Ruger 17hmr with leupy EFR scope

[Brad Y]

I agree with you Keith, the 20gr vmax round would be great for the HMR.

I had a marlin stainless laminate fluted a few years back that was capable of 5 shots in half an inch at 100yds. I posted the pics on here. That was with winchester 17gr vmax ammo from memory. Wish I never sold it. The new marlin I have in aftermarket thumbhole hates anything ballistic tip, but really likes 17gr TNT's from federal or 20gr XTP from hornady. Like the OP, it really needs a better scope to do it justice. A cheap Chinese 3-9 isnt the best on it.

[Knackers]

And their safety.

Their safety is great unless it does this

http://youtu.be/f6Spao0b_Ac

This is the rifle I bought a few weeks back. It's the second M77 that has come through my hands with this problem. It can be fixed but is one to look out for when buying used rifles.
The first gun I saw with this problem was brand new and sent to a GS to lighten the trigger and it came back in this condition. A bit scary really, but it is fixable.
Anyway, just thought I'd share this info and my unfortunate experience.

Unfortunately I have a Brno model 2 that does exactly the same thing if you use the safety. I'm like Camel I dont really use the safety, that being said I'll have to see how my Ruger performs with the safety latch cause I've never really tried it. I'm an "empty breech" man till I'm ready to shoot.

[curan]

.....(snip).....I'm like Camel I dont really use the safety, that being said I'll have to see how my Ruger performs with the safety latch cause I've never really tried it. I'm an "empty breech" man till I'm ready to shoot.

+1.

First thing I learnt when hunting with a bolt action as a kid. The chambers empty and the action is open until you are ready to shoot.

Hmmmmm, that seems like a long looooooong time ago now!

[trevort]

Yep I'm sure one of my rifles has no safety. Hard to remember which one since they are all redundant.
The firearm safety course teaches not to trust a safety as it's a mechanical device which can fail. A round in the chamber when you are about to fire. An empty chamber at all other times

[curan]

Hmmmm, a trip down memory lane has popped up from all this.....

I used to do a lot of walk-around bunny hunting with a mate in my youth. I carried a scoped stirling .22 and he carried a double barrel boito 12g. The agreement was that I didn't closed the bolt until my shot was on, and he didn't snap the shotgun closed until his shot was on. We'd walk our favorite haunts at dawn (always better) or dusk. He would walk in front and freeze if a long shot was on, and I'd step up to take it. Shotty for his dogs, rifle for the pot. Worked for us for years until work took us in opposite directions.

I should chase my old mate down and see what he's up to these days. They were great times.......

[TexNAss]

Breaches open really?

As kids- its was always bolt closed on an empty chamber. Too much bulldust and crap where we lived to even contemplate open chambers.

And being single shot sterlings- it meant staring down the beady eyes of a suicidal animal while trying to wiggle the bolt open, fumbling in a pocket for a 22 amongst god knows what else- then dropping 2 in the dirt- then trying to put the third in backwards- wiggle the bolt shut and then curse loudly when you look up- as the animal had changed its mind and now wanted to live and was laughing loudly as it sprinted for cover.

Somewhere along the line (I think it was after we got the first lever action when) it changed to loaded but decocked when on foot and closed empty chambers when on horseback/motorbikes.

Tex.

[curan]

Breaches open really?.........

Yeah, but there was never a lot of dust around where we were (coastal, saltbush country). And the stirling was mag fed, so it was no issue to load the first round by closing the bolt.

[Camel]

When Im working I always have the rifles loaded, handle half up on the centre fire, bold closed on the rimfire sitting in the rest on the door, but then Im different

[TexNAss]

Breaches open really?.........

And the stirling was mag fed, so it was no issue to load the first round by closing the bolt.

Mag feed- You Rich Kids! Hell I think that's why we had cork guns as really young kids- so we'd learn how to cock a 22 single shot later on.

We quickly learnt that graphite beat gun oil on bolts thanks to the dust.

...but then Im different

You're not different.. You're "special"

Tex.

[Knackers]

The open breech thing sucks when you own a lever action, I feel real uncomfortable with my 336 after I've fired a round or two, cause there's always one in the breech, I don't like it, until I get onto some pigs . Same as a pump action. If your anal about safety like me, those two actions mentioned give me the spooks a bit.

[curan]

The open breech thing sucks when you own a lever action, I feel real uncomfortable with my 336 after I've fired a round or two, cause there's always one in the breech, I don't like it, until I get onto some pigs . Same as a pump action. If your anal about safety like me, those two actions mentioned give me the spooks a bit.

Yeah, I was referring to bolt action before. Never had a lever gun as a kid

The answer for a levergun with the tube mag is to have the action closed, release and slip the hammer down, and then load. The action is closed but the chamber is empty and it is not cocked. You can't load the tube mag in my centrefire levergun with the action open anyway. The loading gate won't open.

And then there is the discussion for the merits of half-cocked, or for crossbolt safeties. But my thoughts aren't decided on those yet, although I like the crossbolt safety for dry firing practice.

Of course, it is action open with a chamber flag at the range, until on the firing line..........

cheers, curan

[TexNAss]

Okay if we take a Winchester 94 for our "test puppy" for half-cocked.
The hammer has to be accidentally drawn back,
The lever has to be accidentally squeezed shut, and then
The trigger has to be accidentally pulled.

How bloody unlucky are you? Crossbolt/Tang safety just adds another layer.

You've got more chance with an open chambered bolt action I reckon (allowing the mag is loaded). The bolt has to forced shut and the trigger pulled (unless the safety's on).

Tex.

[curan]

Okay if we take a Winchester 94 for our "test puppy" for half-cocked.
The hammer has to be accidentally drawn back,
The lever has to be accidentally squeezed shut, and then
The trigger has to be accidentally pulled.

How bloody unlucky are you? Crossbolt/Tang safety just adds another layer.

You've got more chance with an open chambered bolt action I reckon (allowing the mag is loaded). The bolt has to forced shut and the trigger pulled (unless the safety's on).

Tex.

Sounds fair to me.....

[BP72]

The open breech thing sucks when you own a lever action, I feel real uncomfortable with my 336 after I've fired a round or two, cause there's always one in the breech, I don't like it, until I get onto some pigs . Same as a pump action. If your anal about safety like me, those two actions mentioned give me the spooks a bit.

And the browning A5 to go in with that lot , good to have a left and a right handed shooter when 2 of them old girls are in use on the back of a ute

[Knackers]

Cross bolt safety, yep I've pulled the hammer back when the pigs break out and click, F#@K , cycle again, click F#@K, the safety's on, the pigs are gone. I just don't like having one up the spout when there's a few of us all getting around on bike's. I like the mag full and the chamber empty till I'm ready to shoot. In the heat of the moment after firing a couple of shots, that's when I'm thinking is there and empty in there or did I cycle a new round in?once you open it to have a look it feed's another round in on closing, unlike a bolt action that you can push the shells down into the mag and close the bolt on an empty chamber. I don't run around with the action open. Maybe I dont get out enough anymore.