Just picked one of these up. I put a SWFA SS 12x42 in Burris XTR's on it and started shooting. I have had pretty good results with the 17 gr Vmax's. After about 200 rounds it is shooting under an inch at 100.

I have already shot a bunch of gophers with it. I have even tried out to about 260, I may have connected, but no confirmed kills out there.

I really like the rifle, but I am wondering if anybody that had one has seen significant gains with one type of ammo. I have plenty of the vmax's, but want to know if it could be better. I was going to order some online, but to make it worth it I would need to order a large amount. I don't want to do that until I know it will shoot better.

Does anyone in the Bozeman area have a box of something other than the Vmax's that would want to trade for a box of said ammo?

Thanks,
Nick

I had a very early 93R17, and what I noticed most about it, was it's ability to shoot just about any HMR load well. Not quite as good as my Marlin with it's favorite load, but overall, it shot everything quite well.
I doubt you'll have any trouble with any load you try, frankly. It's under MOA with everything in that rifle I had. Mine was pre-Accutrigger, so the guy I gave it to, put a Sharpshooter rimfire trigger in it. It's one of his favorites now.

Thought I would add something more interesting to this post.

Rut,

I have one of the first ones I saw after the HMR was released.

It pretty much likes everything equally well. I'd stick with what you got myself.


Travus

Si,
I have a SS one and a all black synthetic, both hvy barrel.
I have shot everything CCI makes, it does just fine.
I like Hornady, but I don't think it matters, in mine.

If you want to try some CCI, I'll send you some...

I appreciate the offer, but I don't want to put you out.

I think I will order a bunch of the vmax's. I know it shoots well and I need more than two boxes at a time. I went through more than that today and would like to continue to do so.

I am sure something will come up locally soon that I can try out. I would like to see this thing at its full potential.

Another question, how often do you guys clean your 17's? I thought I saw a decrease in accuracy at the end of today. About 400 since the last cleaning.

Very rarely.



Travis

.17 rimfire schit seems extremely dirty to me.
I try to run a bore snake thru mine every few hundred rounds during the day, if I'm not drunk.
I had a .17 hm2 in a 10/22 blow up on me in the gopher field one time and I think it was a cleaning issue......
Anyway, at night sometimes I clean my .17 if I'm not hustling a fattie.
At times I've run over a 1000 rounds through an Hmr a day in a Savage.



P.S. With the fatties I am usually only good for one round per evening.
I never clean it.

I thought my Mach 2 explosions were due to filth as well.

Turned out they were due to recalls.

Doh!



Travis

Did you bleed?



Headspace?

It went all over my face.

But I am a trooper so I pressed on.

It went all over my face again. That's when I knew I could not handle life in the fast lane.

It's a 22 LR now.


Travis

That's what she said.



Mine has a Hvy. Barrel, 16", Limp.



P.S. So does the former 17m2.

I have had very good results with the 17 gr V-Max cartridges in 17HMR in the CCI, Hornady, and Federal. The only brand that has been a real disappointment is the Winchester Supreme 17 gr V-Max. Lots (and I mean LOTS) of misfires in my Savage 93R17TR. They also misfire in my son's Savage, too. Don't know if the Marlin would handle them better. They shoot fine accuracy wise, and perform great on gophers, but you never know when you are "dry firing" or actually shooting. I got a great deal on a bunch of it that will take me a few years to shoot up, and once I do, I won't buy it again at any price.