17HMR x 2

I bought a Savage .17 HMR about a month ago. From the git go, I wasn't too thrilled about the fit of the magazine into the gun. It seemed loose, yet it didn't slide in or out very well, and it didn't "snap" into place like I thought it should. Most of the time, I had to put upward pressure on the bottom of the magazine while I shoved the bolt forward in order for the first round to chamber correctly. After that, the others seemed okay, at first. I fired about 50 rounds through it (ten mags full) while getting the scope adjusted (first at 25 yds, then at 50).

I decided if I was going to keep it, I would want a couple more mags anyway, and I thought maybe the magazine was the problem rather than the rifle, so I ordered a couple more. They came a while back, and I went out to try again. Same problem, same fit, with all three mags. The problem seemed to get worse the more I shot and loaded it. Eventually, I couldn't even get a round to load without forcing the bolt forward with undue pressure. Then, the spent round wouldn't eject, and I had to pick it out with a screw driver.

I decided I was going to return the gun to Scheel's, but I didn't know what they would say about it or be willing to do for me. I wasn't sure how long I'd had the gun or what their policy was on returns. I didn't have the paperwork with me or the box or lock or other stuff, but I didn't want to drive all the way home to get it not knowing if they'd take it back anyway. So, I decided to just stop on the way home and explain the problem and see what they would say.

They were happy to exchange my gun for a brand new one, no questions asked, no receipt, packaging or anything. I brought the new gun home, cleaned it, and took it out this morning. First thing I did was to simply insert and empty mag to see how it felt. I seemed better, but still not what I would have liked. However, it seemed the same problem was returning as each round seemed harder to chamber and each clip seemed harder to insert fully. I finally managed to get a magazine in that seemed to "fit" and all the rounds chambered and fired and ejected as they should have. After that, everything seemed to work as I would have expected it to in the first place. I still don't know for sure what the problem was, but hopefully it has passed and won't return.

In the mean time, I got it sighted in and it did quite well. At 50 yds I could put five rounds into a less than one inch group. At 25 yds, about a 5/8" group. It remains to be seen how it will perform next time I go out to the range.