What .17HMR do you recommend?

[Topgun863]

Alright, so with all the madness lately I'm considering picking one up. I've been looking at a bunch of different ones and have yet to come to any conclusion.

What I'm looking for:

-.17HMR
-Match grade or heavy barrel
-Free floated barrel
-Stainless would be preferred
-Can be Walnut, laminate, or synthetic (as long as its not the cheap synthetic)
-Higher mag capacity (more than 5) would be nice but not mandatory
-Obviously a good trigger pull is important but since I'm not afraid to have a trigger job done, as long as it can be made into a nice trigger pull I don't really have to have perfection out of the box

Ones I've been look at:

Ruger 77/17: Love the looks of the stainless with the black laminate. I've read that the action is smooth and the trigger is decent and can be made pretty good with a trigger job. Problems i've heard, Ruger barrels arent that great accuracy wise. Also I believe they are not a free floated barrel.

Browning T-bolt: Love the action on these (my dad has an original one in .22 of course). Brownings have always shot well to me and seem to have pretty good accuracy out of the box. I like that they have a 10rd mag. Negative is that the trigger guard and possibly even the trigger are plastic which I dont like at all. Also they dont offer stainless currently which isnt too big of a deal except they also dont offer much of anything above the standard grade walnut stock (If I have to have a blued rifle, I'd like to have a grade II or III stock though that isnt the end of the world if performance is there)

Sako Quad: looks like an awesome rifle but price and availability seem to be a major problem...

Marlin: Just never been a fan and have heard their .17's have had feeding issues so I'll pass.

Savage: My uncle has one of the base model .17's. Shoots alright, trigger is decent out of the box. And I know they offer free floated stainless versions. Seem to be a decent rifle for the price, but they just don't seem to be anything special to me. They just dont seem to be a higher end rifle. The plus is I know a place that has a few in the store...

CZ: I've seen that a lot of guys like these. They seem to be accurate with decent triggers. Thats about all I know about them. Have yet to shoot one... I know they dont offer stainless either. And I'm not sure if their barrels are free floated. I also dont know of anyone around here that carries these.

Give me your thoughts, which is the best route to go? What do you dont you like if you have one of these (or mention a different one). I may not have all the info correct on these so please correct me if i mentioned something above that was incorrect. I'm just looking for a nice quality rifle that I can enjoy plinking with and possibly take it out and shoot squirrels and prairie dogs. I'd like to be able to take shots out to 100 yds and be sub MOA. Price, well I dont want to spend an arm and a leg but 6-800 if its a higher quality rifle would be about my range. (Not gonna spend 2k on a full custom top shelf rifle for plinking lol)Unfortunately I havent actually been able to get my hands on many of these as most places dont have many rifles in stock, much less carry all these brands/models.

[hylander]

Having owned a few I will give MHO.
I would not be hasting in passing up Savage or Marlin.
Both are nice and shoot 100yd MOA out of the box.
CZ is just top quality all the way around, if you have the money and can find one, it is my first choice, no cons.
Savage and Marlin are a toss up, both shooting MOA and made.
Savages cons:
Sometimes the actions need a little smoothing, not a big deal if know how
to stone.
Pros:
Accutrigger is Awsome

Marlin Cons:
This to me is a biggie: Some have the scope mount holes drilled off center, so check it at the store before purchase. But even if off center BKL sells a mount that cures this issue and is an Awsome mount. I use this mount regardless.
I do not like the triggers, they need work and seem finicky.

With either:
I would opt for the stainless, they seem to be a little better accuracy wise.
The synthectic stocks are crap, the plain wood stock are just that, Plain and not hardwood. Opt for the Laminates if money is not an issue, however the plain ones work just fine.

All said and done
I would own any of them, They are all MOA accurate.
I would give the accuracy edge to CZ then Marlin and then Savage.
They all like to shoot dirty, so don't over clean a 17HMR

[Colt562]

I just got a Savage 93R17-F with the heavy barrel. Have not shot it yet but my first impression is really well made rifle. I would highly reccomend one, 17hmr is a great caliber.

[Topgun863]

Having owned a few I will give MHO.
I would not be hasting in passing up Savage or Marlin.
Both are nice and shoot 100yd MOA out of the box.
CZ is just top quality all the way around, if you have the money and can find one, it is my first choice, no cons.
Savage and Marlin are a toss up, both shooting MOA and made.
Savages cons:
Sometimes the actions need a little smoothing, not a big deal if know how
to stone.
Pros:
Accutrigger is Awsome

Marlin Cons:
This to me is a biggie: Some have the scope mount holes drilled off center, so check it at the store before purchase. But even if off center BKL sells a mount that cures this issue and is an Awsome mount. I use this mount regardless.
I do not like the triggers, they need work and seem finicky.

With either:
I would opt for the stainless, they seem to be a little better accuracy wise.
The synthectic stocks are crap, the plain wood stock are just that, Plain and not hardwood. Opt for the Laminates if money is not an issue, however the plain ones work just fine.

All said and done
I would own any of them, They are all MOA accurate.
I would give the accuracy edge to CZ then Marlin and then Savage.
They all like to shoot dirty, so don't over clean a 17HMR

I appreciate your input. I dont discount the Savage, they are great shooting rifles for what they cost, they just don't 'feel' as quality as some other brand rifles. Marlins have just never done it for me. Everytime I shoot one it just doesnt feel right, they feel unfinished or unperfected.

I really like the Ruger, but in many of the comparisons i've seen they seem to post worse numbers than the other brands in this category and I really don't want to have to spend another 2-300 for a better barrel. If I could work out the quarks I think this is the rifle I'd like to have. I'd like to get my hands on one of those and a CZ and see how they compare to a stainless Savage.

[hylander]

I appreciate your input. I dont discount the Savage, they are great shooting rifles for what they cost, they just don't 'feel' as quality as some other brand rifles. Marlins have just never done it for me. Everytime I shoot one it just doesnt feel right, they feel unfinished or unperfected.

I really like the Ruger, but in many of the comparisons i've seen they seem to post worse numbers than the other brands in this category and I really don't want to have to spend another 2-300 for a better barrel. If I could work out the quarks I think this is the rifle I'd like to have. I'd like to get my hands on one of those and a CZ and see how they compare to a stainless Savage.

It all boils done to personal preference.
That said I would choose a Ruger last, one reason is the one you mentioned, worst accuracy, other is parts availability.

[gregorio]

My first .17HMR was this Savage 93R17 FSS


I bought this one because it was inexpensive and I wanted to test the waters with this round. I fell in love with the trigger and the accuracy right out of the box. It has a tapered barrel and plastic stock that makes it very light.

I borrowed a Ruger M77 from my FIL but was not as impressed with the trigger or the accuracy compared to the Savage. I love the action and the looks, BTW.

I now have this Savage 93R17 BTVS


It has been a complete joy to hold and shoot. Accurcy is phenomenal and there are 10 round magazines available. This is now my go to squirrel gun inside 150 yards.

[Topgun863]

Admittedly I have yet to get ahold of a Ruger 77/17. I've heard they are pretty nice. I just dont know about the accuracy. I might have to see if I can check out a stainless savage in person. I see they have one on their website with the black laminate stock and stainless barrel. I also like the one that has what looks like a McMillan stock copy and a Carbon, Fluted, Match grade barrel. I wish there were more options that were more available so I could see and compare them in person.

[gregorio]

Honestly, if money was no object go buy a Volquartsen. Hands down, they are the best rimfires available today.

https://www.volquartsen.com/

[Topgun863]

Honestly, if money was no object go buy a Volquartsen. Hands down, they are the best rimfires available today.

https://www.volquartsen.com/

Why did you have to show me that... lol

Holy crap those are expensive

[Topgun863]

I like this one the best. There's just something sexy about the grey laminate and stainless barrel...

EDIT: There, fixed it.

[gregorio]

Yep, that is VERY sexy!

[torquen]

I've shot a few different .17 hmr's. I own a Savage blued bull barrel. I went with the bull barrel because the gun is so lite anyways. I put a hawke variable focus scope on it.

I have shot hundreds if not a thousand rounds through it. I've cleaned it twice with a snake. I shoot any brand of ammo without any troubles. At the range I put a quarter up at 100yds and places three holes side by side in 3 shots before the quarter fell off the paper.

I have shot a lot of rabbits, crows, squirrels at the vineyard. I've also taken a couple of coyotee down dead in their tracks. All head shots.

My good buddy has a Marlin. I was going to get one until I shot his. I did not like the trigger nor was it nearly as easy to hit target.

I know the savage is cheap in price but its a great shooting .17hmr. I would love to get a CZ someday but can't justify spending the cash as my Savage shoots so well.

They also make an aftermarket 10 rd mag for the savage.

[drunktank]

My family shoots .17HMR. The savages have been great. Shoot an inch at 200 yards with no wind.

My uncle's new Marlin had issues. Trigger not as smooth as Savage. Laminate started to chip and peel off already. Scope mount had issues. Gunsmith repaired and installed a deadnutz unit and now it will shoot 1 moa at 100 yards. In fact, I haven't shot a .17HMR that wasn't 1 moa at 100 yards yet.

[1-M-42]

I've had my Savage 93R17 BTVSS for three years now, topped it with a Mueller Eraticator. Accuracy is outstanding, only problem I've had was a semi-regular failure to extract, think it may be a weak extractor spring, been too lazy to fix it.
In June I picked up a Ruger 77/17 All Weather. Grey Cerokote, grey/black laminate stock, with a custom matching grey Leupold B&C scope. Contrary to a previous post, it actually shoots better groups than my Savage. It's now my primary Cedarville squirrel gun.
The VQ is the best, by far. I just can't justify the cost.

[Motor Man]

Take a look at an anshultz 17 HMR rifle if you've got $1100.00. The trigger is so light that all you have to do is think about pulling it for it to fire. Super smooth but maybe to like for hunting.. Don't know where you are located but they currently have one at Canyon Sports in Martinez. Price was $1100 there so you can probably get one for less elsewhere. I think the savages have the better trigger when compared to the CZ or Ruger. You can also get a synthetic tactical stock for the savage if you get one of the. Cheap synthetic savage stock models. Boyd's stocks sells them for $125.