Any 17 hornet shooters out there
 

Well as much as I dislike the look of the savage model 25's i found a new one in 17 hornet for just about half price and have been wanting to try this little cartridge out.

Just looking for real world experience on yotes and reloading combos you guys are liking ive shot a number in the past with an hmr so realize the limitations of the 17 cal but am thinking the hornet will be a nice little close range pelt saver. I primarily use a 22-250 and 223 and own a 204 as well but this little cartridge has been an itch for a while im excited to play around

My next purchase for sure.

I've shot about half a dozen coyotes with a 17 hornet. One little entrance hole, and I've never seen an exit. I've used the hornady 20 gr vmax. If you hit any vitals, lungs, etc., it's a dead dog. I've used a rangefinder to check, and have killed yotes at 278 yards first shot.

Only negative I've noticed is lack of a blood trail if you have to track one down. Not enough hole to leave any kind of a blood trail. In fact, you're lucky to get more than a few drops outside of the yote, and if there's any kind of heavy fur, the fur will absorb the blood.

Using a CZ 527 american with a Swarovski 4-12 brh for reference. Have to do a good cleaning about every 200 rounds, or accuracy degrades.

Well ran a few rounds after work just off my deck at a 50yd target function was good and after sight in put 4 under a 1/2" off a crude rest than rang a steel gong i have at 200yds so looks good so far will give it a better shoot and evaluation when i have more time at 100-200yds and try the 20g vmax i bought this was done tonight with 15.5g ntx.
Most notably i cant believe how queit this round is im sure my 22mag is louder and best of all this model 25 savage is so ugly nobody will want to borrow it on me haha

I haven't used the cartridge on coyotes, but for loads, I have had good luck with n120 and Lil Gun with the 20gr v-max. Accuracy is compareable with both at 1/2" at 100 yards for five shots, but about 200fps more velocity with Lil Gun.

That was the combo im planning to load lilgun and 20gvmax just waiting for my dies to show up. I picked up 50 rds factory 15.5gntx cheaper than i could buy brass and 50 of the 20g vmax for close to as cheap so im gonna burn them up then start loading.
What primers have you been using

Just a heads up, the Hodgdons online data lists the Lil Gun loads as 9.6 to 10gr. . I am shooting 9.5 gr and am seeing 3680fps, so I see that as the maximum load for my rifle. Some people tried to reach 10gr and were blowing primers. I use the Remington #7-1/2 primer.

Thanks for the warning that was the only lil gun loading source i had guess i will watch the chrono on load development. I have a ton of br-4 primers im gonna try. What are you seeing for brass life ive read it can be limited

I only have a few firings on the cases, no issues yet.

A good varmint round forsure. Just hit them right.

17 Hornet
 

I have a Savage 25 and did some load development this summer. The best I found was with 9.7 gr of Lil'gun with the 20 gr vmax. It was running 3750. No issues with brass yet but only 3 firings.

I acquired some accurate 1680 but haven't had a chance to try it out yet.

Also just got a CZ 527 so have some more testing to do in the spring.

I will most likely end up with a cz if the cartridge grows on me

jamescalhoon.com makes the .19 Hornet just a zinger of a cartridge and years ahead of Hornady. would be nice if someone did a .20 hornet.

I'm following this with interest, as I asked the same questions myself so many times that I finally ordered a 527 Varmint in 17 Hornet myself! Only got it last week, THEN remembered I hadn't considered rings. lol So, mine won't see any action for a while yet.

Curious to know (from the hand loaders) what powders are considered the best for 17 Hornet, whether or not CCI BR4 (my preferred for .223) is a good choice for a primer, etc. Most of what I have for powders are geared for .204/.223/.243...I've never owned a Hornet. From what I gather, you don't want powders on the faster end of the spectrum.

Not trying to hijack the thread, I think the questions are in line... :)

...and dies too. :) I've read a bit about "bushing" dies but have no experience with them. Recommended for 17 Hornet? My only experience is with FL sizing dies.

I've been using WC735 for powder. I doubt that will help you as last I checked, it's not available. It's kinda in the middle of H322 and H335. I just jamb the case full. Use rem 7.5 primers.

I'm still shooting up the factory ammo I bought as at the time, buying loaded rounds was cheaper then buying unloaded cases by 2 cents a case.

Once I get through the factory ammo, I'll go back to reloading. The reloads shot to a different point, but the group was under an inch at 100 yards.

As for brass life (and a lot of others don't like me saying it), I found that taking spray on lithium grease, and spraying it a rag, and wiping the case with the rage greatly extended the case life. Took 6 random brass. First I fired 3 with full loads till the cases were getting dangerous. 7 shots. Then I lubed the cases, and fired them till they failed. 35 shots. The unlubed cases had case head separation. The lubed cases showed no case head separation, but cracked necks. I wonder how much further the lubed cases would have gone if the necks had been regularly annealed, say every 5 shots. Even after 35 shots, the primer pockets were still tight.

I thing I may still have the cases, but I never sawed them in half. Just checked with a bent wire.

I have a theory about what causes loose primer pockets and case head separation, but I can't prove it at this point.

I just ordered some hornady FL dies, 20g vmax and 20g varmagedon, and some lil gun powder I too use br4 for my 223 thats why i hope they work well but most of what i read suggests rem primers.
Ill burn up the 100rds of factory first anyway.
Hogdon data on cfe blk looks good too might try that if lil gun isnt the answer in my gun

I intend to try some cfe blk myself next spring. The Armageddon are just v-max with different colored tips, and the 500 box was actually cheaper than the v-max.

Good to know guess i have lots of vmax then lol oh well seems to be the way to go anyway

17 hornet
 

Are the Varmagedden not made by Nosler?

You are correct, the Zombiemax are the same as the v-max.

Well got some shooting in seen some dangerous pressure with factory 15.5g ntx superformance even had a primer leak they shot very well though. Stopped using them pulling bullets to save brass switched to factory superformance 20g vmax pressure signs drastically reduced with it and to my delight shot one 1/2" 3 shot followed by an 8shot string that was just over 3/4" both 100yds followed by a 3 shot group at 290yds that measured 1 3/8" cant wait to see what reloads produce for me even though after seeing factory do that well i may just stick to it lol
Probably not i have a hard time leaving well enough alone