I have done a lot of research on powders and whilst Lilgun was specifically made for small calibres like the 17 Hornet, I’ve read that it can be very temperamental and pressures can spike very easily, which is why I have avoided it so far. I’ll continue with the options I’ve got and if I can’t master it then maybe I’ll try it. Best I got yesterday working up the cheap 17 Gr HMR heads was 1” at 100. I need to be like Colinbr, 1/2” at 135 - that’s impressive. Back to the drawing board……
Sold: .17 Hornet
- Thread starter Jaeger47
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- .17 .17 hornet wanted
It’s interesting to hear that they set a maximum calibre of 17 Hornet for foxes. Around here they are quite happy to suggest .243 and many opt for that as it’s dual purpose. I find the Hornet relatively quiet to shoot with rabbits paying little attention to it. You can shoot a string of them beside each other as they don’t seem to scatter like they do with .22 LR.I’m going to be using it on a couple of farms where it was approved as the max cal for foxes / rabbits and so on. I use a .243 for pretty much everything else unless it is a trip abroad where I need a .308
Also going to put my Hik Alpex on there for night time hunting.
This cal is going to get me into reloading too I think
it’s fiddly to load for as very small but worth the effort.
What do you use the .308 for abroad?
it doesnt like lower fill levels . I once spent a full day chronographing loads, suffice to say some lower level loads did produce spikes in velocity BUT only much lower fills . So long as your someplace near full you will get very regular consistant performance .
One good point is there really is not a lot of sense weighing loads individually in my experiance with this powder as long as you can see powder enough to be somewhere near the shoulder with torch light the powder fill is good and these spikes dont happen . Oh btw i never got pressure sign just odd full velocities with low charges .
Basically for best and safest use i feel it best to not leave space , at the end of the day its a powder (along with others in the hornet) you should fill up . There are some real low fill capable powders folks use with this cartridge going down to just over subsonic with cast lead or up to 22 rf velocitor / stinger velocities .
I do not doubt that most 22 hornet powders will if used with underfilled cases will create the spikes as they are mostly very similar in burn rates . LiL'
gun is the most popular powder for hornet world wide
I now just fill up to the neck area and check every case has a similar look now and different cases fill different winchester the highest fill and PPU the lowest fill in my experiance . but they shoot very, very alike ( though the velocities over a chrono will not match the consistency in velocity as modern can easily get, single figure is just a fluke )
BenBhoy
Well-Known Member
The max calibre will be for the land rather than the quarry.
Hi, that's very interesting and I can see how it would spike on low fill rounds. Mine are mostly up to the shoulders as you describe, so I may pick up a tub and try it. My COAL is long for calibre, so I actually have slightly more capacity than standard anyway, so I would need to ensure it looks full as you describe. Thanks for the input.
Remember Lil'gun was made (along with other hornet powders ) as a small shotgun powder primarily . Of course these are normally packed in tight !
I get best results with compression and picking thicker brass with lower capacity helps . Privi for instance
I’ve only ever used Hornady brass so I’ve no experience of Privi, S&B or others. I’ve generally bought V Max ammo and reloaded the brass with Nosler heads. I have noticed that they are quite thin cases and don’t tolerate heavy handling. My go to round was just on compressed with 13.1 grains of CFE BLK. So far I’m up to 12.7 of Lovex DO63 which is close to compression. I’m going a little farther on next batch to see if the group tightens up with a full load. Where did you acquire the Privi brass?
Henry Kranks, Pudsey near Leeds . They where up until about 12 mnths ago the long term main UK importer of Privi. They have always been good at the mail order job .
Jaeger - give Mick at Cambridge Gun Club a ring - they had a new .17 hornet on the shelf last time I was there.I’m going to be using it on a couple of farms where it was approved as the max cal for foxes / rabbits and so on. I use a .243 for pretty much everything else unless it is a trip abroad where I need a .308
Also going to put my Hik Alpex on there for night time hunting.
This cal is going to get me into reloading too I think
Jaeger47
Well-Known Member
Yes, max cal was a reference to the land approval
Mind sending me a PM with the details? I’m not a member of that forum. Thanks for posting your comment
Jaeger47
Well-Known Member
Thanks, I’ll take a look.
I don’t think you will have any worries with the calibre restriction for foxes. The longest I’ve taken at night was 200 yards and it dropped on the spot. In fairness, good bullet placement is quite important but if they are hit in the prime kill zone it’s instant curtains. I fitted a Wildcat Whisper moderator which is short, light, and it reduces the crack considerably. Also easy to strip and clean. Should be a good combination with Alpex. Good hunting.
Henry Kranks do not sell Priv brass in a .17 hornet you will need to convert 22 hornet cases into the 17.
I just scoured the net and found the same thing - Kranks only have .22 Hornet and nobody else seems to keep them either and I'm not familiar with resizing but could learn. Found some S&B ammo which might be another route. Anyone know what their brass/ammo is like?
ColinBr
Well-Known Member
I'm using the S&B ammo at the moment in 20gr veriaty. Shoots great. Can't say what the brass is like as I have a few hundred rounds to go through before I start reloading for it, but I use the S&B brass in my 6.5CM and I have no complaints
Sounds good. I'll look for some. Thanks
I am sure they had 17 previous as they also sold their own brand 17 bullets , lots of changes at Kranks though since loosing the likes of Sierra main distributorship. Folks will have to neck down the 22 eh ? Not too onerous a job really
I have owned the 17 hornet for a few years now and Kranks has never listed ppu brass in 17 hornet in that time even ppu do not list it. May be kranks had the hornady 17 hornet brass.
Rifle Cases
www.prvipartizan.com
As for converting 22 hornet brass to 17 hornet as you say not difficult and i have done lots, it’s not just the neck that needs reducing but the shoulder angle is also different, then it needs trimming to slightly over length prior to annealing and fire forming. Then trimmed to final length.
lots of information on www.saubier.com forum.
the 17 value bullets kranks sell are rumoured to have come from Eley when they discontinued production of
their 17 mach2 ammunition.
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