|
-
-
Since
the 17 rimfire magnum craze has cooled somewhat, I have
found a telescope that is designed for the 17 grain RF-Mag
bullet drop. BSA
has brought out a scope they call the SWEET 17, and it is
a beauty.
-
-
Normally
my scopes run in a higher price range. But when I spotted
the advertisement for this scope in the new Midway USA
catalog, with an explanation of what it does for the 17 RF
Mag shooter, I had to try it.
And I am glad I did...it is a variable 3-12 x 40mm
with a 50mm front lens and AO ability. It is 13 ½ inches
long and a dull black coating that feels like very thin
rubberized surface. The turrets are target grade, and the
top turret can be set for the range to be targeted.. With
just a turn of the dial. As the photo shows it has a very clear and readable gradient
on the turret body.
-
-
Now
I am not a real fan of the 17 caliber in any loading.
Back in the 1970s when Remington came out with its
17 centerfire caliber on a .223 case, I had a very pretty
custom Remington 700 made up in the caliber.
Using much heavier bullets than the new 17 rimfire,
at a much higher velocity, around 4000 fps... it was very
wind sensitive. And then came the time I hit a coyote with
it at less that 100 yards.
It was right behind the ribs going forward to the
off side, a real good placement of the bullet.
He rolled at the shot screaming his brains out, by
the time I chambered another round... and I am fairly fast
doing that... he was up and running.
The 44 magnum S&W model 29 did the
finishing business.
-
-
I
sold the rifle to a friend that just had to have it, or he
would suffer convulsions or some such.
I warned him that it wasn’t a real game cartridge
except for very small vermin.
He went on to fill a boat load of large and small
varmints, and ship them on to their reward.
Go figure.
-
-
So
when the 17 RF Mag came along, I ho-hummed it.
I can remember the 5mm caliber rimfire Remington
brought out in the late 1960s/early 1970s.
It was another necked down 22RF Magnum.
It fell on it’s face... because only Remington
chambered for it and produced the only ammo.
It was very accurate, much like this new 17 RF Mag.
I figured the same would happen with this new necked down
RF-Magnum.
-
-
But
wonders of wonders, suddenly everyone is chambering for
it, and now there are three producers of ammo,
Hornady, Remington, and CCI. Hornady
has the polymer tip in red, and Remington has one in
silver, CCI’s offering is a very long and sharp, spire
point/hollow point. And each of them is 17 grains in
weight.
-
-
The
difference in velocity from my Ruger 77/17 between
the three offerings is very little.... strangely Hornady’s
red tipped ammo was the slowest, clocking at 2606 fps for 10
shot average. And
from my rifle the least accurate at a little under one inch
at 75 yards. Remington’s ammo was the fastest averaging 2699 fps..
Several shots did pass the 2700 fps mark.
And it was almost neck and neck in accuracy with
CCI’s hollow point. CCI’s
average was in between in velocity at 2640 fps. Both CCI and
Remington were at 3/4ths of an inch at 75 yards. In another
rifle the results might be different.... but I have to admit
the accuracy is very good.
This Ruger rifle has a 22 inch barrel and a tight
bore, I suspect a shorter barrel would give even better
velocity. I
have found that to be consistently true in testing the 22 RF
Magnum.
-
-
Since
the velocity is so close, the scope is right on with each
brand of ammo from the Ruger.
The top turret is marked in gradients of 25 yards
from 100 yards to 250 yards. But it can be turned backward
down to twenty-five yards.
Once the scope is set, the great thing is all you do
is go to the setting that matches your yardage and the
bullet is right on. I
tested it out to 200 yards... much further than I would
shoot anything but non-living targets... and each setting
was right on.
-
-
When
shooting very small vermin this scope is excellent. Of course you need to be able to judge distance to some
degree. But
because the little bullet is fairly flat shooting for a
rimfire, judging distance to around 150 yards is a snap...
even if you're off by 25 yards, you're in the ball park with
anything 4 or 5 inches high.
-
-
One
of the things I was surprised at, the accuracy gets better
at a distance, I expected 3 to 4 inch groups at 200 yards.
When the wind was quiet groups ran 2-½ Inches. Very
pleasing. One
of the questions I had was, would this scope work on a
centerfire rifle? The
advertisement said it was able to take the recoil of
centerfires. So
I mounted it on a 6mm Improved Ruger 77 stainless. Using 58
grain bullets at 3400 fps (they can be pushed much faster,
but there is no need for that with me and the ranges here in
the metro Tucson area....) Once the scope was set at 100
yards, the ranging ability was very close.
No problems with recoil - of course, the 6mm with 58
grainers has little recoil.
-
-
My
.223 (sniper) bolt action Howa is getting a face lift
and a re-chambering to a .223 target chamber, or I would
have tried that with the Sweet 17 BSA.
I think the .223 would be a perfect match with this
scope. I think
it is going to be very good on my .223 when I get it
finished.
-
-
So
is the new scope worth the price?
You bet it is....as for price, there are four
offerings of this Sweet 17... all one inch tubes. A fixed
power 4 by 32mm at $36.95, a 2-7 by 32mm w/AO at $62.95, a
3-12 40mm AO at $99 (which is the one I have), and a 6-16
40mm AO at $124.95. If
you decide to try it, you won’t be unhappy with it, I’m
not.
-
-
Paco
Kelly
Got something to say about this article? Want to agree (or
disagree) with it? Click the following link to go to the GUNBlast Feedback Page.
All content © 2003 GunBlast.com.
All rights reserved. |
|
Click pictures for larger version
|