17HMR rifle choice

[crowbar1]

Hey guys, I need your help!

I am looking for a 17hmr rifle.

I am building my house on a large (I mean LARGE) piece of property, that has lots (I mean LOTS) of squirrels.

My 10/22 is doing a great job, but there are many shots that I could be taking if it had more range. Say out to 200+ yards. (Will a HMR go out that far?)

Budget is up to $1000 for the rifle. Must have quality, as it will be used 2-5 times a week (Nice to walk out your back door and shoot)

While your at, feel free to throw out some options for optics as well (up to $500)

Thanks in advance!!!

[JBird33]

I absolutely love my Savage 93R17 BTV. You could easily spend under $1K for the rifle and scope all said and done.

HMR will go out to 200+ yards, but it might take a little practice; not to mention that wind really starts to mess with the .17 after a hundred yards or so. If you are going to routinely shoot past 200 yards and have $1500 total to spend, I think I would go for a centerfire cartridge.

[emc002]

If it's not too windy, it'll do 200 yards reliably.

I have a Ruger 77/17 and it replaced my CZ 453 Varmit.
As for optics, a reliable cheapy that sits on most of my rimfires is a Mueller APV.

I did build a 10/22 Magnum into a 17HMR, but had nothing but issues with it. I don't recommend it.
My 10/22 that I converted to a 17 HM2 however is a #$&*!($& tackdriver (out to 100 yards, again with no wind)

[JBird33]

If it's not too windy, it'll do 200 yards reliably.

I have a Ruger 77/17 and it replaced my CZ 453 Varmit.
As for optics, a reliable cheapy that sits on most of my rimfires is a Mueller APV.

I did build a 10/22 Magnum into a 17HMR, but had nothing but issues with it. I don't recommend it.
My 10/22 that I converted to a 17 HM2 however is a #$&*!($& tackdriver (out to 100 yards, again with no wind)

I also run the Mueller APV on my rifle. Great budget scope, especially for hunting purposes. Sometimes when I am killing paper I wish I had a little more magnification, but when all I need is minute of squirrel...boy is it ever deadly.

[emc002]

Don't know this guy and he is a newer member, but this is a nice rifle too.

[crowbar1]

If it's not too windy, it'll do 200 yards reliably.

I have a Ruger 77/17 and it replaced my CZ 453 Varmit.
As for optics, a reliable cheapy that sits on most of my rimfires is a Mueller APV.

I did build a 10/22 Magnum into a 17HMR, but had nothing but issues with it. I don't recommend it.
My 10/22 that I converted to a 17 HM2 however is a #$&*!($& tackdriver (out to 100 yards, again with no wind)

Do you like the Ruger more then the CZ? Is it better in fit and finish?

[emc002]

Do you like the Ruger more then the CZ? Is it better in fit and finish?

Yes I like it more, I find I'm more accurate with it. The rifle simply fits me better.
The CZ had a better trigger out of the box, but after my gunsmith was done, the Ruger's is better. Fit and finish? About the same, maybe a slight edge to the CZ.
It's been a while, but I recall them being about the same price.

[crowbar1]

I absolutely love my Savage 93R17 BTV. You could easily spend under $1K for the rifle and scope all said and done.

HMR will go out to 200+ yards, but it might take a little practice; not to mention that wind really starts to mess with the .17 after a hundred yards or so. If you are going to routinely shoot past 200 yards and have $1500 total to spend, I think I would go for a centerfire cartridge.

I have over 2000 yards to play with, so I know that I will be going to centerfire at some point, but I wanted to sort of work my way up to it. After the HMR, I will be putting a tack driving upper on one of my AR's.

[kevinj0101]

I have a 452 model in .17 HMR, nice rifle, love the set trigger if you have a good rest. Most people that see it are quite impressed. With a clean bore and no wind that thing will shoot 3 shot groups at 100 yards that you could cover with a dime. At 50 your shooting through the same hole.

I don't think you could go wrong with any .17 in my opinion, I have a friend back home that uses a cheap savage .17 to drop coyotes well past 100 yards.

[dg29]

Here's the one that I have. It's a stainless black boat paddle stocked ruger 77/22 that I converted to a 77/17 hmr. I also have a 22mag barrel for it, so it can shoot a 22lr, 22mag., and the 17hmr by a swith of the barrel. The bolt and receiver and stock, I put a factory walnut stock on it when I converted it, have the weight and feel of a full size centerfire rifle. The glass on top of it is a 6x20 Nikon Monarch with a very fine reticle. I also have a converted 10/17m2. No matter what you decide to get, the 17m2, or a 17hmr is going to be a very accurate round and a pretty flat shooter. If you get a nice piece of glass you'll enjoy the red mist when eliminating your pest problem. If you plan to customize it by purchasing an aftermarket barrel the Ruger 77 would be the way to
go.
Just my .02

This place may have some useful info. for you: http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums...splay.php?f=15

[trob]

if you already have a 22lr then why dont you get a .223 for the longer shots? a .17 will move a TON with any kind of wind, and to me, a 223 would be more fun/reliable in more conditions.

oh, and my 17hmr of choice is CZ 452 or 453

[Paindoc]

Another to look at is the Sako Quad. 22lr,22Mag, 17Mach2, and 17HMR all in one rifle with barrel swap taking less than a minute. Optics stay on barrel and POI is very precise when changing barrels. Best trigger I've ever seen in an inexpensive rifle. I have the light profile barrel version, but there is also a bull barrel version. Mine is consistently 1/2-3/4 MOA.

Try the heavier 20gr loads at longer range. Bucks wind with more success.

[bridgeport]

Another vote for the CZ 452.... It is no joke, you can cover the groups at 100 yds with a dime. Lead free ammo is now widely available for the 17, and unlike the .22 wmr or the tin .22 lr, the .17 lead free is very accurate.

[IDPA4U]

My CZ 453 Varmint is the most accurate rifle I have ever owned out to 200 yards(if winds are read properly). Fit and finish is excellent, trigger is outstanding, and you can even get a Boyd's tacticool stock if you want to give it a tactical feel. Get a decent scope with plenty of magnification, the better you can see the more accurate you can shoot. Personally I would get one with a Horris reticle so you could hold off for wind with a high degree of accuracy. With all that practice time in your back yard you will probably be able to make first round hits out to 200 yards in no time. Just my 2 cents. Congrats on the new property...some day, some day.

[fast318]

I have a Marlin 917VS with a Weaver scope and it is a tack driver, due to ammo cost this is what I am going to use for the Tactical Turkey Shoot vs. my Savage 10FP. My rifle looks just like the one in the link below. My buddy has the Savage, the Marlin's magazine holds two more rounds (7 total) and the barrel is longer (+2" I believe).

http://www.chuckhawks.com/marlin_917.htm