Does anyone know if it is possible to take an existing 17 HM2 chamber and re-ream it to a 17 HMR chamber ?
The reason I ask is because recent news tells us that the 17 HM2 (Mach 2) rimfire round will no longer be produced: http://www.rrdvegas.com/17-mach-ii.html
Any remaining 17HM2 ammunition is now selling for close to $200 a brick (used to sell for $75 to $90 a brick), and I am very sure the price will only increase (300+) in the future as the supply evaporates. The availability & price of 22 LR ammo confirms that assumption.
So with the price and availability of 17HM2 being beyond my reach, I was considering converting my existing 17HM2 guns to shoot 17HMR ammunition, since 17HMR is still available and reasonably priced. These guns would be a CZ 452 (threaded barrel) and a Savage Mk II FV (pinned barrel).
To my knowledge the diameters and twist rates for both 17HM2 and 17HMR are the same. I do not see any issue with chamber pressures, given the materials and construction of either rifle.
Another question I have is can the existing bolt face of the existing 17HM2 rifle properly function with a 17HMR round ? I suspect it can because the Sako Quad rifles and the CZ 455 rifles have the ability to swap barrels (calibers 22LR, 22WMR, 17HMR) while using the same bolt. A 17HM2 case head is the virtually the same as a 22LR case head.
The last question is if this re-chambering machining is possible, then who could safely and competently do this (disassemble, machine/ream, reassemble & headspace) for me ? It would seem to me that there are going to be a lot of 17HM2 rifle owners who will be left with useless rifles now that 17HM2 ammo is discontinued. If there is someone who can salvage (machine/convert) these old 17HM2 rifles to shoot 17HMR ammo, then that company would have a lot of potential customers. The cost to buy one brick of 17HM2 ammo (if you can find any) should more than offset the cost of time & labor to convert a 17HM2 rifle to shoot 17HMR ammo.
Thank you.
The reason I ask is because recent news tells us that the 17 HM2 (Mach 2) rimfire round will no longer be produced: http://www.rrdvegas.com/17-mach-ii.html
Any remaining 17HM2 ammunition is now selling for close to $200 a brick (used to sell for $75 to $90 a brick), and I am very sure the price will only increase (300+) in the future as the supply evaporates. The availability & price of 22 LR ammo confirms that assumption.
So with the price and availability of 17HM2 being beyond my reach, I was considering converting my existing 17HM2 guns to shoot 17HMR ammunition, since 17HMR is still available and reasonably priced. These guns would be a CZ 452 (threaded barrel) and a Savage Mk II FV (pinned barrel).
To my knowledge the diameters and twist rates for both 17HM2 and 17HMR are the same. I do not see any issue with chamber pressures, given the materials and construction of either rifle.
Another question I have is can the existing bolt face of the existing 17HM2 rifle properly function with a 17HMR round ? I suspect it can because the Sako Quad rifles and the CZ 455 rifles have the ability to swap barrels (calibers 22LR, 22WMR, 17HMR) while using the same bolt. A 17HM2 case head is the virtually the same as a 22LR case head.
The last question is if this re-chambering machining is possible, then who could safely and competently do this (disassemble, machine/ream, reassemble & headspace) for me ? It would seem to me that there are going to be a lot of 17HM2 rifle owners who will be left with useless rifles now that 17HM2 ammo is discontinued. If there is someone who can salvage (machine/convert) these old 17HM2 rifles to shoot 17HMR ammo, then that company would have a lot of potential customers. The cost to buy one brick of 17HM2 ammo (if you can find any) should more than offset the cost of time & labor to convert a 17HM2 rifle to shoot 17HMR ammo.
Thank you.
