The 17hmr Savage is an accurate gun if it isn't miss-fireing. I have had one for 6mos (from brand new) and had nothing but problems. If the temperature is below freezing it will miss-fire more than it shoots. I have tried every brand of ammo out there and they all do it in the gun.
Better get a new rifle sir. I got a CZ 452 American in the .17HMR. I've fired over 1000 rnds through it from +30C to -30C (i'm in Canada and don't know what it is in Fahrenheit) and have never had a miss fire. The POI might change by an inch or so from one extreme to the next but other than that it shoots fine.
The .17HMR also has more power than the .22mag, and teh V-max's do some nasty splash damage to gophers. I've cut one gopher clean in half.
Here is a very thourough testing on the .17HMR
http://www.varmintal.com/17hmr.htm
i hope that helps