Best scope for a Savage .17HMR?

Jimbo · 12-27-2006, 04:50 AM

My brother just got a Savage .17HMR rifle for Christmas and we want to buy him a varmint scope for his birthday. We want to spend up to $200.
He lives in Calgary and shoots ground squirrels, ground hogs etc, typically at 150-200yds. His son has a 6-24 power variable scope and thinks that is the variable range that works pretty good.
I have heard about one scope, a Mueller 8.5-25X44
Any ideas?

FreeDrifter1 · 12-27-2006, 05:48 AM

I just bought a BSA sweet 17. Its specialy designed for this caliber and has built in bullet drop compensator out to 300 yards. Get online and check it out. Only problen Ive had is finding tall enough rings to mount it on.

pythonwill · 12-27-2006, 05:48 AM

I had a 6x24 on mine when I first got it too, but got a BSA Sweet17 for it now and its a pretty nice scope for the money.
they are made just for the 17HMR and you just dial in the yardage and shoot, its a great scope and a reasonable price

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=426674

EDIT: you beat me to it freedirfter

REEL HANDEL · 12-27-2006, 08:34 AM

I bought a cheap tasco 3x9 and that was a mistake, I like the idea of the sweet 17 BSA may try one soon, cheap glass is just cheap.

Jimbo · 12-27-2006, 08:57 AM

Thanks for the information. I have been online and checked around. I like the idea of the "sweet 17" It seems to get good reviews as a entry level varmint riflescope. I haven't found anything as good in the $100-200 range. Do either of you (pythonwill or freedrifter) have a Savage? If so what mounts did you use. I think I'll have buy him Weaver mounts but don't know what kind to buy to get the right amount of clearance. Jim

FreeDrifter1 · 12-27-2006, 10:48 AM

I have the Marlin. Laminated stock with the stainless heavy barrel. I had ti go to a leupold mount. Tried weaver and Burris but they werent tall enough. This was at sportsmans. Other stores may have other mounts that will work. At the time the leupold was all they had in stock that would work for me.

Catching Nemo · 12-27-2006, 11:32 AM

Mueller is a great scope for the money and I plan to get an Eraticator for for my 22-250. However, you might want a lower power setting than 8 for close in work. The Mueller 4x16x50 might be a better fit. It does seem that BSA got the Sweet 17 down pretty good and most users are very happy with them.

pythonwill · 12-27-2006, 11:37 AM

I also have a marlin, its a 917vs. it has weaver mounts on it that I think are the medium sized ones, because the ones that were on it were for a 50mm scope and just too high for my liking with the 40mm sweet17. I cant say for sure what store you can get them at because I took mine into Als Gun Shop and had Marcus mount it & bore sight it for me so I didnt buy the wrong size.

rock bottom · 12-27-2006, 11:59 AM

I put a Leupold 3x9 on mine.

4on4off · 12-27-2006, 12:32 PM

i just put the sweet 17 on my marlin 917vs and i had to use the weaver high mounts just shot it this morning shoots nice cant wait for some sage rats this spring and summer

Jimbo · 12-27-2006, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catching Nemo

Mueller is a great scope for the money and I plan to get an Eraticator for for my 22-250. However, you might want a lower power setting than 8 for close in work. The Mueller 4x16x50 might be a better fit. It does seem that BSA got the Sweet 17 down pretty good and most users are very happy with them.

I've been on another site's shooting forum...found it doing a search..and they don't have much good to say about Mueller's promotion of it's scopes and how they get reviews on their scopes. That said, people like these scopes. I started out hearing on the net how good of reviews they have but stopped dead in my tracks when I read more about the reviews.

I'm a big consumer advocate and don't know where to go with that company.
The Savage comes with Weaver base mounts...It doesn't have the dovetail grooves of the Marlin so I'm still looking. I have some guys advising me to go to a lower end Bushnell 5-15x40 for $180 because it's made better and guys complain that you can't really use the top end magnification of the Mueller (8.5x25) and the Sweet 17 (6-18x40) without it getting blurred. I'd really like to know what you think of high end magnification on your scopes and how much magnification is really needed shooting ground critters at up to 200yds. I wish I had one of these rifles...but then I'd have to find an excuse to add varmint hunting to fishing and deer/elk hunting.

billc_sbio · 12-27-2006, 03:04 PM

Miss Lil uses a B&L 4000 Elite 6X-24X x 40mm on the Contender Carbine in .17 HMR and it works REALLY well...good crisp, clear image!

The B&L 4000s are the predecessors to the Bushnell 4200 Elites, there's almost no difference.

I think I got this one for ~$200 "Used" but in "like new" condition off of eBay.

These are really Top Quality scopes!

Catching Nemo · 12-27-2006, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbo

I've been on another site's shooting forum...found it doing a search..and they don't have much good to say about Mueller's promotion of it's scopes and how they get reviews on their scopes. That said, people like these scopes. I started out hearing on the net how good of reviews they have but stopped dead in my tracks when I read more about the reviews.

I'm a big consumer advocate and don't know where to go with that company.
The Savage comes with Weaver base mounts...It doesn't have the dovetail grooves of the Marlin so I'm still looking. I have some guys advising me to go to a lower end Bushnell 5-15x40 for $180 because it's made better and guys complain that you can't really use the top end magnification of the Mueller (8.5x25) and the Sweet 17 (6-18x40) without it getting blurred. I'd really like to know what you think of high end magnification on your scopes and how much magnification is really needed shooting ground critters at up to 200yds. I wish I had one of these rifles...but then I'd have to find an excuse to add varmint hunting to fishing and deer/elk hunting.

Jimbo,

I've seen those same comments about the owner on SWFA. I've done a search on many different forums trying to find a common link and haven't been able to tie it to the same person. Regardless, I'm basing my decision on people that I knew before Mueller came on the scene and from personally looking through a 3x9 model. I would place it above BSA, Swift, Tasco and Simmons but below Weaver and a lot of others. I currently have a 6x24 Sightron SII and it is clear and usable up to 24X but I don't usually use more than 14X. I also owned a Tasco Varmit 6-24 and it held up well but it was too dark (on all powers) to my liking and anything above 20X started to get blurry.

Bottom line, there are no magical answers in the $200 range. A lot of this is going to come down to trial and error and personal preferences. If it were me, I would start off with Sweet 17, for $125, and see how you like it. There is enough positive feedback, from multiple sources, that there must be something to it and you would probably only lose $50 on the resale. Also, as billc_sbio stated, looking at "used" glass is also a great option and you can find good deals if you are patient on ebay and craigslist.

If you live in (or get up to) the Portland area, you can take a look through my Sightron for comparision purposes.

Good luck

norms gone fishing too · 12-27-2006, 04:17 PM

I have a left handed savage 17, went with a 4-12 bushnell in stead of the sweet when i compared the 2 side by side the bushnell was clearer on all settings went with millet high mounts and relly love the gun

Jimbo · 12-27-2006, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norms gone fishing too

I have a left handed savage 17, went with a 4-12 bushnell in stead of the sweet when i compared the 2 side by side the bushnell was clearer on all settings went with millet high mounts and relly love the gun

Thanks a bunch. That confirms some other advice I'm getting. I have $200 to spend and want to get the biggest bang for the bucks I have. I think I'm getting my brother the Bushnell Legend 5-15X40 $180. He'll like it cuz it's free.

Thanks to all who posted. I needed all of your responses. You guys rock!