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.17 Hornet


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Regular shooting at 300 yards with light wind would preclude the hornet for me. It is a 200 yard gun for most shooting in the UK. If your goal is a 300 yard tack driver then the 204 is where i would play. The 39 gr bk at 3600/3700 is going to be a far sight better than the 20 gr vmax at the same speed.

 

Rick

 

Agreed, I run 20BR and 17AH, 200 yards is as far as I feel comfortable launching a 20gr Vmax from the 17AH which is what the 17 Hornet is closest to. 20s have far more authority, the 39gr SBK is one hell of a bullet.

 

17 Hornet is a working cartridge, with a lightweight barrel you wont get match accuracy but you should get .7 or so which is perfectly acceptable. If you want consistent accuracy in the .3s or less then its a big heavy tube, single shot action, Jewell, the whole 9 yards together with sorting/batching of bullets and some tight reloading discipline.

 

It is superb against avian vermin, I had a crow last summer at about 185 yards, poleaxed, that with a 20gr pill in a lightweight carry rifle with a stock CZ trigger is a long way. Am intending to work this summer on 25gr loads.

 

A

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Agreed, I run 20BR and 17AH, 200 yards is as far as I feel comfortable launching a 20gr Vmax from the 17AH which is what the 17 Hornet is closest to. 20s have far more authority, the 39gr SBK is one hell of a bullet.

 

17 Hornet is a working cartridge, with a lightweight barrel you wont get match accuracy but you should get .7 or so which is perfectly acceptable. If you want consistent accuracy in the .3s or less then its a big heavy tube, single shot action, Jewell, the whole 9 yards together with sorting/batching of bullets and some tight reloading discipline.

 

It is superb against avian vermin, I had a crow last summer at about 185 yards, poleaxed, that with a 20gr pill in a lightweight carry rifle with a stock CZ trigger is a long way. Am intending to work this summer on 25gr loads.

 

A

Don't waste your time and powder. I though they would be nice for a little more power, but in the end you loose speed and don't gain meaningful energy. I used them up to fireform.

 

Rick

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Don't waste your time and powder. I though they would be nice for a little more power, but in the end you loose speed and don't gain meaningful energy. I used them up to fireform.

 

Rick

 

 

Looking for a decent fox load, sometimes come across them when checking larsens on spring mornings. 20gr VMax is not to authoritative on foxes. A couple on the back of the butt shell holder just gives me an option.

 

 

A

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Just to help you make up your mind, I have a 17H, .222, .204 and .243 (running 55gr).

 

My preferred "go to gun" when going out on my rounds is the .17H. It does all I have asked of it, is superbly accurate and is fun to use, what more can I want.

 

It's the horrid Savage, but this winter when out and about, I dropped it in some deep mud. I dunked it in the river, gave it a wash, blew down the barrel to dry it out and continued on my way. Thank the Lord for what some describe as plastic rubbish !

 

Buy one, you'll love it.

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That can be said of any calibre if you attempt to shoot beyond its capability. For fox,the 22 version coupled up to a 50gr SPSX is as "authoratitive" as anything you could wish for out to 200 yards.

I agree with you. But we are talking about fox with the little 17. The 17 isn't an Authoratative cartridge on fox at most any range no matter the bullet. It is more than enough for killing fox out past 150 yards. But it isn't a bang flop cartridge like even a 204 or 22 hornet would be in the same conditions.

 

The main thing when looking at a 17 is expectations. If you buy one expecting it to be a 300 yard capable death laser on anything that moves, then you'll be sorely disappointed. If you go in with the expectation that is is a nice walking around gun appropriate for small mammals and birds in a 200 yd range that is fox capable in that capacity, then you're going to be very happy with it.

 

Thanks

Rick

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I agree with you. But we are talking about fox with the little 17. The 17 isn't an Authoratative cartridge on fox at most any range no matter the bullet. It is more than enough for killing fox out past 150 yards. But it isn't a bang flop cartridge like even a 204 or 22 hornet would be in the same conditions.

 

The main thing when looking at a 17 is expectations. If you buy one expecting it to be a 300 yard capable death laser on anything that moves, then you'll be sorely disappointed. If you go in with the expectation that is is a nice walking around gun appropriate for small mammals and birds in a 200 yd range that is fox capable in that capacity, then you're going to be very happy with it.

 

Thanks

Rick

Ah, the "hornet in any guise" threw me.

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I agree with you. But we are talking about fox with the little 17. The 17 isn't an Authoratative cartridge on fox at most any range no matter the bullet. It is more than enough for killing fox out past 150 yards. But it isn't a bang flop cartridge like even a 204 or 22 hornet would be in the same conditions.

 

The main thing when looking at a 17 is expectations. If you buy one expecting it to be a 300 yard capable death laser on anything that moves, then you'll be sorely disappointed. If you go in with the expectation that is is a nice walking around gun appropriate for small mammals and birds in a 200 yd range that is fox capable in that capacity, then you're going to be very happy with it.

 

Thanks

Rick

With respect, the op mentions crows at the long distance.
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As above. I do not intend shooting foxes at long range with a .17 Hornet. I have my .243 for that, and then only up to 200 yards. The .17 Hornet will be used for all corvids on the ground.

 

 

The problem is with a cabinet of rifles its the fox that appears unexpectedly when you are after smaller things. ie you dont always have the most suitable weapon to hand.

 

My 20BR will take anything I point it at, 96% first shot K to C ratio on foxes out to around 300 yards since new. Most are shoulder shots, 50gr Berger and 39gr SBK for the closer ones. Down side is its weight, 14 lbs. To old to cart that around on a sling, the CZ527 in 17AH is much preferable when walking with it. Takes me back to my rabbit stalking days with air rifles and 22LR.

 

A

Edited by Alycidon
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The problem is with a cabinet of rifles its the fox that appears unexpectedly when you are after smaller things. ie you dont always have the most suitable weapon to hand.

 

My 20BR will take anything I point it at, 96% first shot K to C ratio on foxes out to around 300 yards since new. Most are shoulder shots, 50gr Berger and 39gr SBK for the closer ones. Down side is its weight, 14 lbs. To old to cart that around on a sling, the CZ527 in 17AH is much preferable when walking with it. Takes me back to my rabbit stalking days with air rifles and 22LR.

 

A

I agree. Many times I've been out after Corvids with my shotgun, and a fox is seen at around 100 yards, and also when out with the rifle, a load of Crows/Jackdaws fly close to where I am. Sod's law.

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The problem is with a cabinet of rifles its the fox that appears unexpectedly when you are after smaller things. ie you dont always have the most suitable weapon to hand.

 

My 20BR will take anything I point it at, 96% first shot K to C ratio on foxes out to around 300 yards since new. Most are shoulder shots, 50gr Berger and 39gr SBK for the closer ones. Down side is its weight, 14 lbs. To old to cart that around on a sling, the CZ527 in 17AH is much preferable when walking with it. Takes me back to my rabbit stalking days with air rifles and 22LR.

 

A

same reason I built my 17ah ive land which I like to walk and I built it to be small and light and to punch out to a decent range.

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It could do with it :lol:

 

Ive been toying with the idea of going 17 cf. I am getting that feeling every time I take the HMR out its going to get a blockage, I lost count the amount of times ive ended up in the local a couple of hrs early because there is a little v max an inch up the barrel. I now take the cleaning rod out with me, thats "IF" i take the HMR that is.

If i did I would go the whole hog and get the 17 Rem. I dont know :hmm:

Edited by Dougy
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It could do with it :lol:

 

Ive been toying with the idea of going 17 cf. I am getting that feeling every time I take the HMR out its going to get a blockage, I lost count the amount of times ive ended up in the local a couple of hrs early because there is a little v max an inch up the barrel. I now take the cleaning rod out with me, thats "IF" i take the HMR that is.

If i did I would go the whole hog and get the 17 Rem. I dont know :hmm:

I tried a hmr once at a range, bought 50 rds even. Decided then it was designed for a windless planet with ferocious mice!

Hornady would of been better of redoing the velodog case and necked it to 17 and stuck to 25grn bullets!

U.

Edited by Underdog
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its a nice little round, or i should say was, compared to the 22lr bullet for bullet and manufactured number of rounds by the millions and saying that there are more 22lr rounds popped out per minute, i think the standard of HMR ammo has deteriorated since i first had my HMR. You don't hear of many 22lr rounds failing, or at least I haven't . I will have a look at that one UD its a tad before my time. I'm just a young boy :lol:

 

 

Yes way before my time :lol:

Edited by Dougy
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its a nice little round, or i should say was, compared to the 22lr bullet for bullet and manufactured number of rounds by the millions and saying that there are more 22lr rounds popped out per minute, i think the standard of HMR ammo has deteriorated since i first had my HMR. You don't hear of many 22lr rounds failing, or at least I haven't . I will have a look at that one UD its a tad before my time. I'm just a young boy :lol:

 

 

Yes way before my time :lol:

Hang on sunshine, I wanna about in its hay day either!

:-(

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You don't mention the rubber mallet sparkie ?

 

Have you modified it since I was out with you :lol:

i have a lead bar mounted to the bolt now.....polished it up abit found it doesnt like crud and if the cases get eat up a bit on the lip it can cause issues with it....so weed them out n clean them up to.

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Regular shooting at 300 yards with light wind would preclude the hornet for me. It is a 200 yard gun for most shooting in the UK. If your goal is a 300 yard tack driver then the 204 is where i would play. The 39 gr bk at 3600/3700 is going to be a far sight better than the 20 gr vmax at the same speed.

 

Rick

 

Already posted my comments on this issue.

 

A

Edited by Alycidon
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