In particular robe0280 what do you use it for that a 22lr or 22mag or 22hornet or 17rem couldn't do or would be better suited to?

What worries me about this spate of new cartridges is how many will be dropped like the 264 win.

I see the 17 Mach2 as a .17 RF round for standard length actions. If I had one I might favor it for squirrels in trees as the bullet is so tiny it has to be safer than a .22 LR.

Don't think that I will get one however. If I get a .17 RF it will be the HMR due to the unusual laws for hunting in my states public lands. You see a HMR would be the most powerful rifle that I could use there.

I would think that a chamber insert would work for the .17 Mach2 in a HMR.

While I have not bought a HMR yet I am shopping. I shot a Cooper yesterday and am looking at CZ's.

I may start a post soon on handloading the 17 HMR. All we need are the primed cases.

Handloading the .17 HMR

Am pretty excited about my 'little' 17

Noise - My rifle makes the same amount of noise as a standard .22LR high velocity load. All the other cartridges you mentioned make more noise and I can think I can do better reloading .223 for every task they handle.

Trajectory - the 17 Mach 2 shoots pretty much flat out to 100m dropping 4 inches at 150m but it has no energy at this range so what do I care. I can use the 223.

Safety - The 17 uses a 17gn hollow point bullet. If I hit small animals the bullet will disintergrate and the danger of riccochets is dramatically reduced.

Accuracy - Less than 1 inch at 100m with factory trigger and off the bonnet of ute. Probably shoots better than me.

The purpose.
1) Head shooting rabbits for meat around small hobby farms. If I am heard at all by neighbours they will only be thinking .22LR and not centrefire.

2) Whistling and stalking foxes around scrub and the above mentioned hobby farms. I can head shoot foxes beyond 150m with centrefires so why not set myself up and shoot within 100m with 17 Mach 2.
Have already done penetration tests on dead fox. Hit the skull it punches through and shatters the skull staying inside. Don't hit the nose front on as it won't punch through nose then into skull like 22250. As would be expected.

How's it going so far. It is SOOO much FUN. None of this loopy trajectory have shot a Corrella (farm destruction permit) at 140m penetrated and killed it beutifully. In fact have only missed once shooting out to 125m on small game.Have to try hard to remember I am not shooting a centrefire except the buzzle blast is a lot different.

The price well yes I would love to pay .22LR prices for this but I get a proper bullet which costs a bit anyway and they are still cheaper to practice with than any centrefire load I can make.

Horses for Courses. I hope THIS ONE sticks around.

You can use it for fox and keep the skins without a big hole in them

If I went for a .17 rimfire I would like a cz in the .17 HMR variety, I think thats a ripper of a round. It will be interesting to see how the Mach 2 and the HMR compete and which one sells better.

The new sako quad rifle is an interesting setup as we can have all the calibers with only one rifle, probably not a bad idea really.

The Sako Quad should be something for every body but I am not a fan of detachable barrels but it is a rimfire and with the Burris 'scope with settings for all calibres it might be ok . When I handle one I will report back.

Thanks RLI I would be interested to here that gun goes.