My 17 HMR carbine barrel...

[Slowpoke Slim]

I took my new-to-me (bought it off this forum) 17 HMR carbine barrel to the range today for the first time. The only glitch I had was apparently I did not bore sight the scope like I thought I had. I had to do that at the range, but once I got it dialed in, WOW! This thing shoots!

I was easily keeping all shots under a dime at 100 yards. I was shooting the Hornady Vmax ammo, which proved accurate in my buddy's Savage. I wasn't disappointed! The barrel cleaned up easily back at my shop and I didn't have any residual copper build up.

I've tried a new scope on it, I bought a Pentax Gameseeker 4-12x on it. I bought it off the internet, and I'm not too happy with it. It was cheap (first mistake), and now I know why. It's not very sharp and I was having trouble with the focus. I'm also not crazy about the crosshairs, it's kind of a version of a ballistic plex, but the cross lines are far too large. Live and learn, that's what I get for buying a scope I can't look through first.

All and all, I'm pleased with the barrel, and may or may not keep that scope on it. Now I gotta find me some crows!

[Ladobe]

I hurried and temporarily put a Weaver KT15 I already had on hand on my Bullberry when I first got it as I was going to a ranch up north three days later to field test the ammo on flesh for Hornady (who was still experiemnting with the ammo) and the experimental barrel chamber for Fred.    Guess what, the Weaver is still on the carbine and the Leupold 4.5-14 LR side focus (Varmint Hunter reticle) I later bought for it still sits new in the box it came in.   Not the scope the Leupold is, but it is very capable on this carbine so why fix what ain't broke?

Put some descent glass on it Chris, sight it in for about 175 yards and crows will be in trouble out to about 200 yards once you learn the drop/drift with it.   BTW, the CCI 17 gr. TNT's do better at very long range than the Hornady 17 gr. V-Max or 20 gr. XTP do, both in precision and retained KP in all three of my 17 HMR's (Bullberry carbine, TC pistol and tricked out Marlin 17VS).   So don't be afraid to try several ammo configs and lot numbers to find what your new bbl likes best.   

[OLDHandgunner]

Ain't these 17HMR's fun to shoot. I bought my 23" carbine barrel on GB also. New in box.
Put a Mini Burris 4x12 Target scope on it and started shooting tight groups right off with Hornady 17gr bullets. The thing I like the most is hardly any noise. Shot a few small critters ( red & grey squirrels, head shot on a roosting partridge @ 70yrds & several crows ) already with it, LOVE IT!!!!
Can't believe how flat shooting they are. The only down fall I can see right now with the 17HMR is the wind on this small bullet. I can live with that.
Buy one you'll like it.

[woodchukhntr]

I can't believe how accurate mine is, it shoots well under an inch.  I would like to try it in a machine rest some time and take me out of the equation.

Deadly on woodchucks to 150 yd.!

[Slowpoke Slim]

Good to hear from you Larry.

Funny story, I also took my new-to-me 17 Rem barrel up to the range with me (thanks again!). I "outsmarted" myself again though. I decided to upgrade several of my "good" barrels to dual dovetail bases and burris signature rings, instead of the weaver bases and rings I started with. The 17 Rem barrel was one of those I "upgraded".

In my supreme wisdom, I mounted the base backwards on the barrel, and the notch was to the front instead of the rear. Of course I only noticed this when I was at the range, and naturally only after I had mounted the barrel on my frame to shoot.

I'm such a friggin' genius!

So I don't have a range report on the 17 Rem barrel. It sure looks good with that Nikon scope on it though!

Maybe next sunday, if I can get up there again...

[woodchukhntr]

What's with the upgrade?  Do the rings make any difference?  When you get the base turned around (not a problem with Weaver bases by the way) I bet you will have a great shooter.  I can't wait for the rreport.

Good shootin'