Going to get a .17 any advice on makes?

[I D Howe]

Hi guys and gals i'm going to get a .17 and wondered if anyone had any advice or experience on makes and models? Looking for a good gun but value for money is important. Any advice welcome.

[bushwacker]

CZ have a good reputation.

[kenj]

Sako are also very good:D :D

[I D Howe]

CZ have a good reputation.

Got one of their .22's and its a good shooter alright. Might be worth a look.

[I D Howe]

Sako are also very good:D :D

You're right i hadn't considered them.

[matt]

I'd go for the CZ452 16" varmint, screw cut with a DM80 moderator or SAK. DM80 can be found over on the airgun bbs. Harris bipod and something along the lines of a 4-14X44 scope

ATB
Matt

[tim evans]

I have a standard Ruger 77/17 which is very good & comes with mounts topped with a Nikko Stirling 6-24x42 Nighteater, had a trigger job done on it so it's got a crisp2lb pull now. My cousin had the heavy barrelled vbz (which i have in .22) version & that was a cracker too.

[bigkev]

have to agree with the cz 452...
i have them in .22 and .17hmr
and i would recomend a trigget tuning kit from south yorkshire shooting supplies... i also have a sak moderator on both of them... and a selection of bi-pods...
both in the short 16" version...
and i love them both...
my .22 is in the synthetic stock (style i think)...

[mirage]

Quality but expensive: Anschutz

Next rung down: Sako

Bang per buck: CZ

If my budget were unlimited, I'd buy Anschutz.

If funds were not so large, I'd buy a CZ in an instant and never regret it. Fit a ~£10 drop-in trigger kit (http://www.rimfiremagic.co.uk/trigger_kits.html) and you'll have a rifle that will serve you and your grandchildren.

As you'll be engaging small targets out to ~150 yards you'll need a good 'scope. Be prepared to spend as much on the 'scope as the rifle; there's no point in buying a Ferrari then running it on paraffin.

I can heartily recommend the services of South Yorkshire Shooting Supplies (http://www.rimfiremagic.co.uk/index.htm) AKA Rimfire Magic. (No connection other than as a very satisfied customer).

Varmint Al's (http://www.varmintal.com/17hmr.htm) experiences may interest you.

There is much practical advice available on Airgun BBS (http://www.airgunbbs.com/forums/). (Ignore the name; it's not just air rifles).

Have fun and let's see plenty of pictures!

mirage

[I D Howe]

have to agree with the cz 452...
i have them in .22 and .17hmr
and i would recomend a trigget tuning kit from south yorkshire shooting supplies... i also have a sak moderator on both of them... and a selection of bi-pods...
both in the short 16" version...
and i love them both...
my .22 is in the synthetic stock (style i think)...

I have the cz with synthetic stock as well in .22, and its been really good. Could be worth a look.

Thanks for all your advice guys, i was thinking along the same lines but it's nice to have some well informed advice.

[Moore Leather]

Savage ?

http://www.savagearms.com/93R17Classic_T.htm

[Lurch]

I have Rifle Basix trigger kit in my CZs, much better than the £10 job by a country mile.

[bigkev]

also you only state .17
there are a lot of .17's available, i assume you mean .17 hmr (hornady magnum rimfire), as opposed to the also popular .17 mach2 or the
.17 winchester..
if you were after centrefire, you should also consider the up and coming
.204 winchester.

[Simon G]

also you only state .17
there are a lot of .17's available, i assume you mean .17 hmr (hornady magnum rimfire), as opposed to the also popular .17 mach2 or the
.17 winchester..
if you were after centrefire, you should also consider the up and coming
.204 winchester.

Do you mean .17 Remington and .204 Ruger?

[I D Howe]

also you only state .17
there are a lot of .17's available, i assume you mean .17 hmr (hornady magnum rimfire), as opposed to the also popular .17 mach2 or the
.17 winchester..
if you were after centrefire, you should also consider the up and coming
.204 winchester.

Thats right bigkev forgot the hmr part!!

[dtalbot]

Haven't shot a .17 but .22 CZ452 I made a £1 coin sized hole where the bull had been on the target with 18 out of 20 rounds at 50m, the other 2 were only 3 or 4 mm from touching the main group. It says far more aboout the quality of the rifle than my shooting skills!

[Lightning22]

I'm running a Sako Quad in .17HMR, can't fault it. Accurate out of the box, decent trigger out of the box, smooth bolt out of the box.

Someone has already suggested the DM80 mod, I'd certainly agree with that too.

Rich
;)

[Finman]

Hi,

I have a CZ452 Varmint for the last 5 years. It is the MOST fun gun I have from all 14 that I possess. When I was thinking of buying one, I spoke to Bruce Potts (well known and respected writer and wildcat developer, ballistician and rifle expert). I asked him, should I buy the Anschutz? he said, buy the CZ and put the money on the scope. Best advice I have had since. The rifle has some 3000 shots through it, still groups 3/4 inch at 100yds and the only modification was to put a £10 trigger to it. Get the CZ and laugh with all the guys with their Sakos and Anschutz in the range, when you outshoot them. (so that you know I have 4 Sakos and one Anscutz also!).

I would not touch a Savage/Marlin/Ruger if it fell on me!

best wishes,

Finman

[Simon G]

I would not touch a Savage/Marlin/Ruger if it fell on me!


Oooh, I'm going to have to take issue with that!

Savage are regarded as one of the most accurate "out of the box" rifles available, bar non! I have a Savage, granted in .223 and all I've done is add a Picatinny scope rail and some Leupold glass and bingo, a five shot laser! No kidding. The Accu-trigger is astounding and is fitted on their rimfires also. Not to mention, Savage last year, became the worlds largest rifle manufacturer. They make them, because they sell them and they sell them, because they are damn good!

Marlin bolt rimfires are patchy, but, their M39A rimfire lever action, I'd pit against any other field grade bolt gun. Marlin themselves state it's probably the most accurate field rimfire in the world and in today's litigation loving societies, that's a bold claim. They do boast accuracy that a lot of full bores would love to attain. A .17 version won't be far away.....;)

The Ruger 77/17 is a great rifle. One major advantage over a great deal of other rimfires around is that the Ruger has a big rifle feel. It's proportioned like their full bores. You get a readily available 10 round detachable mag and when Benchrest rimfire started the 77 in .22 guise was there at the top!

To my mind, shooters in the UK have been "conditioned" that CZ is the be all and end all in terms of rimfire, when in truth, they're good, but that's it. I'd never have another. It was ugly, only finished nicely on the outside, mags were unreliable and scarce and it wouldn't feed particular bullet shapes!

There are some really good rifles out there, but unfortunately we are dictated to by the laws in place and the importation/distribution.

Our laws make it problematic to chop and change our guns as often as we'd like and it's difficult for the majority to get more than a couple of each calibre. Consequently, one all rounder is what most people seek. As for distributing and importing, it can be a take it or leave it. Look at the dealers shelfs. CZ and Remington.........

[tim evans]

Well i've had no problems with either of the Rugers i own & i've had them long enough & shot them enough to find any shortcomings. A good trigger job & both were sorted the .17 will shoot virtually single hole groups at 50yds & under 1/2" at 100yds. I would'nt knock a cz/brno they do a job at a good price, but every one i've seen had plenty of room for improvement.