17 hornet hand loads

C

Clayton86

New member
Starting to get into hand loading(I know bad timing with things today) I got the hornady reloading kit months ago needing to start making ammo for my 20practical. Slowly getting set up for that and wanting to get set up for others I have mainly the 17hornet.

I grabbed some H4198 powder since I saw that in a few posts about loads for it. Any others I should keep an eye out for and snatch up I work at a sporting goods store and am usually the one to restock the powder when it comes in so I get first grabs at powder when it comes. I’ve also got H4895 for the 20practical that I could use for the 17h if needed.

Bullets I’m thinking the nosler varmageddon 20gr I’ve got factory loads of the 20gr vmax and they shoot great but not a fan of vmax I’ve had several splashes on fox. Granted it could happen with the 20gr noslers but not being plastic tipped might lower it some I’m not sure though.

Primers I’m stocked up on cci 400 small rifle another perk of stocking the shelf’s getting first grabs at stuff that comes in. I’ve read that primers can make a big difference with the 17h and certain powders just slim pickings right now.

Anything else I should look for mostly bullets I think will be the biggest thing to work on getting something that will work on fox and occasional coyote for when I take the hornet over my 20p or 243. Like I said I’m just getting into reloading mostly looking for something fur friendly for the hornet I’ll worry about the 243 and 308 later.
 
We reload for MANY different guns, brands, and calibers even shotguns. The boy lives and breaths his CZ 17 hornet K. It is his goto coyote gun. He has killed several hundred coyotes with it in the past 10 years. We have yet to find a better than factory load.
 
Yeah mines the cz527 this is my first season with it so far I’ve done 5 fox 1 coyote with it. One of the fox though was never recovered after two hits I’m sure was bad shooting on my part but 2 of the 4 recovered had bad splashes on the shoulder and ran 10-20 yards the one last night went a few hundred till we lost the trail when it went to a ditch by a apple orchard. The two and the coyote had no damage though and were DRT like struck by lightning. Some the spots we hunt I have to use the 17h or the 20p till deer ends since they’re shotgun only hunting county can’t use center fire unless smaller that .22. Even once deer ends I still stick with them since we call in a ton of fox and the 243 and fox is a no go
 
1680 is the powder for 17 AH.
I’ve killed a few coyotes with mine, but I would never consider it ideal for coyotes
 
Originally Posted By: LowerRiverI loved 1680 until I tried CFEBLK.

Same here and same for my hunting partner. 12.5 grains of that stuff and the 20 grain Vmax are the ticket for our guns.
 
Hope your luck is better than mine. Bought a Ruger 77/17, would not shoot anything, factory or reloads. Sent back to factory, they tweaked a few things that helped a little but still not satisfactory. Throwing the warranty aside I tore into it. After 35 years of part time gunsmithing I thought I could improve just about anything. It’s got to be a bad barrel. Sold my lathe when I retired so it’s going to cost me as much or more as I paid for it to have somebody rebarrel it for me. Some love them but it’s my last new Ruger rifle
 
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Originally Posted By: RustydustOriginally Posted By: LowerRiverI loved 1680 until I tried CFEBLK.

Same here and same for my hunting partner. 12.5 grains of that stuff and the 20 grain Vmax are the ticket for our guns.

RD, I've got a couple pounds of this stuff. Been using 12.2 of 1680 w/20gr Vmax and Rem 7 1/2's. How much better was BLK for you over 1680 and did you by chance run it across a chronograph?

Also, what length barrel are you putting back on your little HorNat and is it a PacNor or ???
 
Originally Posted By: B23Originally Posted By: RustydustOriginally Posted By: LowerRiverI loved 1680 until I tried CFEBLK.

Same here and same for my hunting partner. 12.5 grains of that stuff and the 20 grain Vmax are the ticket for our guns.

RD, I've got a couple pounds of this stuff. Been using 12.2 of 1680 w/20gr Vmax and Rem 7 1/2's. How much better was BLK for you over 1680 and did you by chance run it across a chronograph?

Also, what length barrel are you putting back on your little HorNat and is it a PacNor or ???

Hey Bry

I had great results with my AA 1680 too. 12.2 of it gave me wonderful accuracy in both the 20 grain Vmax and the 20 grain (no longer made, dang it) Berger. But a couple of years ago, and I dont remember why now, I tried the CFE BLK and found it to be on average at least as accurate. Speeds were good too. Around 3650 fps. Since I use that powder in my .221 I just figured what the heck just keep on with the .17 HH too.

Earlier this year when I noticed that my accuracy in the factory (CZ 527 Varmint) was not as good as it used to be when new I started thinking about a new tube for it. Found out that a Good Friend had a 24" Shilen barrel in .17 Rem FB that he would give me. Had perhaps 200 rounds down it. Free? Good start. Anyway, he lopped off about 4" off the chamber end and sent it to me. I took it to a gunsmith not far from where I live and he chambered it, threaded it and installed it. It is a bit heavier than the factory barrel but hey- I am retired so I had time to whittle on the stock for a while so it would fit. I lost about 100 fps speed but as far is it sends a squirrel flying I cannot tell any difference there.

Oh, and the chamber is much tighter now than with the factory barrel. I hope that this results in much longer brass life too. I plan to find out come springtime. I've got lots of brass but sure would like to get a lot more than 3-4 loadings out of it.
 
Originally Posted By: FrankmRD, do you F/L your brass? I neck size mine as long as they chamber with light resistance and brass lasts much longer.

Good question!

My gunsmith cut the chamber on my new barrel pretty tight. Even factory loads take a tiny bit of pressure to close the bolt now. So since my brass is getting worked less I don't have size it as much. So a few days ago I de-capped (no sizing ball) 45 rounds of brass, sized the necks enough to firmly hold the bullet, and seated some 20 and 25 grain bullets just shy of rifling. The bolt will close OK on the rounds but now need just a skooch of pressure to close the bolt. Not much but a bit. Tomorrow they are calling for low to mid 50's (pretty good for Idaho in late December) so I will be heading off to the range to see how they do. Fingers crossed that they will all group well as I am tired of my brass only lasting 3-4 (if that) reloads.
 
I am getting great results in my Savage M25 with the following
25grn Vmax with 12.2 of H322
15.5grn NTX with 9.3 of W296
Factory Hornady 20grn Vmax
All seated at 1.715 COAL with a CCI SRP

I just got 2 pounds of CFEBLK so I will be testing it with 20grn Nosler Varmageddon and 15.5NTX as well.
 
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Sorry for late post. I've been away for awhile. I bought my 17HH CZ Varmeter years ago because I wanted a little bit more then the 22mag. which worked well, but like I said I wanted to reach out to around 200yds or so. As a night hunter shots are usually less. When I bought mine I could only get Factory 20gr.Vmax. The first Predator that came in was a coyote. He stopped at 120yds, straight on. At the crack of the rifle he dropped right there without a twitch. My round hit him 1/2 inch to the left center chest, traveled 17 inches thru him and blew 1 1/2 inch hole out the other side well as happy as I was with its performance, I was not happy about the hole. I Joined Foxpro Forum and felt someone might steer me in the right direction. I found that the majority did not consider the 17 Hornet to be adequate for coyotes and that it blew fox apart. Well I manage to get some Hornady 25gr HP. But then I had to buy reloading stuff and learn. Well there's a guy on here name ERIC. I watched all his videos and read all his post. Since then I have tested the destructiveness of Factory 20gr.Vmax, Factory Hornady 25gr.HP and Hornady 25gr.HP. I have killed Rabbits, Red and Grey foxes and coyotes. To date I have never had a spinner nor runner. My largest coyote was 53lbs dropped where he stood a little over 180yds behind the shoulder shot. My farthest coyote was 235yds straight on dropped where she stood. I have killed foxes from 25yds out to 175yds. My pet load is Accurate 2200 11.5 grs. I use Rem, 7 1/2 primers 2950 fps. I have never had any fur damage. The bullet goes in and violently expands and expends all its energy. Death is right there. If its windy 12mph and above or if I'm strictly hunting coyotes and shots could range past 200yds. I will use factory 25gr HP. After years of killing with this little bullet and preforming Necropsy on these animals. I will say this the 17 Hornet with the right bullet place in the vitals is lethal as it gets. To all the naysayers you don't know what your talking about. One last thing chronograph your reloads and use Hornady ballistic calculator.
 
Originally Posted By: Fur TakerSorry for late post. I've been away for awhile. I bought my 17HH CZ Varmeter years ago because I wanted a little bit more then the 22mag. which worked well, but like I said I wanted to reach out to around 200yds or so. As a night hunter shots are usually less. When I bought mine I could only get Factory 20gr.Vmax. The first Predator that came in was a coyote. He stopped at 120yds, straight on. At the crack of the rifle he dropped right there without a twitch. My round hit him 1/2 inch to the left center chest, traveled 17 inches thru him and blew 1 1/2 inch hole out the other side well as happy as I was with its performance, I was not happy about the hole. I Joined Foxpro Forum and felt someone might steer me in the right direction. I found that the majority did not consider the 17 Hornet to be adequate for coyotes and that it blew fox apart. Well I manage to get some Hornady 25gr HP. But then I had to buy reloading stuff and learn. Well there's a guy on here name ERIC. I watched all his videos and read all his post. Since then I have tested the destructiveness of Factory 20gr.Vmax, Factory Hornady 25gr.HP and Hornady 25gr.HP. I have killed Rabbits, Red and Grey foxes and coyotes. To date I have never had a spinner nor runner. My largest coyote was 53lbs dropped where he stood a little over 180yds behind the shoulder shot. My farthest coyote was 235yds straight on dropped where she stood. I have killed foxes from 25yds out to 175yds. My pet load is Accurate 2200 11.5 grs. I use Rem, 7 1/2 primers 2950 fps. I have never had any fur damage. The bullet goes in and violently expands and expends all its energy. Death is right there. If its windy 12mph and above or if I'm strictly hunting coyotes and shots could range past 200yds. I will use factory 25gr HP. After years of killing with this little bullet and preforming Necropsy on these animals. I will say this the 17 Hornet with the right bullet place in the vitals is lethal as it gets. To all the naysayers you don't know what your talking about. One last thing chronograph your reloads and use Hornady ballistic calculator.

I got my dies and 500 of the hornady 25gr HPs Friday and my bench is all set now gonna start working up a load probably this week.
 


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