Sell 17 hmr and go for hornet

Comparing 17 or 22 hornet to any 20 cal even mild home loads doing pedestrian velocity will out perform both or even a 223 could be downloaded to 22 hornet home loads for similar performance - if performance is deciding factor. Generally .17, .204 and light .223/4 bullets cost about the same like for like quality and 100 bullets equal to 100 rounds of .17HMR.
 
Hornet is a really good all rounder for rabbits or foxes, I've had one for many years, I have a slot for hornet in .17, hard job is finding one

22 hornet wont let you down
 
I am relieved (and even quite pleased) at the general good sense displayed by my fellow respondents on this worthy thread. Most appear to agree that it is really a "Horses for courses" affair and each caliber and chambering here has its RIGHTFUL place in the scheme of things, dependant on the rabbit/fox ratio on one's shoot and the ranges at which these two target species regularly present. I have even used my .22K-H on the very occasional and opportune Munty, though that is quite rare. But it kills quickly and with some authority when ranges are close and P.O.I. carefully selected.

I am guessing there are those that have done similarly with a .17HMR but you wouldn't get me trusting such a light weight, frangible round at close quarters and CERTAINLY not at any range where I just might take on a fox if I thought the shot ethical(??).

All things taken into consideration I believe it would be difficult to disprove the slightly better overall abilities of the .22H (or .22KH slightly more so) over the .17HMR. I have and often use my .17Rem c/f with 20gr V-Max over CFE 223 propellant at a MEASURED 4450fps average velocity give or take about 30fps or so and it is truly devastating on rabbit and fox out to 250yds and beyond so this makes a great foxing round at night as my lamp, though pretty powerful, only really gives me about 150 yds or so of clear identification level illumination - with the eyes shine-back WAAAY more distant than that. However, my .22KH tends to be my goto rifle given the ranging limitations at night, and I am perfectly happy with that!..

ATB ....... and shoot safely
 
17 Hornet has been fantastic for me, recently considered selling but got rid of .243 instead. Last outing saw me nailing rats around a sprawling Farmyard, then dropping a fox right out near 200m. As long as its not windy, its a very accurate and powerful round. Loading my own with Viht N120 I get 10 reloads out of a case on average, gave up using Lil gun powder as it battered the cases. Nosler bullets are cheaper than Vmax and do the same job. Cant comment on .22 Hornet as not used one.
 
Typically they shoot 32-40 grain but I am sure there are other options available either side.

I have to admit to a really strong urge to put a 204 Ruger on my ticket and rifle in my cabinet! On paper that round would seem to be the answer to the unspoken prayer for something that pretty much covers BOTH sides of the discussion here, only possibly better than either!!.. Definitely my next buy methinks, but if my above premise is anywhere near correct, I will then have not one but TWO virtually 'redundant' rifles in my cabinet, which will irk me considerably!!.. Heyho! Upwards & Onwards... maybe? 😜🤔😎

ATB ...... and shoot safely
 
Well take a look on here Bobby18 has a tikka T3 lite .204 for sale at a fair price. I was thinking it would make a nice donor but too good and too much for that. Worth a look. Easy to carry but will notice recoil more. It will shoot well enough out of 20" barrel but will need moderator. Accuracy should be right on being a tikka depending on round count.
Tikka 216 - it might be worth asking about barrel length and velocity of contributors to your post re 17/22 hornet. If you have a preference for short or long (moderated or not) as it could influence on a decision. Also mentioned lack of rifle choice in these 2 calibres worth investigating.
 
Well take a look on here Bobby18 has a tikka T3 lite .204 for sale at a fair price. I was thinking it would make a nice donor but too good and too much for that. Worth a look. Easy to carry but will notice recoil more. It will shoot well enough out of 20" barrel but will need moderator. Accuracy should be right on being a tikka depending on round count.
Tikka 216 - it might be worth asking about barrel length and velocity of contributors to your post re 17/22 hornet. If you have a preference for short or long (moderated or not) as it could influence on a decision. Also mentioned lack of rifle choice in these 2 calibres worth investigating.

Thank you for the pointer here 'sc7', but were I to batter my bank account for that much considered/wanted/needed(??) .204R it would have to have a barrel length of AT LEAST 24", preferably 26", so perhaps it will have to be a 'worked on' non-basic unit... There MAY be 26" barreled rifles that are made commercially, but honestly I haven't seen any as yet... Anyone???

Kind Regards,
B .......
 
My custom sako75 204ruger has a 1-10 twist and 22" barrel. Never been disappointed in its performance. Its fitted with a cqb jetz, so didn't want thd gun too long.
 
So really the 22 hornet and 204 are very cheap to run and both have good distance and stopping power

Yes... Well in part anyway. The .22H uses literally half the powder (and of different type - slower to start with) than the .204R. The power of the two aren't really that comparable either, with the .204R outstepping the .22H by quite a margin, say around 1,000fps as a guideline guesstimate given similar bullet weights of 40gr. HomeLoading is the way to go for "cheapness" though, no matter which rounds you take afield imho..

ATB ...... and shoot safely
 
My custom sako75 204ruger has a 1-10 twist and 22" barrel. Never been disappointed in its performance. Its fitted with a cqb jetz, so didn't want thd gun too long.

Yes and I think/feel that a 22" barrel would be minimal for me to consider here and be happy with it "prowler"... Relatively light projectile weight coupled with high/hyper(?) velocity will always be quite critical of barrel length to get the job done efficiently, with an inch meaning a loss/gain of around 100fps as a rough rule of thumb...
 
My custom 204Ruger has a 23-inch barrel 1-10 and shoots extremely well.

Yes, this particular round - bit like the .22HornetI & the .257Roberts I believe - is one of those 'special' ones that have some kind of inherent accuracy potential endowment right out of the box, and that will likely be irrespective of barrel lengths. Yours as I mentioned above has the length that I would consider to be the start of tube lengths that will give up something of the potential this caliber & chambering are able and renowned for. Personally - and bear in mind THIS IS MY OWN PARTICULAR 'BENT' - I would go for as long as I could get from a reputable rifle make/maker within sensible limits of course.... As mentioned previously by me that barrel length would be in the order of 24"->26" perhaps even up to 28" if I knew I wouldn't be carting the rifle around the countryside that much, to then provide me with the (possible) potential of impressive velocities this .204R chambering promises within the given range of useable bullet weights per twist rate...

This is a personal - perhaps mildly quirky trait - thing and something I have carried over into my other rifles as much as possible where I had even a small element of control available to me to use..

For example my recently rebarreled (cos I shot it out!!) .17Rem c/f Sako Vixen sports a special medium heavy 26" stainless sporter barrel finished in matt black. Shoots lovely and gives me back a MEASURED 4,450 fps average velocity for the CFE 223 powered 20gr. V-Max projectiles I reload it with!!..
Magic mix I can assure you Mr. Keeper Sir!.. 😋[emoji1360][emoji482]

ATB ...... and shoot safely.
 
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Yep, 204's are great. 22H uses much less powder, though. Love my CZ527 204 Varmint.

It's a 25" barrel. I'm using the high-BC 39gr Sierra Blitzkings and Vhit N530. Chrono'd over the weekend at an average of 3,805fps. She's a beauty. My favourite rifle is my 22H, though. It has an understated quality about it.
 
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