Thread: .17 WSM thoughts?

Originally Posted by Beetroot

Factory ammo is cheaper and don't have to worry about reloading.
It wont be as loud and will recoil less.
Rifles can be smaller and lighter than a 223 sized rifle.

223 is far more versatile in that it can be used for goats and deer, but it's not really meant to compete against 223.
17 or 22 Hornet would be a fairer comparison or 17/221 Fireball, 204 Ruger type cartridges.
It has the advantage of cheaper factory ammo that the above options but at the disadvantage of not being able to reload to get maximum accuracy.

Remember its a rimfire cartridge, basically a hot rod 17hmr, not really fair to compare it to centrefire cartridges other than the 17 Hornet.

This is my justification.
if you shoot a shit ton, you would probably want to reload then the centerfires reign supreme in all ways, more rifles to pick from , projectiles etc.
If you want a cranky 17 cal that you don't have to go looking for brass if you are spotlighting etc and you don't go through a bunch of ammo then it looks a lot more viable.
BUT there are bugger all rifles to pick from and in the Ruger's case it used to be cheaper to by a 17 hornet then a 17wsm.