Does this Modern Rimfire Deserve a Second Look?

Most lately, in 2004, Hornady launched what was touted on the time because the “inheritor obvious” to the previous double-deuce: the 17 Hornady Mach 2 (HM2).

The 17 Mach 2 makes use of a .22 LR case (a Stinger case, to be precise) and necks it down to just accept a .17-caliber bullet. The result’s a sooner, flatter capturing small recreation cartridge able to choosing a squirrel off a tree department at 100 yards.

It sounded nice, but it surely was doomed for obscurity. Solely Hornady and CCI nonetheless produce the rounds, and Savage is the one main gun firm nonetheless chambering the 17 Mach 2. There are a number of oft-cited causes for its demise, however I’m questioning if small recreation hunters ought to give it a re-evaluation.

There isn’t a query that the 17 HM2 provides higher small recreation ballistics than the .22 LR. The Mach 2 boasts a 2,100 feet-per-second muzzle velocity, which generates about 166 ft.-lbs. of vitality on the muzzle utilizing a 17-grain bullet. A regular .22 LR, against this, solely generates about 128 ft.-lbs. of vitality on the muzzle utilizing a 40-grain bullet, buzzing alongside at 1,200 fps.

Velocity in fps | Vitality in ft-lbs

In fact, you don’t kill a squirrel with bullet vitality. When you’re a civilized individual, you kill it with a headshot, so the Mach 2’s actual benefit is in its trajectory.

Zero at 50 yards 0 | Drop and Wind Drift in inches | 10mph Crosswind

Wind drift is analogous on this comparability because of the .22 LR’s a lot heavier bullet. However the .17 Mach 2 drops far lower than the .22 LR, which permits squirrel hunters to carry practically lifeless on at 100 yards, even with a 50-yard zero. That added 50 yards of vary can actually come in useful within the squirrel woods, particularly for those who hunt in thick foliage the place you may not have the ability to get a lot nearer earlier than the bushy-tail disappears into the bushes.

These wonderful ballistics mix with different options that make the Mach 2 enticing to rimfire aficionados. For one factor, the copper-jacketed bullet leaves much less fouling within the barrel and motion (no less than as in comparison with a lead .22 LR) and likewise promotes accuracy at prolonged ranges. What’s extra, not like different souped-up rimfires, the 17 Mach 2 shares an total size with the .22 LR. This permits a platform initially designed for the .22 to be transformed to the .17.

In fact, the .22 LR isn’t the one rimfire the 17 HM2 should compete with. The most well-liked .17-caliber cartridge, the 17 HMR, was additionally launched by Hornady simply two years earlier than the Mach 2. Many credit score that unlucky timing with the Mach 2’s final failure.

The 17 HMR does just about the whole lot the 17 Mach 2 does–solely higher. Listed here are the identical charts as above with the 17 HMR changing the .22 LR.

Velocity in fps | Vitality in ft-lbs

Zero at 50 yards 0 | Drop and Wind Drift in inches | 10mph crosswind

Due to its bigger case capability, the 17 HMR provides higher velocity and vitality at each distance utilizing the very same bullet because the Mach 2. It additionally drops a lot much less (three fewer inches at 150 yards) and is much less affected by the wind.

Followers of the 17 Mach 2 may level out that the additional powder within the 17 HMR additionally ends in extra muzzle blast, and also you don’t want that a lot velocity and vitality to take out a squirrel. In case your solely shot is on the physique, you may have the ability to salvage extra meat for those who use the marginally slower Mach 2.

Then again, it’s not just like the 17 HMR produces tons of recoil. The downsides of a warmer cartridge aren’t actually in play with this comparability, so it is smart that for those who’re going to get into the .17 caliber, you’d run with one thing that provides higher velocity and flatter trajectory.

A poor displaying in opposition to the 17 HMR wasn’t the one purpose the Mach 2 had hassle catching on. It additionally needed to compete with high-velocity .22 LR cartridges like CCI Stingers. The 17 Mach 2 nonetheless drops lower than half as a lot because the 32-grain Stinger at each distance out to 150 yards, however these high-speed .22 LRs have been sufficient to scratch the itch for hunters who needed one thing just a little sooner.

The 17 Mach 2 additionally suffered from the truth that it turned out to be harder to transform a .22 LR rifle right into a Mach 2 than proponents had initially hoped. It’s not sufficient to swap barrels. To at the present time, CCI posts a warning on the Mach 2 product web page advising in opposition to utilizing parts that haven’t been particularly designed for the sooner cartridge. Hunters who tried to transform their 10/22’s to 17 Mach 2 reported a number of regarding points, together with break up instances, out-of-battery blow-ups, and normal unreliability.

To me, that is probably the most disappointing component of the 17 Mach 2 story. I might like to convert certainly one of my 10/22’s to the 17 Mach 2, and whereas some report doing it efficiently, even these stories include caveats about numerous failures to cycle. If an ammo firm might provide you with a high-speed, bottleneck rimfire that may very well be used within the 10/22 platform, I feel it could be wildly profitable–particularly given the wealth of aftermarket 10/22 elements available on the market immediately.

Nonetheless, even given these drawbacks, I feel small recreation hunters ought to give the 17 Mach 2 a re-evaluation.

At $0.20 per spherical, it’s about twice as costly because the .22 LR, however solely about 60% the price of the .17 HMR. As of this writing, Halfway USA lists 50-round packing containers of 17 Mach 2 for $10, so it’s not cost-prohibitive by any means. For that $10, you’re getting an efficient small-game killer that may prolong the vary of a regular .22 with out the overkill related to the .17 HMR. If you could find a gun chambered within the nearly-obsolete little cartridge, I’d say it’s price a shot.