Newest toy is a 17 HM2. Firing a 17 cal 17 gr VMax at 2100 fps. After getting the new barrel in my grubby hands I proceeded to strip the iron sights off and scrounged around in the gun closet until I came up with a Weaver 92A base, some high rings and that old Simmons 6-18 X scope. After installing the barrel on my pistol frame, boresighting and cleaning I declared it ready to go. All I had to do was wait for the weekend. (Bummer). Took it over to the range for the first time on 8/28/05.

Finally got to the range about 9:45 Sunday morn. Setup the chrono, rest, rear bag, etc. on the 50 yd line and proceeded to sight in. The first two shots impacted with a .16" separation. Good omen there. Oh yeah, perhaps some of you would like to know what kind of velocity you get from a 14" 17 HM2 barrel.

I fired 75 shots, of Hornady ammo, at the range and got chrono readings that included 60 of them split into nine groups. The firings started about 9:30 and I finished with the HM2 about 12:30. Velocity list:

2037
2049
2043
2077
2109
2076
2096
2093
2124.

Not too bad for a 14" barrel. Almost the same velocity as Hornady claims for their 17 HM2 ammo from a standard rifle barrel (2100 fps). I am attributing the velocity increase during the firings to the morning temperature increase. The temp went from 70 degrees to 94 degrees during the time I was working with the HM2 barrel.

If you are interested my four 50 yd groups averaged 0.5". Not spectacular but, not bad. I wasn't paying any attention to the wind so the 100 yd groups spread out considerably.

A good thing about this cartridge is that you can see all of your bullet impacts. Even when using an 18X rifle scope the recoil is so small that you still see the impact. All I have to do now is get out to the squirrel fields and pop a few.

Gary

nice huntin rig fer squirrel been thinkin i NEED a HM2 here for such purpose.
the hmr is too big, and too little. the HM2 oughta be about right.

Greetings! Glad to see another TC user set up a rifle scoped rimfire rig

For years I have been using this sort of thumbhole grip, rifle scope, heavy free floated forend with bipod configuration as below with a 22short 15" Van Horn, 22mag Bellm Rechamber, 17HMR Van Horn, and 22lr Match Factory SS.

THese are my favorite setups in the Contender for Varmint hunting, and I use them for Woodchucks, Crows, Opossums, Skunks, Racoons, Squirrels, Voles, Starlings, pond turtles, everything I need to thin down on the farm.

Now I suppose I need a 17H2 to keep up

I'm certainly glad you fellas are seeing the light. The HM2 is not a simple want, or an irritating desire. No, sir! The HM2 is a NEED!

Gary

Mighty Mouse Gun...I don't think so!!! From what I remember as a kid...he was one tough little mouse dude!! Seen him do things on TV that were downright amazing...think I'd rather be packing Gerry's Encore in .416 Rigby iffin I was going to persue Mr. Mighty Mouse!!

NICE!!

I need to get a rimfire barrel some time. All I have are Encores, so I guess OTT will have to make me one. Nothing wrong with that.

Nice Rig I am in the process of building a contender rig in .22 LR for squril Hunting here in Indiana. I would have gone with the .17 but I like eating what I shoot