I've got the .17HMR itch!


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I don't know why, but I've got the itch for a .17HMR. Tired of the old .22LR. The .22mag is fun, but for some reason the .17HMR just sounds like a blast from all I've read and people I've spoke to. I'm not a big "gun guy", so me buying any rifle, small or large bore, is a big deal.

I was looking at the Savage 93R17 in stainless w/ sinthetic stock. It has the heavy barrel. Gander Mountain has that gun with a Simmons 3-9x40 scope for $269. What do some of you gun experts think of that price?

Any thoughts on the round?

I'd mostly use it for woodchucks and other small critters.

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Re: I\'ve got the .17HMR itch!

I got my savage 17 for under 200 bucks out the door at basspro thats with bullbarrel as well.....mine didnt scope though but you could defently get the gun for a bit cheaper if your not deadset on getting stainless. not that its a bad price at all .. i'm sure you could find a good deal on a scope from someplace like natchez shooting supply http://www.natchezss.com/ they were selling simmons 6-24X50 for 69 bucks....

I've shot one woodchuck with mine and it was dead before it hit the ground the 17 is a blast to shoot as well

Cody

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Re: I\'ve got the .17HMR itch!

I'm not sure where Angola Indiana is, but if it's within an easy driving distance, you need to check out www.whittakerguns.com in owensboro. They are an EXCELLENT gun dealer, and always have great prices.

Anywho, Last February I finally got the cash to buy me a new gun. I looked all over the internet and decided the Savage 93R17 GV was the gun for me. It is the same gun that you described, except it has a wood stock, and blued barrel. It is a very accurate gun, it shoots better than I do.(which isn't too hard, but you get the point.lol) I got the gun at whittakers. I bought the gun, a bushnell trophy scope($100) rings, and 2 boxes of ammo, for under $350. Now I'm considering puttin a bipod on it, that'll probably be awhile though.

Good like with whatever you decide on, heres a pic of mine.

250517hmr.JPG

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Re: I\'ve got the .17HMR itch!

I'm going to do a little more shopping. It'll either be the Savage or the Marlin. It will be in stainless though. I need to get a Marlin in my hands to see which one I like better.

I think I can get Walmart to beat Gander's price. I got thinking of Natchez for a scope after I had posted this earlier.

Anyone do much comparison between the Savage and the Marlin? Pro's and con's?

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Guest Colorado Bob

Re: I\'ve got the .17HMR itch!

I've got the heavy barrel Savage. It's a shooter for sure. I'm going out to the dogtown next weekend for a little afternoon shoot. It's deadly on those pairie dogs !!

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Re: I\'ve got the .17HMR itch!

[ QUOTE ]

Anyone do much comparison between the Savage and the Marlin? Pro's and con's?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm defently a savage guy but to be honest i've heard great things about the marlin I think it will just come down to what you feel more comfortable with both are great little guns

Cody

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Re: I\'ve got the .17HMR itch!

I went looking and looking today. I like both the Savage and the Marlin. Not sure what I'm going to do.

Then, a guy breaks out his single shot .17HMR NEF Sportster w/ a Nikon scope and lets me handle the gun. Says what a tack driver it is and how it is the best $130 (for the gun) you'll ever spend. Top it off w/ good optics and there is never a need for a second shot.

I've got to admit it was a sweet little gun. Might be real handy next year on my Texas hunt to take along as a varmant rifle.

I'm so torn! What to do?!?!?!?! I think I'll have to sleep on this one for a few nights.

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Re: I\'ve got the .17HMR itch!

I was in your position last year and did a lot of research. A lot of the NEF's are accurate, but i have heard of a good many having some accuracy problems, plus i like a bolt-action. So i was stuck between the Savage and Marlin. After reading a lot on rimfirecentral.com(go there to get a lot of opinions from people who own all of them), i went with the Marlin 917v. It is just the most accurate out-the-box one to choose from, it even outshoots the $600+ Anschutz. $169 from Wal-Mart. I will tell you though, the 917VS is nickel-plated, not stainless. The only bad thing about the Marlins(and Savages, from what i've heard), is the trigger. I am used to good triggers, so it took some time to learn this one. It had some creep and was probably about 5-6 lbs, but after cleaning it out good and shooting and dry-firing it a lot, it has smoothed out to about 4 lbs. I still want a Rifle Basix trigger though. As far as accuracy, my little rifle will outshoot any gun we have out 75 yards, and will consistently shoot under 3/4" at 100, and a lot of times under 1/2". I shot it at 300 yards last week and was hitting clay pigeons almost every shot. At 300 yards with a 17 gr. bullet! I would also try to get a decent scope, you will really limit it's potential if you get a cheap scope. I have a Weaver KT-15(straight 15x) on mine, but i have heard good things about the BSA Sweet 17 too. Hope this helps you some! As cheap as they are, everybody should own a .17!

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I bought one.

Well, when I get an itch, I get an itch. I lose sleep over these things.

So, after much consideration and much research (most at rimfirecentral.com) I decided that a sweet little single shot would be fun. That NEF Sportster just screamed my name, even though it was not stainless.

So, I went back to Gander and was talking to a different guy who also had one and was praising it. So, I said "what the hey" for $130 you really can't go wrong. I did not purchase a scope yet. I have brand new Bushnell Banner 3-9x40 that I found on close out last spring and bought because you just can't pass up a $90 scope for $30. I'll put that scope on the gun until I decide what scope I want long term.

Like I said, not the stainless that I had said I was going to get, but I got thinking, with this little gun who cares. It'll probably spend the bulk of it's time behind the seat of my truck for unsuspecting ground hogs. I think it is going to make a fun little gun. I'll post a picture when I get it all put together.

Looks like I get to do some playing this weekend!

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Re: I bought one.

The cool thing about that gun, is you can send the receiver and forend in and get matching 22 lr and 22 Mag barrels. You can have the whole rimfire family. I am not sure if they are offering the 17M2 as of yet. Congrats on your decision.

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Re: I bought one.

I shot 50 rounds through the gun over the weekend. What a fun little gun. From a brand new gun I was shooting sub 1" groups at 100 yards. I did not have a good shooting bench or bags. I hope to get to the local range in the next week or so and put the gun on sand bags. I'm sure with more time with this gun and the proper rests, it'll be punching sub 1/2" holes in no time. I can't wait for some free time to get it out in the woods for some squirrel shooting.

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