17 Mach 2 still viable?

[Rockin Double B]

I was thinking of getting a Marlin bolt action 17 mach 2 - just for fun, small critters and plinking.  Does anybody have actual experience with them?  Is it worth $300 if they stop making the ammo in a couple years?  It just seems like a fun little cartridge for keeping by the window or around the yard.   For those of you that shoot the round why do like it/dislike it compared to a 22 short or 22 LR.  Thanks in advance for your comments.

[264fan]

Had a Mach2 Savage, as far as hunting with it I saw no advantage over the 22LR HP. Sold it and bought a 17 HMR.

[possume]

i had a savage i like my 10/22 better i could shoot a crow with the mach2 it would fly off and die in mid air where my 22 will drop them the ammo is $7  a box i can buy lots of 22s for that

[Flynmoose]

I have had a CZ 452 in 17M2 for a few years. I love the rifle and round,
shoots flat and does a number on everything I have shot with it. There
are some good buys on Eley ammo these days. That is all I ever use, it
has been accurate and dependable. If the ammo goes away, get a new
barrel in 22lr or bore your old barrel and install a liner in it.
FM

[Rockin Double B]

Thanks guys.

[S.S.]

absolutely it is.
if the ammo was comparably priced to the .22 lr.
it would definitely boost it's popularity though.
I do however buy up as much ammo for mine as I can
just in case it goes the way of the 5mm many years ago.
I use mine purely for hunting, not plinking. I have pulled
off some pretty impressive long distance shots with it too. 
It is much more destructive on small game than a .22 lr though
so anything but a headshot pretty much tears up the edible parts.
The .22Lr is so entrenched at this point that the .17HM2 really
 has no chance against it. I believe it will last for a while, but
it will fizzle out and disappear.

[HotRod9mm]

The 17HM2 is a very nice hunting round, you just need to place your shot or loose a little meat. Zanders has over 21,000 boxes of ammo in stock so I don't think I will run out anytime soon. You can get 2k rds off of Gunbroker for $199 shipped, that is $5 a box of 50. I pay that much for Wolf Match Target. So I'm paying less than half of what 17HMR cost and only giving up 400fps but the trajectory is all but the same.





 

[351 power]

common rifle like that if the ammo ever runs out just buy a .22 barrel

[Zen900]

I don't own a 22mag rifle but I do have a 17m2 rifle. The M2 is identical to the 22mag in performance. Has the 22mag disappeared? No.

[cwlongshot]

I absolutely love the accuracy of mine. I have owned over a dozen different RF rifles and this current 17 M2 H&R is far and above the most accurate I have ever fired.  I am not comparing cheapos either, Kimber, Anschutz and Winchester 52's are among the ones it has bettered... Sub 1/4" groups at 50 yards common place! I have talked a couple friends into this after shooting mine. EVERY one of these has been exceptionally accurate as well.

I don't know about the ammo. But I will say I buy a couple boxes EVERY-TIME I visit a gun shoppe. Juts for good measure!

CW

[pastorp]

CW,

What rifle is your M2 chambered in?

regards,

[cwlongshot]

CW,

What rifle is your M2 chambered in?

regards,

It's a cheap little H&R plastic stocked heavy barrel. I have a Leupold scope mounted in factory bases and Weaver ext rings.  Everyone who has shot it has been inPressed!

CW

[Ladobe]

The 17 RF's are my go to's... the 22 RF's are out.   In turn the 17HMR replaced my 22WMR's when it came out and the 17HM2 replaced the 22LR's soon after it came out.    Bought three firearms for each... 2 rifles for each, 1 pistol for each.   In turn I also bought a lifetime supply of ammo of both of them as soon as it was available, so my 17 RF's will always be viable.   It's also nice that by buying in large quantity early on I got all the ammo dirt cheap compared to today's prices.   In time the 17HMR's also replaced all my 17 Ackley Hornets too.