Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires .17 Mach2

I have a few rimfires,I find myself almost all the time going for the little 17mach2, I find it a little addicting.
Anybody agree?

yup

my favorite RF for hunting. I hope it hangs in there.

My favorite rimfire hunting rifle is a Marlin 917M2S that is bedded in a Boyd's Rimfire Hunter laminated stock and mounted with a Weaver V16 in Warne fixed Maxima rings. I still have around 2,500 rounds of Eley and Remington that I save for hunting. I hope that it hangs on, 'cause it is IMO the best tree squirrel cartridge ever made.

I had a little discussion with Hornady about the .17 Mach 2 earlier this year, and they assured me the cartridge still has their backing.

But that doesn't mean as much ammo will be manufactured, at all times of year, as for the .17 HMR and .22 Long Rifle.

Joe Ponds: LUCKILY (and I do mean LUCKILY!) I just bought 1,500 rounds of Hornady 17 Mach2 ammo for $195.00, from my friend who works at an old gunshop in NW Washington state!
The 3 cartons of ammo were half of a shipment that his gunshop got in a month ago.
I felt blessed to get this ammo at actual retail price and beat the state (legally!) out of the sales tax (9%!)!
I now have about 10,000 rounds on hand and that I plan on using at a rate of 1,000 rounds per year (so I have ten years worth).
I have three heavy barreled Rifles in 17 Mach2 and also consider them to be among the "funnest", most accurate and interesting of all of my various rimfire Rifles.
I mostly Hunt Ground Squirrels with my 17 Mach2's but it is great for all manner of small game, Varmints and nest robbing feathered vermin.
Yeah - I love the 17 Mach2.
Long live the 17 Mach2.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

JoePonds: And this... I have a Varminting friend who lives in New Orleans and he comes to Hunt Varmints with me here in Montana.
About 6 years ago he had a Ruger MK-II Target (stainless) converted to 17 Mach2.
After getting to use it a few times over a couple of years on Ground Squirrels I decided to convert a donor MK-II or MK-III to 17 Mach2 myself.
Then the dreaded rimfire extinction of October 2,012 began and I put that project on the back burner.
IF... I could come across a "case" of 17 Mach2 ammo at a liveable price I would go ahead with that project.
That customized 17 Mach2 pistol of my friends was a joy to shoot as it was just amazingly accurate when shot off of sandbags (or window bags).
I love the 17 HMR also but the 17 Mach2 is just amazingly fun and useful.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

VarmintGuy,
I really don't know why this round is so hard to purchase, they should ramp up production on this round. The need and want is there. No one could keep this round in stock for very long. I hardly look at my 22lr anymore.
This is like a laser on crows.
As for ammo myself down to the last eley brick.

Be-well Joeponds

What rifles are you using? I am wanting to try a 17 Mach 2 but cannot find a rifle or ammo locally

Love my Cooper Mach II. I'm really glad that I bought a few cases of the Eley ammo when it was on sale

JoePonds: I concur totally - the 17 Mach2 ammo should be AS available as the 17 HMR, if not, the 22 L.R.?
I hope you come across some ammo soon.
Good luck and thanks for the well wishes.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Kandpand: My three Varminters in 17 Mach2 are:
#1: Kimber SVT Model (Silhouette, Varmint, Target) this is a heavy stainless barreled, laminated stocked Rifle with a Leupold 6.5x20 EFR scope.
#2: Anschutz Model 1502 this is a heavy barreled model with a wide forearm for resting on sandbags and has a Redfield 6x18 variable scope on it.
#3: N.E.F. Sportster this humble heavy barrel truck type gun (short) shoots quite well even though it only has a 3x9 Redfield Widefield scope (for running Jacks and etc!) on it.
I do not know of anyone who still factory producing Rifles in 17 Mach2.
I think some folks are making 10/22 Rifle barrels in 17 Mach2 that might be an option for you - good luck in your searches.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

The Sako Quad and Savage Mark II are still on their websites.

I currently have 10 17HM2s:

Marlin 917M2 x1
Marlin 917M2S x2
Ruger 10/22 conversions x3
Savage Mark II R17BVSS x2
Savage Mark II R17FV x1
Savage Mark II parts gun x1

I have also owned a CZ 452V that was very accurate and a Remington 504 that wasn't very accurate.

If pushed to keep only 1, it would be the Marlin 917M2S, as it is very accurate and it fits me a little better than the others. If I lived in an arid environment and didn't have the constant worry about rust, I would probably opt for the CZ 452V over the stainless Marlin. The Marlin is my favorite squirrel rifles and is mounted with a Weaver V16.

The .17M2 barrel is the one that sees the most use on my Sako Quad.

I bought 11 bricks of 17M2 when it was 7 cents/shot.
I bought a 17M2 reamer.
I tried, I really tried to get it working right with a 10/22.
I failed.




I will build a pump action or a bolt action next.

My brother made a 17M2 conversion of a bolt action.
It works well, but where he lives there are prairie dogs, and the 17HMR is marginal, let alone the 17M2.

10/22 to 17HM2 conversions are tricky. I will probably convert mine back to their original configuration.

Cra1948: What do you Hunt or shoot at back around Lake Ontario?
I had a chance to buy a minty Sako "Quad" back about 4 years ago (used) and I have been kicking myself ever since for missing out on that deal.
And this while I have your attention: is it much of a pain when changing barrels (calibers) to have to (need to?) re-sight in the gun?
Or are you close enough when barrels need changing?
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Just picked up a Savage MKII yesterday. They had two in the storage room, a sporter barrel and a heavy barrel. Both in the basic synthetic stock w/accutrigger. I opted for the heavy barrel. The purchase hinged on them having some ammo. They were able to "find" two boxes.
Mueller APV mounted and ready to dial in.

I really wanted to find a Marlin but I've only seen them on GB lately.

Kenoh, That is a love/hate situation with the MKII for me. Great barrel, lousy stock and bottom hardware. Mine was a shooter compatible with a 453 CZ that I had.
Good Luck with her.