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.
Shooters are drawn to rimfire cartridges primarily due to the per-shot costs being significantly less than those of comparable center-rifle rifle cartridges. However, their downfall is lackluster terminal ballistics—that is, until now. Winchester’s new economical .17 Winchester Super Magnum (WSM) cartridge defies convention, and in doing so handily becomes the highest-performance rimfire extant.
If you’re looking for the utmost in rimfire velocity to knock out groundhogs, prairie dogs and even coyotes, the Franklin Armory F17-L will bring it. Built on the AR platform and designed specifically for the .17 Winchester Super Mag., the F17-L uses a gas-piston operating system paired with a rotating, locking bolt—similar to what you’d find in a piston-driven centerfire AR.
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?
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.