]

I swear Bill, if it wasn't for bad luck you wouldn't have any luck at all.

 

Yup been singing that tune for years and it is oh so true of me. I had a Ruger first, then Savage then Marlin all in .17 HRM and none of them would shoot for crap. I bought a CZ but ended up selling it before I shot it and so did the guy who bought it from me so have no clue if it would have been "the one" to shoot for me.

[DalesCarpentry]

Well guys I got it sighted in today. I have to say it is a keeper for sure. I started out at a target that was 25 yards away. I then moved it out to 50 yards. My groups at 50 yards were almost one hole. When I say almost one hole what I mean is you could hardly tell I fired 3 shots. The hole was just wollered out a little. I then moved it out to 100 yards and the normal 3 shot group you could easily cover with a dime. Again some went in almost the same hole and the 3rd shot opened it up some. Then I noticed the groups started to open up over an 1". By this time I had run 70 or 80 rounds through it and I think the barrel was getting build up. I was shooting CCI 17 grain HP'S and Hornady 17 grain VMAX. The point of impact between the 2 is very little. With either ammo if I were to shoot a Groundhog in the head at 100 yards he would be dead. I have to say I really like this little gun. After the range time I went looking for some Groundhogs to get it it's first kill. Well there was no luck there. It won't be long before they go to sleep for the winter here seeing as last night was the first hard frost we have had this year. That means they will only be out a few more weeks at most and I may not get a kill with this rifle until next spring. Dale

[emsemt911]

if i shoot the 17 grain out of mine, i get 1.5 inch 100 yd groups.
The 20 gr gives me the ,5-.75 inch groups

[dks7895]

I had a 917V and sold it.  It was more accurate with 20gr SP, but too expensive to shoot for a rimfire "plinker".  It lacked the knockdown power for larger critters, and destroyed the little ones.  Forget it on a windy day.  I prefer my Ruger 10/22 DSP for squirrels and bunnies.  Larger critters get the Stevens 200 in .223

[emsemt911]

I have one, very accurate with the 20 gr XTP from Hornady. My .17 has a larger
grouping with the 17 gr Hornady.

[backstrap]

I had 1 like very well but with the heavy barrel on it didnt like carrying it for hunting.so i sold it and bought a light wheight savage and like it real well, Dale i know u say it is shooting great groups but there is more ammo out there than just hornady.The 1 i had liked federal 17gr v max or winchester 17 gr v max mine didnt like hollow points.I shoot federal 17 gr v max in my savage thats the only ammo it likes to,what i am saying u might want to try some diffrant makes of ammo in it

[DalesCarpentry]

I had 1 like very well but with the heavy barrel on it didnt like carrying it for hunting.so i sold it and bought a light wheight savage and like it real well, Dale i know u say it is shooting great groups but there is more ammo out there than just hornady.The 1 i had liked federal 17gr v max or winchester 17 gr v max mine didnt like hollow points.I shoot federal 17 gr v max in my savage thats the only ammo it likes to,what i am saying u might want to try some diffrant makes of ammo in it

When the weather warms up I plan on trying all brands I can find and try them all to find out for sure what it likes. I am also going to try some 20 Grain bullets and see how they do. I have not shot any 20 grain bullets out of it yet. I am sure my new toy will take more than a few groundhogs this spring. Dale

[Old Fart]

I've really been itching to take my two 17's out with the grandson to mudercate a couple crows with.
Should  be able to score a couple squirrels or maybe a rabbit also. He's been wanting to do a litle hunting.
Dad gum weather has me stoved up though. Suppose to be back up in the 50's here a couple days this week.
Maybe we can get out next weekend. Anyway I think with time these little rimfires will become real popular.

[Buster95]

I don't know for you but my 917vr don't have a floating barrel!!!! 

[DalesCarpentry]

Here are a couple pictures of my new 917V. I got bored a few weeks ago and painted the wood stock black. What do you think of the stock? Dale

[DalesCarpentry]

Here are a couple more. Dale