Hey all, got a question please. I have a sauer 101xt 22-250 and a cz 22lr. Both great guns but my shorting is limited now as such that I only get a chance to shoot a few foxes around my own land. The 22lr hasn’t got the legs for some shoot whereby the 22-250 is too much and even whilst suppressed can be loud. I was thinking of moving both one and was considering a 17 hornet as a replacement. Must be decent quality and thumbhole stock. Any ideas or brands types etc? To be honest I had a 17wsm and thought it was the best all round calibre I ever owned but to my knowledge savage is the only brand (which I don’t like built quality) and ammo is abit of a nightmare. Otherwise I would of went down the wsm route
17 hornet
- Thread starter User00031
- Start date
I’m going to be shot down here but….. I personally don’t think the 17 Hornet is not a fox capable round except at close range. It’s also not that quiet. Getting ammunition for it is tricky at the moment. Shame Savage and Ruger are, if I’m correct, are the only providers of rifles in WSM as that is a round I’d get rid of my HMR for.
Just re read my original post. Sorry about the grammar. Dam predicted text. Yeah wsm is a wicked round. Regretting selling tbh in some ways. Shoots like a laser out to 200 and never had a fox limp away. I considered even trying to go down the custom route but wouldn’t know where to start.
243 fallow
Well-Known Member
Hasn’t it been designed for fox sized quarry ? I’ve shot plenty of foxes out 150yd’s with an hmr so I’m sure the 17 hornet is more than capable.
Other than .22LR I have no experience of the calibres mentioned but I am interested in the comparative ballistics and practicalities of them, moderated sound levels and effective range on fox for example. Also, how would a .22 Hornet or .204 Ruger compare with those mentioned?
I have a .17hornet savage, thumb hole stock M25, no complaints on build quality, trigger is nice.
It does take a single quick motion to reliability chamber a cartridge, but not a problem once you get used to it.
One day i will get the barrel shortened.
have no regrets moving from a hmr to the hornet. Use 17gn bullets for the rabbits and 25gn or 20gn for foxes and they do the business out to 150yards or so. If you don‘t want to home load then .17WSM.
Home loading is the way to go for ammunition.
edit to add .17hornet has similar report to that of .17hmr to my ageing ears.
It does take a single quick motion to reliability chamber a cartridge, but not a problem once you get used to it.
One day i will get the barrel shortened.
have no regrets moving from a hmr to the hornet. Use 17gn bullets for the rabbits and 25gn or 20gn for foxes and they do the business out to 150yards or so. If you don‘t want to home load then .17WSM.
Home loading is the way to go for ammunition.
edit to add .17hornet has similar report to that of .17hmr to my ageing ears.
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I really enjoyed my time with a 17Hornet but had too many runners due to "blow-ups", particularly on shoulder shots.
Either 204 Ruger or 223 will do the job that much better, the 17H is an excellent long-range rabbit rifle but not a fox round.
Either 204 Ruger or 223 will do the job that much better, the 17H is an excellent long-range rabbit rifle but not a fox round.
I have a CZ527 17 Hornet thumbhole 24"with Wildcat Panther Mod. To my ears, it doesn't sound any different to my 17 WSM. My 223 was much louder. Shot placement however is key when shooting foxes. I've taken them to 200 yards off quad sticks without issue, but it's no 223 and will not be as forgiving of a badly placed shot.
Overlay
Well-Known Member
Not from me, I loved the 17H a terrific calibre shoots out to a terrific range and very very accurate, but I had a couple runners and without my teckles they would have been lost, despite the shot placement H&L being bang on the money, for rabbits a phenomenal rifle but I found despite accurate shot placement there was a knockdown problem on foxes, i now have a extra 22 hornet and 204 and no runners
for short range foxes out to a 100 mtrs the 22 hornet excels here between 100 and 200 .204 and the 222 past that
love the the 17 for accuracy and long range rabbits but for me that’s it, only my observations
The .17hornet uses around 10grains of powder so does not need a large sound mod, I too use a Panther mod, it has a ATN night site on top, and is 99% used at night so I do not push it much passed 120 to 150yards but it is flat shooting and hits with authority, which I like. Any foxes are normally an opportunity event when out after the rabbits. If doing a dedicated fox “job” then I take my .223 but the the report is considerably more noticeable then the hornet but distance to fox is then not a limiting issue, only my skill with it. But I would not want to use my .223 as a goto rabbit gun, so the hornet ticks a lot of boxes for me.
I had a 17H for a few years, cracking round for long range vermin, shot a few fox's with it when my 22.250 was out of action, I personally would want to go further than 150 yards especially with a bit wind, now have a 204 as well which I don't worry about distance, cheers
Neddle
Well-Known Member
Took foxes out to 200yds with a 17hornet, great round, Australian pelt hunters loved it
Got to echo the above comments really they are a great long range bunny gun. I had my CZ cut down to 18" and its really pointable/ a good truck gun. reloading for it can be fiddly but is really cheap as it uses bog all powder.
Its got about the same muzzle report report as my HMR had but has much better consistency and legs which is why I still have this and not the HMR.
On foxes I generally limit myself to <150yards as I dont consider it a forgiving round at a longer range so if I am out after foxes I generally take my .243. However it does have sufficient wallop at closer ranges to deal with a fox that crosses my path when out after rabbits.
Tbh I wouldnt be without it.
Its got about the same muzzle report report as my HMR had but has much better consistency and legs which is why I still have this and not the HMR.
On foxes I generally limit myself to <150yards as I dont consider it a forgiving round at a longer range so if I am out after foxes I generally take my .243. However it does have sufficient wallop at closer ranges to deal with a fox that crosses my path when out after rabbits.
Tbh I wouldnt be without it.
I use a .22 hornet out to 200 yards no issue but if I had the choice I'd go for a 204 good on foxes out to 600 yards. Personally prefer to have more range and rifle then required.
@Longstrider will confirm the 204's effective at longer and closer range.
@Longstrider will confirm the 204's effective at longer and closer range.
Overlay
Well-Known Member
As a yard stick, out on friday evening into sat morning 6 foxes between 75 and 180 mtrs. using the 204 all H&L shots
not one moved an inch off the POI
To be honest apart from the fact i wouldn’t have taken the shot(s) with a 17H after previous experiences,the 204 is a far better choice for foxing I’ve put the T ceptor on my 204 and its the best fox rifle I have for those ranges for accuracy and knockdown, bearing in mind I also use 22 hornet and 222
if you can run to it get a 204, you’ll be impressed what it can do
not one moved an inch off the POI
To be honest apart from the fact i wouldn’t have taken the shot(s) with a 17H after previous experiences,the 204 is a far better choice for foxing I’ve put the T ceptor on my 204 and its the best fox rifle I have for those ranges for accuracy and knockdown, bearing in mind I also use 22 hornet and 222
if you can run to it get a 204, you’ll be impressed what it can do
Pay the pennies and buy a .204. You will not regret it. Charlie will 
Less report than .223 and foxes simply drop where they're shot if you make the hole appear in H+L or noggin.
When I bought mine I had to get a variation for the new rifle. As I was going to be applying, then buying new, I had the choice of them all .. .222, .223, .22Hornet, .22-250 etc etc. Did quite a bit of trawling for info and plumped for the .204. More than 400 foxes later, regrets I have none.
Less report than .223 and foxes simply drop where they're shot if you make the hole appear in H+L or noggin.
When I bought mine I had to get a variation for the new rifle. As I was going to be applying, then buying new, I had the choice of them all .. .222, .223, .22Hornet, .22-250 etc etc. Did quite a bit of trawling for info and plumped for the .204. More than 400 foxes later, regrets I have none.
Overlay
Well-Known Member
204 does knock ‘em overPay the pennies and buy a .204. You will not regret it. Charlie will
Less report than .223 and foxes simply drop where they're shot if you make the hole appear in H+L or noggin.
When I bought mine I had to get a variation for the new rifle. As I was going to be applying, then buying new, I had the choice of them all .. .222, .223, .22Hornet, .22-250 etc etc. Did quite a bit of trawling for info and plumped for the .204. More than 400 foxes later, regrets I have none.
the 22-250 is very effective when intentionally downloaded to around 2600 + The .22 hornet proved quieter than the HMR for me ( lilgun and MAE scout v SAK on the 17 hmr) with the correct bullet running 2550 - 2800 its very effective on foxes and small game etc.
I never really got the 22-250 until i learnt about how versatile it can be downloaded so well
I never really got the 22-250 until i learnt about how versatile it can be downloaded so well
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