If you’re a frequent close or medium range hunter, you’re probably no stranger to the magic of the 17 WSM. Coyote or deer, it’s a rimfire round that a lot of hunters choose over and over again. After all, it’s hard to find a cartridge as fast, light, and versatile as this one. What’s even harder, is finding a scope that matches its terrific design. So let’s find out the best scopes for 17 WSM…
I have been where you are – spending hours straining my eyes in front of a screen, trying to figure out what the best scope is for my usage and budget. I know how tedious and confusing it can get. Therefore, to aid you, we’ve collected and discussed the top rifle scopes in the market right now, suited perfectly to your 17 WSM.
Top 5 Best Scopes For 17 WSM
| Name | Specs | USP | Today's Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSA Optics | 4.5-14x44 | Best reticle | Click Here |
| Vortex Crossfire II | 4-12x44 | Most user friendly | Click Here |
| Vortex Viper | 6.5-20x50 | Best overall | Click Here |
| Barska AO Varmint | 6.5-20x50 | Best scope for medium to long range | Click Here |
| Simmons 22 MAG | 3-9X32 | Best at lowest price | Click Here |
1. BSA Optics 4.5-14x44mm 17 Super Mag Riflescope
BSA (Better Stay Away) optics is a lesser-known brand that supplies optics of the same quality as a lot of high-end brands like BSA Optics series, BSA Sweet 17, etc.
This Super Mag scope comes with fully coated optics. The clarity of the images is definitely better than that of the average scope. What’s more, is the large front lens for maximum light transmission and a wide field of view. This BSA scope comes with a special BDC ballistic range reticle that is engineered specifically for your 17 WSM (22gr. and 25gr. bullets). They also have an illuminated version with 3 color settings available in case you’re looking to hunt at twilight.
I love how the 44 mm objective lens is adjustable to help you eliminate errors and shoot quickly. I think the eye relief is pretty generous, given the range of the 17 WSM. It zeroes in very well and is one of the most accurate devices I’ve used recently making it one of the best scopes for 17 WSM.
The scope is very easy to mount on your 17 WSM rifle. It’s a pretty strong aluminum scope that can withstand fog and water. It’s backed by a one year warranty. I think it comes at a great price for a sight that fits your weapon like a glove.
However, I wish the turrets were tighter and capped.
Pros
Cons
2. Vortex Crossfire II 4-12×44 Riflescope
Vortex is a coveted American and veteran brand that is continually rising to the top in the optics field with its high quality, value-for-money sighting devices.
Like all other scopes in the Crossfire II series, we see fully multi-coated lenses for maximized brightness and minimized glare interference. The quality of the glass is top-notch. It also comes with a fast-focus eyepiece for efficient acquisition of your sneaky target. The Dead-Hold BDC reticle is always welcome to my hunts. You don’t have to guess about the deviation of your lightweight 17 WSM bullet.
The elevation and windage turrets are capped and user-friendly. They can be reset to zero without a problem. Sighting in with this Vortex scope is a breeze. It can hold zero well.
I like the matte black finish of the scope body. It’s lighter than most scopes on this list. As I would’ve guessed, Vortex has used aircraft-grade aluminum to ensure that its product is tough and sturdy. The nitrogen purging ensures fog-proof performance with your 17 WSM. My favorite part is the Vortex VIP warranty which makes you feel important and thus making it one of the best scopes for 17 WSM
The eye relief can be a little unforgiving.
Pros
Cons
3. Vortex Viper 6.5-20×50 PA Matte Riflescope
Our 3rd 17 WSM contender also comes from the good old Vortex.
The glass on this scope is damn near unbeatable. Light transmission finds itself at an all-time high thanks to its special multi-coating and lens elements. There is almost zero glare with this Vortex Viper. The 50 mm objective gives you a wide field of view and adds to the brightness function of this scope. The fast focus eyepiece allows for target acquisition that is quicker than ever. They have the Dead-Hold BDC, V-Plex, or Mil-dot reticles to suit your preferences. All three reticles are great, in my opinion.
The 17 WSM scope comes with a ViewMag adjustment lever that lets you adjust rapidly without looking at anything except your target. The pop-up windage and elevation turrets are capped, repeatable, and impeccable. It offers a wide magnification range in case you want to test the limits of your 17 WSM. The Precision-Glide Erector system on the inside makes sure that your zoom is smoother than ever, making it one fo the best scopes for 17 WSM.
The conveniently sized 30 mm tube is built using aircraft-grade aluminum. The scope has been rigorously factory tested for punishment and pressure. It’s purged with argon instead of the common nitrogen, so fogging is a foreign concept to this scope. The Vortex VIP warranty backs the durability of this device.
I found the eye relief to be slightly inadequate, but it’s not an object of much worry.
Pros
Cons
4. Barska 6.5-20×50 AO Varmint Rifle Scope
Barska is a relatively new player in the rifle scopes field, but it’s quite promising. They take pride in the quality and affordability of their devices.
Barska gives some serious competition to the last scope with its price. As the name suggests, it is actually really great for deer. The glass is fully multi-coated for high-quality pictures. I quite like the reticle. The Target dot allows you to focus perfectly, and the thin crosshairs provide the utmost precision. It’s brilliant for the 17 WSM.
The scope comes with an adjustable objective to make sure that parallax errors don’t interfere with your hunt. The capped turrets have a good grip and are quite accurate. The 1/8 value allows for peak precision. I could zero this scope within three shots after mounting on my 17 WSM rifle. The eye relief is just fine at 3.6 inches.
Despite the price, this scope is durable enough to last you multiple years. It looks pretty good, and I can promise that your lenses will never fog up internally. The magnification range is amazing. Barska also throws in a limited lifetime warranty with this 17 WSM scope.
However, sometimes the knobs can get a little stiff.
Pros
Cons
5. Simmons 22 MAG 3-9X32 Rimfire Rifle Scope
Simmons is a US-based company that has decades of experience in the production of optics. If you buy a Simmon, you know you’re going to get complete value for your money.
Right off the bat, the glass on this scope is brilliant. The special HydroShield optical coating gets rid of glare and transmits light like a pro. It’s also dust and particle repellent. The reticle is another unique feature. Simmon’s Truplex reticle is a spin on the traditional duplex reticle. It comes dotted towards the center, and this can significantly increase your success rate.
The quick acquisition eyepiece is a big, big plus. This 17 WSM scope has a unique TrueZero mechanism to make sure that your device remains stable through any amount of shock or recoil (all other scopes use a flex erector system). Thanks to this, the scope maintains its zero like a beast. The windage and elevation adjustments are precise and repeatable. They come with SureGrip rubber surfaces to increase their efficiency.
The eye relief stands at a generous 4 inches across the magnification values. It’s the lightest scope on this list. The device looks stylish and feels sturdy. Pretty easy installation on your 17 WSM. It comes with mounting rings. If you weren’t impressed enough already, go check the price. You can own this magnificent scope for less than $50.
The only con is the quality of the mounting rings, but this is completely understandable given the price.
Pros
Cons
FAQ
What all is a 17 WSM rifle good for?
Owing to the low recoil on this cartridge, the 17 WSM can be paired with a host of weapons and scopes. It’s usually used for hunting deer, coyotes, and other animals of that size. Some people also use it for pest control – shooting barn rats, etc.
What’s the difference between a 17 WSM and a 17 HMR?
Firstly, the 17 WSM is marginally more expensive than the 17 HMR. There’s a 5-15 cent difference per round. While the HMR offers a wider variety of ammunition options, the WSM presents you with an array of bullet weights. The heavier bullets can be paired with the WSM to hunt for larger prey. The 17 WSM also brings a slightly longer range than the 17 HMR does. The rapid cartridge can do over 200 yards while the HMR maxes out at 150.
Things to look for when you’re purchasing the best scope for 17 WSM
Clarity
Even though you’ll be shooting in a short-range, clarity is of utmost importance. A fast cartridge like the 17 WSM requires a scope that allows you to catch quick, clear sight of your target. Look out for optical coatings and clean reticles. Bigger objectives can boost light transmission and provide a wide range of views, but at the same time, they can get heavy. Choose according to your eyesight and comfort.
Magnification
The maximum range of a 17 WSM is well under 800 yards. Therefore, you don’t need something with very high magnification. If you’re planning to shoot only within 200 yards, then an upper limit of 9x should be more than satisfactory. In fact, if your intent is predetermined and specific, you could even go for a fixed magnification between 4-7x. If you’re a hunter that likes to challenge himself, you could choose something much higher than 9x. However, only go for the high magnifications if you really need them as they can get heavy and expensive.
Weight, durability and overall quality
These are universal pointers, but I will remind you about them in every article. You want a scope that stays by your side for a good amount of time without disintegrating. Buy well-constructed devices with good materials. Your scope should also be easy to operate and not too troublesome to carry or hold.
Conclusion
Hopefully, now that you’ve made it to the end of the list, you’re leaving with more knowledge than you arrived with. The best scope for 17 WSM can be a challenging thing to narrow down on, but the process will be worth it once you’re out on the field. There’s not much to particularly keep in mind except for your own comfort and budget. A lot of these rifles are calibrated specifically for your cartridge, so I’m sure that you’ll make a great purchase no matter what you choose. See you next time!