Help me pick a ground squirrel rifle!

[Tesoro]

I sold a 17 HMR CZ 453, a model that had a set trigger and was very accurate. CZs aren’t super impressive for fit and finish but that rifle was accurate, so our my CZ 457 22s, an MTR and a premium. That’s being said one of my favorite 22 rifles is my old T-Bolt, my Dad’s old rifle with a peep. It’s the rifle I use much of the time when hunting tree squirrels. I think you would enjoy one.

Edit: I see now you snagged a 457, I’ll be surprised if it’s doesn’t s Yeahhoot and I agree, they have come a long ways AND they got the safety right, that always bugged me about the 452s….

yeah the ones I checked out 10 yrs ago had stamped checkering, weird safety and low grade bluing. Thats when I bought the anschutz! But this rifle is the opposite of that. I really like the short throw bolt. I am going to measure the diff between it and the anschutz out of curiosity.

 

[Old Hickory]

I bought a Savage HMR as soon as they were for sale and love the rifle. I tricked it out and it shoots one hole groups at 100 meters, witnessed.
Then the .17WSM was invented and I bought one as soon as for sale. I love that rifle, too.

My HMR is now a safe queen because my WSM far outstrips the HMR.

I also ordered another WSM two years ago, a Savage A17 .17 WSM Sporter. Savage gave several statements of delivery but my rifle is still not shipped.

My rifles are used for hunting. The HMR is fantastic but not so lethal for large varmints that happen along while I hunt tree squirrels. My WSM has proven more than enough for large varmints.

I must add, I have no problem finding ammo.

 

[distinguished]

My neighbor at the end of our lane uses a .416 Rigby. Seriously!

 

[ebb]

Keep the Annie, buy a CZ, there is nothing wrong with the fit and finish. The 455s and newer have a system that makes a barrel change a snap should you ever think you need more accuracy. Start looking for a new field so you can tell theses communist you don't shoot irrigation pipes and to pound sand. We are of the same thinking on Savages, however I do have an antique 22lr.

 

[ebb]

Does anyone make frangible ammo that would allow you to shoot your Annie rifle and satisfy the landowner?

 

[JSH]

You Savage haters crack me up.
Granted I did a lot of tinkering to mine in the couple of years I had it. The young fellow I sold the rifle and lot# of ammo it liked to still shoots it in a winter league last I spoke to him. He shoots in a factory class, finishes in top 5 out around 20 shooters.

I am happy for those that like the 17HMR. I tried them and was highly disappointed myself.
I went to the 17WSM. Even the elementary school engineered Savage action, I have been perfectly happy and zero complaints. Buddies made fun of it, they shoot CZ and Ruger. The 17WSM at ranges they shoot the HMR, I just point and splat. While they fiddle with the wind and wait, speed kills.

I bought 17WSM when they almost paid you to take it. I will say I have plenty.

 

[Tesoro]

Does anyone make frangible ammo that would allow you to shoot your Annie rifle and satisfy the landowner?

yeah its called the 17hm2 !

 

[Tesoro]

Keep the Annie, buy a CZ, there is nothing wrong with the fit and finish. The 455s and newer have a system that makes a barrel change a snap should you ever think you need more accuracy. Start looking for a new field so you can tell theses communist you don't shoot irrigation pipes and to pound sand. We are of the same thinking on Savages, however I do have an antique 22lr.

I sold the annie. More of a function of the ammo it liked no longer made. commies or not he has over 200 acres of squirrel heaven 2 hrs closer to home than the old spot which only had 50 acres of pasture and half always full of cows so out of bounds

 

[Tesoro]

I bought a Savage HMR as soon as they were for sale and love the rifle. I tricked it out and it shoots one hole groups at 100 meters, witnessed.
Then the .17WSM was invented and I bought one as soon as for sale. I love that rifle, too.

My HMR is now a safe queen because my WSM far outstrips the HMR.

I also ordered another WSM two years ago, a Savage A17 .17 WSM Sporter. Savage gave several statements of delivery but my rifle is still not shipped.

My rifles are used for hunting. The HMR is fantastic ith but not so lethal for large varmints that happen along while I hunt tree squirrels. My WSM has proven more than enough for large varmints.

I must add, I have no problem finding ammo.

yeah at over buck a shot! I'd do a 17-223 and load for under half that. You hunt with yours so that is fine but gournd squirrel shooting is many hundreds of rounds a day! $$$

 

[jepp2]

Some say this creates inconsistent ignition from round to round affecting accuracy.

Not sure I have ever experienced that. Here is a target I shot at 100m. 19 - 5 shot groups. Avg group size under 0.700"MOA and not a single group 1.000"MOA or greater.

 

[B23]

I went to the 17WSM. Even the elementary school engineered Savage action

Umm, I think you're kind of insulting elementary kids. I'm not so sure even the kids that ride the short bus couldn't have designed something better then those fine folks at Savage did when they made the Bmag and that's coming from someone that has one and actually likes it. Ok, maybe not so much likes the gun itself but it is my favorite sage rat aka Beldings Ground Squirrels gun.

My Bmag is the HB SS version and I've done a little work to it to get it where it's at now. There are things about the Bmag I really don't like such as the flippy floppy whirly twirly bolt handle. Honestly, if a person isn't familiar with a Bmag the first time you pick one up and cycle the bolt you'll think it's broken but that's just how they are and it takes a little getting used to. If you aren't deliberate with your motions and have a little patience when cycling the bolt or at least until you develop that muscle memory for it they will drive you crazy and you'll fight it and hate them but if you don't try and cycle the action like your GI Joe super sniper you'll get along fine with them.

Like JSH I took advantage of things way back years ago when, like JSH said, they couldn't hardly give 17 WSM ammo away and bought cases of it when you could get if for less than $10 a box of 50. My only regret was I didn't buy more.

The biggest downside to any rifle chambered in 17 WSM is finding ammo. Regardless of what the label on the box says it is, ALL, made by Winchester. Now, I think all 17 WSM ammo only comes in a Winchester labeled box because Hornady and American Eagle have stopped putting any of it in their label. Doesn't really matter, except for bullet weight, it all was produced to the exact same specs.

If you're shooting ground squirrels where you have lots of them to shoot and they are all fairly close-ish shots there's nothing better the a 22lr but when you've cleaned out all the close ones and those shots start reaching out there 100 yds plus or plus plus and you still want to use a rimfire that's where the 17 HMR and 17 WSM really start to shine. Shooting sage rats out to 100yds I can't say that I notice a great deal of difference between my HMR and WSM but once I get out to around 125-150yds there is a noticeable difference between the 17 HMR and 17 WSM and at 150+ it's a significant difference in the splat factor.

 

[JSH]

You saved me a lot of work and headaches. I modeled mine after yours, except when I beded the goofy rings in the barrel. I have had no issue, but I don’t think I shoot as many at a time as you probably do.
The HMR gave about as much frustration as the 17HH did. Though I admit to holding onto the HH longer than the other 527’s.
I would like to see a rifle in 5.7x28 only do a 17 or 20 caliber.

 

[SD guy]

The best shooting 17 HMR I have handled yet is a heavy barrel 17 HMR. with the right lot of ammo the rifle has been a half MOA rifle on a reasonably calm day.

My next favorite for the task at hand would be a CZ 452 in 17 HM2.

 

[Tesoro]

Not sure I have ever experienced that. Here is a target I shot at 100m. 19 - 5 shot groups. Avg group size under 0.700"MOA and not a single group 1.000"MOA or greater.

View attachment 1544444

that is good to see! so this is 22lr shot with the larger 22mag sized bolt ? not sure if you buy a 22lr 457 that it has or has not a bolt than can also shoot 22mag size ammo? I bought a 17hmr 457 so it obviously has the large one. what ammo is that? make me happy

 

[Tesoro]

^disregard above. I called CZ and confirmed the bolts are all the same. The CZ customer service rep broke the record for worse gun rep I have ever spoken to.

Got my rifle out of jail yesterday. heading up in the hills to see how it shoots in a bit.

 

[markT]

 

[markT]

I have the ^^^. Superb rifle. Trigger ain’t terrible, great weight and accuracy.

 

[Tesoro]

Well I got to test out this CZ 457 today at 100 yds. Happy! Conditions weren't good due to wind but I shot in some lulls and found out quickly my barrel outshoots the ammo. I had ordered a Lilja for backup but it is going to be returned.

I had sorted some ammo by length in 3-4m increments. There were 3 piles and then a very small pile of waay short rounds..but only like 3% out of the 200 I checked. The ES on both sorted and non was about the same 80 fps. yuck. I really didnt see a noticeable diff in accuracy between sorted and not. When there was no wind I could note the slow rounds shooting low with my garmin, BUT either way I could not get them to shoot over 1 moa at 100. Actually I couldn't get them to shoot over .9 moa with 150 rounds. I would say the avg was .75 moa ( all for 5x) and the best was .30

I had adjusted the trigger and it is perfect for field shooting off bench. 6-18 fine duplex vx2. I love the short bolt throw. It is a tad under 3/16 shorter than my previous Annie 22lr. Way faster.

I got my best group when barrel had about 30 rds thru it since new. I have dewey setup in mail so was not able to give it a good scrubbing so i just kept on shooting.

Here is best 5x group at 100. The flyer was all me - a trigger mistake. The other targets after 75 rds and no cleaning looked like following one, other than a few that got opened up by wind but still not past an inch.

For the first time in 50 years I dont have a 22lr and probably wont again, as I dont compete. To get this accuracy with 22lr costs 2x the ammo cost as 17hmr.

Now to head to ground squirrel fields...one shot one squirrel. no misses permitted!

 

[Kalitrazescapee]

Could be that ol snert was thinking squirrels as in them critters in trees...despite the fact that upon review the post is clearly talking about them wierd things with tails that dig in the ground out west.....

These are refered as sage rats in Oregon, I got a .17hmr savage as a gift by wife, would I buy another? I would in another brand,the mags in savage are cheap but you can tweek them. My cheapest option would be to rebarrel a 22 mag with a good magazine.

 

[Kalitrazescapee]

True but I dont find the 17hm2 ammo to be but a few cents cheaper but with less performance and less availability locally without paying for additional freight. I only shoot out of my area for ground squirrels and chucks for a short period every year so an accurate bolt in 17hmr will work fine and keep the farmers happy that I am not damaging their irrigation. I would be more into rimfire but anymore the ammo is too expensive for what it is. If I can't put 10 22lr in an inch at 100 then I'm not interested and to do so costs at least 30c a pop for the decent ammo. I can load much better performing centerfire 17 cal for close to what the rimfire costs but I don't want to crank out 2000 17-223's for squirrel shooting so the 17hmr sounds good! I think my 22lr days are dwindling other than for shooting grouse.

BiMart always has hmr if available,and the ranchers with pivots and wheel lines call the shots. Here in ne ky I haven't seen any irrigation just horses,cows,and goats.