new 17M2 problem?

[C Miller]

I bought one of the Boyds kits which used the Shaw barrel and Magnum Research heavy bolt handle/spring. Function was fine but accuracy was similiar to yours. Mine had the CPC bolt, replacement Weaponcraft buffer, all the Vol trigger goodies. I then noticed one day that the bolt handle was hitting the back of the receiver slot, even with the aftermarket buffer, so I had to open that up before it cracked. Tried CCI, Eley, Hornady, Rem, Fed, still was erratic, but I'm not convinced that with a better quality barrel it wouldn't have shot well. Sold the barrel and bolt handle, slapped on a GM 22lr barrel and went back to shooting 1/4" groups with it. My experience was not uncommon, several posters on RFC did the same. I have 2 17hm2's now, one an Anschutz, the other a Martini. The Martini will occasionaly have a ruptured case because the bottom of the case is not supported in the area of the extractor cutout. On yours it sounds like it fired out of battery, a common problem on the 17hmr 10/22 conversions, I've just never heard of it happening with the 17hm2. Glad you didn't get hurt.