What 17 HMR is everyone shooting?

[fnlights]

Considering purchasing a .17 HMR for controlling the local woodchucks around the house and for general plinking. It looks like there are many options out there, so I am curious what brand and model everyone is shooting and having good luck with. The popular one online seems to be the Ruger Precision Rifle.

 

[338weatherby]

Just picked up a Tikka T1X a couple months ago. I also have had a Savage 93 with the stainless heavy barrel and laminate thumbhole stock for about 15 years. The Tikka easily surpassed my Savage in accuracy and is now the one I grab for quick pest control.

 

[comfisherman]

I've had, a marlin, couple different savages, a ruger 77, a heavy weight vq, some czs, and a couple chipmunks. I've shot on hunts the rar, bergara, the savage autoloader, and an 1885.

I still own a chipmunk, a mcmillan stocked vq barreled 77, and a cz 452 fs. If it were me and it was just general use, I'd probably go rar but the bergara was nice. If you are a Tikka man the tax would be a no brainer.

Only one I wouldn't do is the savage autoloader, that thing patterned not grouped.

 

[fnlights]

I have heard good things about both the Tikka and the Bergara

 

[quigley257]

I bought one of the earlier 17HMRs on the market. It is a Marlin 917VS. I shot it in its stock configuration for a number of years. I decided to spruce it up and put it in a Boyd's laminate thumbhole stock and add a few other custom touches including bead blasting all the stainless parts. I installed a custom trigger spring to lighten the pull weight. The scope is a custom color matched Leupold Vari-X III 6.5-20x40 target scope with fine dot reticle. I have never owned or shot a more accurate17HMR. It will consistently shoot under an inch at 100 yards with most any ammo. I have shot a handful of 5 round single hole groups with it on windless days. Just a really fun rifle overall. Many a Prairie Dog has fallen to this rig. Some day I may get around to bedding it...

 

[comfisherman]

The bergara was out of the box the most impressive ive seen for the money. It was the bmr carbon, for what it was and how it shot its a real value for the money.

 

[Slick8]

I've never had a Bergara but wouldn't shy from one. They're solid shooters.

I've had a CZ 453 Varmint since it was first introduced many years ago and love it. I've had a few CZ rim fires and they don't disappoint.
The new 457 is easy to swap barrels with good aftermarket options.Timney is making a great trigger for it if you don't want to go with the Yo-Dave kit. I'm currently running the Timney on my 457 MTR.

I use my 17 for vermin on occasion but mostly as a trainer as it closely mimics my hunting rifles.

Up top is the 457 MTR with the 453 17HMR below.

 

[Mark M.]

CZ455 with Lija barrel and Boyd's tactical stock

 

[Aussie Hunter Steve]

Tikka T1x. Cannot fault it in any way.

 

[Runnin N Gunnin]

I have a bergera bmr in .17hmr and .22 lr. They're both shooters and very light with the threaded carbon barrels. They accept Remington 700 triggers was the difference for me over the tikka.

 

[fnlights]

I bought one of the earlier 17HMRs on the market. It is a Marlin 917VS. I shot it in its stock configuration for a number of years. I decided to spruce it up and put it in a Boyd's laminate thumbhole stock and add a few other custom touches including bead blasting all the stainless parts. I installed a custom trigger spring to lighten the pull weight. The scope is a custom color matched Leupold Vari-X III 6.5-20x40 target scope with fine dot reticle. I have never owned or shot a more accurate17HMR. It will consistently shoot under an inch at 100 yards with most any ammo. I have shot a handful of 5 round single hole groups with it on windless days. Just a really fun rifle overall. Many a Prairie Dog has fallen to this rig. Some day I may get around to bedding it...View attachment 442686

That's a sweet looking rifle! Looks like it would be a shooter.

 

[fnlights]

I've never had a Bergara but wouldn't shy from one. They're solid shooters.

I've had a CZ 453 Varmint since it was first introduced many years ago and love it. I've had a few CZ rim fires and they don't disappoint.
The new 457 is easy to swap barrels with good aftermarket options.Timney is making a great trigger for it if you don't want to go with the Yo-Dave kit. I'm currently running the Timney on my 457 MTR.

I use my 17 for vermin on occasion but mostly as a trainer as it closely mimics my hunting rifles.

Up top is the 457 MTR with the 453 17HMR below.

View attachment 442694
View attachment 442693

I would also agree that in addition to the pest control, I would be shooting the rifle to train and get use to my actual hunting rifles! It is much cheaper to spend time behind a .17HMR than my 30 Nosler haha.

 

[fnlights]

I have a bergera bmr in .17hmr and .22 lr. They're both shooters and very light with the threaded carbon barrels. They accept Remington 700 triggers was the difference for me over the tikka.

Hmn good to know about accepting Remington triggers. Ideally it would be nice to have it as close to my actual hunting rifles as possible

 

[manitou]

Stock OTC CZ rifles are hard to beat for quality and accuracy... and they don't feel like "kid's rifles".