New Hmr ?

[Cedric 132]

For various reasons I've decided to dispose of my .22 Hornet and go back to a .17 hmr.

 

Choice seems to be CZ; Remington T bolt; Ruger 77; Sako Quad. Anyone know how to narrow my choice - recomendations etc.?

[shropshire dan 467]

Best thing for you to do mate is get to the gun shop and try and shoulder a few to see what best suits you. I've had the cz 452 hmr and loved it but others may suit your posture/build better. I've also heard great things about the weihrauch hw60 hmr.

 

Atb

Dan

[abarrett 462]

I've got a weihrauch hw60

Fantastic rifle very accurate looks great

Engineering is second to none

Even the wood is nice

Problem is I have a 22 lr and a 223

So it's kinda good for nothing

And hasn't been out for ages

Good look

[charlie caller 3,654]

Best thing you can do is keep the hornet, and dont bother with the pop gun

[Tremo 138]

Best thing you can do is keep the hornet, and dont bother with the pop gun

 

+1.

 

In my humble opinion, the HMR is a very niche calibre. The area where you intend to shoot this rifle has to suit (i.e. wind-free!) and realistically the quarry has to be less than 150 yards, and ideally less than 120 yards. I've had one in the past and to be honest, as well as being quite loud for what it is, I found the calibre quite underwhelming once you start shooting a centrefire. Inconsistent factory ammo, and I always found it an utter ball-ache to clean. Rods bending etc.

 

Stick with the Hornet.

[charlie caller 3,654]

You WILL regret selling the hornet pal trust me, I know I regret selling mine,lots.

[Brickhill 28]

I use an Anschutz 1417 .17 hmr. Shot many thousands of rounds through it almost exclusively for rabbits with no problems.

 

Come with a great trigger out of the box. Great for shooting from a truck as it's got a 14inch barrel.

 

Why use a centerfire on rabbits?

[Cedric 132]

Brickhill - I traded a hmr for the Hornet, meaning it to be dual purpose - foxes and longer range rabbits. However, partly due to advancing years, I've only shot two foxes in the last 6 months, both close enough to have been easly dispatched with a HMR. I find the Hornet pretty noisy for the areas where I shoot, I also like a bit of zeroing (target practice) and 50 or 60 rounds through the Hornet is not doing much for neighbour relations

 

The Hornet is a super little rifle and I've got it doing about an inch at 150 yards, reloading is most interesting as well but I've got to the stage where I can't really justify it. I shoot .22lr as well and my Anshutz 1417 handles rabbit head shots to 100 yards but there is always the holdover or mildots to calculate at intermediate ranges.

 

Popped into the gun shop this afternoon and am quite impressed with the quality of the Sako Quad, the Remington T bolt was nice as well but I'm not sure about that unconventional straight pull bolt. The CZ's are good workhorses but not the quality of the Sako. No Weirhauch or Anshutz to be seen.

[Tremo 138]

My HMR was an Anschutz 1517. My .22LR is the 1417 version.

 

I was in a similar position when I originally decided on my HMR ........... too much choice. I opted for Anschutz more on reputation more than anything else. At the time there was maybe £250 to £300 difference between a CZ and the Annie. In hindsight (based on performance) was the Annie worth that amount of difference??? ............ definitely not. Don't get me wrong, it was well built and smooth, but accuracy is what we all love, and even though it was accurate, IMHO it was no more accurate than the other leading rifle manufacturers. A the end of the day it is using factory loaded ammo.

 

If I had to go for another HMR and had to pick out of the ones that you suggested ...........

 

1) CZ - accurate and although not as cheap as they once were, for a rimfire I believe that these are the best buy for your money;

2) Weihrauch - well built and excellent triggers. The HW60Js can be a tad on the heavy side though;

3) SAKO - not the Quad, but the Finnfire II. Recognised as not being as good as the original Finnfire, but still a beautifully made rifle;

4) Anschutz.

 

Like a great deal of us though, I'm guessing that you like to buy with your heart as well as your head? What would you like to see every time you open your cabinet?

 

ATB

[bumpy22 414]

for get all the rest, savage 93r17btvs you will not regret it

[nasher1 258]

for get all the rest, savage 93r17btvs you will not regret it

i would rather have all the rest before a savage

[Cedric 132]

Tremo - "What would you like to see every time you open your cabinet?"

 

Space for another rifle !!!

 

The Sako Quad I looked at had a synthetic stock which felt quite solid. The action was beautifully smooth and the trigger very good - a little long though at 20" barrel - but I have a hacksaw !!!

Even second hand it was £50 dearer than a new CZ. Online prices for Finnfires are pretty steep.

 

Anyhow, there is no rush. My FEO tells me he wants me to sell the Hornet before I can have another rifle, goodness knows how long it will take Apparently Lancashire Firearms Dept are so busy they have given up answering the phone

Edited March 23, 2015 by Cedric

[IanB 0]

Just been in a similar predicament Cedric, I was tempted by the anschutz and weirauch, but I didn't bother, money wasn't an issue, I just wanted something that worked no fancy woodwork, etc.

 

The weirauch has a nice trigger but the magazine and heavy barrel put me off, the anshutz trigger was nice but the lowest pull weight was 2 lb something, so it states and the stock would take a battering in the landrover.. I'm not a rifle tart, I just like a gun that works and does the job, so I opted for another CZ 452 16" in nickel finish with synthetic stock, fitted a trigger kit, nightvision on job done, I can't keep up with the hornet reloading the amount of rounds I'm going through on rabbits, and recently sold my old HMR..for rabbits using night vision the HMR just fits the ticket, no reloading flat, perfick.

 

Keep it sweet or the shots open up, boresnake end of the night tightens her up again, they leave a lot of unburnt powder in the mod and barrel.

[Cedric 132]

IanB - I have yet to try the night vision on a HMR, I have mine on a 10/22 but there is always the problem of range estimation at night, the HMR would solve that.

[Tremo 138]

Tremo - "What would you like to see every time you open your cabinet?"

 

Space for another rifle !!!

 

The Sako Quad I looked at had a synthetic stock which felt quite solid. The action was beautifully smooth and the trigger very good - a little long though at 20" barrel - but I have a hacksaw !!!

Even second hand it was £50 dearer than a new CZ. Online prices for Finnfires are pretty steep.

 

Anyhow, there is no rush. My FEO tells me he wants me to sell the Hornet before I can have another rifle, goodness knows how long it will take Apparently Lancashire Firearms Dept are so busy they have given up answering the phone

 

What would I like to see Cedric? ................ MORE RIFLES! Every calibre under the sun if I could. I'm like a boy in a sweetshop every time I go online or into my local RFD. I'm quite certain that I have an affliction.

 

I did take a look at the Quad in HMR at the time also, but the synthetic bolt handle put me off, plus I wanted a rifle that was made for that one calibre. This barrel swapping is quite novel, especially the Sako mechanism, but it I'm kind of old school I suppose.

 

My centerfires are all Tikkas with synthetic stocks. I used to be a bit of a "rifle tart" as IanB put it (chequered wood and such like), but these days I appreciate something that is more hardwearing and a damn sight lighter to carry!