.17 HRM recalls and warnings?!

[SL1]

Recently, I have been seeing warnings from Remington and Federal that seem to say that there is some sort of problem cropping-up with the .17 HRM cartridge. I am not sure if it is just in semi-auto rifles, or just with some brands of ammo, or what?

Can anybody here tell me what the actual problems have been that have caused the warnings and recalls (from Remington)?

I am kind-of-bumbed, because I had thought that the .17 HRM would be a good fit with the Ruger 10/22 Magnum platform and a good, high-power scope. It would be easy to take follow-up shots without disturbing the sight picture. Now, I'm owndering if that is an option.

SL1

 

[J-Hon]

Re: .17 HRM recalls and warnings?!

Getting a 17HMR to run in a 10/22mag is doable, but not the easiest thing in the world to make right. Some guys have guns that shoot lights out, some have expensive paperweights. Some guys have guns that will run with specific rounds, and they have to clean the chamber area every mag or two. Given that donors are like $6-700, you could easily push the $1k mark for a 17HMR 10/22, and I doubt you will find many people who will guarantee it runs like a factory gun.

The problem is inherent to the ammo, and the design of most rimfires. Blowback guns work directly off the pressure of the round to cycle the action (and to extract a round), and the quick spiking 17HMR round (in regards to pressure) just doesn't give much of a "window" of opportunity for things to work correctly. Add in the fact that 17HMR ammo is VERY inconsistent, and you have problems. On top of that, Remington's 597 series is renown dogshit, and you get the recall you see going on now.

That's an incredibly simplistic view of what's going on with these guns and the 17HMR. If you want to know more (and I HIGHLY suggest you do if you are serious about playing with these guns), there's been some good technical discussion on RFC. If you are still wanting a 17HMR semi, I'd look into the VQ or the Magnum Research guns. Both of those companies have taken slightly different approaches to the problem than the standard "add a heavy bolt, and a stiffer spring" bandaid fix.

 

[frog5215]

Re: .17 HRM recalls and warnings?!

Read the warning. It pertains to the unsuitability/safety of this cartridge in a semiauto only.

 

[Long_Action]

Re: .17 HRM recalls and warnings?!

If you want a semi auto 17hmr......I would give some thought about the 22mag instead. You skip all the problems and still have a great cartridge. I shoot 17hmr bolt and just picked up a 22mag semi.

my 2 cents

 

[264win]

Re: .17 HRM recalls and warnings?!

i would also suggest a 22 mag for the semi auto platform . if you do go with a hmr get a volquartsen . it will only cost a little more , is a much beter quality rifle

 

[frog5215]

Re: .17 HRM recalls and warnings?!

With the ammunition mfgs saying it's neither intended for nor safe in semiautos, I can't imaging any mfg continuing production.
No gunsmith with insurance would touch it, either.

 

[SL1]

Re: .17 HRM recalls and warnings?!

Well, I didn't mean to imply that I was thinking about a CUSTOM rifle for an auto-loading 17 HRM.

I notice that Ruger doesn't even list the 22RFM as a chambering for their 10/22 any more. I thought I had raad that they were going got put out a 17HRM version.

Anyway, I HAVE read the warning and recalls by Remington and Federal and what I was really asking here is WHAT KINDS OF FAILURES are prompting those actions on the part of the manufacturers? I kind of doubt that they are having guns blow-up with that cartridge. But, are they getting case failures from firing out-of-battery, or what?

SL1

 

[eleaf]

Re: .17 HRM recalls and warnings?!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: frog5215</div><div class="ubbcode-body">With the ammunition mfgs saying it's neither intended for nor safe in semiautos, I can't imaging any mfg continuing production.
No gunsmith with insurance would touch it, either. </div></div>

Volquartsen is still making 17 HMR semi-autos. They start at over $1000 but look really nice. A local gun shop has 2 in stock that I have lusted over. But with all of the warning everywhere about the round in semi-autos, I'll stay far, far away.

 

[frog5215]

Re: .17 HRM recalls and warnings?!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SL1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well, I didn't mean to imply that I was thinking about a CUSTOM rifle for an auto-loading 17 HRM.

I notice that Ruger doesn't even list the 22RFM as a chambering for their 10/22 any more. I thought I had raad that they were going got put out a 17HRM version.

Anyway, I HAVE read the warning and recalls by Remington and Federal and what I was really asking here is WHAT KINDS OF FAILURES are prompting those actions on the part of the manufacturers? I kind of doubt that they are having guns blow-up with that cartridge. But, are they getting case failures from firing out-of-battery, or what?
SL1 </div></div>

OOB discharges and slamfires.
Ruger never even shipped any 10/17HM2s, although they were in the catalog.
Some believe that HMR conversions contributed to Ruger's discontinuation of the 10/22 Mag.

Even the WMR is right on the edge of what's prudent and doable with an unlocked breech.
Other than semi-customs like MR and VQ, how many WMR autos are in production? Any?

KelTec is about to offer a pistol; I have no idea how they got it to work, if it works.

The old AMT AutoMag has a deliberately pitted chamber to delay opening until pressure drops and brass contracts.

 

[1911fan]

Re: .17 HRM recalls and warnings?!

I had a 10-22 Magnum that I converted to .17HMR, wish I'd never sold it (see sigline). Just bolted in the Butler Creek kit and started blasting, bet I killed thousands of sage rats with it. Ran well and was reasonably accurate.
I have another kit, NIB, waiting for a donor action.

1911fan