mick miller Posted March 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 Primer ChoiceThe only real surprise I have found with this caliber is with the primers. Initially, I bought into the idea of mild primers being best for such small charges of powder. As I experimented, however, I found that hotter primers such as the CCI BR-4, Federal 205, and Remington 7.5BR shot better and provided more consistent internal ballistics. http://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/gun-shots/17-hornet-powders-and-primers-reloading and.. ...Slight overcharges will probably cause leaking primers, so it’s a good idea to err on the cautious side. Also, thick cup primers such as the Remington 7-1/2 and CCI 450 should be used exclusively. Since 1972 all CCI 400 and 450 primers have been made with .023” cups and while the hotter 450 Magnum primer is not needed to ignite the small powder charges in the .17 Hornet I thought its extra brisance worthwhile to ignite heavily compressed charges. Standard small-rifle primers are likely to pierce or “biscuit cut” the firing pin indent. http://www.sportingshootermag.com.au/news/reloading-the-17-hornet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euget123 Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 Live and learn! Thanks Mick, will maybe pick up some 450's to try. ET Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted March 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 That's what I planned to use. BR4's are twice the price! Yes, they may be really, really, consistent; frankly I'm not sure the rabbit will appreciate the extra expense! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euget123 Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 Yea your right, I tend to be a minute of bunny man! Ultra tiny groups are not the goal! Still enjoy experimenting so might give them a run anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted March 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 450s are reasonable, so likely what I'll start with unless there are any better suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telf Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 mick you have pm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casts_by_fly Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 I shoot 7 1/2 Rems for the safety factor. 17's can spike pressure and I shoot a break barrel where the action is right next to my eye with no pressure release anywhere but towards my face. Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted March 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 So, CCI 450s would be a good alternative in your opinion? I can get the 450s easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted March 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 Quick update. I'm going to give the VV n120 a go first - if it works out to be unsatisfactory I can always sell it onto one of my mates and then give the AA1680 a go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treetop Posted March 15, 2016 Report Share Posted March 15, 2016 Ive contacted a friend who can make the ' tween dies' to neck down the brass He has quoted me a rough cost of £ 45 - 30 , depending on numbers made.. Is there anyone else who would be interested ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted March 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 Oh, good price. A month ago I would have taken your hand off, but I've since found that Redding now make a form and trim die for 22 to 17 hornet. Guess what I bought? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treetop Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 I did not know that ... How much are they ? Or can you give me a link ? Thanks Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casts_by_fly Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 treetop, You won't need form dies. Take the bullet seater out of your seating die and run a piece of 22 brass through it. That will get you most of the way there. Then run it through the sizer to set the shoulder and load it. As long as you set the sizer so that the shoulder is in the right place for your chamber, the case will fireform to the chamber. No need for an additional die. I think I've lost 3 of 200 hundred brass forming it this way and it was always too much lube. thanks, rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treetop Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 (edited) It didn't work in mine, I have the telescopic hornady seating die .. May have just been me .. Edited March 16, 2016 by treetop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 Hodgdon Lil'Gun is excellent powder. But it can be VERY variable batch to batch and pretty temperature sensitive, not really a powder for a novice reloader if that is indeed what the guy is. I use N120 in my 17AH which is a pretty similar caliber but a slightly longer case. Pathdocs info above is good but in my rifle I cannot go above 10.0gr without showing pressure signs, Just be very careful with this case, only increase your loads 0.1gr at a time. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted March 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 Will do, not a total novice but also no expert either. I've developed for two rifles only at this point. 243 (3 powders, 3 bullet weights) and 222 (single load, single powder). But yes, on review I decided 0.1gn may be a lengthy process, but a far safer approach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euget123 Posted April 27, 2016 Report Share Posted April 27, 2016 Quick update for anyone interested! AA1680(actually lovex do63 now) arrived yesterday! Loaded rounds last night starting at 10gr and moving up to 12.2 gr Nipped out thisevening to try them out, this is definitly the best powder so far. Ended up with first signs of pressure at 12 grains(bolt geting a bit sticky) for 3700fps! So stopped there! Set up the targets and tried a few more running from 11.4 to 11.8! Of these the 11.6 shot the best, although the wind was strong so will do some more testing to confirm! Load for now 20 gr Vmax 11.6 grains @ 1.720 OAL Running at 3550 fps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted April 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2016 How did it compare to Viht N120? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euget123 Posted April 28, 2016 Report Share Posted April 28, 2016 Never tryed the 120 myself mate! By all accounts there pretty close! Ive enough 1680 to do me a long time!so il stick to it just a bit of further refinement and maybe try a few different primers! ET Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted April 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2016 I went for the 120 in the end as it was, allegedly, cleaner burning but I'm interested to see what the comparison will be. At the moment I'm still fire forming brass. I want around 500 formed before starting the load development. And CCI 450 primers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treetop Posted April 28, 2016 Report Share Posted April 28, 2016 I use :- 10.6 gr IMR 4227 20 gr vmax Federal Primers COL - 1.720 I get 3550fps & easy .5 MOA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euget123 Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 (edited) Keep us posted how the 120 turns out! Aye im more than happy with 3550fps could probably run it a bit faster but dont see the point! Had 7 rabbits today that wernt impressed! Are you hunting with your fireform loads mick?how do they shoot? Id heard the 1680 was dirty aswell but i thought it was very clean much better than the H110! Er Edited April 29, 2016 by Euget123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted April 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2016 (edited) Yes, hunting with the fire form loads, they're okay, the groups aren't terribly tight, around 1' at 100 yards. which is to be expected as the case simultaneously expands, jumps back at the neck and forms the shoulder whilst spitting a bullet but I've managed to shoot about 60 rabbits (and missed narrowly 5) at substantially better ranges than the HMR and flopped a fox at 115 yards no problem at all. The groups tend to be tight with the odd round opening up in either direction, so a five shot group can end up being a little wider than a two or three shot group. Speed is 3000 with 9.8gn and 3200 with 10gn, however with the faster fire forming load I got the occasional split on the shoulder. The formed cases look perfect though, and the annealer has worked brilliantly. Edited April 30, 2016 by mick miller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treetop Posted April 30, 2016 Report Share Posted April 30, 2016 Try different COL , I found I get a better group with 1.740 & 1.765 was good. There was a slight drop in fps but that is to be expected ( more room in case ) , careful tho, Check your head space / jump to lands... As if you sit them too deep in the throat the pressure will go up if it touches , About .10 to .20 is a good jump. But you may find your rifle is different. I am limited by mag size, as 1.765 is the longest I can get in a mag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted April 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2016 I'm pretty much on the limit of the mag as it is, to be honest I zeroed on quite a windy day, so that may have had something to do with it? I'm still waiting for a calm day to try again :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.