I've been after a "hot rimfire" for a while. So after a well-deserved breakfast of Huevos Rancheros, I spun down to Gebo's "Great Service, Low Prices" (all true here) and got one. A Ruger American .17 HMR (Hornady Magnum Rimfire).
I know. I like wood and steel and this gun's black plastic and steel but the price was right, well under "retail," and the build seemed far superior to other rifles I checked out in the same caliber and price range. Solid and substantial, as opposed to tinny and flimsy.
The Ruger American comes with a folding-leaf rear sight and a green fiber-optic Williams front sight, that sits on top of its match-crowned, free-floating 22"barrel. The receiver is drilled and tapped for bases and has two grooves machined into it for 1/8" rings. It also has a sturdy 9 round rotary magazine, 10/22-style; a pleasant change from the tinny, flimsy, offerings of competitors. Take note, Savage and Marlin.
I won't go into this rifle's unique-to-Ruger bedding but suffice to say, it incorporates many of the features you'll find in the American's higher caliber iterations. A lot of quality put into the humble rimfire. And I almost forgot, it comes with an adjustable trigger. It weighs 6 lbs. The rifle, not the trigger.
But did it work? Sure it did, and then some, taking down a steel turkey time and again at 100 yards, with it's bright-as-you-like front sight, smoothly working bolt and crisp trigger. How heavy is the trigger, out of the box? I'd say appx. 4 Ilbs and that's adjustable up to 5 and down to 3. How's the finish? Just fine, what you'd expect from Ruger. But what about the black plastic? Deal with it, it's waterproof. How much does it cost? Stop whining and anyway, not much. Would you recommend it to your friends? I most definitely would.
Is this rifle a "game changer"? Some reviewers think so and that remains to be seen. In the meanwhile, I'd say a lot of quality for very little money.
Get a Ruger American 17 HMR, if you like. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
LSP
