Problem with Savage .17 HMR

[Siiri]

Hello,

My Savage .17HMR seems to wanting to crack the casings. Why would this be happening and what should I do about it? Has anyone else had this kind of trouble? How dangrous is this!?

Thanks!
Siiri

 

[NorCalMikie]

First thought would be a "oversized chamber"??
Try a different brand of ammo and see how it works. If it keeps doing the same thing to the different ammo, send it back to Savage along with the fired/split cases.

 

[Siiri]

I have used Federal and Hornadys and they both split.

 

[NorCalMikie]

I think I'd send it to Savage along with a few of the split cases. Not the best thing to be having with your ammo.
You might give them a call but my bet is they'll want to see it so it can get corrected.

 

[zedsdead]

My shooting buddy had this happen with his Ruger 77. The cases looked exactly like yours. He sent it back to Ruger and they gave him some story of a batch of barrels made from metal that was too soft. I'm no expert but it just looks like too much room in the neck or headspace area.

Ruger did replace the barrel and paid shipping both ways. I've heard good things about Savage's customer service department so I'm sure they will take care of it.

Jason

 

[RonAKA]

Agree that it is time to call Savage. Something is very wrong.

 

[SS427]

I would call Savage right away and see what they say before you shoot it again. I'm sure they are going to want the gun to evaluate it. I don't think it is the ammo, but I would contact the ammo company too and let them decide what to do next. I imagine they will work with Savage to figure out what is going wrong.

I had a CCI case seperate right at the rim in my Savage .17 HMR. The bullet didn't exit the muzzle , it blew the magazine apart and damaged the stock. Savage was great about the entire event, and so was CCI. I ended up with a new gun and several boxes of ammo from CCI. Never found out what went wrong, but customer service from both companies was outstanding.

 

[bozo699]

siiri,
all 17hmr cases are made @ cci and most of the bullets are made by hornady and all the 17hmr ammo on the market is assembled @ the cci plant in Lewiston Id. There qa is excellent so I doubt to different lots and brands got off plant with bad cases,possible but doubtfull. I would definitly have chamber checked out before I fire any more from that rifle,also find someone with another 17 and try your ammo in there rifle that will tell you if there is a problem with the ammo.
Wayne.

 

[Siiri]

siiri,
all 17hmr cases are made @ cci and most of the bullets are made by hornady and all the 17hmr ammo on the market is assembled @ the cci plant in Lewiston Id. There qa is excellent so I doubt to different lots and brands got off plant with bad cases,possible but doubtfull. I would definitly have chamber checked out before I fire any more from that rifle,also find someone with another 17 and try your ammo in there rifle that will tell you if there is a problem with the ammo.
Wayne.

Hello,
My boyfriend has a .17 HMR and we use the same bullets and he is not having any trouble.

Thanks! Siiri

 

[RonAKA]

This seems off the wall, but I wonder about a couple of possibilities. The .17 HMR is a necked down .22 WMR. See the photo comparing the .17 HMR on the left to the .22 WMR on the right.

1. Are you sure you have a .17 HMR, and are not firing a .17HMR cartridge in a .22 WMR gun? A quick check would be to see if the bullet end of an unfired cartridge fits tight in the muzzle bore. Another check is to look on the barrel to see what it says the barrel is chambered for.

2. The other possibility is that Savage used a .22 WMR reamer in a .17 barrel. That is scary but possible I suppose...

 

[Siiri]

Hello,
The data stamp does say .17HMR, but them chambering it wrong could be a possibility I guess. I am having it looked at by a local gunsmith Monday, and from there we will be calling Savage. Hoping I get it all figured out and my gun back soon!
Has anyone dealt with Savage and how long did it take you to get your gun back?

Thanks!
Siiri

 

[bozo699]

Ronaka,
Thats funny I was wondering the same thing,it is possible!

 

[NorCalMikie]

Ron: You raise a good point but, the fired cases still have the shoulder, just split wide open. If it was chambered and marked wrong from the factory, I think you would see the case shoulder blown out straight?? My vote is for a out of spec chamber. And if it goes to Savage for repair, they will probably just fix it and send it back with nothing said about what the real problem was. Be real interesting to see what they had to say.

 

[RonAKA]

Ron: You raise a good point but, the fired cases still have the shoulder, just split wide open. If it was chambered and marked wrong from the factory, I think you would see the case shoulder blown out straight?? My vote is for a out of spec chamber. And if it goes to Savage for repair, they will probably just fix it and send it back with nothing said about what the real problem was. Be real interesting to see what they had to say.

My thoughts are that a chamber reamer just cannot grow and get bigger. Seems to me it has to be something more serious. I know that cases are fireformed all the time in centerfires, but I am not so sure that rimfire brass is that ductile. It may just try and hold the pressure and split instead of forming to the chamber.

I do agree if Savage put a .22 WMR chamber in a .17 barrel, they are not going to say much about it in public...

 

[bozo699]

siiri,
Don't forget to let us know what the smith say's I have been thinking about your problem all weekend! I hope you havn't tried shooting it anymore!
Wayne.

 

[RonAKA]

Another test would be to see if a fired .22 WMR case will fit in the chamber.

 

[Siiri]

siiri,
Don't forget to let us know what the smith say's I have been thinking about your problem all weekend! I hope you havn't tried shooting it anymore!
Wayne.

Hey,
No I haven't tried it at all since I noticed this problem, and I will let you know what the smith says today.

Siiri

 

[Siiri]

Another test would be to see if a fired .22 WMR case will fit in the chamber.

Hey,
I tried that yesturday and the fired .22 WMR didn't fit.

Thanks!
Siiri

 

[NorCalMikie]

Process of elimination. You've figured out that it wasn't chambered wrong from the factory. Now it's time to see what Savage has to say.

 

[Siiri]

Hey,
I took my Savage .17HMR to the local gunsmith today. He didn't give me much feedback, just that the chamber was made just a bit too big. He said this could be due to the reamer being dull. He's going to send it off to Savage for me.

Siiri