Why 17 hmr or 17 Mach 2?

A

AZAK

New member
I know that, "there is enough love to go around for ALL cartridges" but why do folks prefer/use these two?

In my mind kind of a 'tweener of the 22 lr and the 223 remington. What can either of the 17s do that I can't already do with the 22 lr and the 223 rem?

Bottom line: should I justify getting a new rifle or two and the ammo to go with?
 
hey mate, used to think the same thing. but for me the 17hmr fits a gap between the .22 and .223.

i shoot mainly rabbits and foxes under the spotlight down here in Aus. iv found the 17hmr reliable to 200yards ( around double the distance of the .22) and ammo costs about half as much as the .223 rounds i use.

yes i could probably do all my shooting with the .223, but the 17 is so flat and a dream to shoot. you probably dont "need" one but if you have some spare $$ they are a lot of fun :D
 
I don't really see much use for a 17 HM2.

But with a 17Hmr you don't have to worry so much about ricochets, its a lot quieter and doesn't heat up so fast. Also comes in a smaller rifle generally.
 
To me the 22Hornet is the perfect fit between 22LR and 223Rem.

Load mine with Lil' Gun and Vmax's. Perfect 150yd gopher getter.
 
My 17HMR with 21" bbl
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Which one? And specifically what do you use it for and any pros and cons? I am considering picking up a 17, more or less as a walking around rifle that is lighter than my 223, but with a little more "usable" range than a 22.
 
Savage 93R17 BTVS. For walking around rifle maybe look for the "F" model. Quite a bit lighter and still plenty accurate based on reviews I've read.

I use mine for gophers, jack rabbits, and whatever other vermin may be lurking in the oilfields.....

Pros...quite a bit more range than my 22s, at least for me. The 22s are the primary weapons when we go, but if I see something much more beyond 75 or 80 yds I'll pull out the 17. Anything much more than 175 or so I'll pull out the 204. Just cause i can.

Cons....The wind really messes with the 17grn bullets after 100 - 125 yds, and I live on the "High Line" where there is usually some breeze. You learn to live with it.
 
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17m2 is my next gun, but i do a lot of small game hunting, especially squirrel. 17hmr blows them up, 22 works fine but isnt as flat.....17m2 fills the niche and is good farther out. To me if your a varminter, 17hmr, if youre a small game meat eater, 17m2.
 
I have a 17M2 simply because I wanted a Ruger 10/22 in 17. It does have it's niche. I find it excellent for varmint removal in/near buildings. So far, I've not had a bullet exit a racoon or skunk which is important when shooting inside a building or in a live trap.
I would have loved to have it to use on picket pin gophers two summers ago. There were too many rocks for safe use of a 22lr but the tiny 17 grain bullets are much less likely to bounce than the lead 22's.
I also have a 17HMR for the extra range and the laser beam accuracy. It has much more reach than a 22lr w/o the noise and possibility of collateral damage with a .223. Absolute deathray on groundhogs out to 100 yards(longest range I've used it on GH) w/o concern of pass throughs/ricochets. My older Son killed a large coyote DRT last month with the 17HMR but could not have safely taken the shot with a 223.
 
i have a savage 93 in 17hmr and i love the accuracy and the range of that little bullet. it is quiet and super flat out to 150 yards. i get dime size groups at 100 yards and have dropped tree rats out at 100 yards and their friends didnt know what had happened and hung around to find out for themselves. I like it as a varmit round as well did a number on a racoon that was digging in my mother in laws trash. the ammo is realitively cheap when u think that they are typically only in bolt action guns with 7 rounds or less capacity. to me it is a great plinking round because i can really test myself out on the range
 
While watching during a prairie dog fun fest, a .17 Mach II was a serious little zapper to 100 yards. After the shooter got more used to the windy day and proper hold-over, he was making clean kills to 200 yards. (Laser rangefinder.)

I figure the .17HMR is "the same but moreso".
 
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