17 HMR

[Mobuck]

I felt the urge to pop off a few shots yesterday so took my RAR 17 out to scare some dirt clods on the pond dam about 150-160 yards from the corral post I was using for a rest. The scope is just a touch high @ 100 so I held about 3-4" high and went over and 4" left of the fist sized clod. HMMM. Tried again-same result. HMMM. Held top edge and hit 6" left. HMMM. Feeling a very slight breeze right to left so started giving some windage and next shot was a hit. Nine shots fired with 3 hits and a couple of near misses on clods or limestone rocks in the 3" diameter range.
My observations: the 17 doesn't drop nearly as much between 100 and 150 as I expected and it only takes a whiff of wind to make a BIG diff. Imperceptible changes in wind or a tiny puff will throw the impact off anywhere from 4-8" and no telling how much.
BTW
Still fighting the stuck case problem with this rifle. I did a thorough chamber scrub with solvent and a .24 bore brush on a drill stem but still had 1 of 9 that had to be knocked out with a rod. I've taken to carrying a piece of brazing rod rubber banded to the barrel (like the first VN issue M-16's) so I can clear the FTE.

 

[contender]

I have one of the 77/17's that I carry in my truck for critter work. I've never had stuck case issues,,,!
But you are correct,, in that when there is a wind,,, it can make a difference,,, especially out past 75-100 yds. But bullet drop,,, very little inside the 150 yd range.

 

[Mobuck]

I haven't had any issues with either of my 77/17's using the same ammo-just the RAR and it's had the problem since day one. Next time I see fresh ammo on the shelf at a decent price, I'm going to buy a couple of boxes just to see if the RAR works with fresh, new production ammo. Might even try some of the "A-17" and see if it makes any diff.
I'm quite sure I've missed some shots in the past due to holding high and shooting over as a result.

 

[Rumrunner]

My RAR 17 loves CCI 17 Grain and Hornady 20 grain, followed closely by Hornady 17 grain. The 20's do a bit better in the wind, but any of them out at 150 and beyond really drift.
My Volquartsen prefers the CCI A-17's and the Hornady 17's. The 20 grains dont do well in it.

 

[Mobuck]

"The 20's do a bit better in the wind, but any of them out at 150 and beyond really drift."

It's sort of funny how some folks will relate that the HMR is simply a laser beam regardless of range or wind but others see it for what it is. I was in a local gun hack's place last year listening to his sales pitch on a Savage 17HMR. His claim was it drifts far less than a 22 mag and the trajectory lets you hold on and hit an egg from 100-200 yards. I bit my tongue and walked out before I said what I thought.
Don't get me wrong, I like the HMR for it's accuracy and ease of shooting and it's capabilities (within reason ). It's a round the Grandkids can easily handle and make 100 yard shots on golf balls or 50 yard hits on squirrels.

 

[contender]

On a calm day,,, no wind, and at a 100 yd zero & shooting golf ball sized targets,,, it will seem to shoot like a laser. Darned accurate under those conditions. But just like ALL firearms,, distance adds variables that must be compensated for.

 

[9x19]

Use a .243 bore mop on that drill stem with some Flitz... I had to do that to a new production Charter Arms .22WMR. It made extraction easy instead of a pain in the heel of my hand from hitting the ejector rod.

 

[mike7mm08]

Had sticking cases with my 17 RAR. Ended up sending it back to Ruger. They said there was an issue with the chamber and replaced it. I am guessing chamber was cut small and expansion of the cases was sticking them upon firing. New gun works flawlessly.

 

[Mobuck]

I just received a carton of CCI "green" non-lead 17 HMR ammo from PSA. Hope to have time tomorrow to run a couple of mags through the quirky RAR to see if I get stuck cases with the fresh ammo. If I still have the problem, I'm giving it one more chance and running the suggested chamber mop/polishing compound in the chamber as a last resort. If that doesn't help, I'm sending the darned thing back to Ruger.