RE: .17's
I think they are getting carried away a little bit. They are pretty accurate, but I think that is pushing it. Not that it can't be done, but I don't think it could be done consistantly. The marlins and savages are very accurate out of box, often sub 1 inch groups at 100 yards for 3 shots. They tend to have fliers though and a realistic group is more like 1 inch. I would ask to see them do this before you believed it. I think they may be able to hit a quarter at 200 on a good day, but shoot the head out of one? If they can really do that they need to start competing, because they would do very well.
The 17 V-max sighted in at 100 yards is 8 inches low at 200 yards and has 15 inches of wind drift with a 10 mile an hour cross wind.
I get about 3/4-1 inch groups with my heavy barrel savage at 100 yards with a good 20 power scope out of a rest. If you want to know more about them go to rimfirecentral.com or varmint al's website.
Paul