as much as I like reloading, the .17 rimfires have tickled my fancy. I've search the .17 WSM....ammo seems to be available but it seems because no one wants it.....the most purchased rifle is the Savage and it has highly mixed reviews.

I checked for rifles in .17 HMR but when I go to Midway, I can find no ammo for it.

What's the opinions of those of you that own .17 rimfires....which is the better choice?....Is the extra 450 FPS of the .17 WSM over the HMR worth pursuing?....Is the .17 HMR worth anything at all if one can't find ammo?

Is a restocked (boyds) Savage Bmag worth the effort?

What's the concensus?

I got all revved up on the 17 WSM but have not found anything a left hand shooter could use, other than a T/C framed single shot.
I have decided that until a LH bolt gun is made, I'll stay with the HMR. It's a great round, capable of extreme accuracy and I have witnessed clean prairie dog kills at 286 yards. That's extreme, I agree. Most of my kills are inside 175 yards.
I've also just got back a Remington 581 that was re-barreled to 17 Mach II. Love it. that will be my 17 rimfire stable going forward. Hope this helps.

The 17 WSM is a really hot rimfire; I shot PDs past 300 with it last summer, using a Volquartsen autoloader. The wind deflection is much less than the .17HMR.

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17 Mach II. Love it. that will be my 17 rimfire stable going forward. Hope this helps.

It does....but again ammo is not available that I have found

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The wind deflection is much less than the .17HMR.

This is good info.....thanks

I own a 17 WSM in the Winchester 1885 Low Wall, mounted with a Swarovski Z3 scope. Great gun. I have found plenty of ammo for it. In fact, at my local Sportsman's Warehouse, they have had plenty of ammo for it sitting there during my last two visits.

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Winchester 1885 Low Wall,

I just checked it out.....about a $1,500 gun....but possibly well worth it

How's the accuracy.....is it a trick to mount a scope?

Accuracy is very good. I had to remove the rear sight, but that was easy to do, and I put a Marbles sight filler in there in its place that looked tasteful and did the trick. Some would just go ahead and leave the rear sight space open, but I didn't want to do that. It's a nice little rifle with nice wood, an octagonal barrel and an adjustable trigger.

I have owned a Savage in .17 HMR for several years and like it. I have used it on prairie dogs out past 200 yards and the round will cleanly take a coyote at 200 yards.

I found ammo in the Cabela's in Rogers, AR last week. It is not readily available in Academy either.

Ammo is zero problem around here.

I have Sako and a Savage. I like them both . both are very serious shooters.

I have only used then for squirrels and the various varmints around here such as armadillos. I had great fun shooting squirrels in the head at 125 yards. I have shot armadillos at close to 200.

well i do have a couple of hmr's and a couple of mach 2's and they are both fun in their own rights. i'm still wondering why the hmr ammo is twice the cost of the mach 2. but but but i can load my 17 ackley hornet, 17 ackley bee and 17 fireball cheaper than buying hmr ammo leave alone the newcomer. bullets from midsouth are about 7cents 11.5 grains of aa1680 a primer and away we go. disadvantage-only the time spent loading

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Originally posted by vapodog:
as much as I like reloading, the .17 rimfires have tickled my fancy. I've search the .17 WSM....ammo seems to be available but it seems because no one wants it.....the most purchased rifle is the Savage and it has highly mixed reviews.

I checked for rifles in .17 HMR but when I go to Midway, I can find no ammo for it.

What's the opinions of those of you that own .17 rimfires....which is the better choice?....Is the extra 450 FPS of the .17 WSM over the HMR worth pursuing?....Is the .17 HMR worth anything at all if one can't find ammo?

Check Cabela's. I was at the store near me in Delaware last week, and they had a rack full of 17 rimfire ammo.. Not a single round or 22LR though, that seems to fly off the shelves as soon as it arrives..

I had one when they were the daisys of the time..but you have to buy all new cleaning rods, patches and they foul up with only a few shots and are hard to clean..The wind takes that skinny bullet from Idahos Snake River Canyon to Baltamore or some such place.

I scratched them off as a cute and went back to the 222, 223, 22-250 and 6x45 as a better choice for myself, The 6x45 being my favorite in Windy Idaho...but that's just my personal experience with them. I am in the majority best I can tell, based on sales of rifles and ammo..

I currently have three 17 HMR's including one pistol.
Absolutly love it. Most fun I've had since I got my first .22 50 years ago.
I shoot crows, ground hogs and all other small game available. Never had any problem getting ammo.

Sorry for the late reply, but I do have info . . .
I purchased a Savage BMag 17 WSM with the bull stainless barrel, and my friend (AR name Prof242) bought the blued fluted bull barrel. We both wanted the additional muzzle velocity over 17 HMR. Ammo does not seem to be a problem - perhaps even easier to find than 22LR.
Good news: Range evidence indicates the potential to shoot quite well if we can overcome the Bad News: The Savage factory stock is flimsy and won't allow accuracy. Savage must know this since they now sell one with what appears to be a Boyd's stock, but too expensive. Boyd stocks has several option on laminated stock for that rifle for ~$100. We will see if that fixes the perceived problem. I would also stay with the heavier barrels since rumor has it that the slender barrel is "whippy" at the high MV.
Also, Ruger is apparently going to release a 17 WSM rifle this year.
Also Hornady is (supposedly) making ammo, but can't find it anywhere, including the Tulsa Gun Show.

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Hornady is (supposedly) making ammo,

FWIW, Hornady (as far as I know) makes no rimfire ammo. It's contracted for production with the Hornady logo and packaging.

Just saw Ruger has announced a 77/17 in the 17 WSM. This is good news and gives this caliber a strong base upon which to grow.

Now if Browning would do the same...

Had an awesome Volquartson in 17HMR - loved the rifle, but didn't find the round to be worth the money. Wish I would have got the 22LR or mag instead. However, I love the 17 Rem for ground squirrels!

This is not apples to apples so to speak, but in air guns I have .177's and .22's, I also have .20 cal (5mm). To me the .20 cal is the best of both. So for me I'd opt for the .204 Ruger and gain the ability to reload it, and be able to shoot it cheaper than a rimfire.

We've got the Hornady 17 WSM ammo here at the local Sportsman's Warehouse, along with a butt load of Winchester 17 WSM ammo in both 20 and 25 grain loads.

I was just in Cabela's. They had bunches of 17 HMR and 17 WSM ammo but I haven't seen any 17 Mach 2 ammo for months.

My opinion on the 17 WSM is that it's expensive ammo and you can't reload the cases; that's probably the way the ammo manufacturers want it.

I've used the 17 HMR on rabbits and a raccoon; it worked fine.

I have a 17 Mach 2 barrel and around 600 rounds of ammo for it. The barrel is brand new; I've never shot it. Maybe I'll sell it when it becomes a collectors item.

I've had about all the .17 and .22 rimfires made (and a 5mm). The .17HMR has outshot all of the rest beyond 100yds by a good margin. I know this disagrees with a few of the above comments, but been at this since the HMR came out and have gone through over three thousand rounds in the same rifle. Cleaning has NOT been a problem in my or my buddy's (above) rifles.
Bought a Savage HB 17WSM. The rifle shot well, but needs a better stock. Ordered a new stock and my truck was broken into and the rifle was stolen before new stock got here. Have also ordered an MGM barrel in .17 WSM. Am awaiting that.

I happened to be at the Colorado Springs Sportsmans Warehouse yesterday and no rimfire to speak of except CB and .17 WSM ammunition. The WSM was being offered in Winchester and Federal branded boxes. They also had a B-Mag in the sporter weight barrel and it's still ugly as sin and a crappy feeling rifle.

I might consdider it as soon as I see what Ruger is offering. I'd think a 17 Hornady Hornet rifle might be the way to go, but I hate reloading the .204 Ruger. So I can't imagine what the .17 HH would be like!

I have had no problem finding 17hmr ammmo if you want a the 17 that does 3000+fps get a 17 hornet.

for the rim fire go with the 17hmr. imho

in the interest of full disclosure I own both of the above

I enjoy both of them. let's face it if you are buying any of the the 17's you are just looking for something for plinking a little farther. I find 17hmr ammo everywhere I go in my area. that would be the only deciding factor to consider.

I really like my new 17 hornet for what it is worth. shot up some store bought ammo and just shot some I reloaded. it is just fun to shoot.