17 Winchester Super Magnum (17Wsm)

[Matthew Phillips 36]

So has anyone in the UK played with this round? How does it compare to the 17HMR.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.17_Winchester_Super_Magnum

[Matthew Phillips 36]

[Deker 3,478]

Whilst it certainly does not mean anyone in the UK has not had experience with this calibre, it is not available in the UK.

 

Some 2 years or more after it was announced the UK is still waiting, and general suggestion is we may have to wait a long time yet if it ever happens here at all!

[Matthew Phillips 36]

Looks a neat round though. Very very flat shooting and cheap as well (not taking into account home reloading)

[Deker 3,478]

It's a rimfire, the chances of anyone being able to set up a reloading facility are remote in the extreme!

[Matthew Phillips 36]

Ah sorry, yeah i meant compared to the smallest cf (22 hornet)

[nasher1 258]

You say its a cheap round it probably is in the good ol USA, if it ever makes it to our shores I bet hmr will be cheaper.

[Alsone 789]

You say its a cheap round it probably is in the good ol USA, if it ever makes it to our shores I bet hmr will be cheaper.

 

HMR's not even the same ballpark though.

 

WSM is nearer to .17 Hornet in performance 3,000fps and 400ft lbs.

[gazjon5 854]

There was a lad at the range I go to with one, and I have to say the savage b.mag (well his anyway) is junk. I did not fire it but asked him what his thoughts on it were. It was only a few months old, was jamming constantly, the bolt was terrible and the groups were not as good as his arm hMr he said. Certainly an interesting rim fire round but while the only rifle available is the bmag I wouldnt bother.....

[Deker 3,478]

There was a lad at the range I go to with one, and I have to say the savage b.mag (well his anyway) is junk. I did not fire it but asked him what his thoughts on it were. It was only a few months old, was jamming constantly, the bolt was terrible and the groups were not as good as his arm hMr he said. Certainly an interesting rim fire round but while the only rifle available is the bmag I wouldnt bother.....

.17 WSM?

 

Which part of the country are you in, is this an import, where does he get ammo?

[gazjon5 854]

Am currently in Alberta, Canada.

[Elliott 436]

 

There was a lad at the range I go to with one, and I have to say the savage b.mag (well his anyway) is junk. I did not fire it but asked him what his thoughts on it were. It was only a few months old, was jamming constantly, the bolt was terrible and the groups were not as good as his arm hMr he said. Certainly an interesting rim fire round but while the only rifle available is the bmag I wouldnt bother.....

.17 WSM?Which part of the country are you in, is this an import, where does he get ammo?

He reeled you right in there Deker!

[celticrusader 78]

Well we've been through this quite recently, dunno about anyone else but for uk shooters either hornet or hmr would more than likely do as its in the middle of them sort of round it seems as if it would be not a good round over here for the simple fact that quarry would be of limited use and then there is the price and also it would take a good time for it to establish a market...in short don't get your hopes up sadly.

Edited November 17, 2014 by celticrusader

[Born Hunter 17,813]

For UK licensing someone should really take one of these 'super' magnum rimfire cartridges like the 17wsm and neck it up for a 22..... imo that'd fill an interesting niche being legal in an SLR platform.

[Alsone 789]

For UK licensing someone should really take one of these 'super' magnum rimfire cartridges like the 17wsm and neck it up for a 22..... imo that'd fill an interesting niche being legal in an SLR platform.

 

The problem is the case pressures.

 

Rimfire cartridges have to have a thin base to allow the firing pin to deform them and detonate that primer. So there are limits to what pressure the case can withstand and still be either safe or fire able. A heavier bullet such as a .22 would be likely to up the case pressure considerably with the same load due to the increased inertia.

 

The .17 WSM almost matches the .17 Hornet at the muzzle for energy, which makes it remarkable in my book. However, the biggest issues atm seem to be the small number of guns chambered for it and the lack of availability in the UK.

 

If you need a wsm then I'd take the .17 Hornet in the UK.

 

However, for fox there are more powerful rounds and for rabbits more suitable so like all hornets, it falls within the middle ground between established foxing calibres and small game calibres. For lower noise or land where the police are reluctant to grant a more powerful round, it has a place.

 

.17 WSM promised to be a godsend to those in areas where the police won't grant anything other than rimfire at 1st grant. However, it's lack of availability has scuppered that advantage, at least for now.

Edited November 18, 2014 by Alsone