17 Mach II

Versatile · #1 06-25-2007, 09:14 AM

I am throwing the idea around for a 17 Mach II. I was wondering if anyone had any info or experience with this gun. I will be using it primarily for gophers, rabbits, and other small varmits.

I dont want a 17 HMR because I have heard the ammo is getting hard to find and expensive due to the popularity and low output at the factory.

I talked to a few of the guys at wholesale and they said the 17 Mach II is just a 22 scaled into a 17 but the 17 could reach out to 200 yards if you know the gun. They also said the ammo is easy to find, a fair selection, readily available, and isn't as much as a box of HMR rounds.

I was looking at the Savage in the Blue/Syn or the Marlin in Walnut/Blue I dont want to spend a bunch of money on this gun because it will be bumped around in the truck and scratched.

Rackmastr · #2 06-25-2007, 11:52 AM

I've never heard that the HMR ammo is tough to find....interesting. I'd still buy an HMR if i was going to do it I think....mainly for the extra juice you get....but thats just me.

I shoot my .22 at 150-180 yards at gophers no prob....hell of a lot cheaper to shoot....but I'd like an HMR one day.....

roger · #3 06-25-2007, 12:46 PM

IMO, mok2 =waste of money
-personally i dont think the mok2 is a worthwhile invention at all. a hi performance 22 will do about the same for less $ per shot. it filled the void in the market place that isnt needed.
-the hmr absolutely dominates the rimfires...chipmunks to coyotes...
-ive never had problems finding ammo for the hmr.
-mok2 ammo aint eggzacky cheap either.
if you like, i know a guy with the savage, he wanted to sell it (for the same reasons as i just listed) a while ago..i can contact him for you and find out???

Versatile · #4 06-25-2007, 12:52 PM

When I was looking at the prices for ammo the Mach2 was just over half the price of the HMR stuff. The 223 ammo is just about the same price as 223 ammo. I can buy a box of the surplus stuff for 8 bucks for 20 rounds. For the price difference I would just go to the 223 round.

That was the reason I was going to the Mach2 it was still moderately prices round for gophers, rabbits and what not and I could still pull out the 223 if I wanted to pop some coyotes. But I am not buying the Mach2 for Yotes.

roger I sent you a PM

Versatile · #5 06-25-2007, 12:53 PM

Anyone have a Mach2 around Taber that I could try out?

aulrich · #6 06-25-2007, 01:27 PM

I think your on to something a 17 m2 and a 223 would make a great varmint combo. The marlin semi is the one on my radar because it strikes me to be a hybred of my 2 favorite gopher guns a 10/22 and 17 hmr. Not as cheap as 22 not as much range as Hmr, but a semi that can reach to 100 yards without thinking whats wrong with that.

With as bad as the Calgary stores are for keeping stock everything rimfire can be hard to find, but that is one thing I have not seen lots of 17m2 ammo.

Rackmastr · #7 06-25-2007, 01:32 PM

My opinion if you're gonna run an HM2 you might as well run a nice 10/22 and shoot a hell of a lot cheaper ammo.....

If you want somethin small and fun....got the HMR and notice a difference. My 10/22 is easy to shoot 150 yards at gophers...and 100 yards is a snap....

Versatile · #8 06-25-2007, 01:42 PM

I have seen guys changing their 10/22's into 17m2 guns. I just want somthing with a little more pop than a 22. from what I have been reading alot of guys are saying the gophers are dropping with very little movement up to 150 200 yards. They say they like this gun a lot better than their 22's 1 inch drop at 100 yards compared to the 6 or 7 inch drop with a 22

aulrich · #9 06-25-2007, 02:34 PM

200 is a bit hopeful with 17m2 I have done it with my hmr but it is 500 fps or so faster, but 150 should be doable. I shoot mini-mags thats 27$/500 I personally figure that even thought 17m2 ammo is twice the price I figure half the difference would be made up by a better hit ratio.

One thing I don't get is the guys shooting stingers or velocitors for about $1 more you can get something that reaches futher and is way more accurate.

As important as my 22 is to my gopher shooting if it was the end all be all I would not have my 204, 22 k-hornet or 17hmr.

Haligonian · #10 06-25-2007, 02:35 PM

Have one, waste of money. No point unless you're doing a 10/22-> 10/17hm2 conversion

Versatile · #11 06-26-2007, 01:40 PM

Can anyone reccomend a scope for this gun? I was looking into the Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawns 3-9*40 in the Multi-X Reticle.

aulrich · #12 06-26-2007, 04:16 PM

3-9 might be a little low for gophering @ 125-150 though decent for all round (you had mentioned that you would shoot other things as well), one season I ran a 4-12 dusk til dawn on the hmr it was OK seeing the m2 has less range it should do just fine.

Rackmastr · #13 06-26-2007, 04:22 PM

Dang....I do all my shooting with my 4x and thats out to 150-180 yards.....heh...

But ya....a 3-9 should be plenty.....

RancheroMan · #14 06-26-2007, 07:09 PM

Let me start by saying, everyone should own a .22LR.....infact, I don't even think it is worth talking about, everyone owns a .22LR.

Now, under the understanding that you already have a .22LR, I would say go for the Mach II. Dad has a Marlin 717, sweet rifle, and no matter how many gophers I see that gun take, it still makes me laugh. If you are shooting gophers for pest control and looking for the most cost efective way of doing so.....then a Mach II isn't for you. If you shoot gophers for the fun of it.....buy the Mach II. If you are into longgggg range gopher shooting while staying in a rimfire, go with the HMR (I've got a Marlin 917 and it rocks!).

As for a scope....3-9x40 is lots.....if you want to save some money (for more ammo or that .22LR you should have already) even a 3-9x32 Bushnell will do the trick (that's what's on Dad's rifle).

Versatile · #15 06-27-2007, 01:18 AM

So all you guys that dont like the 17 do any of you want to sell your 17 mach2?

Rackmastr · #16 06-27-2007, 08:54 AM

LOL....if I didnt like it, I most certainly wouldnt own one......

Sounds like your mind was set on the HM2 before you posted the thread.....but I dont beleive everything that Wholesale tells me.....

Versatile · #17 06-27-2007, 10:24 AM

Rack I was throwing around the idea thats why I posted but during the time of this thread I had done a lot of reading on the net about this caliber and a lot of people like this caliber for a fun shooting gun.

If you don't own one how can you comment on if you don't like it or not? Figured if so many people don't like it someone must own one that they want to get rid of.

Rackmastr · #18 06-27-2007, 10:28 AM

I cant say that I dont like them....I just dont see the point......I have a very accurate .22 that is SO much cheaper to shoot, and I would go head to head with an HM2 with my .22 out to 150 yards no problem.....

I just think if you're gonna go .17 rimfire, you should go to HMR and make it worthwhile.....unless as pointed out...you're doing a 10/22 conversion.

Personal choice is all....guess I said it wrong when I said I didnt like.....I just dont see the point over an HMR.....

Guess the point I was making is you asked for opinions, but pretty much had your mind made up....thats cool, as diversity makes the world go round. If the HM2 floats yer boat, it will be a fun round for ya....all of em will kill gophers.....

Stinky Coyote · #19 06-29-2007, 12:31 PM

Ryan, i almost got one myself but i had to have another autoloader in .17 hmr first so the hm2 is on the back burner...but i believe it would be the ideal gopher round period. The hmr has enough poop to do in coyotes reliably to 100 yrds so its price and power are a tad overkill. I find no matter what i generally shoot gophers as far as i can see em easy with naked eye easy whether i shoot .22 lr or .17 hmr i tend to shoot them all out to 100 yrds give or take anyhow so the mach2 appeals to me as the ideal gopher cartridge...way more fun than .22lr(more zing & pop on the critters) and accuracy at the 80 to 110 yrd mark where the .22 has you missing more than hitting....i dunno, i say go for it, when budget allows i'll probably jump in too.