Pint-Sized Power — the 3000 FPS 17 Win Super Mag Rimfire
At SHOT Show 2017, we had the chance to chat extensively with Eric Mayer, head honcho of Varminter.com. An avid shooter and hunter, Eric loves small, efficient cartridges. Eric told us his current favorite rimfire cartridge is the 17 WSM. “Winchester has continued to improve this cartridge since its introduction. We are seeing very good accuracy now, and performance is impressive in the varmint fields”. Eric notes that the 3000 fps 17 WSM 20-grain ammo (photo above) delivers way more punch downrange than a typical 17 HMR load. In this article, you’ll find the highlights of Varminter.com’s review of the 17 WSM round in the Ruger 77/17 cartridge.
The 17 Winchester Super Magnum Rimfire (aka Win Super Mag or WSM) is the fastest, most potent modern rimfire round you can buy. This cartridge, which uses a modified nail gun casing, drives 20gr bullets at 3000 fps. The 17 WSM offers superior ballistics to all .22 rimfires, and is a clear step ahead of the 17 HMR. That makes this round a potential “game-changer” in the varmint fields. To gauge the capabilities of the 17 WSM, Varminter.com tested the cartridge in the new Ruger 77/17 bolt-action rifle. Click HERE for Varminter.com Ruger 77/17, 17 WSM Review.
17 WSM shoots faster than the 17 HMR, so the 20gr bullets don’t drift as much in the wind:
Varminter.com reports: “The much-anticipated Ruger 77/17 chambered in the 17 Winchester Super Magnum (17WSM) has been released. Our Review Editor, William Chambers, put it through a full range test with all four currently-available ammunition loads. Afterwards, he took it on a short groundhog hunt[.] We put a lot of rounds through the guns we test, at targets, through chronographs and out in the field. This report includes all currently available 17 WSM ammunition and a sneak peek of the really nice Nikon Prostaff 5 riflescope.” READ REVIEW.
As part of its review, Varminter.com tested four different types of 17 WSM ammo for accuracy: American Eagle (20gr V-Max); Hornady (20gr V-Max), Winchester HV (20gr V-Max); Winchester HE (25gr V-Max). In the little Ruger, which suffered from a very heavy trigger, the most accurate ammo, by far, was the American Eagle, with an average 5-shot group size of 1.135 MOA at 100 yards. The Winchester HV was the worst, with a 2.304 MOA average for three, 5-shot groups. CLICK HERE for full accuracy test results.
After accuracy testing, Varminter.com Review Editor Chambers took the Ruger 77/17 on a Groundhog hunt in Northern Ohio. Chambers was successful, bagging this ‘hog’ at 127 yards. The American Eagle 17 WSM ammo did quick work — the groundhog dropped without a twitch (watch video).
Similar Posts:
- Varminter.com Reviews Ruger 77/17 in 17 WSM Rimfire
- Winchester’s New 3000 FPS .17 Win Super Mag Rimfire
- 17 Win Super Mag Rimfire from Winchester — Field Report
- GunsAmerica Tests New .17 Win Super Magnum in Savage
- Varminter.com Field Tests New Lead Free 17 WSM Ammo
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Tags: .17 WSM, Eric Mayer, Ruger 77/17, Varminter.com, Win Super Mag, Winchester Super Magnum
oh please….another rimfire destined to go the way of the 17 HM2.
If my Savage 17 Hornet shot that badly I would sell it!
The calibre is not popular here in New Zealand due to it’s high cost and the likelyhood of the rifle becoming obsolete.
Derrick: You raise some good points, but keep in mind that this review was done a couple seasons back. Eric Mayer says that Winchester has listened to consumers and improved the accuracy of the 17 WSM. In addition, it shoots better in some other rifles with lighter triggers. Bottom line is that Eric Mayer of Varminter.com, who has shot a LOT of 17 Mach 2 (and has seen that round fall from favor), believes that hte 17 WSM is here to stay, and he favors it over the 17 HMR for its ballistic advantages. He can shoot whatever cartridge and ammo he likes, and his pick in rimfire is the 17 WSM.
I’m with derrick one this one. The ability to handload 17 hornet and the high price of 17 wsm makes my decision easy. Plus the bonus of a swap barrel once I shoot out that barrel.
I agree with Derrick and Matt. While I respect Eric and enjoy his magazine, another rimfire cartridge leaves me completely disinterested. I shoot Subsonic CCI segmented 22LR in a quiet Norinco bolt action, 22LR Signature CCI Mini-Mag in my Ruger 10/22, 22LR CCI Velocitor in my CZ 452 Ultra Lux, CCI 17HMR A17 in my Savage 93R17 BTVSS and Savage 93R17 TR, and from there I move directly to a Savage Model 12 LRPV in 204 Ruger. I see no reason at all to use a .17 WSM, or a 17 Hornet or 22 Hornet. Please note the absence of the name Remington in the ammo descriptors. It is just not accurate enough to use.
Keep up the great articles Accurateshooter!!