How good is the .17?

bracer · Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 3:30 am Post subject: Re: How good is the .17?

Slim Jim; Prairie dog shooting has ben my hobby since May ,1949 when my Dad gave me a 22 rifle. When the 17HMR and 17 HM2 first came out I got Cooper 57M LVT rifles. The darn things are pricy , more so than my big game rifles. But I shoot the little 17s far more than the big game rifles. One fall Some years ago I fired three rounds and droped a prong horn,mule deer and an elk with a 308 Norma Mag. Four years ago I shot a bit over 2,000 prairie dogs withthe 17 rimfire rifles. On a cost per shot basis the Coopers are perty low cost when compared to my big game rifles. The Coopers look good and they are accurate--OLD MEN SHOULD NOT HUNT WITH AN UGLY GUN...

slimjim · Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:12 am Post subject: Re: How good is the .17?

bracer wrote:

Four years ago I shot a bit over 2,000 prairie dogs withthe 17 rimfire rifles.

That is what I call exterminating!!!

bracer · Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 5:43 am Post subject: Re: How good is the .17?

SlimJim: P Dog Rifles =The 17 rimfire rifles are Cooper 57 M LVTs.The centerfire rifles are a 17 Fireball 700 Limited and a Sako 17 Rem . Both center fire rifles actions have ben glass bedded and the barrel free floated. The bolt locking lugs were lapped on the on the 700 Rem. The trigger pull was adjusted down to 2 3/4 -3 Lb on each rifle. All four rifles are quite accurate but thats what one needs to shoot prairie dog pups.

slimjim · Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 4:58 pm Post subject: Re: How good is the .17?

I'm too much into shooting. I am drooling over your description. Thanks.

A17Shooter · Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 10:20 pm Post subject: Re: How good is the .17?

HM2 group shot with T/C Contender using 23" barrel

280 yd PD shot with 17 Hummer TC Contender Carbine W/16.5" bbl

Belding Ground Squirrel shot with Marlin 17V

Couldn't get the hold over right for 15 yds

Just to show the practical application of 17 rimfires.

slimjim · Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 5:43 pm Post subject: Re: How good is the .17?

A17Shooter wrote:

Belding Ground Squirrel shot with Marlin 17V. Couldn't get the hold over right for 15 yds

Do you have any targets to show how well the Marlin groups?

Wow, 6 shots to shoot the squirrel!?1!

Thanks for sharing the pictures. I look forward for more.

Crackshot · Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 8:53 am Post subject: Re: How good is the .17?

Had alot of complaints on the 17 rimfires killing ability from more than a few customers in the gunshop Im currently working in. Takeing in quit a few on trade for 22's. So Ill stick with of my 22, 22mags. they say its a wounder, not a clean killer on anything over the size of a ground squirrel.

A17Shooter · Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 2:32 am Post subject: Re: How good is the .17?

slimjim wrote:

rb41rb wrote:

both are very accurate

Can you post some pictures of your groups?

I'll chime in with a group picture. 17 HM2 TC Contender Carbine with 23" barrel at 59 yds.

17 HM2 Data Sheet

slimjim · Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 5:50 am Post subject: Re: How good is the .17?

Thanks for posting A17! Nice group! At the price I'm seeing most of the 17 rimfires at, I think they have better barrels than more 22s plus I expect the 17 ammo is better quality resulting in better accuracy than production 22LRs. I'm debating now whether to put a match barrel on my Ruger 10/22 or leave it with a stock barrel. I'll have to see if I can get close to your accuracy with some quality 22LR ammo.

Aloysius · Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 6:54 am Post subject: Re: How good is the .17?

SJ, when you want good groupings of .22 LR, don't take a semi-auto (and sure not a standart 10/22). If you see such an old singleshot FN or an Anschütz (Match 54) or a Voere, even a Mauser, they all do better out of the box than the Ruger.
My favorite now is a nice Krico, a hunter model with nice wood and even a stecher. This one is performing better than the Anschutz or the T-bolt (or any lever action).
If you realy want a semi-auto, go for a Voere or even better: the Browning Bar-22 or an old FN Auto-22.

SingleShotLover · Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 7:28 am Post subject: Re: How good is the .17?

Don't dismiss the accuracy of a good .22 LR...even an auto.

That's 20 rounds of cheap ammo into just over .5". Granted, it's from a highly modified Ruger 10/22, but it is certainly within reason.

slimjim · Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 11:11 am Post subject: Re: How good is the .17?

SingleShotLover wrote:

That's 20 rounds of cheap ammo into just over .5". Granted, it's from a highly modified Ruger 10/22

20 rounds - wow! I'll take my 10/22 out and show you a different looking 20-shot group!

BTW, what's SingleShotLover doing with a 10/22 semi-auto?

slimjim · Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 11:13 am Post subject: Re: How good is the .17?

Aloysius wrote:

My favorite now is a nice Krico, a hunter model with nice wood and even a stecher.

Aloys, and you didn't show us a picture because?!?!

Aloysius · Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 11:46 am Post subject: Re: How good is the .17?

didn't I tell you that I collect .22's?
Do I have to learn to make a gallery right in de middle of our small game hunting season? I'll make a few pictures one of these days to keep you pleased (I'll try not to surprise you too much Smile

)

SingleShotLover · Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 12:49 pm Post subject: Re: How good is the .17?

slimjim wrote:

BTW, what's SingleShotLover doing with a 10/22 semi-auto?

Well....now and then I have to see how the other half lives! Laughing