Browning T-Bolt 17 HMR

[Buckaroobonsai]

Mounted a Leupold 6-18x40 VX-2 on a pair of Talley tall integrated scope bases and added a Butler Creek leather Basketweave Cobra sling. This is not your grandfather's plinker. Takes 'em out at 25 yards or at over 200 yards. More like varmint hunting refined.

[longrange2]

I just picked up my first HMR, a CZ Varmint. Can't wait to give it a try hunting. Shoots good on paper.

[Buckaroobonsai]

Nice. Depending on your choice of scope, I highly recommend a 145 yard zero with the 17 grain bullets. Center mass POA up to 175 yards and head shots at 200. That covers most of your small game and varmint ranges without having to adjust your elevation.

[Marine24]

How do you like the T-bolt action? Definitely unique and fast on the follow up shots, but I keep trying to lock the bolt handle down. Old habits.

[Buckaroobonsai]

Definitely need more trigger time with it, but really liking it so far. The biggest selling point for me was actualy the weight, or lack there of! It's the lightest 17 HMR I could find, which comes in handy since I like to walk around during hunts and shoot off hand. Also love the (10) round double helix magazine. It's flush fitting, easy to load and combined with the T-bolt action, super fast and reliable. This is my first Browning, and the fit and finish is quite impressive. The trigger is obviously not as light as my Savage, but It's easy to adjust, smooth and creep free. I went with the walnut stock for a classic look, but may pick up the black, composite one that is more practical for field use and has a spare magazine holder built-in to the buttstock.

[Marine24]

The magazine is pretty slick and easy to load. I saw an A-Bolt down at the Lone Tree Cabelas in 22LR. Nice looking rifle but only one magazine. Going rate for the replacement ones are running $150+. May have to make another trip to Cabelas and check on the T-bolt again. Just need to avoid the Anschutz 1416 they have sitting there.

[Buckaroobonsai]

You can get extra 17 HMR Double Helix magazines easily for $50 or less. It sounds funny, but I'd actually like to try a left handed T-bolt as a right hander. With the straight back pull of the bolt, you should easily be able to cycle rounds with your left hand while still operating the trigger with your right. That would make a fast action even faster!

[Wow2]

[davsel]

^^ Wouldn't you smack yourself in the face trying that?

Love the T-bolt - have one in .22 LR.

[Buckaroobonsai]

LOL. Maybe if your hand slipped off the bolt while pulling it back! Otherwise your face would somehow need to be positioned above the tang safety to even be in range!

Try it with your .22 T-bolt. Left hand on the grip, trigger finger extended straight out, buttstock up against the left side of the chest. You should be able to easily work the bolt with your right hand while keeping a left cheek weld with the stock. You would need to be shooting off a bag or bipod, otherwise your bolt hand would need to support the forearm stock after cycling the bolt.

43639


^^ Wouldn't you smack yourself in the face trying that?

Love the T-bolt - have one in .22 LR.

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

Nice little rifle there randy. I too picked up a cz455 varmint and I love it. Interesting thought process on the bolt. I shoot left handed due to an eye dominance issue. I have only one left handed bolt rifle(which is a browning) and the rest are right handed. I have adapted well and for ME I see it as an advantage running the bolt with opposite hand of the trigger.

[ray1970]

I'll take it.


(Oh, wait. This isn't a sales thread by Randy? My mistake.)

[Coffee]

[Buckaroobonsai]

Changed out the one piece Tallys for a set of Warne bases and rings. MUCH better eye relief and sight picture. Check out that barrel clearance!

[Marine24]

What was the downside of the one piece Talleys? Height? Not enough play for the correct eye relief?

[Buckaroobonsai]

The "standard" height Talleys were so low that the bell touched the barrel, and the "high" was too tall for my VX-2 that I couldn't get a good check weld. The medium height Talleys may have worked, but the Warne bases with the matching Warne tall rings are perfect!


What was the downside of the one piece Talleys? Height? Not enough play for the correct eye relief?

[Buckaroobonsai]

Update: 051914

Changed out the optics for a Leupold Mark AR MOD 1 1.5-4x20mm with Firedot reticle for wicked fast target acquisition. A custom Leupold 17HMR CDS elevation knob lets me instantly dial in distances from 50-400 yards. Coupled with the lightning fast action of the T-Bolt, I was ripping up multiple varmints almost as fast as I could pull the trigger. Weighs in at only 6 lbs 2 oz unloaded.

[RCCrawler]

Got a chance to pop a few off with this rifle yesterday, it's a real sweet shooter for sure.