Being a big fan of the .22 WMR (rimfire magnum), the first time I read a new-product announcement about the .17 WSM cartridge I thought, "Too good to be true." And when the only .17 WSM platforms available for a couple/few years were a Daisy-esque plastic-stocked bolt-rifle or a $1400 Winchester single-shot, "too good to be true" seemed almost profoundly prophetic.
Occasionally I'd prowl the 'net for alternative .17 WSM platforms, finally reading about the Franklin semi-auto at about the same price as the Winchester single shot. So I continued looking and hoping for a reasonably-priced .17 WSM nicer than a Daisy.
FINALLY I discovered Match Grade Machine was offering custom barrels for Contenders. Also being a Contender (pistol and carbine) lover, a .17 WSM Contender barrel was a no-brainer. Now the only problem was, pistol or carbine barrel? And, oh yeah, would the thicker rim of the the .17 WSM require modifications to a Contender to get reliable ignition?
Unfortunately the MGM phone rep had no information whatsoever about .17 WSM velocities in pistol-length barrels; but fortunately, that is if you can believe a telephone sales-rep, he said they'd had no ignition problems with their .17 WSM Contender barrels.
Once I decided on a pistol-length barrel, the next decision became what length? I don't really consider a 14" barreled Contender a proper pistol, but thought 10" might be TOO short for good .17 WSM performance. So I decided to gamble on a 12" as hopefully still pistol-esque, but long enough for decent ballistics.
I'd hoped for at least 2700 FPS with 20 grain ammo in the 12" barrel, so was very happy to see it average 2825 FPS. However I was not happy to see extreme spreads exceeding 100 FPS, and sometimes exceeding 150 FPS!
However now that I've got the barrel well broken-in and wrung-out, I'm happy with 100 yard five-shot groups averaging right about 1 MOA. Matter of fact the 12" Contender shoots just about identically (in accuracy) to my laminated-stock, heavy-barrel Savage B-Mag that I couldn't resist once Savage finally decided to produce a REAL rifle in .17 WSM.
At 200 yards (in still conditions) both guns shoot five-shot groups averaging 2.25 to 2.50". I have to admit that two-inch groups at 200 yards with a rimfire pistol makes me pretty GIDDY. Who'da thunk a rimfire pistol capable of gratifying 200 yard accuracy?
Yes, I am happy with my 12" .17 WSM Contender! She prefers the 20 grain Winchester ammo. I do get occasional mis-fires at a rate of about 3-4%; but hey, she ain't no defense pistol anyway.
