.17 Hornet or Ruger .204

[Johnessex]

Trying to decide on next calibre. Will mainly be used for shooting rabbits. I have 22lr. 17hmr and .223rem but would really like something between. 17hmr and .223. Not too worried about cost per round but would like it accurate and a big more range than .17hmr.

What are your thoughts? Maybe there is another calibre not above that would be good?

 

[mealiejimmy]

204, if only because Tikka don't do a 17 Hornet

Cheers

Bruce

 

[Dickturpin]

204..I had the hornet

 

[flatliner]

If you go .204, you're 223 won't leave the cabinet again.

 

[Overlay]

I’m using my 17 hornet to very good effect on rabbits at over 200 yds, amazing calibre, I’ve got the hornet 22 as well the 17 out shoots that with ease, the 22 hornet is a brilliant calibre for foxes, I’ve only used the 17 hornet on very steady head shots which it excels at, not tried it on body shots on foxes
both hornets are incredibly accurate

17 hornet would be my choice over a 204 as you’ve got a 223 already

 

[flatliner]

If you go .204, you're 223 won't leave the cabinet again.

Unless your using your 223 for muntjac that is.

 

[User00035]

I’m using my 17 hornet to very good effect on rabbits at over 200 yds, amazing calibre, I’ve got the hornet 22 as well the 17 out shoots that with ease, the 22 hornet is a brilliant calibre for foxes, I’ve only used the 17 hornet on very steady head shots which it excels at, not tried it on body shots on foxes
both hornets are incredibly accurate

17 hornet would be my choice over a 204 as you’ve got a 223 already

What he said

 

[kimh]

204

 

[Dodder]

Just to throw a spanner in the works how about a .17FB or .17 Rem?

 

[beanieboy]

HMR is point and shoot on rabbits out to 130 yards (will take then further with adjustment). The 223 will take care of them beyond this (or within same range if wind gets up). I'm not therefore convinced that a 17 Hornet or a 204 fits between these calibres. The 204 probably exceeds 223 performance out to 350 yards, after which a fast twist 223 will perform better. I think you might be trying to fill a gap that may not exist.

 

[old keeper]

I've got both. I started using the 17Hornet for foxes but found I was getting the odd runner, it's all very well saying head shoot but a foxes head is very small! I then got a 204 Ruger and as has alreadt been said, I too haven't used the 223 since for foxes.
Both are very accurate calibres and the 17 Hornet is a great calibre for sitting out for long range rabbits. Both are very destructive on rabbits and rabbits heads are even smaller than a fox's!

 

[Overlay]

I've got both. I started using the 17Hornet for foxes but found I was getting the odd runner, it's all very well saying head shoot but a foxes head is very small! I then got a 204 Ruger and as has alreadt been said, I too haven't used the 223 since for foxes.
Both are very accurate calibres and the 17 Hornet is a great calibre for sitting out for long range rabbits. Both are very destructive on rabbits and rabbits heads are even smaller than a fox's!

Hi Mike
yep I’m slightly nervous about H & L shots with the 17 hornet, I don’t Like runners it’s probably IMHO a no no to use the 17 on H&L shot placement the foxes ( open a bag of worms again ) I grassed with when I first got The 17 hornet Were all under a 100 that’s about it, I use the 22 hornet out to hundred for foxes H&L It’s brilliant my foxing calibre over that is ye old 222
great believer in calibre versus species versus range, get the mix right equals very rare runners, which really is what it’s all about

got to add I’m amazed at the constant accuracy with the 17 Hornet

 

[Johnessex]

HMR is point and shoot on rabbits out to 130 yards (will take then further with adjustment). The 223 will take care of them beyond this (or within same range if wind gets up). I'm not therefore convinced that a 17 Hornet or a 204 fits between these calibres. The 204 probably exceeds 223 performance out to 350 yards, after which a fast twist 223 will perform better. I think you might be trying to fill a gap that may not exist.

You may be right about trying to fill the gap. I only picked up the 223 a week ago but seems to hit everything you point at easily out to 300 yards which is really the max I will be shooting at unless target then I have other guns.
Think I may just have a bit of a bug for buying guns though and not sure the 223 is over kill on rabbits.

 

[Johnessex]

204, if only because Tikka don't do a 17 Hornet

Cheers

Bruce

The 223 the 22lr 17hmr and 223 I have are all Tikka all sat in Super Varmintstocks so feel the same. I do like them but would consider something else.

 

[xavierdoc]

HMR is point and shoot on rabbits out to 130 yards (will take then further with adjustment). The 223 will take care of them beyond this (or within same range if wind gets up). I'm not therefore convinced that a 17 Hornet or a 204 fits between these calibres. The 204 probably exceeds 223 performance out to 350 yards, after which a fast twist 223 will perform better. I think you might be trying to fill a gap that may not exist.

I think you're right.

I have 17Hornet and 204Ruger and 223Rem (fast twist) but only because the 223Rem is a comp gun.

I got the 17Hornet to replace the 17HMR for long-ish range rabbits/feathered vermin and occasional fox, the 204Ruger is or longer range rabbits/vermin and fox or just if it's windy!

I wouldn't need both the 204Ruger plus the 223Rem if both were for field use unless one was a dedicated night vision set-up. If I was using 223Rem for small deer I suppose that might be different.

 

[User00035]

If I was shooting large volumes of rabbits beyond 150 yards on a regular basis I'd want to return a reasonable proportion of usable carcasses and I'd want throwaway ammo so I didn't spend half my life reloading. In which case I'd get a .17 Hornet.
If it's the occasional few in hard to reach spots and pest control is the name of the game, just use the .223 you've already got and sacrifice carcasses to get the job done (I used to have a .222 for this purpose which was ideal out to about 250 yards). If a .223 is too much gun for a rabbit (which it is) a .204 will be even more destructive.

 

[Liveonce]

.17hornet with moderator is a lot quieter than .223 in fact sounds much like a .17hmr, also can reload the .17hornet very cheaply. Hence by day and night the .17hornet is my choice for rabbits and occasional fox that spontaneous shows. However if targeting fox only then I take the .223
Never regretted moving from the hmr to hornet.

 

[25 Sharps]

You may be right about trying to fill the gap. I only picked up the 223 a week ago but seems to hit everything you point at easily out to 300 yards which is really the max I will be shooting at unless target then I have other guns.
Think I may just have a bit of a bug for buying guns though and not sure the 223 is over kill on rabbits.

You are aware the .204 can develop the same or more muzzle energy than the .223 aren't you? Which surely would make it more overkill for rabbits. .2045 and .223 fill exactly the same niche, the hornets fit nicely in between that niche and the magnum rimfires as they are basically a small CF that feel very much like shooting a magnum rimfire , I'm a .22H fan but the .17 will do rabbits nicely as well. You could always have a .20 AI hornet for a real inbetweener which is what i will be doing when my stock of .22 projectiles runs out!

 

[David N]

Having just got a 17 hornet and already having a 223 and an hmr my thoughts so far. Hornet is great on the rabbits, have bumped into fox X3 all under 100m and all went down with chest shots.
Like the hornet as it's light compared to my tikka . I would think 204 would be over kill on rabbits?

 

[Dawnrazor]

What's the diffirence in recoil between the 17 Hornet and the .204?