Looking for an inexpensive plinker/varminter in .17 HMR. I've heard about the Savage models and I seem to be leaning that way. Do you guys have any comments/recommendations?

no one shoots the new .17 HMR??

Lots of .17hmr shooters at rimfirecentral.com, check them out.

my dad wants to buy himself one but he's convinced that they'll lose their popularity and the round will be a bitch to find in the future........................

The only 17HMR rifle I have fired is a Chipmonk.
Cute little rifle with cute little ammo. I wouldn't call it inexpensive though.

You can get 17HMR for $10 a box; when you can get it.

CCI and Remington are both making it now in addition to Hornady, so the supply should get better.

I picked up a Savage that came with a free Bushnell 3x9 scope for $189 out the door. Took it to the range and shot around an inch all day at 100 yrds out of the box. I was able to hit a 3" Shootn see at 200 yrds with about an 8" hold over. Since then I've worked on the heavy trigger some so I can't wait to see how it'll do now. Ammo is hard to find, Hornady is all I've shot so far but I was able to find several boxes of CCI for $9 a box. A month ago I couldn't find any ammo but now the CCI seems to be on the shelves quite a bit. Get yourself one, they're alot of fun.rocko.