I have a 22 and a 22 mag, but am intrigued by the 17 HMR. If I go for it, I am thinking of either the CZ 455 (bolt action) or the Savage A17 which is about the only 17 HMR semi-auto out there. Both my 22 calibers are semi auto and I like that, but for squirrels, rabbits, or small varmints, the CZ bolt action is attractive too. Any of you out there have experience with these? My #1 consideration is accuracy!

I have the Savage 17 HMR bolt action, I love it for the varmints you mentioned. Have taken squirrels, coons, and rabbits with it. I'm still waiting for the right moment to get a piggy with it. Ammo is pretty easy to get a hold of nowadays too especially with the A17 coming out I always see the box of 200 rounds available.

The savage heavy barrel bolt action is one of the most accurate one out there.

I loved mine, and was sooo stoked for A17, but they are more than I want to pay, so maybe I'll just get another in bolt, and wait for A17 to come down.

Marlin Makes amazing rimfires as well.

CZ 455 with varmint barrel for me. Getting ready to put some A17 ammo through it this weekend to see how it compares to the CCI stuff I’ve been using (17 grain TNT and 20 grain gamepoint). I have really enjoyed mine, very accurate at 100 yds.

For lots of .17HMR info…you might wish to join us here:

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/index.php

Thanks for the input. Did some more research on the A17 and there seem to be some feeding and mag issues. Several saying the mag falls out but many counter that it's user error, not the rifle's fault that some folks can't put the mag in right. Anyway, for the money, Savage is a good deal and I also like their bolt with the thumbhole stock. That's a heck of a rig, Flint. I have 2 CZ centerfires and love both, so even though it's a little more $$$, the CZ is still right there. Seem to be some good prices at Bud's.

This. I have a CZ 455 in .17HMR, Classic with walnut stock and varmint barrel. It's the most accurate rimfire rifle I own. I was really on the fence about the .17 vs. my .22 Mags until I started doing some serious shooting with both. Still love my .22's but my favorite rim fire is now the .17.

You really can't go wrong with any of the rifles you are considering. Like you, I did quite a bit of research before making my decision.

As concerns the cartridge, it seems ideally suited for Squirrel, Rabbit, Crow.

IMO, Raccoon and Bobcat represent the upper end of Varmints that it works well on.

I know you will find folks that have taken coyote with the .17 HMR, but I don't advise it.

You'll find that wind drift is a factor with the diminutive bullet. Most of my shots are about 100 yds. and under but the practical limit for small critters is probably 200 yds or so.

I am pretty much an accuracy freak and felt the CZ would give me the best platform from which to work. It has not disappointed. But, I am sure the other rifles are capable of good accuracy as well.

While I have used my .17 on various small game animals and varmints...one thing it gets called on to do is sniping turtles in our farm ponds. They become so numerous at times that we simply have to thin their numbers.

The .17 allows me to shoot at anything that pops up in the water within 100 yds. and have a high probability of hitting it. The head of a turtle can be the size of a bottle cap or as big as a golf ball, but in either case you need accuracy.

Here in Deep East Texas...thinning out turtles is like shooting prairie dogs out West. You can easily spend a few hours doing it and go through a hundred rounds.

Best of luck with your decision. Remember to put a decent optic on it.

Flint.

Thanks again for the welcomed advice. Not sure how soon I'll pick one up. Part of it is what the family CFO (also known as the Mrs) will allow for a budget. I am not bound to a new one. Heck, over half of my arsenal had the barrel broken in by someone else. I am leaning to a CZ but if a smoking deal comes up on the right Savage, well..... And yes, I'd probably put a lower end Leo on it, like a 3-9 VX1.

.17 is really a fun and accurate round. You already have a.22 .22 mag...might as well step into a .17 you won't regret.

I can't recommend the a17 it is very ammo sensitive my bro has one and has had lots of problems w it

Sounds let your set on the hmr but check out the 17 wsm 20 grain at 3,000 fps ammo is same price as hmr as well as the rifle itself and ammo is readily available I was in the same boat you are and a guy showed me the wsm and I love it.

I have the Savage bolt action, any varmint within 100 yards is in big trouble. Highly recommend them.

I have a savage BTVSS that is an absolute tack driver to 100 haven't stretched it further than that though.

Duke -- got me thinking about the wsm. Looks like Savage is the main maker of shooting sticks for it. The reviews I saw are pretty much Jekyl and Hyde. Some think they are great and others not so much. Looks like I shouldn't hold my breath for CZ to come out with that rifle any time soon. What model Savage do you have and any issues with it? I want a 17 her (or asm now) I can carry (squirrel hunt etc), so I really don't want the heavier varmint barrel.

Ruger makes a m77/ 17 wsm if that is more your style I think a lot of the problems they had with the savage bmag have been fixed mine shoots 5 shot groups at 100 yds that you can cover with a nickle. With that being said I do plan to put a boyds stock on it because the factory one is crap

Like the 17hmr. My favorite turtle gun, never get a ricochet off the water if I miss. 22 mag and 22 lr will almost always ricochet. I'm selling one soon.

I have two of them. Shot it all the time. I take it to the range and shoot it in between my big rifles just to work of trigger pull. It also works great on every animal I have shot at with it.

I don't have one of the new line of 17 rim fires. I have a original 17 Remington on a Remington 700 BDL that is a hoot to shoot. its been put away for a few years in my safe & we just moved to a nice 3000 acre lease in west Texas & it has tons of varmints that need a 4200fps 25grain 17caliber properly applied.

Picked mine up this year from a forum member and couldn't be happier. It has replaced my .22mag and I used to shoot the mag all the time. Good luck and enjoy

Had a savage heavy barrel thumbhole stock model. Never could get it to shoot inside 1". Average group was 1.5"-2". Tried several different kinds of ammo. Ended up selling it.

The shooter was not the problem. I replaced it with a Savage 11VT in 308 and consistently shoot sub-MOA groups with it.

I have the Savage heavy barrel thumbhole stock model. Mine shoots within 1" at 100 yards with every brand of ammunition that I have tried. Average group is around .75".

I am sorry to hear that your rifle would not perform well, patriot07. I've had the same thing happen to me, sometimes it's just the luck of the draw. - The Ruger American I bought in .308 could not be made to hit the paper at 25 yards until I bought some of the Burris signature rings with the offset plastic inserts. Apparently the holes in the receiver for the scope mounts were drilled incorrectly, I tried several different mount and ring combinations before I finally got it on the paper with the Burris rings. - I got the one in a thousand Ruger Americans that have an issue, and figured that it was just the luck of the draw.

The Savage 11VT is a nice firearm. Not intending to hijack the thread, but do you have any pictures?

From everything I've read, mine is also one of those one-in-a-thousand deals. Very few people have issues getting the Savage 17HMRs to shoot. Scope was a Nikon Prostaff, so I don't think that was the issue. Can't remember what rings I had.

Here is a picture of the 11VT. SWFA 16x42 scope with SWFA rings. All stock except a tactical bolt handle and cheap caldwell bipod. Not a great picture of the gun. I took this a few weeks ago when I hit the range at lunch so I could text the guys back at work to make them jealous.

bought the A17, runs great, I popped a crow off a high line at 95yds, better accuracy than any of my .22mags

High line? Do you mean power line?

This. I clear turtles and had always used a 10/22. One had to be really careful of the backdrop, as a missed shot would skim off the water and still travel a good ways with velocity. I thought the answer was a 22TCM pistol, but a pistol is no rifle when it comes to accurate shots. I was holding out on a semi-auto 22tcm rifle; but will probably go the 17hmr route.