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Posted By: efw .17 WSM thoughts? - 02/29/20
I was in Wally World earlier this week and saw a reasonably priced Savage so-chambered in the display along with a sizable stack of ammo.

How does this cartridge stack up against the HMR & Hornet?

I like to reload, but the ammo appeared reasonably priced... $17/50 IIRC?

What's everyone's thoughts?

Thanks,

efw
Posted By: huntsman22 Re: .17 WSM thoughts? - 02/29/20
it's a tweener. 'Tween the hummer and the hornet. As far as rifles go, I'd rather have a 'sizeable stack' of chit, than a B-mag....
Posted By: shootAI Re: .17 WSM thoughts? - 03/01/20
Hard pass on the savage B-mag. Cartridge is fun. Not much difference between HMR with A17 ammo and the WSM.
Posted By: Big Stick Re: .17 WSM thoughts? - 03/01/20
LOVE the chambering,whether in 77/22,Franklin or JARD Krunchentickers.

I prolly have a "few" High Zoot Hummers too and the A17 Schit,is fhuqking LIGHTYEARS shy of Whizzum performance.

Hint..................
Posted By: alwaysoutdoors Re: .17 WSM thoughts? - 03/02/20
Coyotes don’t like it.
Posted By: VarmintGuy Re: .17 WSM thoughts? - 03/02/20
Efw: Two of my Ground Squirrel Hunting friends own and Hunt with them. I have shot both of them "afield" and notice the difference (pretty impressive!) when a big Ground Squirrel is hit "amidships" (over a 17 HMR)!
One is a Ruger 77/17 WSM and the other is "savage" of I forget the model.
Preferred the Ruger by a large margin.
By the way both are accurate enough to be impressive according to the owners. Saw one Badger that was kill't with the 17 WSM - head on one shot kill to the chest at 80 - 90 yards.
That says something.
Good luck if you decide to go for it.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
Posted By: 300Winnie Re: .17 WSM thoughts? - 03/03/20
I have one of the Ruger 77/17's in this chambering. I really like it.
Posted By: DollarShort Re: .17 WSM thoughts? - 03/04/20
Shoulda been a 20
Posted By: beretzs Re: .17 WSM thoughts? - 03/06/20
I have an 18" SS Ruger in the laminate with a 6X SS on top. It's made a great show for itself out to 400 on calm days with the American Eagle ammo. I think I get it for 12-13 bucks a box. It is a beast of a little cartridge. I am the same way and love to reload, but the 17 WSM is a blast just shooting and not worrying about picking up brass. It is close to one of the funnest rifles I own.
Posted By: OSU_Sig Re: .17 WSM thoughts? - 03/06/20
I ended up with a Volquartsen in a trade and am about to scope and take it to the range. Should be lots of fun.
Posted By: beretzs Re: .17 WSM thoughts? - 03/07/20
Originally Posted by OSU_Sig
I ended up with a Volquartsen in a trade and am about to scope and take it to the range. Should be lots of fun.


Hell yeah, let us know what you think!
Posted By: Certifiable Re: .17 WSM thoughts? - 03/09/20
Originally Posted by beretzs
Originally Posted by OSU_Sig
I ended up with a Volquartsen in a trade and am about to scope and take it to the range. Should be lots of fun.


Hell yeah, let us know what you think!

OSU, any feedback? Have been thinking hard on going the same route vs the ruger
Posted By: OSU_Sig Re: .17 WSM thoughts? - 03/09/20
going to try tomorrow. Rain and wind today. I'll have it out tomorrow and should be able to file a report.
Posted By: Certifiable Re: .17 WSM thoughts? - 03/09/20
Right on..thanks
Posted By: OSU_Sig Re: .17 WSM thoughts? - 03/11/20
[Linked Image]

Took the Volquartsen 17 WSM out to the range today. Shot it first without a can, then with a can. Here are some thoughts on the rifle.

Its a heavy rifle. Weight of rifle and scope, without the magazine and ammo is 11 lbs. 2 oz. The scope is a Nikon Monarch 5 3-15x42 and isn't known as a heavy scope. I think the trigger is good but the magazine was trouble for me. I'm going give it a bit of a pass due to the fact that its new but it needs to be much easier to load ammo in for me.

I was pleased that the point of impact with the can was not much different that groups without the can. The downside for a lefty shooting a can is the blowback you get on your right cheek when the rifle is fired. It's apparently common with semi autos.

The rifle shot well and the 17 WSM is pretty hot. I didn't have my chrono but feel the bullets were really screaming. I had no malfunctions but only was able to put about 45 rounds down range. Best group at 100 yards was about 1.5 inches. Wind was at about 120 degrees at 6-10mph.

Questions?
Posted By: Certifiable Re: .17 WSM thoughts? - 03/11/20
What’s up sig, thanks for coming thru..

Nice looking setup there. I don’t have any questions other than how do you feel about the accuracy?
I know you didn’t shoot much but I think I’d be a bit disappointed if the best I could muster out of a rifle costing that much was 1 1/2”...
What do you think?
Posted By: OSU_Sig Re: .17 WSM thoughts? - 03/11/20
Good points and I think the rifle can do much better than it did today. I couldn't get comfortable behind it. I didn't have a front rest so I had to use those bags pictured and the scope/ring combo isn't the best. I am confident it will do better than what I did with it today.
Posted By: Certifiable Re: .17 WSM thoughts? - 03/11/20
Right on.. I’d think so as well. Keep the reports coming when you get out again.
Posted By: charleeontop Re: .17 WSM thoughts? - 03/15/20
Funny the 17 was the only available cartridge left on the shelf at the local sportsman warehouse along with 100's of what I will call hunting cartridges 270 ect.
Posted By: Beaver10 Re: .17 WSM thoughts? - 03/15/20
OSU, it’s normal that your Volquartsen will need some breaking in. Part of the accuracy issue may be you getting used to the heavy, one piece milled receiver...I’m sure you noticed the felt recoil from the action moving -surprisingly how heavy the push back is considering with a bolt gun in 17 WSM there isn’t any recoil...

Mine was a low serial # of 25 after Volquartsen started chambering for the 17 WSM and It was as accurate as my Ruger 17 WSM rifle.

I decided to trade mine off eventually...Now, I use a Ruger 77/17 WSM with a 24” varmint barrel and just today picked up another Ruger M77/17 WSM but with a 20” barrel.

I’ve looked at and shot the Savage Bmags, aside from Savage having a decent enough barrel that gave good accuracy for a small price of admission into the world of 17 WSM. The Bmag and it’s funky bolt system was a non-starter for me. I like having a rimfire feel like a full size rifle in my hands.

Like Scotty above mentioned, my Ruger, and Volquartsen liked the Federal American Eagle over all the other brands. Weird, since I’ve been told one company produces all the 17 WSM ammo...They must’ve just like the look of the Federal box over Hornady’s. Laffin.

Tip: Hold you Volquartsen down a little more firmly and watch that your bag isn’t blocking the ejection port or catching the bolt lever as it moves back or forward. Your picture shows no issue with the bag, but I had it happen in the field a couple of times when I would sink mine deeper into the bag to lessen the recoil for better accuracy.

[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]

Newest Rug 17 wsm with 20” Sporter barrel...A fast and handy little rimfire. Triggers are notoriously awful. Quick fix is a Jard spring replacement. Drops the trigger from around 7lb to 3lb in minutes.

😎
Posted By: OSU_Sig Re: .17 WSM thoughts? - 03/15/20
Beaver, thanks a ton for that counsel. I appreciate it. Regarding the bolt and bag interaction, I had that happen to me when I wasn't paying attention so I am much more attentive to that now. I suspect this rifle may get turned into a bolt action as I prefer the feel of a hunting stock over this target/bench model. Thanks again.
Posted By: Millerish Re: .17 WSM thoughts? - 04/05/20
As an avid 17 HMR fan, it has it's limits. I needed to be able to reach out up to 250 yards for coyotes and varmints, decided to try 17 WSM in a B-Mag. Have dropped two coyotes in their tracks, one at 200, other at 225 yards, have also dropped several other varmints at various ranges. Saying that, the B-Mag has some inherent accuracy issues when I compare it to my CZ in 17 HMR. I will be in the upgrade market (77/17?) however the round has sold me on it's effectiveness, would love to take it out and introduce the prairie dogs to it. I
Posted By: OSU_Sig Re: .17 WSM thoughts? - 04/05/20
I have a Volquartsen, which I am going to sell. Not because it's not accurate, because its crazy accurate. But I have an HMR and a 17 Hornet and I simply don't need the 'tweener, the WSM represents.
Posted By: Certifiable Re: .17 WSM thoughts? - 04/05/20
Sig... were you able to get back out and put it thru it’s paces a bit more?
Posted By: OSU_Sig Re: .17 WSM thoughts? - 04/05/20
No, just that one time. I realized the problem was me, not the gun.
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