Hmmmmm. Sooo - judging from the responses on this and other 17 hmr threads there are two significant and common factors in the many dreadful “incidents” experienced with this round.
The first is a “squib” load, probably with an existing split in the neck thus permitting moisture ingress which prevents any/full ignition of the main powder charge but is sufficient to drive and lodge the bullet in the barrel where with great anticipation it awaits the company of the next round. As far as I can determine no “incidents” occurred at time of firing the offending round but clearly this dangerous element is a significant issue -
responsibility for which lies squarely at the feet of the manufacturers. There too is where the response and remedy must lie.
If we accept that poor ignition does not immediately create the “incident” then the second factor inevitably is the human factor of chambering and firing a second round after the dreaded “click” which of course is widely known to be entirely the wrong thing to do but still some do it -
responsibility for this element of course lies with those who shoot this round.
The big question for me is why do we blithely assume that all mass produced commercial rounds are of the same standard that we ensure as part of our reloading process? As any experienced reloader knows close examination of their outputs is a sine qua non and he/she would not dream of reloading never mind chambering a centrefire round which has a split neck - rightly the case is binned before reloading or upon detection afterwards. This is particularly pertinent in relation to the 17 hmr where unfired split cases are still regularly encountered and split cases upon firing even more so (I had another 3 out of 12 today!) and, of particular significance, the shooting community is well aware of these faults so inevitably must take some responsibility for their (in)actions.
Now, IMHO the marmite 17hmr is a fantastic round, inherently accurate and very powerful for such a light bullet, it rightly has a place in my gun cabinet. That said there is clearly a safety issue but and it is a big but, until the industry publicly accepts there is an isdue, those who continue to shoot it must also accept responsibility for their own safety and treat every bullet as they would one of their own reloads. It takes only seconds to check each round before loading, indeed my own practice is to do this at home as they are unboxed
before they go into my ammo pouch and
again before insertion into the magazine. As a further last chance saloon safety precaution the shooter must
always be alert to the dreaded “click”
AND investigate the cause, ensuring the
barrel is clear, before chambering another round -
“IF IT CLICKS - IT STICKS” should be your watchword.
Stay safe chaps.
