Thread: .17 WSM

Originally Posted by small_caliber

Love the 17WSM, it's a great caliber as a walkabout rabbit, possum small game rifle that can reach out there for some 250m+ shots. Nowhere near the same recoil as a 223, no need to reload so no need to pick up the cases.
How many of those that have rubbished the 17WSM in this thread have actually shot or used one??

If you wanted a centrefire for this type of use I'd recommend a 17 Hornady Hornet, but personally I like the idea of just shooting without picking up the cases, even though I reload for several cartridges.

If you get an accurate 17WSM don't bother with a 17HMR, it'll just be a let down compared to the range of the 17WSM

Tell us more about which rifle you are using please, and optics.

Good to see this thread back on track. Thanks to @small_caliber
Savage did the 17WSM cartridge a disservice when they raced out the plastic stock pencil thin barrel original Bmag. Some shot ok most didn't.
And those that don't know, rubbish the cartridge and Savage Bmags forever.
Well my Savage B mag with stainless bull barrel and Boyds laminate stock (pillar posts and bedded) is in a totally different league.
A number of 17hmr users of some well thought of rifle manufacturers have been a little surprised on range day and all the bluff and bluster has faded to nothing when groups and accuracy were compared.
@csmiffy The offer still stands if you want to try my 17WSM just let me know which open day you can get to at NZDA public range day

I have done a fair bit of research into this calibre in the past and was very excited when it came out and really wanted one as I am a massive fan of rimfires but...there are a few problems with it unfortunately.

1. Because the first rifles released in 17wsm were mainly shit and it got a bad rep resulting in there being almost no factory rifle manufacturers in this calibre and not many sales to keep factory ammo sales up resulting in what will probably be a slow and painful death for the calibre.
2. Most of the ammo is getting up towards or if not $1 a round - You can get decent factory 223 ammo for this price and it will out shoot it by faaaaar. You can get 204 ammo for $1.25 ish and you can point and shoot out to 200m....
3. Even if you can get the nicer 17wsm rifles to shoot well, they will never match the accuracy of the hmr. I'm yet to meet one that doesn't shoot ridiculously well out of the box and we all know accuracy in any platform is far more important than a few extra fps. Especially if you can get a rifle out of the box to shoot well - not everyone wants or has the time to bed rimfires...

If they had released the 17wsm and it shot as well as the hmr and ammo was around the same price I have little doubt it kill the hmr like the hmr killed the mach2 but they fkd it up so unfortunately this wont happen
@small_caliber I think the reason Maca said the hmr and 204 is you can get factory ammo both, it doesn't cost too much and they will out shoot/be on par with most of the calibres listed bar maybe the 22-250ai in a fast twist(custom barrel) and 6mm which burn waaaaay more powder, have far more recoil (for watching impacts through the scope) and are create much more noise.

If it were me I'd get a hmr if you want a rimfire or 223 if you want a cheap centrefire or a 204 if you want the velocity/red mist and don't mind paying a little extra for ammo.

Just my 2c

Originally Posted by small_caliber

T/C Contender with a leupold 6-18 works great. If I was a right handed shooter I'd probably opt for a Ruger 77 in 17WSM.
I would really like Ruger to bring out a left hand version of the 77 17WSM, if they did I'd own one.




Jeez glad I haven't got your mentality I'd miss out on a lot of fun, 17hmr, 17 WSM, 17 Ackley Bee, 17 HeBee, 20 Ackley Hornet, 20 Ackley Bee, 20 Vartarg, 20 Tactical, 22lr, 22WMR, 22 Hornet, 222rem, 223, 223Ackley, 22BR 22/250 AI, 6mm BR plus others I've used on rabbits, possums and other small game.
Each one has it's own characteristics and specialty use, just depends on what you want to do and how you want to do it.

Many of the calibres you’ve listed are the same and I’ve owned many of them, the beauty of age! It depends on the land you are shooting on and what type of shooting you are doing, walking or sniping!
I can get out to about 180 with the 17HMR, fitted with a nightforce, the 204 I haven’t max it, nice to sit on a high point, settled in with good binos, a decent rest and an 8-32 x 50 nightforce to stuff around with. Both are cheap to run and you tend to make every shot count, that what sniping is about.

Originally Posted by Maca49

17 HMR will do all you need, follow up with a 204 and your complete for small game, I have a 223 for Fallow and a 6.5 x 55 for red. 17 wsm I looked at then bought a 17 hornet, wasted my dosh, the 17 HMR and 204 take care of rabbits and hares and cheap to run. Having to save cases is a pain in the rectum, the 204 with an 8-32 nightforce is a straight sniping unit and so cases as easy to find!!

You have such a nasty mouth....

I'm still hankering for a .22 Terminator but can't justify it while I'm living in Aussie... or can I?

I showed my son the thread on them and he lost his snot trying to decide between that and .243... but I informed him that we lived in Aus so he would have to wait until we moved home again.

Originally Posted by SlimySquirrel

You have such a nasty mouth....

Been bowling rabbits for a long time, this is just my choice, 17 hornet, 17WSM give you FA advantage over the 17HMR. and for longer rangers you need a flat, accurate shooter, the 204 does it for me, and its a shitty old Remington SS with an after market trigger. I wouldnt take my 223 rabbit shooting, just not accurate enough and thats a Kimber, been through the Tikka shit and a Remington with and after market trigger in 223, should have keep that, it was cheap and not that fussy on ammo.