17 HMR and powder variants.

[Smellydog]

Noticed something different today.
I had an old box of 17 HMR from Hornady, right from the era of ill repute!
The necks were heavily scored from machinery and half the box had split necks and duly destroyed.
By comparison contemporary ammunition of the same brand has smooth necks with just a few split in a box.

It was as I dismantled the trash ones I noticed that they have different powders!
The older had squashed spherical pieces and the newer had very fine spherical powder.
I wondered if this is a change by Hornady to prevent the dreaded gun damage horror stories we have heard about. Maybe this powder ignites more readily and is less dependent on the bullet crimp??

My next test therefore will involve shooting some split necked ammunition of the newer loadings.
Might be interesting .

 

[Trigger260]

I've just had my 452 cut and recrowned after its been sat in the cabinet for a couple of years. I only managed to shoot two 5 shot groups as the light was fading. First group was 1.6in and second group was 1.9in at 100yrd. I came away a bit deflated but it was a bit of a rush around to get it done. I'm going to clean the barrel, change the scope and rings and play with torque settings. I'm hoping for 1moa! This was with the 17g hornady vmax. Have you experienced dramatic accuracy differences between the different rounds that are available?
Cheers Paul

 

[Smellydog]

I've just had my 452 cut and recrowned after its been sat in the cabinet for a couple of years. I only managed to shoot two 5 shot groups as the light was fading. First group was 1.6in and second group was 1.9in at 100yrd. I came away a bit deflated but it was a bit of a rush around to get it done. I'm going to clean the barrel, change the scope and rings and play with torque settings. I'm hoping for 1moa! This was with the 17g hornady vmax. Have you experienced dramatic accuracy differences between the different rounds that are available?
Cheers Paul

My current ammo stock wants to group 1 moa but there is always on flyer spoiling it.

 

[finbar]

Try 20 grain hollow points shot very well out my Annie

 

[Liveonce]

Noticed something different today.
I had an old box of 17 HMR from Hornady, right from the era of ill repute!
The necks were heavily scored from machinery and half the box had split necks and duly destroyed.
By comparison contemporary ammunition of the same brand has smooth necks with just a few split in a box.

It was as I dismantled the trash ones I noticed that they have different powders!
The older had squashed spherical pieces and the newer had very fine spherical powder.
I wondered if this is a change by Hornady to prevent the dreaded gun damage horror stories we have heard about. Maybe this powder ignites more readily and is less dependent on the bullet crimp??

My next test therefore will involve shooting some split necked ammunition of the newer loadings.
Might be interesting .

possibly due to the powder shortage they are using what ever they can get that is suitable for the HMR.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Had one for years now - not encountering many splits in recent ammo though still a few post-firing.
A laser accurate rifle but a filthy little round so just make sure you clean it regularly.

 

[Smellydog]

Had one for years now - not encountering many splits in recent ammo though still a few post-firing.
A laser accurate rifle but a filthy little round so just make sure you clean it regularly.

Think mine needs a good soak. To many flyers of late!