deaquire Posted September 6, 2013 Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 Yesterday I went and bought a new .17HMR CZ 455 rifle with thumbhole stock. I bought it from Gilsan sports in Richmond for the sum of £520. In that price I also got a sound mod. and 200 Vmax 17 gr Hornadys. I'd looked around for a while and was pleased with that price. I've attached a 3-12x50 Nikko Stirling scope which does the job at 125 yards - I'm sure more in the hands of a more capable and experienced shooter. I took it home and firstly found the zero at 25 yards. I didn't bore sight it. It was only 3 inches low and 2 inches to the left with the first shot (I was expecting worse) and took another 3 shots to zero it to the bull. Took it out to 100 yards and found the zero in a 2" group with 13 shots. I was pretty happy with that as I was just resting on top of the car. Had a play with another 15 or so shots and then packed up and headed home. Of course last night I was eager to get out on the rabbits to see what she could do and so at half 6 I packed up the rifle into the car and headed out to my newest permission. I arrived at 7 and it was a quiet start. The farmer has just cut back the hedgerows and grass so the rabbits are more visible and in a patch he said was lifting I didn't see a single rabbit. It was much colder last night so put it down to that. Headed around to the maize field and the rabbits were definitely fewer so I was a little disappointed - it was a slow start with only 4 or 5 rabbits for half an hours driving and a brand new out of the box rifle that I was understandably itching to use. However, once the sun started dropping fast that was when things picked up. Rabbits were left, right and centre. On the stubble, in the grass, on the track, all over. The two shots that stand out most was a 110 yard followed instantly by a 120 yard shot - the furthest that night. The rifle is fantastic, with a zero of 100 yards, I could comfortably shoot at 10 yards (x 1) and 125 yards (x 1) and seemingly anywhere in between without any need for holdover or under. The factory set trigger is the perfect weight for myself, I can squeeze it gently and hold it, so I am sure of bullet placement, before I fire. The bolt is reasonably smooth but I should have greased it before I went out. The rifle is a nice weight, the 20" barrel (cheaper than the 16") wasn't too long and I found that I could adjust in the cab with little difficulty, with sound mod. fitted. The bullets are quite devastating. By 9pm I had in total 20 rabbits for 20 bullets and a very impressed better half who came along. I attempted one shot which I'd hoped would kill two rabbits at once as they seemed to be in line but it didn't happen. There were a couple of shots I could have taken but didn't feel comfortable with the back drop. In hindsight, I'm glad. Two rabbits were unfortunately not clean kills and I had to dispatch them myself - it still makes me very uncomfortable when that happens. I truly hope I never lose that feeling. The rest were head/neck/chest shots and as far as I can tell were instant deaths. So all in all, a fantastic 2 hours shooting that was only cut short by simply not having enough bags as I'd forgotten the plastic crates I usually use. Boot is a no go as it's carpet. I genuinely feel that had I wanted, 50 rabbits over 6 hours would not have been an unrealistic target. Sorry if I've bored you with this. If anyone has a .22 LR and is considering the .17 HMR, go for it. That calibre in the CZ 455 is truly fantastic. Sorry no pics available, by the time I'd gutted the rabbits I was keen to get home. P.s. I'm getting my rounds for £12.50 per 50. That's a discounted amount of normally £14. Is that a decent price or should I be looking for better? ATB, Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1steele Posted September 6, 2013 Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 I'm getting Hornady 17grn for £10.50 for 50 so £12.50 seems reasonable but £14 seems well over the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted September 6, 2013 Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 My Hornady 17 grains are £10 a box from Gilders in Kettering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 £9 a box but that's if I buy a few hundred Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 £14 for 50 Hornady 17gr V-Max here which I thought was a good price!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffo223 Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 I pay £10 a box for hornady and have done for years, happy days it would seem! Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deaquire Posted September 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 (edited) £9 a box but that's if I buy a few hundred I think I've got about 600 hundred on my license so I may well be buying in the hundreds as well. If I paid the £14 per 50 and bought 600 rounds that would be...£168.00. If you pay £9 per 50 and bought 600 that would be...£108.00. Jesus. £60.00 less and more than 25% cheaper. That's a hell of a difference I'm all for supporting business, in fact my livelihood relies on it, but that's a bit bloody excessive. Where do you get them from tractor? How does buying ammo over distance work? No smart replies that they fire it to you £14 for 50 Hornady 17gr V-Max here which I thought was a good price!? I guess we're gunna have to haggle. Edited September 9, 2013 by deaquire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 I think I've got about 600 hundred on my license so I may well be buying in the hundreds as well. If I paid the £14 per 50 and bought 600 rounds that would be...£168.00. If you pay £9 per 50 and bought 600 that would be...£108.00.Jesus. £60.00 less and more than 25% cheaper. That's a hell of a difference I'm all for supporting business, in fact my livelihood relies on it, but that's a bit bloody excessive. Where do you get them from tractor? How does buying ammo over distance work? No smart replies that they fire it to you I guess we're gunna have to haggle. The rfd is going out with my ex and mother to my kids so he keeps me sweet www.solware.co.uk Their as cheap as they come and good lads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 http://www.solware.co.uk/centrefire-rimfire/Bullet-Pricelist.shtml Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1steele Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 £14 for 50 Hornady 17gr V-Max here which I thought was a good price!? Where are you paying £14? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deaquire Posted September 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 Cheers tractor. I don't know where he's buying them, but Gilsan sports told me they're £14. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Good shot? Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 (edited) Thats a cracking first time out with a new rifle, well done. My Hornady 17 grains are £10 for box of 50.I buy 2 or 300 at a time only. Edited September 10, 2013 by Good shot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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