17HMR woes

[Donnington]

What's the general consensus of the consistency of the 17HMR, when it comes to reliable detonation? I've had mine (T1X) for about a year and it seems to go through real ups and downs when it comes to failure to fire.

Last night is a great example - went out rabbiting and had a quick 3 found zero check. First 2 rounds went off no issue but the third just went 'click'. I re-cocked and same again. I left it a bit (30 seconds or so) then span the cartridge round so the firing pin has some fresh rim to strike and tried again. 'Click' .

I forgot about it and went about my evening, accounting for a few bunnies with no issues. Then out popped a couple of foxes. A quick squeak and the Vixen came bounding in to about 30 yards....then 'click' and she ran off to about 65 and turned back to look at me. I'm zero'd at 100 and comfortable with this distance so quickly racked another round....'click' and both disappeared .

3 or 4 more shots without issue after that then I headed home in frustration.

I've been through a few batches of ammo now and can go 50-100 rounds without issue then stumble into a problem like last night.

Question to you regular HMR shooters is this - do you have a similar experience with this round or is there a chance the firing pin spring is a bit underpowered and I'm getting light primer strikes?

 

[Donnington]

Not sure how useful it is, but here’s some example cases:

(Hornady, 17gr);

 

[old keeper]

Not too sure what the problem is, possibly the rifle more than the ammo. I've had my Anschutz 17/17 sine the HMR first appeared, and can honestly say, after firing thousands of rounds I've only had two "squibbs".

I realise there have been issues with 17HMR ammunition, but these have been almost all missfires, rather than failure to fire at all. I would think, as you said, there is is a problem with the firing mechanism.

 

[nf-fuse]

Never had a single 17hmr round not go off. Certainly been through a few hundred.

your pin strikes don't look too bad. I'll attach a pic of some that did go off for comparison. Hornady 20gr soft point (I'm aware it's all made in the same facility!)

 

[nf-fuse]

 

[Foxyboy43]

Strange!
Many thousands of .17 hmr later and I don’t recall more than one not going bang - lots of split cases but even that seems to have eased off…
I would be having a look at the firing pin/spring and giving each a good clean - a lazy spring could also be the reason.
Hope you get it sorted…

 

[Pellet Pinger]

Its gone cold, my guess is you haven’t stripped the bolt and removed all the factory grease they put in the assembly.
Happened to me and a quick strip down and clean sorted it.

 

[Klenchblaize]

View attachment 448565

A very distinct difference in strike pattern compared to that of the Op's?

K

 

[andyk]

There definitely have been ammo issues (which I’ve luckily mostly avoided) but those have been cracks in the necks (as they can’t be annealed before being reduced to .17) leading to powder degradation and squib rounds that barely get the bullet into the barrel.

If yours didn’t go off at all that’s unlikely to be the same issue.

Would it be worth having the rifle checked or trying a different batch of ammo? I’d think if you get the same problem from another batch, it’s not the ammo.

 

[nf-fuse]

A very distinct difference in strike pattern compared to that of the Op's?

K

Yeah mine are bit deeper and more well defined

 

[finbar]

Had my Annie 1517 for a good few years & probably had no more then a handful of miss fires sold it
Now got the 17 hornet in Annie just because it can be reloaded

 

[Smellydog]

Needed to see the unfired cases really.
Clean bolt out after measuring pin protrusion and after cleaning measure again and see if you have gained a few thou. If not stone the pin stop, where ever that is so you gain a few thou and go test.

 

[One on top of two]

Don't use Hornaday ammo ... simples .
I use Remington accutip and I'm yet to have a dud or squib im my T1X
And I've shot 1000's and 1000's

 

[Donnington]

Don't use Hornaday ammo ... simples .
I use Remington accutip and I'm yet to have a dud or squib im my T1X
And I've shot 1000's and 1000's

Could I be a pain in the arse and ask you to upload a pic of some of the spent cases? Keen to compare the strike marks with the ones I've shot.

 

[12gsnapcaps]

i had a HMR, great round but i had so many misfires and then i had a squib load with a pill stuck in my barrel i had to take it to a RFD to get out. sold the rifle after that, wouldnt go back. Only good thing about it was ammo was cheapish and you got almost mini centerfire performance for cheap. now ammo is super expensive it makes more sense to get a .17 hornet and homeload.

 

[Donnington]

Needed to see the unfired cases really.
Clean bolt out after measuring pin protrusion and after cleaning measure again and see if you have gained a few thou. If not stone the pin stop, where ever that is so you gain a few thou and go test.

I’ll have a go at this tonight

 

[Confidis]

Try them in a different brand of rifle.
My cz never missed a beat . My tikka not so much.
Occasionally fails to extract and occasional fail to fire . Trying to catch the shell is usually the cause of the extraction issue.

 

[Smelly Yeti]

A very distinct difference in strike pattern compared to that of the Op's?

K

Different rifle types hence different firing pin design? Believe Tikka use round firing pin whereas many others use a flat blade type pin (e.g. CZ, Browning) as they are easier/cheaper to manufacture. Leaves completely different strike marks….. It’s the depth/position of strike on the rim that initiates the burn. OP’s T1X looks to be engaging the rim well but from his photos they do seem a bit light in my limited knowledge (particularly right hand casing in second pic)? As others have said - I’d strip & clean the bolt & see it f it solved the problem

 

[Smellydog]

There is no value in looking at a spent case. It has expanded around the protruding pin in a millie second, certainly to quick for the pin to move out of the way!

Rimfire rifle makers run a fine line between consistent ignition and a pierced case and the difference can be literally .004".

 

[One on top of two]

Could I be a pain in the arse and ask you to upload a pic of some of the spent cases? Keen to compare the strike marks with the ones I've shot.

here you go buddy.