I was considering an AR in the .17 caliber class but the ammo is a lot more pricey than I expected.Is this an AR worth pursuing?

That's a question only you can answer. To me it's not. I'm also assuming you are talking about the 17 HMR? It's a rimfire, and it is very easy, for me, to shoot 300 rounds when I go out. You can't handload that ammo, to bring costs down. I know a lot of guys use them on sage rats and ground squirrels, and love them.

One of my buddies has an Alexander arms that is suppressed, and he likes it. Contrary to some opinions: The 17 does not work as reliably on yotes, so a couple friends gave up on them. The 17 definitely has its niche.

Around here, you can find ammo in the $18/box price range. Honestly, I'd rather just use a good accurate 22lr on small vermin, or step up to a 223 rem. I still have a 17HMR, and the last time I went out with it (last week), I burned up 200 rounds of ammo in a short amount of time. When I realized how much money I just burnt up, I stopped shooting!!! That was the first time I had shot that A17 in almost 2 years. With a 22, that would have been roughly $20.00. In the 17, it was almost $80.00!! And no, I never find deals on 17HMR ammo!!! I find deals on just about everything else out there, but not 17 ammo.

As an example of costs: For my AR in .223, I can load up 200 rounds for less than $50.00 in some instances.. That's going off of recent bullet purchases, and powder costs, and free brass, as I don't pay for .223 rem brass.. You talk to seafire, and he can probably load it for cheaper than that!!!!

well I actually looking at centerfire .17---say .17 remington--I have a savage 24F in that caliber and it's fun to shoot but I also looked at .17 fireball

My cousin has had AR’s in some odd calibers starting with the 223 WSSM and working his way up to the 25 WSSM and some designs on that case and others that were AI’d.

But he also got down to the 204 Ruger and 17 Remington. His first 17 had a real slow twist and would shoot 20’s real well but 25’s were a no go. He traded it back for a faster twist 17 and it works good even with the 30’s but he can’t get those anymore.

Out of all the calibers he tried (mostly for coyotes) he now has 223AI’s and his cat gun is the 17 Remington.

Personally I prefer the 204 Ruger but if you like the 17, it works good in an AR.