Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics What scope for a 17 HMR - rimfire scopes?

Picked up a new Ruger 77 / 17HMR and for now I have a Zeiss conquest 4x33mm scope on it. It is a super bright scope but seems a little big on the rimfire.

Whats your 17 HMR have on it? Most rimfire scopes paralax is set shorter than rifle scope but seems to me the 17 HMR would benefit from a standard rifle scope.

4-12x40AO and 4-16x42AO on heavy/varmint contour barrel 17HMRs.

2-7x28 on light/sporter contour barrel 17HMRs.

I put a Burris Fullfield 4.5-14x42 with AO (E1 reticle)on mine.

The hash marks are perfect for 100 yd/ 150 yds/ 200 yds.

Never looked for anything else.

6.5-20 EFR Leupold on an Anschutz 1717. The rifle is full size, so it needs a full size scope. I think the 17 is good for small targets, so adjustable objective for parallax and magnification are desirable for that application.

Burris Fullfield II 3-9 on mine, perfect for killing stuff, not so hot at the range. Hashmarks are just right, though.

Had a Leupold 4-12X AO on my Anschutz 1717 and later a CZ. Worked very well for me.

I was leaning towards a 2-7 BUT it will be used for small critters so a higher power scope would be usefully.

Weaver V-16 4-16x42AO

I bought a Bushnell Trophy XLT 4-12 AO for a springer airgun because it was airgun rated. Was having "issues" with a .243, suspected the scope, so swapped it for the Bushy. May well end up staying there. What adjustments I've made have been spot on so far. About $130 on Amazon.

If I get a Hummer, which for me is strictly a toy, that's what I'd get.

When I got my CZ .17 HMR, I put an an older Leo 3.5 X 10 on it.
After a few range sessions, I realized the accuracy potential, and looked for a reasonably priced higher power scope.
The Burris FF IIs were on sale, and I got a bargain on 4.5 X 14 X 42 FF II.
It looks a little big on the gun, but makes head shots on squirrels at 150 Yds, and prints 1/3 MOA groups from a bench.

4x16 Bushnell Elite on a CZ 452 Varmint. For general use, it sits on 12X much of the time.

The 17 HMR is a 200 yard vermin rifle, typically very accurate and does well with a higher mag scope.

I have had a VX-III 3.5-10X40 with B&C reticle on mine for several years, and really like it. It gets me out to about 275 yards. Works well on gophers where one shot might be at 200 yards and the next at 30.

r
I use the same scope on my Savage HMR. It's a tack driver and I like to see the tacks!

Old_willys: My main 17 HMR Rifle has a wonderful Weaver V-16 (variable 4 to 16 power) scope on it.
It has an adjustable objective for close in shooting and tracks very precisely on the rare occasions I use the adjustments.
My Ruger 77/17 HMR is the heavy barrel model and with this scope is capable of EXCELLENT accuracy and long range shooting.
I use mine mostly for Ground Squirrel Hunting but have also taken Rabbits, Rock Chucks, Prairie Dogs, Fox, Coyote, Wild Turkey, Porcupine, feral cats, winged Varmints, Weasels, Raccoons and Badgers with this set-up.
The Weaver works extremely well for me.
Several of my Varminting friends have followed my lead and have Weaver V-16's on their 17 HMR Rifles (including Volquartsens, savages and several more Ruger 77's!).
The 17 HMR is such a versatile and efficient rimfire cartridge that I suggest you go for more scope power and that power to be enhanced by being of the variable type!
Best of luck to you with whichever you choose.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

What do you use it for? Target, critter getter, squirrel in the woods or crows across the field? I like 2-10's right now, but I'm always trading anyways.
High power makes things seem wobbly without a good rest. 2 in the woods up close or at dusk is grea

Old_Willys, I agree the zero-parallax range for rimfire-specific scopes is a bit short if you want to tap the HMR's reach. I'm also reluctant to saddle slim rifles with big optics. My pick for a sporting-weight .17 HMR would be a trim variable, 8x or 9x at the top end. Say, the 2.5-8x36 Leupold or 3-9x36 Swarovski. Nothing heavier than those.
... WvZ

My CZ has a Minox 3-15 power on it and the extra magnification and AO area good fit for zapping squirrels at 40 or 200 yards. If it were a 22 I'd use the Leupold 1.75-6x32 I have sitting in a drawer but the 17 can reach out there.

I have an old Leupold VariX-III 3.5X10AO on mine. Love it.