Ruger M77 17WSM owners opinion ?

[abishai]

I have reached a point where I cant afford the time to reload mass quantities of
ammo for varminting. I was looking for a decent 17WSM ( already tried the Bmag).
After watching a few reviews, It became very apparent that these guys will give 5 stars to
a steaming pile of dog poo. I was hoping one of you gents that had some real life trigger
time on one of these could give an honest opinion. I would have it threaded for a can
so being too loud isnt a concern. Thank you

 

[B23]

The Ruger is a really nice looking gun, feels great in the hands, the magazines function very well, like most Rugers do, but they generally shoot on par with the Bmag. Unless something has changed recently, the triggers are pretty bad, but that is a super easy fix with an aftermarket sear and spring swap.

Regardless of what the box label says, ALL, 17 WSM ammo is made by Winchester and their quality control is anything but stellar which can cause issues with accuracy. You can have a Lot # that shoots really well, then change to another Lot # and accuracy or POI will be different.

For cost effective high volume ground squirrel or PD shooting, the 17 WSM is a good choice. If you want something with a better accuracy and more consistent ammo, but still in a quiet small package, take a look at a CZ 527 Varmint model 17 Hornet. The ammo is a little more expensive than it is for the 17 WSM but most CZ 527 17 Hornets will shoot the factory ammo well under 1in at 100 yds on a consistent basis and often times well under an inch. Also, if you save your 17 Hornet brass, you can easily sell the once fired cases and recoup some of your money.

I shoot my Bmag 17 WSM and CZ 527 17 Hornets suppressed nearly 100% of the time, they're both crazy quiet and are a lot of fun to shoot suppressed. I've even messed around with putting my 338 can on my 17 WSM. I'm not sure it's any quieter with that big ole 338 can on there but it was fun messing around with it. It does look a little goofy with that big 338 can screwed on the end though.

 

[Mark M.]

Thumbs up for the CZ Hornet, when the wind cooperates dime size groups@100 are common.

 

[17VLD]

I was on the fence a long time about which rifle to buy in 17WSM and finally bought the Ruger with the 18.5” barrel as I had heard a few improvements had settled in on that model.I had concerns that the velocity would be down with the shorter barrel,but luckily after chronographing I found the velocity with different lots of ammo averaged in the 2950 area.
Most of my groups are 5/8” to 3/4” while shooting the factory trigger which pleases me,I may buy a better trigger down the road.I am very pleased with this rifle and wished I bought it sooner,it is a ton of fun.One of my biggest concerns was what if the 17WSM went the way of the 5mm,then I realized it was up to me and like minded shooters to jump in and buy and shoot the 17WSM.I have just about every 17 centerfire ever made and enjoy them all.I also really like the idea of a potent 17 rimfire,each has its place and I think the 17WSM deserves to stick around awhile.Stay safe guys and gals.
Matt

 

[drover]

I do not have a Ruger M77 in 17 WSM but I do have a Ruger American in 17 HMR which has a better factory trigger than the 77-17 WSM and on calm mornings it will group 5 shot groups at 100 yds under one-inch - keep in mind that this is an off-the-shelf unmodified rifle except for lowering the trigger weight to 2 lbs.

I am using the Hornady 17 HMR A17 ammunition and in comparing chronograph velocities to a friends Bmag 17 WSM the A17 HMR ammo is less than 100 fps less behind the WSM. Another plus is that the 17 HMR ammo is about a 1/3 less costly than the WSM, and the 17 HMR is here to stay - the WSM -???? Who knows the jury is still out on it, one thing you can be sure of though is that the ammo for the WSM will be more difficult to find, especially at comparable prices.

Just something to think about before you purchase.

drover

 

[JSH]

I got bit by the 17 and 20 bug a short couple of years ago. Enabler and good guy B23 helped me dive in as several others did.
In short order I was looking at the 17WSM. I liked the looks and remarks B23 made about the Bmag after his stock change. I pretty much cloned his. I did put off bedding it in the weird barrel rings. I did do that a couple of months ago and it did make a big difference. (I am still trying to figure the idea of the rings out)

Got board at work a while back and started in looking at reviews of the 17WSM and available platforms it’s offered in. In a nutshell it seems the consensus among most is not the rifles but is as much the ammo.
I was all but ready to part ways with some stuff to fund a Volquartsen rifle. It shot no better than the Ruger or the Savage.

I have been stocking up on ammo and am really thinking about another Bmag to tear down and build back up.

 

[B23]

I am using the Hornady 17 HMR A17 ammunition and in comparing chronograph velocities to a friends Bmag 17 WSM the A17 HMR ammo is less than 100 fps less behind the WSM.

I think you need a new chronograph then, because I've run, a lot, of 17 WSM and 17 HMR ammo across my Magnetospeed chronograph and there is 300 fps difference between the two. My Bmag 17WSM has had two inches cut off so it's only 20 inches long and it still shoots the 20gr ammo right at 3000fps, no 17 HMR ammo is even close to that.

Just looked on ammoseek, the cheapest 17 HMR ammo you can currently order is $7.14 per box of 50 and it's $9.80 per box of 50 for 17 WSM so the HMR stuff is definitely cheaper and likely always will be, but you can get 17 HM2 for $5.53 a box and 22LR as cheap as $1.41 per 50 so if a couple dollar per box is a concern, the 17 WSM may not be the right choice for you.

Also, I believe the faster shooting "A17" 17 HMR ammo is in the CCI label, not Hornady. Kind of a moot point considering CCI makes the vast majority of all 17 HMR ammo anyway.

 

[B23]

I got bit by the 17 and 20 bug a short couple of years ago. Enabler and good guy B23 helped me dive in as several others did.

As I've said before, I'm always more than willing to help other people spend their hard earned money.

 

[JSH]

I have not ran any over the chrono. I have shot them side by side, HMR and WSM. The splat factor is definitely with the WSM.
Even if the HMR is running 17 grain and the WSM was running 25’s I dont see them being 100 FPS apart

 

[screaminweasil]

Haha...pretty easy to tell who does....from who doesn't.

As far as .17 HMR compared to. 17 WSM goes........not even close. A $30 sear makes the 77 trigger better than a Bmag or "American". But, sometimes it's so complicated and Rugers sure are hard to work on

 

[1raggedhole]

I have well over 1000 rounds through my 77 17wsm. Nearly all with 20gr Win ammo on pdogs. It is the original version with longer stainless barrel and plain wood stock. Trigger was terrible. Stoned it myself and changed the spring. Good now. Never has shot super tight groups, but seems to be good enough out to 200 yds. Much more fun than 17hmr. But frankly I think it’s a bit overpriced for how it shoots.

 

[Rowdygator]

A lot of opinions, but the HMR to the wsm, no comparison I did have both but I'm a cheap guy and had them both in the savage and had the HMR for about 36 hrs and lost to yotes , they never missed a step while being hit, my WSM that my yote killer never lost one and you definitely knew when he been hit. Well up to 250 yards, it's my got to , ride around predator gun, cheap and got to say like the accu trigger. So that's my 2 cents, enjoy good luck

 

[screaminweasil]

I have well over 1000 rounds through my 77 17wsm. Nearly all with 20gr Win ammo on pdogs. It is the original version with longer stainless barrel and plain wood stock. Trigger was terrible. Stoned it myself and changed the spring. Good now. Never has shot super tight groups, but seems to be good enough out to 200 yds. Much more fun than 17hmr. But frankly I think it’s a bit overpriced for how it shoots.

Shim the bolt.............it will cut your groups by 1/3 or better.......most likely, I should say. It did mine. Wen't from barely under MOA to nearly 1/2 MOA consistently with 20gr and 15gr Lead Free.

https://www.triggershims.com/ruger_m77.html#S77.25

 

[Ccrider]

Which Bmags have you tried. I have owned three, including one of the first production. They are not all created the same.

 

[K9TXS]

I bought a new Ruger 17 WSM last year and had nothing but trouble with lots of misfires. Ruger would do nothing, saying they could not find a problem. I put a JARD trigger in it. Great trigger, but still lots of misfires. I sent it to two different gunsmiths that specialized in Rugers, they couldn't fix it either.

In April 2019, I took it on a ground squirrel hunt in Oregon. When it fired, it was deadly. Luckily I had my HMR and 20VT with me as well.

I sold the POS as soon as I got back telling the new owner what the problem was before the sale. The Ruger rifle is way overpriced for what you get when Ruger will not stand behind it.

 

[K9TXS]

I have reached a point where I can't afford the time to reload mass quantities of
ammo for varminting. I was looking for a decent 17WSM ( already tried the Bmag).
Thank you

After making my post above, I just can't seem to let this thought go.

Last year I was thinking the exact same thing you are now. I thought the 17 WSM would be the way to go, but for me it isn't. There's only one manufacture for 17 WSM ammunition so there's problem #1. The only two rifles I know of would be Savage and Ruger, problem #2. I've already explained my thoughts on the Ruger. I know many folks love the Bmag and Ruger and claim how great it is, blah blah blah. I don't care for either one.

I went the 20 Vartarg route. There are also other great variants using the 223 round that are just a good. So when I started mass loading for my vartargs, I started doing it over a longer time period. I do between 500 to 1000 rounds over several days or months. All the brass gets cleaned first, then I start the next steps. I'll do all the steps involved over several days, skipping days in between and picking up 2 days later, next week etc. By the time the season comes around all my ammo is ready to go.

I still take my 17 HMR along and it is normally the first rifle used. I'll go in the local sporting goods store and pickup one box of ammo a week. After getting around 1000 rounds or so, I have enough HMR and it's ready to go as well. Getting the HMR ammo this way, I don't have a lot of initial cost at one time.

Rethink the WSM, it may not be the rifle you think it is and want to invest in.

 

[Sieg]

I bought a B-Mag Heavy barrel, black, synthetic #96975 in March of 2018, appeared to be older stock possibly May 2016, serial number K2514xx. I also own an older Ruger M77/22mag laminate/grey target/varmint model which is built and functions like a real rifle though the trigger with the Timney sear kit and Wolff spring is OK, my reworked B-Mag trigger is better. The B-Mag bolt ergonomics and function is horrid, the magazines are pita to load. I installed the B-Mag action in a Boyds Pro Varmint stock which required hours of fitment as the stock was cut off axis and the take down design/surface area of the B-Mag is poor at best. I also totally reworked the grip ergonomics to obtain a reasonable grip position. I bedded with Devcon, compounded the rough untouched crown, and as a last resort JB'd the bore because the bore was impossible to clean.

End result is the gun kills digger squirrels effectively with a grin inducing POP and acrobatics in the 100-200yd range.

The downside is it appears to be very heat sensitive. Here is a target shot at 100yds using American Eagle 20g, off a large/heavy front bag and hand supported rear using a 16x Vortex Diamondback HP. Shoot 5, load five, repeat. You can see as the heat builds the groups grow.

I think the cartridge has great potential, sadly no one produces a decent rifle. If Ruger would make an American Target version similar to my 17HMR in 17WSM I'd buy one today.

I'm also a Mach2 fan, and it has managed to make a comeback. Hopefully the same will happen with the 17WSM.

 

[bigfish28]

Randy at CPC does lots improvements on Ruger 77s.

 

[K9TXS]

Randy at CPC does lots improvements on Ruger 77s.

Randy will tell you up front he doesn't care for the 17 WSM at all. He worked on my Ruger twice and couldn't fix it.

 

[searcher]

I shoot a few .17 HMR's (Savage and Volquartson) and a .17 Hornet (CZ) which has upgraded trigger, stock and barrel. I shoot with these a lot when hunting with two buddies who both bought the BMAG's WSM (heavy barrelled). I know that there were some real issues with the original WSM ammo and perhaps the rifles, though these guys bought theirs only about six months ago. As with any rifles - I guess there are good and bad - but both of theirs are real shooters. Both do 3/8" to 1/2" M.O.A. or so, which is what I would think of as pretty good out of a low-cost factory rimfire. They definitely outshine the .17HMR in both reach and killing power. When I use up the stockpile of HMR ammo - I'm going to buy one. I'll be hoping there will be more options in rifles when that day comes - but I'd buy whatever is best suited to changing out with a quality barrel if need be, though at the cost of a quality barrel - one could just buy another B-Mag and cross your fingers.