Congratulations to Winchester on their new .17 WSM (don't know yet if that's how they're going to abbreviate it, someone might confuse it with the short magnum case which would be pretty hot in .17 cal), on doing what Remington should have done years ago to their 5MM Rem Rim. Mag case. It too operated at 33k psi, looked like it would have had similar case cap. to the .17 WSM and with the newer slippery polymer tipped bullets could have used a lighter bullet with a better ballistic coefficient than the old 38gr. hollowpoint. With the lighter bullet a little more powder could be stuffed in the case combined with the a newer high energy powder, could have significantly improved the down range ballistics over the .17 HMR.

I mentioned this to a Remington rep at a show several years ago and his reply was, "It'll never happen." I had a Rem. Mod. 591 in the 5MM RM. It was a nice little rifle and shot well. The only reason I was able to sell it some years later after Rem. discontinued the ammo for it in the mid seventies, was I still had two boxes of ammo for it. The ammo was worth more than the rifle!

I wish I would have kept it. A centerfire conversion came out for it in the mid 90's and all those nifty 5MM (20cal.) bullets are now available for it. Kudos to Winchester for doing what Remington wouldn't do. Hope it sells well. I'd like to see a comparison of the 5MM RM case next to the .17 WSM, the Winchester case maybe a little bigger. Also it would be interesting if Winchester would neck the .17 WSM up to 20 cal. to see what it would do with heavier bullets? It'd certainly handle the bigger varmints better.

Yaaaay Savage!

So it is a rimfire that is going to be competing with center fires? The 17 Hornet and the older 22 hornet are already sitting in this niche. I guess the real test will be if the ammo is competitively priced. It may catch on in states where varmint hunting with center fire rifles is illegal but unless ammo is cheap I personally don't see a need for this round.

Nice to hear Savage is making it, should be accurate and affordable, will the ammo be available at the same time?

How fast can you shoot a BB or Pellet?

reportly the ammo is about the same price as the .17hmr or within a few dollars. I have to say there are some still that disbelive the capabilities of the .17 cal. With 20 grain bullets these are awesome within the limits of the cartridge. Wind? Any cartridge is going to drift in a crosswind out past 100 yards. That's where experience and good marksmanship comes into play. Joe Smo doesn't walk in off the street and quarterback an NFL football team anymore then somebody that can't shoot a 2" group at 50 yards shoot sub 1" groups at 100 yards. Like taking shots at an animal at 500 yards with a slingshot. You have to be able first off and secondly know the limits of the cartridge. If they load this cartridge with 22 to 30 gr bullets I think it will serve a very good niche for varmint hunters limited to rimfire and shotgun after dark. Especially if they used the .27cal casing to fire it. I'm in for sure. but I already like the .17hmr for coyotes and many are opposed to that. but it has proven itself time & time again. It works in the right hands under the right conditions out to and exceeding 175 yards. Any improvement over those results would be welcomed by many. As for a 5mm take a look at the .204 rugar and it's performance. The right bullet for the right cartridge works anything less is just a wildcat looking for a user