.17 Mach 2?

taylorce1

New member
I don't know why but I have the bug for a .17 Mach 2 rifle. There aren't a whole lot of options out there for rifles, especially if you're trying to stay away from certain brands. It seems like a Ruger 77/22 is the best option to rebarrel. I'm just trying to figure out what other .22 lr rifle is fairly easy to swap barrels on (custom prefit)?

I'm sure stagpanther will be along shortly to let me know, and I'm sure he's not the only one with that experience.
 

stagpanther

New member
I don't know why but I have the bug for a .17 Mach 2 rifle. There aren't a whole lot of options out there for rifles, especially if you're trying to stay away from certain brands. It seems like a Ruger 77/22 is the best option to rebarrel. I'm just trying to figure out what other .22 lr rifle is fairly easy to swap barrels on (custom prefit)?

I'm sure stagpanther will be along shortly to let me know, and I'm sure he's not the only one with that experience.
What..who...me? :D

Actually pure coincidence I stumbled on this. ; ) I thought about the 17M2 a couple years ago for my CZ--but it was just a pipe dream since CZ and nobody else had them. I just checked Lilja and they do. Headspacing is the tricky part; Lilja sends a set of shims with the barrel but you will definitely need an accurate depth guage as tolerance needs to be precise. Other models might be screw-ons.

For a while CZ had their rifles available with two barrels at one point one of them might have been a 17 m2--I can't remember for sure.
 
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9x19

New member
Ruger Precision Rimfire uses a barrel nut similar to an AR... Lothar Walther makes/made .17M2 barrels for it.
 

stagpanther

New member
I've got 2 CZ 457's already--I just noticed that the jaguar is "back in circulation"--I might just have to get another one. Short of spending big bucks for a match-grade custom rifle--which really might be worth it if you're serious about rimfire--for the price you won't be disappointed with a CZ.
 

taylorce1

New member
Easy button is buy a brand new Savage A17 or MKII, but I don't like either. I'm also not fond of the RPR, but it is a better option than the Savage IMO. Volquartsen makes the Summit straight pull but it is $1600 for the one I like. I really dislike the MagPul stock they use.
 

stagpanther

New member
I love my CZs in a KRG chassis.

I was looking at magnum research's custom build site for revolvers--they also will custom build 22lr rifles, might be worth a call to find out what their barrel system is and if a 17 M2 could be swapped. Lilja does make a 17 M2 for the Ruger 77/22 and also have tapered barrels available.
 
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stinkeypete

New member
I have the CZ 455 American Combo in .22 LR and .17 HMR and I like it. Very pretty.

Leija will sell you a CZ 457 .17 HM2 barrel for $505 so...

about $500 for the CZ and $505 for the barrel then fussing it together for $1000

Just out of curiosity, I looked up CZ 527 (now discontinued) in .17 hornet on Guns International and those run about $1100. For the extra $100 you get a center fire .17 you might reasonably load way down with a flyspec of Bullseye but you'd miss out on grousing about rimfire ammunition!
 
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wachtelhund1

New member
I had a Marlin 25 in .22LR, which I bought years ago for $25.00. I had it relined to .17 Mach 2. It was a good rifle, I sold it and can't remember why I sold it.
 

44 AMP

Staff
The problem I have with .17s is that my .22 cleaning rods don't fit! :rolleyes::D

The real problem I have with them is with the rimfire ones. Don't ever forget the 5mm Rem mag!!! Eventually, after the "blush was off the rose", Ammo was no longer made, and it even got to the point where a single box of ammo was worth more than the rifle.

Maybe I'm just too cheap, but spending $ 500-1000 on any rimfire that doesn't have multiple decades of production and really widespread use and popularity just isn't sensible for me.

If you've got the budget, go ahead, and enjoy what you enjoy. Just remember the sad story of the previous rimfire wonder round ended, and not well.
 

44 AMP

Staff
Expensive 5mm Rem ammo is again available today, since foreign production started a few years ago. Before that there was a long (I think 20+ years or so) when there was NO 5mm ammo outside of the hands of cartridge collectors.
 

stagpanther

New member
I wouldn't worry about the M2 going away as long as Hornady is significantly vested in .17 A/V max bullets in partnership with CCI. I would prefer that there would be alternatives offered by the premium rimfire manufacturers like SK, Ely and RWS. RWS being the "best of the best" IMO.:)
 

jetinteriorguy

New member
Okay you’ve got my curiosity going. Why? I’m a huge fan of the .17HMR but am not familiar with the .17M2. But just looking at it and researching a bit what makes it more useful than just getting a .17HMR? I get it just for the fun of it, but mostly curious if it serves a purpose or fits a certain niche.
 

stagpanther

New member
I have an 17 hmr--but to be honest still prefer 22lr for my rimfire fun.

Okay you’ve got my curiosity going. Why? I’m a huge fan of the .17HMR but am not familiar with the .17M2. But just looking at it and researching a bit what makes it more useful than just getting a .17HMR? I get it just for the fun of it, but mostly curious if it serves a purpose or fits a certain niche.

Theoretically the extra velocity--and bullet drop better, but in the end all bitty bullets get pushed around.
 

Scorch

New member
The 17 Mach 2 is a cute little round that got overshadowed by its big brother the 17 HMR. I almost built a 17 Mach 2 years ago and decided to build a 17 HMR instead just because. But there ar etimes when I wish I had built the little guy instead. They tend to be very accurate and shoot almost as flat as the HMR but don't buck wind as well with the itty-bitty buwwets they use. But out to 150-ish I'm sure they would be adequate.

If you want a barrel, call the folks at Lilja, they make an awesome barrel. Green Mountain would be good if you can get one, but you'll have to basically build it yourself since their barrels are full diameter/no taper.
 

jetinteriorguy

New member
I have an 17 hmr--but to be honest still prefer 22lr for my rimfire fun.



Theoretically the extra velocity--and bullet drop better, but in the end all bitty bullets get pushed around.
Yeah, for general all around shooting and plinking the good old .22 is pretty hard to beat. A few years ago an old friend of mine back home in Nodak introduced me to the .17HMR. Shooting gophers at 150-200 yds was just so much fun I had to have one. Out to 100 yds the .22 is great but longer shots, not so much.
 

stagpanther

New member
Shooting gophers at 150-200 yds was just so much fun I had to have one. Out to 100 yds the .22 is great but longer shots, not so much.
I think there's a "mad rush" to push the ole 22lr between 100 and 200 yds and still get great accuracy--but that involves trying to figure out if you can launch it supersonic and keep it reasonably stable as it goes transonic (which as far as I know nobody has really figured out yet) or hope for a absolute calm day and throw hail Mary passes out there with cartridges that start right at the transonic barrier--which does work, on occasion, for me. I've done a boatload of reloads with cutting edge's solid high BC bullets but still haven't managed to get anything really consistent and small, meaning 1 MOA out to 200 yds.

But it sure is fun trying. :D
 
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