Sportster Vs. Savage 93R17 and Marlin XT-17V...

[evan1395]

So i'm in a little bit of a pickle here. I wanted the single shot sportster, but every FFL dealer around me has no way of getting one. They are currently out of stock everywhere. So, now i'm contemplating on whether or not to get a little 5 round bolt action .17HMR
I found a few that I like and are in my price range ($291.00). If anyone has any reviews or suggestion on either of these please let loose.
First was the Savage 310 (or 93R17). I REALLY liked the Mossberg 817 as well in the wood finish. And finally my favorite the Marlin XT-17V.
So if I were NOT to go with the Sportster which of these 3 bolt action .17HMR's would you prefer?
 

[Sourdough]

I have no experience with the Marlin, so I won't go there.

I have had a .17HMR Sportster for three years.  I like it for Foxes, but it's too light for Coyotes.  I have the BSA Sweet 17 scope on it, and they make a good pair.  Range is my only problem.  I can hit and kill a Fox out to 300 yards, the .17 HMR is only good to 40 to 45 yards for Coyotes and Lynx.  I have Coyotes and Lynx come in to my calls on a regular basis, and they usually hang up at 50 to 60 yards, if I can not get them to come in a bit closer, I have to pass on the shot.

I also have a Savage 93-F in .22 mag.  Same gun as the .17HMR.  I like the bolt action 93-F due to it's weight and feel.  I also like the magazine feed.  In honesty it makes a better gun for Coyotes and Lynx then the .17HMR.  Not quite as accurate as the .17, but it carries a bit farther.  I can hit and kill a Coyote or Lynx on out to 100 yards, I haven't taken a shot at a fox with it yet.

I just bought the Savage M-25 Walking Varminter in .17 Hornet a week ago.  That's the one with the synthetic stock.  I like the Savage accutrigger, but am a bit unhappy that the magazine only holds four cartridges.  I would like to get two more into it.  Not sure yet myself what it's going to do to a fox, especially up close.  Have not been out with it yet.  My friend has one and says to make sure the Fox is at least 15 to 20 feet away before shooting it, and it's pelt friendly after that.  He claims he has shot Foxes from 20 yards out to 200 yards with it   One shot kills each.  He did not want to talk about the one at 3 feet. 

His partner told me an Arctic Fox had a death wish and came in on the run.  They did not see it till it was 20 feet from them on the snow.  They yelled,  stood up, and made lots of racket to get it to stop for a shot.  Finally my friend held out his rifle, pointed at the Fox and shot.  The fox was 3 feet from the end of the barrel.  Scratch that pelt.   

[evan1395]

I'd like to get one of the Savage's whether it be the 310 or 93R17. I like the idea of a magazine feed, but LOVE the idea of a single shot. You have one shot, gotta make it count ! Which is what really lead me to want the Sportster. I too was planning to throw a Sweet 17 scope on it if I were to get it.
If someone gave you a choice for an overall great .17 rifle. Would you go with the Sportster again or move on and get a bolt action .17HMR  ?
 

[Keith L]

I have a pre accutrigger Savage 93 that is a tack driver once I put a Rifle-Basix trigger in it.  Highly recommended.  I can't speak to the other two.

[evan1395]

Well unfortunately every FFL in my area wanted no less than $400.00. The lowest quote I got out the door was $395.00 for the Savage 93R17 with the stainless steel barrel.
 
SO, needless to say, I got a quote for the sportster, $216.00 out the door! I slapped that VISA down and I get it in 10 days . Overall i'm happy that I went with the single shot. Now, anyone know where to pick up a BSA Sweet 17 for super cheap. I have a Pentax Gameseeker 12X' right now on my .45-70 Handi. I'd like to have the same magnification IF not more.

[Sourdough]

Be aware, the Sweet 17 is a great scope for the .17HMR, but there is a slight disadvantage you need to be aware of if you shoot beyond 150 yards.  At about 125 yards the bullet starts rising above the dialed line of sight.  At 225 it's between 1.5 and 2 inches high (depending on ammo) above the dialed line of sight.  At 275 and on to 300 it is back dead on.

To be honest most people will never be aware of that, and it would not make one bit of difference to them.  I tested my .17 HMR and ammo at 25 yard increments from 25 yards to 350 yards.  Yes the sweet .17 only dials to 300 yards, but I wanted to see where it shot on to 350.  That's how I know it runs a bit high at 225 yards.

At the range where I usually shoot it is 335 Yards from the shooting benches to the backstop.  I can throw a dozen clay targets up on the bank and bust one every shot with the .17 HMR Sportster.

[Thebear_78]

I recently pickd up a xt17 heavy barreled, walnut stock, at a local sportingoods store for $238.   I adjusted down the tigger as light as I could get it.   I topped it with a Nikon prostaff 3-9x40 with BDC reticle.  I gave it a couple squirts of rustoleum to both protect and conceal it while predator calling.


I bought this rifle for primarily fox but with the occasional option of a coyote or lynx.   I have used the 17 HMR quite a bit on fox and have found it to be The round for fox.    I shot quite a few of them with the 17gr Vmax load and always got a quick kill and almot zero pelt damage.    The fact that I might occasionally run across a coyote or lynx prompted me to check out the 20gr XTP load.   Luckily this load shot extremely well in the xt17.   5 shot 100 yard groups of under 1" with boring regularity and under 3/4" regularly.


The BDC feature on the nikon scope works out very well with the 17 HMR's rainbow like trajectory past 100 yards.  I've shot out to 300 yards using the BDC and it makes hits at various ranges on 20oz pop bottle easy.  Nikon has an app called "spot on" that has most factory loads and the ability to enter custom loads that allows you to work out the most effective use of thier BDC system.  It works out very well and has proven accurate with at least two factory loadings.


Here is the XT17 after a few squirts of rustoleum



Here is a 5 shot 100 yard group with the 20gr XTP load



This is a screen shot from the nikon "spot on" App

[evan1395]

Cool app for the phone there. That works with any ammunition/scope combo?
So is the Sweet 17 a good choice for a scope? I wouldnt mind buying another Pentax like i have on my Handi. What do I do about the 125-275 yard spot? Basically everywhere between 125 and 275 it shoots slightly high?

[Thebear_78]

You rally have to check by shooting t the range.   Save up a few pop bottles or even better make a couple life sie silhouette targets and try shooting at various ranges.  I found life size coyote target on the net that you print out in several pages and piece together.  It really helps to get in the habit of calculating hold over when the target is placed at unknown ranges.


Not sure about the sweet 17 scope but on the Nikon BDC the circles are 2moa so an average red fox at 16" tall should be four circles tall at 200 yards or almost three tall at 300 or two circles tall at 400.  Another easy quick measure would be if a coyotes head fills up the circle it's under 200 yards a fox head filling the circle it's under 150.

[evan1395]

You rally have to check by shooting t the range.   Save up a few pop bottles or even better make a couple life sie silhouette targets and try shooting at various ranges.  I found life size coyote target on the net that you print out in several pages and piece together.  It really helps to get in the habit of calculating hold over when the target is placed at unknown ranges.


Not sure about the sweet 17 scope but on the Nikon BDC the circles are 2moa so an average red fox at 16" tall should be four circles tall at 200 yards or almost three tall at 300 or two circles tall at 400.  Another easy quick measure would be if a coyotes head fills up the circle it's under 200 yards a fox head filling the circle it's under 150.

Alright, thanks for all the info man! I have a local range about 10 miles down in the valley. I'll hit it up RIGHT when I get my scope for the Sportster. I was actually looking at this one. I doubt I will EVER be shooting out as far that I will need the 24X Magnification. But It's a BSA, it's cheap, and it's powerful. What do you think?
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/bsa-6-24x40-mm-mil-dot-tactical-scope-matte-black.aspx?a=691423

[Thebear_78]

The price definately looks right!    One thing I would caution though is putting too much glass on your rifle.  Admittedly the intended use ranges for this rifle are under 300 yards.     Unless used strickly for targets I would get somethign with a smaller bottom end than 6x.

[evan1395]

The price definately looks right!    One thing I would caution though is putting too much glass on your rifle.  Admittedly the intended use ranges for this rifle are under 300 yards.     Unless used strickly for targets I would get somethign with a smaller bottom end than 6x.

Yeah, I suppose you are right. I honestly did not even consider it going as low as 6X. Buuut then again, I do intend on making longer shots with this. So for the price, I think i'll give it a shot.

[theratdog]

THE HANDY 17HMR IS A REAL SHOOTER.I COULD NOT FIND A SPORTSTER EITHER

[evan1395]

THE HANDY 17HMR IS A REAL SHOOTER.I COULD NOT FIND A SPORTSTER EITHER

I have since found my .17HMR Sportster. Awesome little rifle.