17hmr vs......

[Dazza9t9]

Good afternoon all.

I hope everyone is well and being safe during these strange times.

during lock down I have finally pulled my finger out and started reloading, my first attempt with my 243.
while I am muddling my way through, I am enjoying it. This got me thinking about reloading others, however I only have the 243 which is reloadable.

I have a 22lr for close range (which I love)
17hmr
243 (which I love)

I have lost some confidence in the 17hmr, maybe I need to use it more. But the amount of issues I have read. I also get a lot of split necks which also worries me (the bullets I have are a few years old)

so this got me thinking about swapping it out for a reloadable alternative.
The rifle is for vermin at longer distances which the 22lr won’t cope with.

i was looking at the 17 hornet, these look fantastic But the rifles seem pricy.
A good friend recommended a 204, but once I started reading a lot of threads recommend a 223 with a 40gr (Cheaper rifles and loads of brass), I do have a soft spot for a 223, but I was looking for something to replace the hmr

Reloading is a consideration now I’ve got all the kit. I’ve not looking in cost and price as of yet.

Or should I give the hmr a bit more of a Chance

maybe worth noting I do have 2 spare slots,

I am interested in what people’s thoughts are and what fits into my safe to cover different situations

Thanks in advance

 

[Sakoodin1]

I had a hmr and after split cases and bullets getting lodged up the barrel I got rid of it as it was a accident waiting to happen!!!!great little calibre but I totally went off it,so I wanted something for plinking crows and rabbits at 20-250 yards that was fast and flat and as I had a .222 anyway I just fancied a change so I bought the .17 hornet and 2000 rounds of hornady 20 grn vmax and I’m about 1000 shots in now and I have to say I love it!!!its a cz varmint barrel with a cheap sidewinder on top and it’s just amazes me everytime I take it out!!!i can shoot crows and rabbits etc at 200 yards for fun and it’s my spring/lambing time early morning rifle round the lambing fields.others may suggest different calibres but I must say in my eyes this is a winner for me and I sold my .222 as it was redundant as I have all my go to calibres now with the .22rf+.17hornet+22.250+.243+.25.06+6.5-284+7mm rem mag.

 

[Fursty Ferret]

I feel you frustration with the hmr.....despite some improvements with ammo quality recently it just isnt the round that it used to be.....simples.
However, it still firmly has its place in my cabinet as a rabbit rifle.
Depends what your "long range vermin" consists of. If you have foxes in mind then a hornet or a 22 centerfire would be a better option to have instead/as well as. But you already have a .243 for that.
A hornet is a scratch I will have to itch at some point myself!

 

[Roestalker39]

.222

 

[mealiejimmy]

I understand your frustration with the HMR. I had 2 of them (CZ and Weihrauch) and both were lovely rifles, but the inconsistency with every type of ammo I tried eventually forced me to get rid of them
After a lot of research I decided that the 22 Hornet is the way to go, and it's a decision I've never regretted
I now have a CZ527 with a single set trigger and I really enjoy shooting it.
It's cheap and easy to reload for (can be cheaper than buying HMR)
It's a very accurate 200 yard rabbit rifle and a 150 yard fox rifle
17 Hornet is maybe more sexy than the 22 hornet, but the 17 is not an easy cartridge to reload.
With the 22 hornet, you just fill the case with Lil Gun powder and seat the bullet.

Cheers

Bruce

 

[Dazza9t9]

Thank you for the input. I am glad it’s not just me with with issues with the hmr, don’t get me wrong I love the rifle cz452, and I have not had any issues. But I just worry after all the issues I have read.

after dipping my toe in reloading, I do fancy something else I can reload.

I will have a look at the 22 hornet too.

I’m looking for something a bit more than the 22lr but not as much as the 243 (I will probably look at a 223 to sit along side the 243 too) so something smaller is really what I am looking for. 200 yard rabbit / crow gun

 

[Tony Morgan]

.despite some improvements with ammo quality recently it just isnt the round that it used to be

So it's got better and worse all at the same time?
Dazza, chuck your old rounds away and buy some Hornady 17 grain V-Max - never had a problem with those.

 

[Pellet Pinger]

Don’t give up on the HMR, I’ve put over 2k through mine with no issue.
As you already know the ammo can vary, If your getting split necks try another batch. My local has some in and they are pants, won’t group and don’t fragment. I tried another shop, bought 50 that shot ragged holes at 100yds and fragmented as they should so went back and bought a whole brick from the same batch, sorted.
Since owning the HMR I check every box of ammo under a magnifying glass before shooting and I’ve not found a single split neck.
A little bit of leg work will result in ray gun accuracy!

 

[Dazza9t9]

Thanks guys. I must admit I want to like it. However because of the horror stories and the split necks I’m seeing, I go to pick it up and think nah I’ll just take the 22lr.

the reloading was just part of the equation, maybe I’ll try a few more outings with it and see how I feel after that.

thanks every one. Still interested to read peoples views

 

[Muir]

I have three 17HMRs. Haven't shot any of them in a dozen years. After watching a buddy punch 8 prairiedogs from 30 to 80 yards and all of them made it down their holes. I quit using it. ~Muir

 

[Colonel]

Have a look at the 22 K hornet

 

[Jameshenry]

I've recently started reloading for a little .222 that i fancied, it has become my go to rifle for doing the rounds at lambing time, just as quiet as the hmr with a good moderator, and probably not a lot more expensive to run, the reason for the .222 was i needed something that would stop a fox reliably (which it does) the 17 hmr hasn't left the cabinet since tbh, and now i'm wondering if i'll ever use it again

 

[Liveonce]

Parted with the hmr for all the reasons you stated and got a 17hornet, no regrets so far. Reloading is part of the enjoyment as is converting 22hornet brass to 17hornet, currently using the lockdown to make a simple but hopefully more consistent annealing machine.

 

[Dazza9t9]

Is the 17 hornet brass harder to get hold of than the 22 hornet?

 

[Dazza9t9]

I do like the idea of one of the hornets, and then maybe. 222 or 223 later down the line.

I do have the 243 for now and I am looking to replace the hmr.

where does the 204 fit in to the equation?

 

[Musketeer]

I have two .17 hmr rifles. Both are Tikka T1x and I really enjoy using them. One is a dedicated night rifle the other has a day scope. I have never had any issues with ammo, using hornady v-max, and can easily put three rounds under a penny at one hundred metres.

I think its the perfect rabbit rifle.

 

[User00033]

With your other current rifles, assuming you still have the application on a regular basis, then the .17 Hornet is the way to go. Take your time and find a rifle that suits - you will - and don’t look back.

I can put you in touch with a serious .17 Hornet user if you like, semi-pro, uses it for cleaning up large rabbit populations in orchards and other horticultural settings. He’s a reloader.

 

[Dazza9t9]

With your other current rifles, assuming you still have the application on a regular basis, then the .17 Hornet is the way to go. Take your time and find a rifle that suits - you will - and don’t look back.

I can put you in touch with a serious .17 Hornet user if you like, semi-pro, uses it for cleaning up large rabbit populations in orchards and other horticultural settings. He’s a reloader.

that would be great.

 

[Dazza9t9]

I have two .17 hmr rifles. Both are Tikka T1x and I really enjoy using them. One is a dedicated night rifle the other has a day scope. I have never had any issues with ammo, using hornady v-max, and can easily put three rounds under a penny at one hundred metres.

I think its the perfect rabbit rifle.

I was using v-max but they were all splitting at the neck.
maybe a bad batch that I bought. I have had then a couple of years

maybe I need to give it another chance.

 

[old keeper]

The 17Hornet is an excellent long-range vermin/rabbit rifle. Ideal for sitting out in the summer potting rabbits out to 250 yards. Not too bad for foxes either, at sensible ranges!

As far as the 17HMR goes, this too is an excellent rabbit round, especially when doing a drive-by in the winter. There's still a lot of old ammo around that will throw up split necks, the more recent stuff seems fine.