Anschutz 1517 Review

RIFLE
TEST
♦
FRO
M♦
Anschutz Model 64
1517 Deluxe .17HMR
Bruce Potts praises the
accuracy of this .17HMR
and gives its thumbhole
stock the thumbs up
T
here are numerous good-quality,
affordable .17 HMR rifles, from
brands such as Ruger, CZ, Sako
and Savage, but top billing often goes to
the German manufacturer Anschutz.
The target-based pedigree and
manufacture of all parts in-house are
contributing factors to the excellence of
their flagship Model 54 action.
Anschutz’s 1517 range of rifles are
well-balanced, good-looking and finely
tuned sporting rifles that shoot incredibly
well. The rifle being tested was the new
short-barrelled .17 HMR model, with
18in barrel and a new profiled thumbhole
stock. Its excellent trigger mechanism
makes it arguably one of the best .17HMR
rifles on the market today.
£1028
FIELD TEST
BULLET MAKE
BULLET
WEIGHT
(GRAINS)
BULLET TYPE
MUZZLE
VELOCITY
(FPS)
MUZZLE
ENERGY
(FT/LB)
Federal
17
V-Max
2,507
237
Hornady
15.5
NTX
2,588
231
CCI
20
Game Point
2,374
250
Hornady
17
V-Max
2,517
239
Remington
17
V-Max
2,571
250
Winchester
17
V-Max
2,524
241
CCI
17
TNT
2,573
250
B. POTTS
Stock
The stand-out feature of this Anschutz
has to be the new stock style. These were
popular in the nineties with airgun users
on models such as the Theoben Fenman.
Basically, it took an existing stock design
and re-profiled it for better balance, fit
and, best of all, weight saving. It’s helpful
on the Anschutz where its trim build can
be maintained even with a scope and
a sound moderator fitted.
Walnut quality does vary on Anschutz
models and this one was fairly plain to be
honest, though I have seen some crackers.
That said, the thumbhole designed stock
ABOVE: At 50 yards the loads were much harder
to distinguish than they were at 100 yards
ABOVE: Best for the .17 HMR Anschutz rifle were
the Hornady NTX bullets and 0.5-0.75 inch groups
not only looks good, but is practical too,
allowing a better hold to the rifle in,
my view, for all aspects and all typical
shooting positions.
Nicely proportioned for its size,
the thumbhole section of the stock is
well-shaped and fairly upright for an
unstrained hold. It is big enough to
accommodate large, or gloved, hands.
The cheekpiece is well defined and
slightly rolled over to the left. The stock
is also available in a left-hand option —
both feature skip-line chequering, which
is cut to the pistol grip and the fore-end.
The entire stock has a traditional and
familiar oiled finish.
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50 • 15
TIMES & COUNTRY MAGAZINE
22OCTOBER
Shooting 2014
Times & Country Magazine 6SHOOTING
January 2009
P052_SHT_OCT15_GUNTEST.indd 50
10/10/2014 17:22
RIFLE
TEST
HOW THE GUN
SCORES
ACCURACY
DEPENDABLE ACCURACY WITH ALL
BULLET TYPES
HANDLING
VERY GOOD HANDLING IN ANY
SHOOTING STANCE
TRIGGER
MORE LIKE A TARGET RIFLE THAN
A SPORTER
STOCK
The new profiled
thumbhole stock is
comfortable in use
PROFILED CUT OUT IS AN IMPROVEMENT
VALUE
BUY THE BEST AND CRY ONCE!
Barrel and action
Available in 18in or 14in barrel lengths,
I had wanted to test the 14in, but instead
only the 18in version was available with
its good, heavy profile of 0.74 inch at the
muzzle. The barrel is screwcut for a ½
UNF-thread sound moderator. With a
moderator fitted, the overall length is only
42-44 in (dependent on the moderator).
It’s certainly a benefit to go with a shorter
barrel, which is better balanced than a
longer barrel when a moderator is fitted.
Anschutz takes great care with its
barrels and this one is finely polished
on the inside. Each barrel is selected at
the factory and manufactured using
a hammer-forging and button-rifling
process. Rifling twist is one in 9in, which
is standard and good for 15.5-gr to 20-gr
bullet weights.
The Anschutz is scope sighted only via
twin 11mm dovetail rails split between the
action opening but it is also drilled and
tapped for scope bases, so Weaver-type
bases can be fitted for night vision use.
Best of all is the action itself, which
is the Model 64 — a match grade action
that has a lighter construction than its
bigger and more expensive brother, the
Model 54. With a 1in diameter cylindrical
tube construction, it has uniform strength
and provides a substantial bedding surface
to the stock.
The bolt cocks on opening like many
rimfire rifles and travels smoothly and
quickly, helped by a large plastic bolt knob
that ensures positive cycling. There are
two large claw extractors in the front of the
bolt face sited at three and nine o’clock.
These give reliable cartridge feed and
extraction, facilitated by two protruding
tabs in the action base. As the bolt is
retracted, these ping the fired case away.
P052_SHT_OCT15_GUNTEST.indd 51
TOTAL 93/100
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
CONCLUSION
MANUFACTURER: ANSCHUTZ
MODEL: MOD 64 1517
CALIBRE: .17 HMR
OVERALL LENGTH: 36.5IN
BARREL LENGTH: 18IN
STOCK: WALNUT PROFILED THUMBHOLE
MAGAZINE: FOUR-SHOT DETACHABLE
WEIGHT: 5.95LB
TRIGGER: SINGLE STAGE, ADJUSTABLE
SAFETY: SIDE-LEVER ACTION
PRICE: £1028 (RRP)
IMPORTER: RUAG, TEL 01579 362319
Trigger, safety and magazine
Anschutz has an enviable array of trigger
mechanisms to choose from. This Model
64 utilises the Model 5094 D trigger unit,
with a single stage pull in operation. It’s
factory-set for a pull weight of approx 2lb,
but is adjustable up to 4.5lb or so, which
is fine on a sporting arm when you might
have cold fingers.
The safety lever blocks the trigger and
lifts the trigger-sear and bolt release catch,
meaning the bolt can be opened in the safe
position allowing you to unload with the
safety on.
The magazine is detachable and has a
four- shot capacity. I did find the forwardoperated magazine release unnecessarily
awkward, however.
Another very well-engineered and
thought-out rifle from Anschutz that
shoots as well as it looks. It was super
accurate with all the ammunition tested,
and benefits from a superb trigger,
smooth bolt action and redesigned stock.
I like the “profiled” look of the new stock
design, and with a smaller scope, such as
a Burris, fitted and a sound moderator,
the weight saving is noticeable. It balances
very well in the hand.
The whole package is further enhanced
by the barrel at 18in long with a varmint
profile. This aids the rigidity of the
barrel harmonics that contribute to the
outstanding accuracy. It is pricey but,
in my view, it is worth it.
It’s difficult testing an Anschutz .17 HMR,
as they are so accurate. So tight were the
groups of four shots that, at 50 yards it
was tricky to distinguish between each
brand of ammunition. Best by a whisker
were the Hornady NTX, a non-toxic (i.e.
non-lead) bullet of 15.5-gr weight that shot
2,588fps for 231ft/lb energy and made one
tiny bug hole!
Out at 100 yards, group sizes opened
and differences were noticed. The largest
group size came from the Remington load
at 1.45in, with a velocity of 2,571fps. The
Federal 17-gr V-Max was slightly better at
1.25in.
The Winchesters hovered around
the 1in mark and 2,524fps and 241ft/lb
energy, while the good old CCI Game
Points and their 20-gr Game Point bullet
shot 0.75in groups. The CCI TNT load
shot larger 1in groups, though.
Best in this rifle were still the Hornady
NTX bullets. Their 0.5-0.75in groups
will give you confidence and your quarry
a headache!
SHOOTING TIMES & COUNTRY MAGAZINE
15 OCTOBER 2014 • 51
Accuracy and targets
10/10/2014 17:25

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