Savage A17 Semi-auto. .17 HMR

[Sidewinder]

I've been doing some online research on the new Savage A17, with the "delayed action, for the screaming .17 HMR varmint ammo. I've recently researched the .17 HMR round, and am impressed. This appears to possibly be a good varnmint gun, especially if you're hunting for hides. I like the availability of the quick "follow up" shot, if needed.

My question about the gun is it's suitability as an "all around" varmint gun, here in middle Tennessee. Anyone have experience with the Savage A17? Will it work as a coyote gun around here? Anyone taken coyotes with the gun or round? Let's hear it...good or bad. Should I buy a Savage A17 in .17 HMR for middle Tennessee varnmint hunting?

[Caster]

No experience first hand but they will bust a coyotes ass if you place the shot. They're pretty intolerant of wind and obstacles (grass and brush). They are extremely accurate though when there's no wind to deal with.

My biggest problem with the round is the same for any rimfire. Can you feed it?

[Sidewinder]

No experience first hand but they will bust a coyotes ass if you place the shot. They're pretty intolerant of wind and obstacles (grass and brush). They are extremely accurate though when there's no wind to deal with.
My biggest problem with the round is the same for any rimfire. Can you feed it?

Caster, that's the ten thousand dollar question. Some of the reviews on the A17 mention a FTF, stove pipe, or the rotary magazine falling out. Others say that after a little break in, the A17 runs like a sewing machine... and that the falling mag problem was due to failure to get them "clicked" in properly. Most reviews seem to be in the five star end, even though there are a few one and two stars. This looks like Savage's answer to Ruger's 10-22...in the .17 HMR caliber. They don't have a .22 LR version... probably figured Ruger had that market covered. I'm considering buying one of the A17s. I have an ad on GOC for one... hopefully from one of the "one star" guys... that way it'll have a one star price!

[TNWNGR]

http://www.gunblast.com/Savage-A17.htm

 

JQ pretty much answered all of my questions after reviewing your initial query to the point of the long term feeding of the rifle as Caster so aptly put it. I don't foresee availability as an issue because .17 HMR remained available in a lot of places I looked for .22LR. It's just an expensive RF round, albeit a smoking hot fast one though.

[shotgunshooter]

I don't have experience with the gun but tons of experience with the round. 17 HMR will put about anything down. If you can see it than you can hit it. I've killed foxes out to 250 yards and my father has killed other animals much farther out. I'd buy one but I'd wait so they can get all the kinks worked out.

[gomer pyle]

The only problem I have ever had with this round is wind. I think a fart would move it 6in. I was looking at this rifle hard, until I started reading about the 17wsm and now I'm kinda stuck on which one to go with. 

[GKar]

Between .17 HMR and .204 Ruger, I kinda favor the latter.  Might wanna check that one out, too.

[Sidewinder]

Good points. You guys know how it is when you get the...new gun fever... new car fever, or possibly the fever for other things we want. The bolt on this gun has a milisecond mechanical lock up...for near bolt action accuracy... and then cycles pretty much like any other blow back design. They have held it off the market, while working out most of the bugs. I'm not crazy about the fit and finish, but Savage accuracy out of the box usually makes up for what it lacks in the beauty department. I wish someone had one to give us a good owner's report.

[gomer pyle]

 I wish someone had one to give us a good owner's report.

Maybe you can be that one. And since I'm in Murfreesboro also, I can help you try it out. LOL

[shotgunshooter]

I looked at one at my at a shop today. I wasn't particularly impressed but maybe because I already have a 17 HMR.

[Sidewinder]

I looked at one at my at a shop today. I wasn't particularly impressed but maybe because I already have a 17 HMR.

Shotguner, what was it about the gun that failed to impress you? Was it the fit and finish, the weight, that huge plastic bolt handle, or just the synthetic stock? What did they have on the pricetag? Personally, I'm old school and prefer wood furniture to plastic. I'm just wondering if a wood stock would make it pretty heavy. How did it feel...balance and shouldering?

I'm not sure if Savage is considering a wood stock or not. Were you able to remove and reinstall the mag? Some have had complaints about the mag falling out. Just wondering if you had the chance to check that out.

Does anyone else have one? Has anyone shot one and put it through the paces?

[Sidewinder]

Maybe you can be that one. And since I'm in Murfreesboro also, I can help you try it out. LOL

Hey, that's a possibility Gomer. But... at 30 cents a round, I doubt it'll get the action that my Ruger 10-22 gets! It will be more like a few shots to get it sighted in, and then it'll be standing watch for mr. coyote. I haven't dropped the hammer...yet, but am giving it lots of consideration. I guess I'm hoping for a 10-22 that shoots .17 HMR, successfully.

[gomer pyle]

Volquartsen.com
I want one but hate to spend that much.

[Sidewinder]

http://www.gunblast.com/Savage-A17.htm
 
JQ pretty much answered all of my questions after reviewing your initial query to the point of the long term feeding of the rifle as Caster so aptly put it. I don't foresee availability as an issue because .17 HMR remained available in a lot of places I looked for .22LR. It's just an expensive RF round, albeit a smoking hot fast one though.

TNWNGR, I agree that the .17 HMR round is expensive. I just bought some for my Contender .17 HMR barrel and paid around 30 cents a round! After watching the GB review, what do you think of the rifle? Fun varmint gun, but a bit expensive to rattle off hundreds of rounds at the range, for sure.

[shotgunshooter]

Shotguner, what was it about the gun that failed to impress you? Was it the fit and finish, the weight, that huge plastic bolt handle, or just the synthetic stock? What did they have on the pricetag? Personally, I'm old school and prefer wood furniture to plastic. I'm just wondering if a wood stock would make it pretty heavy. How did it feel...balance and shouldering?

I'm not sure if Savage is considering a wood stock or not. Were you able to remove and reinstall the mag? Some have had complaints about the mag falling out. Just wondering if you had the chance to check that out.

Does anyone else have one? Has anyone shot one and put it through the paces?

It was the bolt and stock. It felt light almost like a toy. We have a few Savages and they all tend to feel like this but it just seemed to be exaggerated by the barrel. That may just be me though.

[Sidewinder]

Between .17 HMR and .204 Ruger, I kinda favor the latter.  Might wanna check that one out, too.

GKar, I don't own anything in .204Ruger, but have read good things about the round. I've sort of become fascinated with the .17HMR round for it's ability to make a small entry hole in the hide and explode inside, with no exit hole damage to the hide. As for the Savage A17 rifle, Cave Man or Cave Dweller has some shooting vids, and I was a little disappointed in the accuracy at 100 yards, with different brands of ammo. I was hoping for hole in hole accuracy at 100 yards and a quick follow up shot.

[Sidewinder]

It was the bolt and stock. It felt light almost like a toy. We have a few Savages and they all tend to feel like this but it just seemed to be exaggerated by the barrel. That may just be me though.

It was the bolt and stock. It felt light almost like a toy. We have a few Savages and they all tend to feel like this but it just seemed to be exaggerated by the barrel. That may just be me though.

Thanks, I watched a utube video that shows the disassembly of the gun. Inside the stock, there is an extra piece in the barrel channel, held in by two screws. Speculation is that they may be planning on a bull barrel version. For target shooting folks, they'll almost have to offer a heavy barrel. I would imagine after two or three of those 10 round mags through that pencil barrel, it would heat up. I think the ads say the barrel is full floating...dunno.

[Sidewinder]

Volquartsen.com
I want one but hate to spend that much.

Gomer, I'm in agreement with you on that. Takes a lot of meat on the table, or hides in the shed, to pay for that kind of cost!

[MacGyver]

While Savage probably has more experience in .17HMR than anyone else at this point, I'm still not terribly excited about an autoloader in the caliber.  Ruger and Remington backed away from it - the later with a complete recall of the rifles at large.

 

Mind you it's a bolt action, but my Savage 93r17 BTVS is one of my favorite rifles.  And, we have literally driven tacks at 75 meters.

 

If you don't have a lot of experience with the round, it is a positively explosive little round.  I would argue that you'll have one of two outcomes varmint and small game hunting with it.  The energy of the round dissipates quickly.  So, either you'll hit a dense enough section of a large enough animal to absorb it and you won't have an exit hole - or you won't and the exit hole will be so large as to render the hide unusable.  We shoot hedge apples fairly regularly, and while these are pretty large and dense, it obliterates them reliably.  It ought to be a reliable rifle for coyotes.  For squirrels, you'll be relegated to simply picking up the pieces.

[gomer pyle]

I'm actually looking at a Ruger American right now, just because of the price.

[shotgunshooter]

Thanks, I watched a utube video that shows the disassembly of the gun. Inside the stock, there is an extra piece in the barrel channel, held in by two screws. Speculation is that they may be planning on a bull barrel version. For target shooting folks, they'll almost have to offer a heavy barrel. I would imagine after two or three of those 10 round mags through that pencil barrel, it would heat up. I think the ads say the barrel is full floating...dunno.

The one I looked at didn't have a bull barrel but it wasn't a pencil barrel either. I think the only way it would heat up practically is shooting prairie dogs or game like that.

[Gliderman166]

Got one a few weeks ago. Awesome accuracy and no feed or magazine issues. Bought it as a varmint rifle. It was $379 at Cabelas.


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[Gliderman166]

It was the bolt and stock. It felt light almost like a toy. We have a few Savages and they all tend to feel like this but it just seemed to be exaggerated by the barrel. That may just be me though.

The tapered barrel reduces the weight.


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[Sidewinder]

While Savage probably has more experience in .17HMR than anyone else at this point, I'm still not terribly excited about an autoloader in the caliber.  Ruger and Remington backed away from it - the later with a complete recall of the rifles at large.
 
Mind you it's a bolt action, but my Savage 93r17 BTVS is one of my favorite rifles.  And, we have literally driven tacks at 75 meters.
 
If you don't have a lot of experience with the round, it is a positively explosive little round.  I would argue that you'll have one of two outcomes varmint and small game hunting with it.  The energy of the round dissipates quickly.  So, either you'll hit a dense enough section of a large enough animal to absorb it and you won't have an exit hole - or you won't and the exit hole will be so large as to render the hide unusable.  We shoot hedge apples fairly regularly, and while these are pretty large and dense, it obliterates them reliably.  It ought to be a reliable rifle for coyotes.  For squirrels, you'll be relegated to simply picking up the pieces.

MacGyver, was the recall of the Ruger and Remington semi-autos due to the bolt flying back too soon, while the chamber pressures were stii high? I read somewhere that some earlier .17 HMR semi-auto models were bursting cases, expelling hot gasses and casing fragments through the ejection port. From watching four or five of the videos, it appears they may have solved that problem.

Point well made about the obliteration of small game, such as squirrels...and possibly fox and bobcat! The energy drop off also concerns me on the longer shots...and larger game. Would you say the round is good out to 150 yards for a coyote? It looks like this is a round that requires twisting turrets on the scope for consistant success at hitting the game/target.

You mentioned shooting hedge apples. Do you mostly use your bolt action for target shooting or hunting. If hunting, what is your usual game for this round? I researched the bolt action, before the Savage A17 and was impressed with it's capabilities and reasonable cost. My leaning toward the semi-auto was mostly for a quick follow up shot on a spinning coyote.

If I go for the bolt action, I'd prefer wood furniture. Do you know if the barrel is floated on the wood stocks? Also, one of the vids mentioned barrel leading...possibly with a certain brand of ammo. Have you experienced any of this with this hot little round?

Have you had any experience with this round on beaver? Just wondering.

[Sidewinder]

Got one a few weeks ago. Awesome accuracy and no feed or magazine issues. Bought it as a varmint rifle. It was $379 at Cabelas.
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Gliderman...do you fly gliders/sail planes? Just asking as I've been a pilot for most of my adult life...more years than I want to admit. But I digress!

Tell us about your A17. Have you done any hunting with it yet... has it drawn blood? Give us a field/range report. Are you shooting the ammo designed for it, or have you tried different brands? If game, what game have you taken with it... any coyotes?

Do you have any experience with the round in a bolt action? If so, could you give us a comparrison between the two? Did you get the wood or synthetic stock? Are you satisfied with it's accuracy and overall performance?