.17 Rem?

I have an opportunity to aquire (through bartering) a used Remington 700 chambered in .17 rem with a hogue stock and topped with a Redfield Revenge 4x12x42 scope.

It has had roughly 400 rds of ammo shot through it, and all of the empties plus powder, and bullets for reloading, plus 50 live rounds and the original glossy Remington stock are included in the trade.

Reportedly, this individual weapon is a ½ MOA gun, and I trust the reporting source.

SO – what is the concensus here regarding the .17 Rem as a caliber? Good/bad/ugly….what say the experts? (the fact that I can trade goods for it is the appealing part for me….no cash outlay)

Tim

It’s a good caliber for fox and prairie dogs. It’s a little small for coyotes but it will still take them down.

As long as you trust the seller…but I would want to see some rounds on paper first. They have been known to be loaded hot and the rifling burned. Friend of mine had on that printed the bullet on the paper sideways.

I wouldn’t use them on anything larger than yotes from personal experience.

Most of what I would consider downsides of the 17 Rem are addressed by what’s included in the trade.

I wouldn’t buy any rifle banking on claims of real .5 moa. To consistently shoot .5 moa groups is a tall order.

The 17–of any stripe–is what it is. Good for a few things and not more.

Grouse

I’ve always wanted one. They kill coyotes just fine.

…and they don’t blow up prairie dogs very well.

Brian Klawitter wrote:

…and they don’t blow up prairie dogs very well.

I posted a few videos over the last couple years to prove that. We had a lot of body shots with a 17 on field rats that still ran down their holes. When I’m guiding predators, I don’t allow my clients to carry a 17. I’ve spent way too many nights trailing injured song dogs. Great if you make a perfect shot, but most coyotes I’ve encountered take a bit more for a clean kill shot in not so perfect placements.

Like grouse said, it comes down to the trade-off. If the value of it meets or exceeds your needs, good for you.

A 17 rem is undergunned for prarie dogs? That does not sound right too me.

A 25gr pill @ 4000fps seems like enough to tie a prarie dog in a knot to me?

Timmy, watch the P/dog shot at 37 seconds into this vid

Timmy – I stand corrected. I was thinking 17HMR – not the 17 Rem – Sorry, my mistake

Well, after a long drawn out bargaining session, I am the owner if a nice .17 Rem.

Its a bull barreled Remington 700 with a Hogue stock (and original high-gloss factory stock also), new Nikon scope, 70 rounds of live ammo, 400 rds of brass/bullets/powder, and a cleaning rod/kit for it.

My pal made me a trade offer I could not refuse, so I had to snatch it up. I will be curious to see how it shoots at the range. He is a close friend and I would trust him with my life, so I am not worried about the gun in any way. If something is amiss, he will stand behind it without a doubt. Maybe this weekend I can try it at the range and see…..

Pics!!!

Randy thanks man now I got to get a 22-250! Gah now I got to explain to the girl friend that I am going to get another gun. Luckily after about 20 min she will be wanting to shoot it.