Rimfire 17's

[montveil]

I need info on types, rifles in the moderate price range and expected accuracy and effectiveness.
I am getting interested in getting a 17 for chucks out to 200 yards and target shooting but really don't know much along this line.
Any help will be appreciated

[coyotejoe]

My .17HMR is a CZ fullstock, beautiful rifle but I've never shot anything but paper with it. I really don't believe the .17HMR is anything like a 200 yard cartridge, it is far too wind sensitive, a 200 yard shot would involve a lot of guess work and the retained energy at that range is pretty marginal for animals as big as woodchucks. I'd call 150 the outside edge. For an inexpensive rifle, there are good reports on both the Marlin and the Savage rifles and the cheapest ones seem to shoot as well as the more fancy stainless and laminate versions.

[Keith L]

I have good luck with my Savage 17 HMR, but I wouldn't use it at 200 yards for woodchucks.  I use a .204 ruger for that.

[torpedoman]

stick with a bolt action a necked down rimfire and semi auto action (chamber gets dirty quick and rounds cant load and the bolt is hammering on the rim) is a disaster waiting to happen. Just one mans opinion who has seen 3of them  fire with bolt open because of this.

[woodchukhntr]

Both the Ruger 77/17 and my current Contender carbine shoot the .17HMR very well.  If I miss a woodchuk, it is my fault, since I tend to hold over.

I was looking at a Savage heavy barreled rifle, but the Contender was available with a trade, so I took it.  I agree that it is not a 200 yd. cartridge and about 150 is the maximum that I would try, but most of my shots are within that range anyway where I have been hunting.

[Glanceblamm]

I agree that it is not a 200 yd. cartridge and about 150 is the maximum that I would try

The Son-in-Law is shooting a Savage 93 and other than needing a trigger replacement (such as the Accu-trigger) I am impressed with it on those calmer days.
The newer 20gr game point is not the answer but did preform better @ the 150yd mark and offered more penetration instead of fragmenting.

[Graybeard]

So far I've owned in order a Ruger 77-17, Marlin and Savage and lastly a CZ.

The Ruger was not accurate enough to be interesting to me and I hate the blocky feel of the Ruger stock it just didn't appeal to me. The Marlin I never really found out how accurate it might be as it was made so far out of tolerance that I was unable to sight it in at 25 yards even tho I used Burris Signature rings with the plus and minus 20 inserts in both rings. It still wouldn't hit the same 8.5"x11" target sheet I was aiming at. I gave up and dumped it back to the dealer where I bought it. The Savage seemed about like the Ruger accuracy wise but the laminated stock on it felt about like holding a 2x4 in my hand. It too required the Burris Signature rings with offset inserts to get it to sight in and still used up much of the scope's adjustment range on top of that. I consider the workmanship of both to have been sub par.

The CZ I never got around to shooting before selling it and the fellow who bought it ended up doing the same so I have no clue how it would have shot.

I'll likely get another but if so it will be an Anchutz most likely. I'm looking at one now a Miester Grade with beautiful wood used but in almost new condition. The dealer is wanting $1500 for it or $1899 with a Bushnell Elite 4200 scope on it with the honking huge 50mm objective which I'd not have if it was free. I don't do 50mm objectives on scopes.

[slim rem 7]

 im surprised ,i thought the appeal of these little things was more range than a 22..
 if 150 is the outside range ..thats the same as my 22 cz.. not that id hit an  squirrels head that far. but with the higher velocities you probably could.. i won t be finding out tho as standard lr is what my gun is sighted with and my group ammo is standard lr..
 mabe at some point i ll see what that faster longer range stuff can do but it ll take a different sight in set up im thinking.. i  musta got  the reports on that 17 stuff mixed up with what the 22-250 will do..
  if it has no more range than that ,what is the appeal of it over the 22.. just wondering..

[Keith L]

He was talking about hunting woodchucks at 200 yards according to the first post.  And with either of my 17 HMR rifles and with the Contender I am likely to hit a squrrel head at 150 yards, but at 200 yards the little pill on the HMR is weak medicine on chucks.

[woodchukhntr]

im surprised ,i thought the appeal of these little things was more range than a 22..
 if 150 is the outside range ..thats the same as my 22 cz.. not that id hit an  squirrels head that far. but with the higher velocities you probably could.. i won t be finding out tho as standard lr is what my gun is sighted with and my group ammo is standard lr..
 mabe at some point i ll see what that faster longer range stuff can do but it ll take a different sight in set up im thinking.. i  musta got  the reports on that 17 stuff mixed up with what the 22-250 will do..
  if it has no more range than that ,what is the appeal of it over the 22.. just wondering..

I wouldn't use a .17 HMR on squirrels at any range because it is too destructive on anything but a head shot, and I cannot guarantee a head shot at anything over 50 yd.  The .17 HMR is best as a varmint gun, like the .22 Magnum, although solid bullets are available for the .22 mag. for small game hunting, and the .17 has a flatter trajectory, which helps greatly.  The .22 L.R. is great for small game and close-range varmints, 75 yd. or so due to it's lack of velocity and energy and the resultant trajectory, that's why the .22 mag came out.

[slim rem 7]

 i do believe montveil got lost .. probably drives truck over the rd or something..
  mabe he be back the weekend..

[Glanceblamm]

i do believe montveil got lost .. probably drives truck over the rd or something..
  mabe he be back the weekend..

Sometimes Schmidt happens...I was down just this morning when the Wife & her vacuum claimed some Computer cords from under this desk well  I was glad to have some spares.

[woodchukhntr]

Well I had my Contender carbine (.17 HMR) and Savage 11 (.223) out yesterday.  I received permission to hunt 2 fields that I have never hunted, and since they were somewhat close to the road and several homes, I chose the .17.  I haven't had chuck hunting like that in 20 years, 6 chucks out of 8 shots!  The ranges were 25 to 150 yards.  The first miss was a standing chuck at 25 yards and he made the mistake of sticking around for the second shot.  The other miss was the one at 150, the loose nut behind the trigger (me) caused the miss.  All hits, 75 to 100+ yards, were in the upper chest and head, just where I had aimed.