Accurate bolt action .17 HMR

[CharlieNC]

Good aspect of the CZ is you can easily switch to a 22lr barrel at home.

 

[searcher]

Lots of good options with the Anschutz and a few of the moderately priced models. I use my .17 HMR's (I have both bolt and semi-autos) for whacking ground squirrels and an occasional coyote when I have the "wrong" rifle in hand. Regardless of the price or how fancy a rifle may be (and I do have some expensive ones...) I'd choose a Savage heavy-barrel at around $400.00. Between myself and friends, we have over a half a dozen and they are all shooters, averaging around 1/2 MOA with the right ammo. We find most shoot the Hornady V-Max best over all others, though there are other brands using the V-Max which are also pretty good. If you are unlucky enough to get one that doesn't shoot, you won't take a big soak on selling it. Can't say the same for the pricier rifles. If you want more of a "guarantee" it will shoot, instead opt for a .17 Hornet where you can tune the load (and outperform the HMR). Good luck in your decision - hope you get a good one.

 

[Tommie]

Having shot Mariln, CZ and Savage 17HMR’s (admittedly limited experience) I found each gun would shoot 1” at 100 yards after experimenting to find which ammo the gun liked. Overall seemed easier to get 100 yard MOA groups than 22LR or 22WMR.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

Good aspect of the CZ is you can easily switch to a 22lr barrel at home.

Or a new 17hmr barrel if your factory barrel is a lemon.

 

[dirtclod]

Rim X. It doesn't cost anymore to go first class, you just don't get to stay as long!!

 

[DLT]

I am wanting a nice accurate bolt action .
17 HMR. I would prefer a heavy’ish varmint contour. I know next to nothing about 17’s so I would need advice as to the optimum barrel lengths. Have any of you serious rimfire guys found any particular factory .17 HMR’s that tend to shoot the better than other brands and models

I am not and have never been into rimfire shooting. I’m a Centerfire guy. I wish my Dad would have started me on a rimfire instead of a Browning BLR .308 at 7 yrs old.

Anyway, I understand that with almost any brand factory rifle (except Tikka) that it’s like playing the lottery re: accuracy since not much money or time is spent on mass produced factory barrels. Except for occasionally buying Tikka T3X’s due to Tikka’s just shoot and can hurt feelings if emotionally attached to our expensive custom rifles based off Rem 700 and custom 700 clones because even out of the box every Tikka I have seen has been considerably more accurate than any other factory rifle especially the T3X CTR’s and Super Varmints as they will shoot half moa with OTC Match ammo and co rideable better if develop a load it favors. I usually build custom rifles and I compete with them in various disciplines. But I will not build a custom
.17 HMR. Unless I’m mistaken, Tikka does not chamber the T1X in .17…if they do then I’ll buy a Tikka.
Thank you in advance for any guidance/advice on this as I know very little about rimfire even though I’ve been shooting Centerfire most of my life and shoot an average of a few thousand rounds per year.

They do. I work with a gentleman that has one

 

[jepp2]

Have any of you serious rimfire guys found any particular factory .17 HMR’s that tend to shoot the better than other brands and models

My first 17 HMR was an Anschutz 1717D HB. I shot it at 100m and was very impressed with the accuracy.
Next I added a CZ 455 so it could become a truck gun and save the Annie
Next I added a Cooper
Then I added another Cooper
Then I bought a Lilja barrel for my CZ
Also added a Vudoo

After shooting a lot of prairie dogs over several years, I shot my Annie, Cooper and CZ. Sold the Annie and both Coopers because the CZ shot better.

I am a fan of the CZ 457 action (big improvement over the 455) and Lilja barrels. Have them in 22 LR, 17 Mach 2, and 17 HMR.

 

[Kittitas George]

I have had a Cooper 17HMR and a previous CZ, I now have a CZ 457 with the sporter stock and longer barrel. All have shot very well. I am not a competitive shooter, but I've shot gophers and sage rats way out there. This rifle is shooting under 1/2" at 100 yards. The trigger is adjusted to 2 1/2 pounds and I use a 12X fixed Leupold. It's a rim fire so the ammo can make a big difference. A friend shoots an Anschutz, I've never seen his targets, but he hits many gophers way out there also. To cover your backside, buy one of each.

 

[TheCZKid]

I got a CZ 455 in 22 LR, ended up buying the fluted 17 HMR barrel, for shooting sage rats, and it's an accurate rifle. Same action also takes a 22 magnum, but I never went that route.

 

[7887mm08]

My Tikka does everything i ask of it.