I purchased my Ruger 77/17 in Dec 2012 and have some experience with Factory Ammo and Handloads.
Reference factory ammo, it performs as published with a 17 caliber 20 grain VMAX bullet running 3500 FPS over my CED M2 chronograph.
Trajectory of the factory ammo is as published and it mirrors the trajectory of the .223/5.56 55 grain round (sighted 1 inch high at 100 yards, it's dead on at 200 and six inches low at 300).
Accuracy with factory ammo has been outstanding and it's easy to get groups of a half inch or less at 100 yards.
Terminal effect of the factory ammo on jackrabbits is as expected and a properly placed bullet inside 200 yards will knock their heads smooth off.
Handloads with Hornady 20 grain ZMAX bullets and Hodgdon Lil Gun perform similarly with groups at 100 yards running a tad larger at .75". Terminal performance and velocity are equal to factory loads.
With respect to handloads in the 17 Hornet, caution need be exercised when working up loads.
I found 1/10th of a grain increases in powder charges (above a certian point) led to sticky extraction and signs of high pressure.
With regards to the Ruger 77/17 (the rifle itself), I will be honest, it had to go back to Ruger immediately after I got it home. Upon initial firing with factory ammo, the bolt would seize and it required tapping open with a small brass hammer.
The trigger was horrifyingly stiff as well and identified it as such and upon return to Ruger they sorted it out to an acceptable weight of pull and had it back to me in about 2 weeks.
The rifle is exceptionally handsome and shoots extremely well.
That said, the rifle is exceptionally expensive (if you can find one) and Factory ammo is hard to find an expensive as well.
With all that said, I like mine.
It was disappointing to get it home and have to ship it straight back to Ruger but they paid the freight and sorted out all it's issues and at the end of it all I have no complaints.
To date I haven't killed anything larger than jackrabbits with it but I hope to take fox and bobcat with it in the fall.