Author Topic: .17hmr. savage or marlin? (Read 2498 times)

coopershooter · « **on:** June 05, 2005, 04:38:17 PM »

is there an accuracy edge for one or the other? seem,s like the savage trigger fix is easier than the marlin.
are there some features that are better on one or the other?
thank you!
coopershooter.

Keith L · « **Reply #1 on:** June 06, 2005, 12:14:07 AM »

I chose the Savage over the Marlin because I could get a SS bull barrel with a synthetec stock. I get wet frequently in the fall around here so wanted a gun that wouldn't change with the weather. I have no regrets, but lots of the Marlin guys are just as happy. I put a Rifle Basix trigger in mine instead of the shim job, and the trigger is one and a half pounds and breaks like glass. I would like it a little heavier for hunting, but that is the max the RB trigger can be set and still get the bolt out.

It shoots tiny little groups all day long with the 17 grain ammo. and a little larger groups with the 20 grain hollow points.

I think this is one of those choices where you can't go wrong. Good luck.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #2 on:** June 06, 2005, 12:33:45 AM »

This is really a matter of individual preference. I personally have a Savage BVSS, stainless, heavy barrel, laminate stock. I added .025 shims front a rear on the trigger and cut a couple of coils on the spring. This is a pretty simple thing to do on the Savage, and the results are more than adequate.

Both brands are receiving great reports on accuracy, and both are price very competitively. Either will usually take a couple of hundred rounds before the barrel "breaks in" and really starts to shoot.

I really enjoy my .17 as it's the perfect small game and varmit rifle for my situation where the city has began to grow out into the country. Mine is very accurate, and I'm a confident shooter with it.

ice · « **Reply #3 on:** June 06, 2005, 06:44:43 AM »

I have the Marlin 917V and the Savage 93R17-BVSS. They apear to be equally accurate with their pet loads. They average 3/4" or less on good days. All my bench shooting is @ 100 yards.
Often I get three or four rounds touching, or almost touching @ 100 yards.
Both rifles have Rifle Basix triggers/sear installed. The triggers were a good investment.

I have been very pleased with both rifles.

wrightbrigade · « **Reply #4 on:** July 30, 2005, 12:07:01 PM »

Hey Ice, I really love my Savage 17hmr, did they ever get higher cap mags for these. I know they would stick down a bit more but a 10 cap mag would make it alot more fun for me. Thanks

Graybeard · « **Reply #5 on:** July 30, 2005, 05:38:29 PM »

Tried both and the Ruger too. I no longer own either. None of them were worth keeping. I now have a CZ.

Paul Barnard · « **Reply #6 on:** July 31, 2005, 01:56:36 AM »

Graybeard I am interested (and the original poster probably is) in what you didn't like about them.

They are not sexy, their triggers are lawyer triggers, and in general they are uninspiring. Then you shoot them and find out that they perform as designed. The 1 Marlin and the 2 Savages that I have experience with are 1/2 inch guns with their "horrible" triggers. The vast majority of Savge and Marlin 17 HMR owners are reporting very very good accuracy and are pleased with their purchase.

Graybeard · « **Reply #7 on:** July 31, 2005, 05:59:59 AM »

The triggers on neither of the three were all that bad. The Ruger was worst and was quite useable. The Marlin and Savage were really pretty good triggers.

The Marlin wouldn't shoot for beans and failed to eject cases. The Savage couldn't even be sighted in it was so bad out of whack. Even using Burris Signature rings after the other rings were removed. Just not possible to get it to sight in. The Ruger was the best of the lot by far. It only shot about 1.5" groups tho which was unacceptable to me.

I've not even scoped the CZ yet but the target that came with it is not awe inspiring for sure. If that's really the best it will do I will give up on the .17 HMR for ever more.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #8 on:** July 31, 2005, 11:52:02 AM »

Went to the range today with my Savage 93R17 BVSS. This rifle has a bushnell 4 X 16 4200 elite on top of it. 3/4 inch at 100 yards were average groups.

I haven't read many reports by people who were unhappy with the way either the Marlin nor Savage shoots. As a matter of fact, this is really the first negative post I've seen about either brand, as far a accuracy goes and most people report their guns shoot better than they do.

I have read a fair amount about problems with Rugers, however.

I Guess there's a bad one in every bunch, but dang Graybeard, you wound up with 2 at the same time? That's just unheard of! You might think of playing the lottery!

ice · « **Reply #9 on:** August 02, 2005, 10:43:06 AM »

Quote from: wrightbrigade

Hey Ice, I really love my Savage 17hmr, did they ever get higher cap mags for these. I know they would stick down a bit more but a 10 cap mag would make it alot more fun for me. Thanks

I wish I could answer your question but, I don`t know.
I prefer short mags. As a matter of fact, I shortened the mag on my Marlin so it wouldn`t stick out so far.
I only need one shot anyways.

Paul Mohr · « **Reply #10 on:** August 15, 2005, 10:26:15 AM »

I have a savage heavy barrel and it shoots at least one inch groups off the bench at 100 yards. And I only have a couple hundred rounds thru it. They do suck in the wind though. It has to be pretty much motionless to get good groups at 100 yards because of the light bullet.

On rimfire central the rugers tend to be a bit less accurate than the marlin and savages for more money. Not all, but some. Where is the savage and marlins are great right of the box.

I shot a 9 shot group, 3 rounds from 50 yards, 3 rounds from 75 yards and another three from 100 yards. They all went in a hole a dime would cover. That is pretty impressive to me.

I have a 6.5-20x44 A/O alaskan guide scope on mine. The rings and scope cost twice what the rifle did! However I've heard of people with 80 dollar 6-9 power scopes shoot just as good.

This is the first bad report on either gun I have heard as well. And I belong to about 4 other forums, including rimfirecentral. I just joined this site today.

Paul

daddywpb · « **Reply #11 on:** September 24, 2005, 11:26:49 PM »

I have a Marlin 917VS with a Nikon Prostaff scope on it. The factory trigger was horrible, so I added a Rifle Basix trigger. Shoots like a dream and has added a lot of rabbits to the freezer. Out to 50 yards or so, hitting a rabbit in the head in field positions is a gimme. With a solid rest, make it 100 yards. Mine is very particular about ammo. Tried every kind I could find and they all shoot well, but the Hornady V-Max cut group sizes in half. Typical rimfire. Head shots only though - very destructive bullet.

Simple Man · « **Reply #12 on:** September 25, 2005, 07:28:20 AM »

Take a look at either the CZ 452 or the 453 (the 453 has a single set trigger) and you won't be sorry. These rifles are a real gem.

JameyF · « **Reply #13 on:** September 26, 2005, 12:38:17 PM »

Quote from: Paul Mohr

This is the first bad report on either gun I have heard as well. And I belong to about 4 other forums, including rimfirecentral. I just joined this site today.

Paul

I am a member of rimfirecentral also, and I posted my poor results with the Savage there too. I know my results were/are not the normal from what I've read from others, but the Savage SS/laminate I purchased was AWEFUL for accuracy and even consistency. I sent mine back to Savage because of poor accuracy and failure to extract cases after firing. They reamed the chamber and test fired it. The target they sent back was measured closest edge to edge from furthest shots and still was just under 1".

I'm sorry, but just over 1" center to center after they work on the gun doesn't ring my bell when it's common for other's to get a 1/2" group. Oh yea...it still failed to extract occasionally after I got it back. That is completely unacceptable. I traded it back to the gun shop I purchased it from and got the Ruger. It's heavier so that may be a disadvantage, but it does shoot MUCH more consistent. The gun from front to back is MUCH "beefier". It feels like a rifle and not a toy like the Marlin and Savage. Also, I don't have to worry with a flemsy magazine hanging down past the stock. Groups are tight enough to almost touch at 50 yards, and I've got a penny I shot at 50 yards that proves it can do what I want when I need it.

If I were buying all over again, I would probably go the custom route, just because they are so darn fun to shoot. I would get a 10/22 or 77/22 mag used. Then, I would buy a custom barrell and stock to convert to 17hmr. I bought an aftermarket trigger that is now down to about 1.5-2 pounds. I would not want it any lighter than it is unless I was using it only on a bench.

If you want to save money, buy the marlin. It's the best value, but it and the Savage both feel cheap. I have no experience with the CZ except holding it. It does feel more substantial, but still not as nice as the ruger. I figured the Ruger I was getting would shoot roughly MOA, and I could work on it 'til I got it better than MOA. From what I read about them, I guess I was a little lucky getting one that is fairly accurate out of the box. Once you go higher than the ruger, it really does get expensive.

Simple Man · « **Reply #14 on:** September 27, 2005, 05:02:16 AM »

I have and have had both Marlin and Savage in the 17HMR and I think they are both great rifles and are very accurate. I would probably have to lean more toward the Savage for accuracy. BUT, if you want my honest opinion then I would really look at the CZ line of rifles because you won't be disappointed with one. :money:

The top grey rifle is the Savage and the bottom brown one is my Marlin.

The pic below that is my CZ 452 17HM2