Savage B.MAG & 17WSM going on 2 years???

I squirm a little when I have to buy 22 Mag and because of that predicament. I now prefer to shoot my 223 as a substitute for the 22 Mag.
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Buy it when it's cheap, and buy it by the bushel.

With my current .22 WMR stash (of my preferred ammo, even), I could shoot at the current rate for 25-30 years. But if I see bricks or cases for sale at a price that agrees with me, I won't hesitate to drop some cash on it. ;)
 
I just picked up one of these in the post changes sku, with the barrel threaded into the receiver. From the endless web-r-net reading the best I can piece together is the rifle initially had a pinned in lightweight barrel, and a lot of the accuracy issues had to do with how the barrel mated to the receiver. Also, the new sku BMAGS have heavy stainless barrels.

It's still in it's 10 day "cooling off period" (thanks California) but i'll let you guys know how it shoots when I get it out of waiting period. I have Savage 10 FP's, a 10 FCM, and a 93 fVSS in .22 mag and they're all exceptional rifles. I'm hoping Savage made it right with the redesign, but I fear the caliber may have tanked already.

When your (the shooter) only option is a questionable but cheap bmag, a $1300 Winchester 1885, or an $800 ruger 77 you're not gonna get a lot of traction in the market. Unfortunately the handi-rifles went tits up as well, as it seems like that platform would have been perfect for an affordable outlet for this cartridge.

ETA: I know the ammo isnt everywhere, but I did pick up 5 boxes of Hornady 20 grain varmint rounds for $11 each (50 count). didnt seem too bad and I live in the sticks. Going to the city on vacation next week, will hopefully track down some 25 grain.
 
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Just my opinion: A butt ugly rifle and a cartridge that's designed from the start to be a compromise(somewhat better than the HMR but significantly short of any centerfire above the Hornet).
 
It's not going anywhere. It's a WICKED coyote cartridge and especially in places like NY (are there any other places?) where using *any* centerfire during *any* deer season where/when you don't ALSO have a deer license and rifles are ALSO legal for deer AND it's during legal deer hunting hours is illegal.

BTW, there's not "just" the B-Mag and the $700 Ruger and $1200 Winchester.... there's also the $1300 Franklin AR. ;) Now that would be FUN. Not $1,300 fun, but fun if *you* bought it and *I* could shoot it.:D
 
I cannot speak for the whims and fancy of others but I have no use for anything under 22 based on cleaning alone. Done for me. Some random thought to follow.

I have no idea what is wrong with New York. BUT...A lot of guys use small diameter buckshot for coyote. I am sure these is a way to make them dead. Or buy a gun and a lifetime supply of ammo and then dont worry about the 5mm. This WSM is certainly not plinking or paper punching ammo. How many 17wsm worthy animals can a person kill in one year. ok. Multiply x20 and who cares? I suspect Brian is stocked up. It is not that hard.

I think the Ruger 77 is a fine platform for the 17 wsm and there should be no complaining about that. You got one low cost option and one solid quality option. Not many, but enough if you really want to shoot it. The problem with wsm is the size and pressure levels require a bigger action than most rimfires. For instance, this simply will not work in a cz or ruger american. Popular has nothing to do with it. It dont fit. I dont know if that was an accident or deliberate or just a natural consequence of pushing the boundaries of rimfire performance.

At first I though a 22 WSM would be a good idea. Now I realize that at some point, the 223 is simply more practical. This maybe that point. Ammo at $11 a box is fair? What do you want? Your not going to get good hunting 223 for that. So, I dont know. If they made a 22 WSM, I would try it. A family rather than just one 17, might encourage one of the big players to offer another option such as an up sized Ruger American rim fire. Again, I dont know. With so many guns and calibers offered these days, why one over another is any one guess. There is certainly no void that needs filling here.
 
Still love mine

Still have had no issues with mine. I have a pencil and a bull barreled version bmag. Very accurate, fun to hunt with and light. Puts a little fun into long range squirrel hunting around here. To each their own, but for what it's worth, mine have run flawlessly and it's fun to punch holes in paper with 1/2" groups at 100yds shooting it from your shoulder. lol. No recoil, no flinch, no bruises. I had wished for a long time savage would make a "nice" one, but ruger filled that void. And $800 isn't that much, you're paying for quality, not size.
 
I have no problem getting ammo for my B-Mag. The .17 WSM isn't going away anytime soon. I'm still using the B-Mag knowing full and well it's a cheaply made rifle. Mine however gets the job done. I let the barrel cool down after 5 rounds or so and I keep the bore clean. I'll eventually replace the B-Mag. There are other rifles available now and more on the way. I still like my CZ 452 Varmint in .17HMR better. It's just a nicer quality rifle. Beyond 125 yards the .17WSM comes into its own.
 
From what I've read or seen on forums/ videos. Ruger makes a moderate bolt action for around 800. Still, the best I've been hearing for accuracy capabilities have been close to MOA, ..........but no-where near sub MOA : that's atleast with consistency.

On a calm day I shot on the 100 yard line with another shooter who had the B-mag with a new stock( fully free floating and professionally bedded...- atleast to his explanation. He'd often get 3 of 5 touching but the other 2 would be inches off from the center group. I on the other hand was getting very close to MOA average, tallying the several 5 shot groups that I'd shot with my bolt action .22lr. I could see the disappointment of the individual as we walked to our targets.

Now given that his rifle started out as a run of the mill Savage experiment, it's not much I can gloat, but the .17WSM has ballistics that is realms beyond .22 magnum, let alone .22lr.

Before anyone starts screaming, I'll reiterate that my savage quality opinion applies to this particular rifle. I understand that many bolt action rifles in Savage's line of centerfire models have out of box MOA capabilites..... Also the bolt action .22lr I shot that day was a Savage FV-SR.

Anyhow, just one of those days where I smiled to myself.

Anyone using a rig supporting the .17 WSM: who has a set of targets in a row ( 3 - 5 seperate with 5 shots per group at 100 yards with a sub MOA average- PLEASE POST....... I would love to be proven otherwise.
 
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