17 hmr observations.

ALLHONE hunting knives designed and made in NZ
Smellydog

Smellydog

Well-Known Member
17hmr got a bad rap several years ago for damaging rifles.
That was due to work hardened brass splitting and barely holding the bullet in place.
Many thought it was letting damp in but I didn't buy into that theory and as I started sifting boxes of ammunition for split necks and discarding them after I had a stuck bullet one afternoon, it meant I had some powder to flame off on several occasions.

It wasn't long before I realised the powder was different from the new productions of ammunition verses the old!

I've been from the onset of the cartridge's trouble of the opinion that the old powder was heavily dependent on a crimped bullet for good ignition.
I'm now of the belief that Hornady and CCI have changed powders to one not so dependent on the crimp and today I tested it.
Instead of destroying any selected defective rounds I saved 8 and shot them today.
The first two killed squirrels. Three were plinked and two were lobbed at long away crows and three were shot at an old fence post and three good ones were all so shot at said post. There was no apparent difference between all the shots today in their report and nothing in it zero or group size at 100 yds plus!
The fired cases split more so on firing but still sealed the breech.

So today I'm no longer going to sift through recently made ammunition but will do so should old ammunition come my way.

In short I think they have fixed the issue by circumnavigating the work hardened brass with a more suitable powder.
We should be good to go.
IMG_20250622_150826.webp
 
I hope they have resolved the issue as I'm new to the 17hmr and been slowly building up my kit for the last two months and still haven't fired a shot out of the rifle... Patience of a saint I have lol... It's been a learning curve getting everything I need and the bore guide proving to be the one that gave me the most head scratching but sorted now.... All I need now is the weather and the time to get out there.
 
Do consider the USA shortage of propellant due ti the ukraine war it’s possible they have changed propellant because they are using what they can get and for no other reason.
 
Liveonce said:
Do consider the USA shortage of propellant due ti the ukraine war it’s possible they have changed propellant because they are using what they can get and for no other reason.
Click to expand...
Hmm, Hornady especially, I understand has had numerous claims made against them and I also understand had to recompense many.
That'll change things quicker than any war!

Time wise I think the changes were implemented before the Ukrainian war.
 
Been shooting the HMR for a fair few years & it is the ‘go to’ rabbiter. Hornady & Winchester 17g used, typically 500+ rounds/year. Never really had any issues other than a cleaning routine. I won’t clean until it goes off. Then cleaned thoroughly & re-zeroed. Tends to need a slight tweak during the first couple of outings following this but is then on the button & thoroughly enjoyable.
 
I get quite a few split cases on firing and carry a small multi tool to pull cases that get stuck when they split. No squibs so far but I’m very alert for them. I just put an Alpex 4k lite to give me more time on fixed and the odd rabbit and having dealt with a stock issue, look forward to many more years of accurate shooting, but have yet to find “premium” ammo - they all seem to be much of a muchness. The best squirrel control rifle of them all.
 
I've found a description for that AI stuff. It's internet stupidity, concentrated. Sh*t in, sh*t out.

Even that screenshot was contradicting itself, if you read it. Other way to interpret is, that AI didn't know what to output, so it used vague terms that can be interpreted one way or another, based on what recipient wants to hear.

(AI gave about 3 different answers to the question "is Speer producing 17 HMR ammo")
 
I got onto paper and then good groups today with the Alpex 4k lite in poor conditions for zero’ing anything, never mind .17hmr - the wind was pushing me about, whilst on sticks! Anyhow, I was testing what my Sako likes - hornady and CCI TNT, not Remington. 5 split cases after firing, 3 extraction issues- very stiff in the chamber, but only two of those with split cases. Go figure. I zero’d at 50m due to the wind at my back, hoping for a 125m same POI. I’ll check when it’s calm. Really happy that I fixed the barrel float issue. With SD’s comment in mind I opened it a few thou’ more. Just need to seal the stock again.
 
tarponhead said:
I got onto paper and then good groups today with the Alpex 4k lite in poor conditions for zero’ing anything, never mind .17hmr - the wind was pushing me about, whilst on sticks! Anyhow, I was testing what my Sako likes - hornady and CCI TNT, not Remington. 5 split cases after firing, 3 extraction issues- very stiff in the chamber, but only two of those with split cases. Go figure. I zero’d at 50m due to the wind at my back, hoping for a 125m same POI. I’ll check when it’s calm. Really happy that I fixed the barrel float issue. With SD’s comment in mind I opened it a few thou’ more. Just need to seal the stock again.
Click to expand...
Did it group better?
My sako in 22 had poor extraction so I fitted a longer spring to the extractor and it hasn't failed since.
 
Groups half the size - sub MOA so happy with that. Longer spring sounds interesting - is it available as an aftermarket part for Sako? The cases were very tight in the chamber - the rest flew out as normal.
 
tarponhead said:
Groups half the size - sub MOA so happy with that. Longer spring sounds interesting - is it available as an aftermarket part for Sako? The cases were very tight in the chamber - the rest flew out as normal.
Click to expand...
I doubt it's an off the shelf thing. I just matched a spring but left it as long as possible, nearly coil bound even.
 
I got rid very quickly, not for case issues, but really because I was shooting in the hills around Wales, so usually windy, and rain etc.
In the right conditions it was fine, with extra range over a .22rf, but preferred a 22 hornet, or usually 223 mainly because of weather .
Also , it was seemed expensive for ammo.
 
plumber01 said:
I got rid very quickly, not for case issues, but really because I was shooting in the hills around Wales, so usually windy, and rain etc.
In the right conditions it was fine, with extra range over a .22rf, but preferred a 22 hornet, or usually 223 mainly because of weather .
Also , it was seemed expensive for ammo.
Click to expand...
Everything is expensive in the UK compared to the normal world!
 
My tweaking paid off tonight - shot a troublesome fox for my farmer at 80 yds, ambushed near one of its den exits, bib shot as it was face on, dropped in the spot to Hornady 20g, at last light. I have to say that the Alpex 4k lite was a major contributor. I was on the edge of a wood, in cover so it was quite dark everywhere, except through the scope that was crystal clear and looked like a sunny day! Seriously thinking of its big brother for my new .308… Have I gone to the dark side - or the light side😳
 
tarponhead said:
My tweaking paid off tonight - shot a troublesome fox for my farmer at 80 yds, ambushed near one of its den exits, bib shot as it was face on, dropped in the spot to Hornady 20g, at last light. I have to say that the Alpex 4k lite was a major contributor. I was on the edge of a wood, in cover so it was quite dark everywhere, except through the scope that was crystal clear and looked like a sunny day! Seriously thinking of its big brother for my new .308… Have I gone to the dark side - or the light side😳
Click to expand...
I'm glad you resisted it head 👍
 
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