17 hrm conversion

bobwesley

January 16, 2003 18:58

What would prevent a person from buying a old beat up 5mm Remington bolt gun, and pulling the barrel off sticking a new barrel in 17hrm? Wouldn't you have a bolt action repeating 17 hrm. And in the process give new life to an old gun that shouldn't have died the way the 5mm did. Which if you ever shot one you know what i'm talking about. It was one fine cartridge. (5mm)

Charles Williams

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  deadeye46

  January 17, 2003 04:41

  I'd keep the 5mm,maybe SOMEDAY down the road,SOMEBODY will start producing the shells after everyone gets ripped off for the shells available now.Why not just buy a 17HMR,there's plenty available.I have one in Contender carbine.Bob.

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  roysha

  January 17, 2003 05:39

  First of all, I doubt that anyone is going to do a run of this ammo any time soon. It will require all new tooling since Remington destroyed theirs. This is not just a necked down 22WMR. The case is larger.
  As for the conversion, even a beat up 591 will run around $125-150.00, a quality barrel $175 and up, reamer to purchase, $90.00 and up, or to rent around $30.00. I assume you could do the work yourself. To pay someone, start at probably $100 and go up. Next the magazine is too short. Either need to clip nose of bullets off, have a single shot or do like one fellow did, make a blind magazine that loads from the top like most high power boltguns. Also I don't know what bad trip the engineer came off of when he designed the ejector system, but it must have been a dandy. The whole extractor, ejector system is a night mare. Plus, as with most "custom" guns, be prepared to own it forever, or take a tremendous hit if and when you sell it.If all this upbeat talk has not disuaded you from the project, please let us know how it turns out.

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  v35

  January 17, 2003 06:09

  If you can do it without buggering up the old barrel in removing it, not otherwise alter the gun and economically fit up a 17 HRM barrel it
  sounds good. If these guns dry up they may in the future become rare collectors' items.
  Post WW2 when gun collecting was not popular, many now valuable guns in obsolete calibers were considered useless and were converted into varminters or sporters in modern calibers or had barrels cut to more practical lengths. Collectors pull their hair out when they see mutilated Sharps, Winchester '85,'86 & '92s and black powder Colts and other historic guns that are now lost to collectors.
  In the mid '50s I installed a Griffin & Howe scope mount from a M-1 Sniper rifle on a fancy grade 1886, 45-90. It involved drilling four holes in the receiver. The rifle was only worth about $40 then. I also chopped up a G43 German Sniper Rifle and an A-4 Springfield Sniper and sporterized them along with two ultra rare T-3 US carbine receivers. I wince at hese practical acts of yesterday that are considered criminal today.

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  bobwesley

  January 17, 2003 17:51

  The whole idea of taking a defunkt 5mm was to breath life back into a fine old gun that should not have died. Maybe a ruger 10/22 mag. would be a better place to start? Does anyone make 17 HMR barrels for the 10/22 mag.?
  
  Charles Williams

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  09arg

  January 17, 2003 19:10

  Yes, I'm certain there are barrels or will be for the 10-22M. A bolt action would still be a better idea. Another potential problem with converting the 5mm to 17 is the the boltface from the 5mm is larger in diameter than a 22 mag. May still work though. I did the conversion to centerfire on mine and it is a very fun rifle to shoot. I can nearly duplicate the velocity of the 17HMR with a bullet almost twice as heavy. I actually think there will be some new 5mm rimfire ammo out someday.

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  bambihunter

  January 17, 2003 23:30

  Yes, the 10/22 has several aftermarket barrel makers. Most notably volquartsen. There's more info here: http://www.volquartsen.com/default.asp?cat=17+HMR
  
  I agree on chopping up an old gun, if it is in good enough shape to want to build, then it is in good enough shape to save - either for yourself or to sell to someone else, and take that money and build you the .17. I have regretted most guns I've modified irreversibly...
  
  
  It doesn't matter what you shoot, just shoot it well...

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  bobwesley

  January 18, 2003 18:38

  this topic has been really enjoyable. I truly hope the wonderful 5mm will make a comeback. mabe the 17 will accidently stir up interest in the 5mm. Mabe a trio rifle pack, How does a bolt action repeater with interchangable BBLS. in 17 5mm and 22mag sound? THANKS AGAIN, BOBWESLEY
  
  Charles Williams

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