17 Mach 2 Straight-Pull Summit Rifle from Volquartsen
The 17 Mach 2 (aka “17 HM2″) is making a come-back. We’re glad. This high-velocity round fits actions and magazines designed for the .22 LR, so it’s an easy barrel-swap upgrade for most rimfire bolt-guns (semi-autos are more complicated). The 17 Mach 2 cartridge doesn’t deliver the velocity of the 17 HMR, but it is still way faster than a .22 LR. Expect 2000-2100 fps with 17 Mach 2 compared to 1250 fps for “High-Velocity” .22 LR ammo. And, importantly, 17 Mach 2 ammo is much less expensive than 17 HMR. If you shop around, you can get 50 rounds of 17 Mach 2 for about $6.50. That’s 40% cheaper than the average $11 price of 17 HMR — a significant savings!
17 Mach 2 Major Selling Points:
1. 60% more velocity than typical “High-Velocity” .22 LR ammo.
2. 40% less cost than average 17 HMR ammo.
3. 17 Mach 2 OAL is compatible with .22 LR receivers and magazines.
Toggle Bolt Volquartsen Summit in 17 HM2
It’s rare for us to see a new rimfire that we’d really like to own, but the new Summit from Volquartsen fits the bill. This versatile rifle features a cool, straight-pull toggle bolt, similar to those on elite Biathalon rifles. You can see how this gun shoots in this informative 22 Plinkster video:
22 Plinkster Tests Volquartsen Summit Rifle in 17 Mach 2
The 17 Mach 2 (17 HM2) is making a comeback. Now leading manufacturers are offering this efficient little rimfire cartridge in some nice rifles. Both Anschutz and Volquartsen will offer new 17 Mach 2 rifles in 2019. The Volquartsen Summit features a lightweight, carbon fiber-wrapped barrel threaded 1/2-28 for brakes or suppressors. The Summit boasts a nice 1.75-lb trigger pull. The Summit’s CNC-machined receiver features a +20 MOA Rail. NOTE: The video shows a silhouette-style laminated wood stock. However, the Summit comes standard with a composite Magpul stock that actually works better for shooting from a bench.
17 Mach 2 — Best Rimfire Bang for the Buck?
If you are looking for a capable, squirrel-busting round or a fun plinking round, you should definitely consider the 17 Mach 2, especially since CCI has committed to production of the little cartridge. CCI recently rolled out its “Gen 2″ 17 Mach 2 VNT Ammo with polymer tip (photo right).
The 17 Mach 2 propels the same 17gr bullet as the 17 HMR, but the 17 Mach 2 runs roughly 20% slower — 2000-2100 fps vs. 2500 fps for the 17 HMR.
Considering that 17 HMR ammo is now running $10 to $12 a box, the 17 Mach 2 is an excellent value by comparison. When you consider overall “bang for the buck”, for many shooters, it makes sense to use the 17 Mach 2 rather than a 17 HMR. You save money, barrel life is a little longer, and the 17 Mach 2 is still a much more potent cartridge than the .22 LR. Check out this comparison, and note how the 17 Mach 2 has a much flatter trajectory than the .22 LR:
Hornady’s 17 Mach 2 has a 2100 FPS muzzle velocity vs. 1255 FPS for “High-Velocity” .22 LR.
Similar Posts:
- 17 Mach 2 (17 HM2) — Affordable .17-Caliber Rimfire Option
- 17 Mach 2 (17 HM2) — More Affordable Alternative to 17 HMR
- 2050 FPS 17 Mach 2 Rimfire — Affordable Alternative to 17 HMR
- 17 Mach 2 — 2050 FPS Rimfire More Affordable Than 17 HMR
- Volquartsen Straight-Pull Summit .22 LR Rifle
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Tags: .22 LR, .22Plinkster, 17 HMR, 17 Mach 2, 22 Plinkster, CCI VNT, Rimfire, Summit, Toggle Bolt Rifle, Varmint, Varmint Video, Volquartsen
“Best Rimfire Bang for the Buck?”
Ehhhhh…. No. If all we’re comparing is the 17s? Maybe. Depends 100% on the range you want to shoot, from what I see here.
-17HM2 for about $0.12/rnd (story says $0.13)
-17HMR for about 0.14|0.15 (story says .20cents/rnd)
-17WSM (which I have NOT tried) can be had for about $0.18-$0.19/rnd.
-22WMR is about 0.12 too.
So I’m only seeing 15% cost differential ON THE BOTTOM END. And how many of us use bottom end ammo? As I have zero experience with HM2 I can’t speak for what ammo I would want.
Considering that 22LR stats at 0.02 now, and a GOOD hunting rounds runs about $0.06/$0.08 a round I fail to see the “bang for the buck” here. At 2 to 3 cents different I would get an HMR over most of the rest.
Now if I had my druthers I’d just use a 5mm RRM. But those are running about $0.47/rnd! And the 22lr Aguila SuperMax I’ve been using on Squirrels seems plenty accurate and deadly enough for me.(but warning! has the extra-long Stinger-style cases so will not work in all chambers.)
Being an HM2 shooter since 2006 when the round was first released, back then ammo was equal to .22 lr in most cases. Maybe a little more. The HM2 in almost all conditions is superior to the .22 LR in my opinion.
I sight my rifles in at 80 yard zero. From 20 yards to 80 it is only off by 1/2 in trajectory. The round is susceptible to wind because of the light cartridge weight. But this is my go to squirrel hunting rifle. I can attest to shooting quail at 67 yards with this and all kills were head shots. That is extremely accurate in anybodies book. That rifle was the Savage Mark II FV with a Boyds thumbhole stock.