Ruger m77 in 17 WSM?

[senorgrand]

I'm looking to improve my markmanship with a good bolt action rifle. I want something that reaches-out to 100 yards, has relatively low recoil, fairly cheap match-grade ammo and has controls and a feel that will scale-up to an eventual purchase of a 308 someday.

Oh, and a wood stock is a must.

So that kind of leaves me bouncing between either a .223 or a .17 wsm bolt gun. I'm leaning towards .17 wsm because match ammo is about half the cost of .223. Reloading isn't an option for me right now.

Ruger just came out with a M77/17. Any thoughts on the rifle or the round?

http://ruger.com/products/rotaryMagazine7717/models.html

[dfletcher]

I was considering the Ruger and may still get one. But I bought an MGM brand barrel in 17 WSM for my Encore single shot rifle. I like Rugers and have plenty of them, I especially like the Varmint and GSR. I've had a 77/22H and others. I got middle of the road accuracy from the 22 Hornet and 77/44. I read plenty of info on loads and how to fiddle with the two piece bolt for better accuracy, no luck. So I'm a bit leery of using a 77/22 type as my 1st go at a new cartridge.

[senorgrand]

thanks for the reply! a new rifle and a relatively new cartridge...maybe I'm setting myself up for beta test blues?

[G21Shooter]

If your primary use for the rifle is 100 yard target shooting, I'd suggest a Ruger 77/17 in 17 HMR instead. All 17 HMR ammo is made to match grade standards and its readily available for as low as $11 per 50 rounds.

17 WSM ammo is more expensive and the only reason to get it instead of a 17 HMR is if your hunting past 100 yards.

[senorgrand]

If your primary use for the rifle is 100 yard target shooting, I'd suggest a Ruger 77/17 in 17 HMR instead. All 17 HMR ammo is made to match grade standards and its readily available for as low as $11 per 50 rounds.

17 WSM ammo is more expensive and the only reason to get it instead of a 17 HMR is if your hunting past 100 yards.

Interesting point about 17 HMR. If I went that route, then a CZ455 might be better, since I could also shoot 22lr with a barrel swap.

[senorgrand]

I own a 17 WSM in a B Mag. and it's a really neat cartridge. I also have looked at several of the Rugers, they are nice to say the least but a bit more spendy than this man wants to spend. If they were more in the 350-400 range I might take the go. I have a Ruger American in 22 mag that needs a companion in another Ruger American in the WSM. The .17 WSM does a coyote right.

So you like the cartridge?

[dfletcher]

I think the 17 WSM offers a bit more than the HMR. I have a CZ 452 in 17 HMR and it gets to 100 yds OK on a nice quiet day, accurate rifle. I just have a bit more confidence in the faster WSM.

[senorgrand]

I just checked prices on ammoseek. The American Eagle 17 WSM, which apparently the Ruger m77/17 likes, is only about 4 cents more a round than most 17 HMR. I think the choice is still between the 17 WSM and .223.

[Rocketrob]

Have both the 7717 hmr and 7717 wsm.

Was having so much fun with the hmr on ground squirrels out to and past 100yds I bought the wsm version.
I get 5/8" groups from a rest with the hmr at 100.
and have only had the wsm out once and best group I could get was 1 5/8" on the same day on the same rack. granted it was brand new and only had 20 rounds through it. But it seems that from others reports this round is not as accurate as the hmr round.

[c good]

.17 WSM is the way to go over the .17 HMR. I shoot both and the price per round is almost identical if you shop around. But the WSM is much more fun to shoot! That Ruger is beautiful...but that price is a hard pill to swallow. Savage B-Mag, with a Boyd's wood stock is the way to go. I own the Savage B-Mag Heavy Barrel Stainless Steel with the original composite stock....looks bad...shoots GREAT! 1" MOA or less.... all day long with the 20gr Winchester .17 WSM ammo... HTH c good

[NorcalGSG]

The trouble with the WSM is nobody is making a rifle worthy of the round yet. Yes, I said that and mean it. The round is awesome, but the savage WSM has a garbage rotary mag system, among other issues. The Ruger for some reason is not coming out with consistent enough quality control to be a sure bet. Silly things like crowns not cut properly, substandard accuracy, just stuff a $900 piece should not have issues with. You can read about lots of problems out of the box on rimfirecentral forums.
I would say a sure bet for accuracy, and great price is the .17HMR savage bolt guns. Good magazine, good enough trigger, good barrels and will shoot small groups.