.17 Remington in a Sako Vixen

.17 Remington in a Sako Vixen

The .17 Remington, introduced in 1971, is one of the fastest commercial cartridges ever produced. Known for its exceptional velocity and flat trajectory, it has carved out a loyal following among varmint hunters and precision shooters alike. In this particular evaluation, the cartridge was paired with a Sako Vixen — a rifle celebrated for its elegant Finnish craftsmanship, consistent accuracy, and lightweight handling. The combination proved to be an ideal platform for extracting the most out of the .17 Remington’s performance characteristics.

The Sako Vixen’s micro-length action was a natural match for the petite .17 Remington case. Featuring a free-floating barrel and a crisp single-stage trigger, the Vixen platform allowed for tight groupings with minimal recoil. This setup highlighted one of the .17 Remington’s greatest advantages: the ability to deliver blistering speed and precision with almost no felt kick, making it extremely comfortable for extended shooting sessions and follow-up shots in the field.

Handloaders working with the Vixen platform often tailored their loads to accommodate lighter bullets — typically 20 to 25 grains — seated carefully to maintain consistent neck tension and optimal chamber fit. Powders such as IMR 4198, H322, and Benchmark were frequently favored to balance pressure and burn rates, yielding impressive velocities exceeding 4,000 feet per second in some cases. These high-speed loads demonstrated explosive terminal performance on varmints like prairie dogs and ground squirrels, with minimal pelt damage for those interested in fur recovery.

While the .17 Remington is not without challenges — particularly when it comes to rapid fouling from its small bore and the need for meticulous cleaning — the rewards are substantial when paired with a precision rifle like the Sako Vixen. The synergy between cartridge and rifle resulted in outstanding repeatable accuracy, often producing sub-MOA groups even under variable conditions. Shooters frequently noted the rifle’s light handling characteristics and crisp mechanics, which lent themselves well to mobile varmint shooting from bipods or rests in open terrain.

Source: Rifle Issue #61 - January, 1979