Hornady .17 Hornet

[Joe Vaquero]

Just got my latest issue of American Rifleman and the outside of the back cove is an advert for Hornady .17 Hornet ammo. Shoots a 20gr v-max at 3650 fps, is a necked down .22 Hornet. Someone tell me about it...who chambers rifles for it? How long has it been out?
Ad claims "deadly on varmints out to 300 yards"..

 

[rule303]

I just got the 2012 Savage dealer catalog, and they list the model 25 being available in .17 Hornet. Sounds neat, looks like a pain to reload though.

 

[Float Pilot]

I was looking at that too. But ever since they came out with Lil Gun powder I am shooting 34 grain HP bullets from my 22 Hornet at over 3,100 fps.
So I was wondering if the tiny 17 caliber, along with problems of wind drift and new cleaning rods would really be worth it...???

From a Ruger M-77 22 Hornet

34 grain HP Dog Town bullet
13.0gr Lil Gun
WW brass “Virgin”
CCI-SR
1.798 col
NO CRIMP
Vel= 3,182-3,171-3,141-3,156-3,133
0.450 in grp. At 100 yards

40gr V-Max
13.0gr Lil' Gun
WW virgin brass
CCI-500
1.804 col o crimp
Vel=3,144 fps and a 1.0 inch group (book load, but shoots much faster than other bullets)

45gr Speer "Hornet" soft point
12.0gr Lil' Gun
WW virgin brass
CCI-500
1.766 col no crimp
Vel= 2,835 fps and a 0.85 inch group


50 grain Speer TNT HP
12.0gr Lil Gun
WW brass “virgin”
CCI-SR
1.802 col
roll crimp
Vel = 2,845 fps
0.90 inch group at 100 yards

 

[Abel]

Looks great! I will hopefully be able to help this new cartridge reach its market potential.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

don't forget .204 Ruger either

 

[Rancho Relaxo]

If CZ chambers for it, I'll get one!

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

just another unneeded caliber that other calibers will do the job for. oh well, if you got the money to spend on a oddball caliber, here it is.

 

[Gordon]

I ordered a Bullberry 21" barrel for a Contender. They told me it is basically a .17 Ackley Hornet but a little less "Improved" . Thus you CAN fire the new round in a .17 Ackley Hornet gun. In my 26" barrel .17 Ackley Hornet Martini I have been getting 3500 fps for years with 25 Grain pills. This is a great , relatively quiet (about like a hotter .22MRF) 250 yard varminter, a whole big notch above the .17 HMR BTW. Little Gun certainly gets the best velocity, allthough Wincher 296 and 2400 or 4227 do well also. Yes you need a special cleaning rod, heck you can use it on your pellet rifles too!

 

[baronthered]

I love my .17 hmr... After I get my AR this will possibly be the next rifle.

 

[bracer]

A 17 Hornet rifle will fit in with my 17 HM2, 17 HMR, 17 Fireball, and 17 Rem rifles. I dont need any more firearms but its fun for me to try out new cartridges on prairie dogs.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I see a brite future for the cartridge. Like with the .17HMR, timing is everything.

With the current cost of commodities, (lead, copper, oil) a rifle with the impressive ballitstics is has (think reloadable .17hmr on steroids), I think it's the right cartridge at the right time. It will cost 1/2 to 1/3 as much as shooting a .17HMR due to available bulk bullets from MidwayUSA, MidsouthShooterSupply, and others.

I'll be getting a rifle barrel for my Contender w/o a doubt. Dies too, once they are economicaly available. May also be a good time to rebarrel the 77/22 Hornet.

 

[JohnM]

just another unneeded caliber that other calibers will do the job for

Maybe so, but the same thing can be said for a lot of stuff.
How many 30 calibers, how many 22 calibers?
Most of us probably have any number of calibers in several flavors.

I think it sounds like an interesting new round that could be a lot of fun.
I'm anxious to see what other makers will offer rifles in it.

 

[Walkalong]

Shoots a 20gr v-max at 3650 fps, is a necked down .22 Hornet

Very interesting.

 

[LoonWulf]

I want one kinda, i already have all the cleaning gear for my .17m2/.17hmr, so all id have to add would be dies bullets and powder

Do we need it, no probably not, but that can be said for 90+ percent of all rounds available.

 

[Fat_46]

Last season was my first with a .204. MUCHO fun on prairie dogs! That being said - I like the idea of a reloadable 17. Unfortunately, all of my possible donor actions are long. If I happen into a short action through luck or trade I'll strongly consider this round for my daughter's first varmint rifle. You know - the one dad "borrows" on a regular basis!