“winchester super magnum”

Which of these cartridges better serves the hunter looking for a speedy rimfire? Contributor Philip Massaro examines the pros and cons of each.

Get a closer look at the Franklin Armory F17-L, the latest addition to our #SundayGunday series.

In this, its 150th year in business, the history of Winchester firearms is well known. After all, “The gun that won the west” was a Winchester, the Model 1873. The Winchester Model 70 is known as the “Rifleman’s Rifle” and the Model 1894 is perhaps the most successful sporting rifle in history. The company also shook up the scattergun market with classic shotguns like the Model 1897, Model 21 and Model 12. The raw truth, however, is that none of these guns could have made their mark in history without ammo to shoot out of them. It’s kind of the red-headed stepchild in terms of glory and glamor, but Winchester has been in the ammo business as long as they have been in the gun business.

The high-velocity, high-energy .17 Winchester Super Magnum rimfire is a welcomed cartridge for many wishing to engage everything from destructive rodents to marauding coyotes, especially in regions where centerfires are noisy, frowned upon or even illegal. But finding a rifle to shoot the world’s fastest rimfire has been a challenge.

What follows is a primer on commercially available .17-caliber cartridges and their respective performance.

BSA Optics has a new riflescope designed specifically for the .17 Winchester Super Magnum that promises to help varmint hunters with holdover at long range.

There is no doubt that the .17 WSM elevates rimfire ballistics to a new level. But will enough gun companies jump on board to produce rifles in this caliber?