Buying an Anschutz sporting rifle. What model,caliber 17 HMR,17 HMR M2,.22,.22 WM

[Rat187]

I had the opportunity to check out a early .17 HMR mach 2. I fell in love. Doing a bit of research I found Mach 2 ammo was scarce...but 1/2 the price of .17 HMR, at 100 yards both rounds seemed unimpressive at that distance.

The .22 or the .22 Winchester Mag seemed to make sense. But since I never fired an Anschutz thought I'd query those in the know...Thanks

 

[white feather]

I have a S/A 64 (not a "sporter") in .22 and a CZ 452 varmint in .17 HM2. Back about ten years ago, the HM2 could shoot as well as most of the best .22s with very expensive ammo for a much lower price. The HM2 cartridge was just about perfect with two small problems. Case necks split on some unfired rounds and Eley stopped making the ammo about 10 years ago. Cases split because they couldn't aneal primed brass. Some manufacturers had more the others. Eley/Remington (which Eley made) didn't have many. The biggest problem is that Eley made a finite number of HM2 and so far has not agreed to make more. This caused Eley HM2 to go from $200/2000 rounds to $175/500 rounds (ammo to go then vs. gunbroker now). Since the new prices are about on par with Eley 10x .22 there is less perceived value although the HM2 is nearly as accurate as the 10x (in most rifles costing < about $2000). Back to today, Hornady and CCI both occasionally nave a run of HM2 so some ammo is still available and Eley may make another run (please, please, please). If I were you, I would definitely buy the HM2 you saw and try to get a better deal based on foolish lack of popularity/ammo availability. Should be worth at least a $100 discount.