NEF 17 HMR - Burst My Bubble!
With all the rave about the new 17HMR ammo, I really wanted to try it out. The local gunshops got a ruger 77 in and it left the same day. I was waiting for the Marlin Bolt action, but one day while browsing during lunch at a local gunshop, they got in a NEF Sportster in 17HMR; I asked about the bolt action guns, and they said they were on order and could be a day, a month, or who knows. I don't know anyone who has shot the 17HMR so I figured $140 for the rifle to try it out is not that bad. If I don't like it, I can probably get most of the money back out of it. I got the gun, some high rings to clear the hammer, and used a so/so scope I had in my stash. I wasn't expecting the refinement of a custom gun, I wasn't expecting Bench Rest Rifle Accuracy, I WAS expecting the gun to go BANG!
Took it to the range, loaded a cartridge, cocked the hammer, aligned crosshairs, deep breath....CLICK! Well the earmuffs are really good, the round is really quite, or missfire! Looked at the back of the rim and it had a firing pin mark, a little light, but there was a mark; loaded the same cartridge back in the rifle, CLICK! Loaded new cart....CLICK!, Loaded third cart...BANG! Exactly 1.5" to the right of Bullseye, minor scope adjustment needed. Loaded 4th cartridge...CLICK! Same with the 5th. The one cartridge that did go bang swelled the case by the extractor cut, and blew the shoulder of the case.
I took it back to the shop and the owner said it looks like a headspace problem. I thought it might have something to do with the additional weight of the hammer spur extension, but what do I know. No questions asked, I'm getting my choice of full credit, cash back, repair, or replacement. I don't think X-Mart would have given me many choices. I'll decide today, but since it was the only 17HMR in stock, I'll either get cash back or just might pick out something else.
Hope is not lost for the 17, I'm counting on the Marlin to at least go bang when I pull the trigger. The Marlin is in the $200 - $300 range, the Ruger is in the mid $400's, the Anschutz is around $900, and I heard the CZ will be coming out at the end of the year. I probably won't get the NEF again if it comes in.
I'm sure mine is an isolated case, I'm sure other NEF owners are more than happy, this was just a bad first experience for me. This is how bias, good or bad are formed.
Roy
Took it to the range, loaded a cartridge, cocked the hammer, aligned crosshairs, deep breath....CLICK! Well the earmuffs are really good, the round is really quite, or missfire! Looked at the back of the rim and it had a firing pin mark, a little light, but there was a mark; loaded the same cartridge back in the rifle, CLICK! Loaded new cart....CLICK!, Loaded third cart...BANG! Exactly 1.5" to the right of Bullseye, minor scope adjustment needed. Loaded 4th cartridge...CLICK! Same with the 5th. The one cartridge that did go bang swelled the case by the extractor cut, and blew the shoulder of the case.
I took it back to the shop and the owner said it looks like a headspace problem. I thought it might have something to do with the additional weight of the hammer spur extension, but what do I know. No questions asked, I'm getting my choice of full credit, cash back, repair, or replacement. I don't think X-Mart would have given me many choices. I'll decide today, but since it was the only 17HMR in stock, I'll either get cash back or just might pick out something else.
Hope is not lost for the 17, I'm counting on the Marlin to at least go bang when I pull the trigger. The Marlin is in the $200 - $300 range, the Ruger is in the mid $400's, the Anschutz is around $900, and I heard the CZ will be coming out at the end of the year. I probably won't get the NEF again if it comes in.
I'm sure mine is an isolated case, I'm sure other NEF owners are more than happy, this was just a bad first experience for me. This is how bias, good or bad are formed.
Roy
0
-
I just tool my nef back today to get it fixed. The damn thing did exactly what yours did. I thought it was the ammo till i clicked on the whole box. It doesnt kill a groundhog too darn good. I am getting mine fixed. I dont know why I got it I have 4 22 mags and they will do anything the 17 will do and do it better. my 2 cents 0 -
I have not seen the NEF version of a rimfire rifle, how do they configure the breech so as to adapt to rimfire? firing pin placement or offset the bore in the barrel? if the breech is modified from the standard configuration the only other barrels that would interchange would be rimfire barrels, not a big selling point.
interesting posting, look forward to updates.0 -
I just got my new Marlin Catalog in the mail, looking at their new .17hmr's. Another one I'm going to have to at to the "Guns I Want" list... I'm definitely going to have to get one now.
Visit me http://www.geocities.com/gunsmithlee0 -
Jody, you are correct. The 17 NEF is a Sportster Model and only interchangeable with rimfire barrels. My guess is that NEF 'hurried' the production on the 17HMR and there might be some quality control problems. What was odd on my gun was that the forearm screw was missing. The shop took one off a 243 NEF and put it on mine; maybe my gun wasn't finished yet. I think Marlin & NEF are the same company now.
I'm still wondering if the additional weight of the hammer spur extension has something to do with the light primer strikes? Also, in the manual it states to pull the trigger and hold it for the transfer bar to work correctly. I tried NOT to do (on an empty gun) what the manual said by pulling and quickly letting go of the trigger while easing up the hammer. What this does is not allow a firing pin strike. So, even if I did not pull the trigger and hold it like I always do, there would not even be a rim strike at all.0 -
Wow! sounds like NEF/Marlin tried to get the jump on a hot new combination and stepped on their pecker,hope everything works out well for You. 0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
5 comments