Downloading a 17 hornet to HMR speeds

[billy_boyle_2010]

hi guys

I have been hankering after a 17 hornet for a while. The mini Mauser action of the CZ appeals and it strikes me as a bit of a "one gun quiver"- dropping fox at sensible ranges and it's only limitation for crows and rabbits is the wind and how much time you put into homeloads

However- as I already run a HMR and 223 an alternative viewpoint is it's not as good as the HMR for rabbits (its potentially too much for them assuming you want to eat what you shoot).

A full confession- I haven't shot a 17 hornet at quarry- so my understanding of what it does to a 60 yard rabbit isn't first hand. However - from what I have read it takes the head off out past 100 yards and probably causes a lot of bruising and perhaps fragments down into the neck and upper body. Not ideal if you want to eat it !

So this got me thinking- could one homeload a 17gr hornet round to approaching HMR speeds? And run it alongside a full power load?

One could run 2 magazines and , depending on quarry- could alternate between the rounds. The zero would move of course- but taking a 60 yard rabbit headshot wouldn't turn the entire thing to mush. On days when one was more fox/crow orientated- the full power rounds coukd be used.

Another full disclosure is I don't home load so I'm very happy to be corrected if such a low charge wouldn't be possible in the hornets case!

Thanks

 

[Sonicdmb73]

hi guys

I have been hankering after a 17 hornet for a while. The mini Mauser action of the CZ appeals and it strikes me as a bit of a "one gun quiver"- dropping fox at sensible ranges and it's only limitation for crows and rabbits is the wind and how much time you put into homeloads

However- as I already run a HMR and 223 an alternative viewpoint is it's not as good as the HMR for rabbits (its potentially too much for them assuming you want to eat what you shoot).

A full confession- I haven't shot a 17 hornet at quarry- so my understanding of what it does to a 60 yard rabbit isn't first hand. However - from what I have read it takes the head off out past 100 yards and probably causes a lot of bruising and perhaps fragments down into the neck and upper body. Not ideal if you want to eat it !

So this got me thinking- could one homeload a 17gr hornet round to approaching HMR speeds? And run it alongside a full power load?

One could run 2 magazines and , depending on quarry- could alternate between the rounds. The zero would move of course- but taking a 60 yard rabbit headshot wouldn't turn the entire thing to mush. On days when one was more fox/crow orientated- the full power rounds coukd be used.

Another full disclosure is I don't home load so I'm very happy to be corrected if such a low charge wouldn't be possible in the hornets case!

Thanks

Ok so not the same cartridge but I have dropped a 222 down to a little above 22wmr speeds. Accuracy was reasonable but the bullet performance was not. I used a 22 hornet bullet (thinner jacket) but expansion was lacking.
However don’t be put off as to a degree that’s what you are wanting is it not less of the explosive expansion and more controlled.
So with that in mind you can download, the old way was use H4895 at 60% of a given max load suitable for the cartridge in use.
So if you could use a 10 grain load of H4895 behind a certain bullet. You would start at 6 grains and work up till you got the accuracy you need.
I have also had a go with 20 Tac and 32 grain bullets but accuracy was off and I didn’t do much more with them.
Now the downside, you can’t get H4895 anymore (REACH) so an alternative is required. But I believe that with a bit of research you would find something suitable.
Zero could potentially be the problem. A possible solution is something like Strelok with its zero offset function to allow for the difference between full and low power loads.
I had considered a 17 centre fire as a HMR alternative I don’t see why you can’t duplicate it’s speed and accuracy. With appropriate bullets and powder.

 

[soulboy1957]

Been using a. 17 hornet for 4 years now, tried the downloaded 17g heads etc.
Very little difference in terms of rabbit damage, not as accurate, can't be driven at the same speed, consequently different zero points.
I no longer bother, everything is shot with a 20g vmax, 11.5gr of DO63, accurate, consistent and one zero.

 

[soulboy1957]

If you want to try it, 9gr of DO63 gives you 2600 with a 17g head, same as an hmr.

 

[Sonicdmb73]

Been using a. 17 hornet for 4 years now, tried the downloaded 17g heads etc.
Very little difference in terms of rabbit damage, not as accurate, can't be driven at the same speed, consequently different zero points.
I no longer bother, everything is shot with a 20g vmax, 11.5gr of DO63, accurate, consistent and one zero.

It is easier to get the heavier bullets slower and that reduces damage. At least that is my experience with other calibre’s.

 

[David N]

I am using h110 with 17g bt bullets. Have a slow load at 8.8 gr around 3000 fps. I can up it to 10.4gr and get 3600 fps.

POI with the 8.8 is close to my 20 g vmax load at 100 yrs.

 

[Bowland blades]

hi guys

I have been hankering after a 17 hornet for a while. The mini Mauser action of the CZ appeals and it strikes me as a bit of a "one gun quiver"- dropping fox at sensible ranges and it's only limitation for crows and rabbits is the wind and how much time you put into homeloads

However- as I already run a HMR and 223 an alternative viewpoint is it's not as good as the HMR for rabbits (its potentially too much for them assuming you want to eat what you shoot).

A full confession- I haven't shot a 17 hornet at quarry- so my understanding of what it does to a 60 yard rabbit isn't first hand. However - from what I have read it takes the head off out past 100 yards and probably causes a lot of bruising and perhaps fragments down into the neck and upper body. Not ideal if you want to eat it !

So this got me thinking- could one homeload a 17gr hornet round to approaching HMR speeds? And run it alongside a full power load?

One could run 2 magazines and , depending on quarry- could alternate between the rounds. The zero would move of course- but taking a 60 yard rabbit headshot wouldn't turn the entire thing to mush. On days when one was more fox/crow orientated- the full power rounds coukd be used.

Another full disclosure is I don't home load so I'm very happy to be corrected if such a low charge wouldn't be possible in the hornets case!

Thanks

I use 22 hornet myself. You could load a 40 grain v max down to 2800 fps in your 223 and do both rabbits for the table ( head shooting 10-200+ skills allowing ) as this is basically what tge hornet does, I do more small game with the hornet than the 22 lr now.
Word of warning i love my 22 hornet but copper will kill it off and I doubt things will be different in the 17 version
22 hornet is good with cast lead BTW cheap and better accuracy than 22 wmr and capable of loading up to 2000 or down to subsonic
Last few days seriously thinking of the hornets future when non toxic comes in by law as it will come

 

[Rem783]

Been using a. 17 hornet for 4 years now, tried the downloaded 17g heads etc.
Very little difference in terms of rabbit damage, not as accurate, can't be driven at the same speed, consequently different zero points.
I no longer bother, everything is shot with a 20g vmax, 11.5gr of DO63, accurate, consistent and one zero.

I use 12.4 do 63 in 20g extremely accurate cz 527

 

[sundog]

I use my 222 for head shooting rabbits occasionally. It does tend to take the head off perhaps leaving the ears and some mush. No shrapnel in the body, a nice clean carcass once skinned. I use Amax 52g . I think 17 hornet would do a fine job as it is without down loading and the faff of different zeros.

 

[Bowland blades]

This is typical of the 22 hornet full stacked , I only head shoot at 200 + the damage is reduced but as say 50 yards the head becomes a glove puppet , no meat damaged though ever
The rifle is a cz , I pillar bedded the action thats it

 

[Liveonce]

Once you have shot the 17hornet you will quickly give up the idea of down loading to 17hmr.

 

[Zetter]

Having owned both and in the end kept the hornet to be honest I find with both it was head shot only on mr bunny if you want him for the table.
The hornet does tend to decapitate them but the bits you want are more than edible. Even with the HMR if it was a body shot it did tend to make too much of a mess to make them fit for me than ferret food.

Compared to .22 rimfire I found you just cant get away with that shoulder or front body shot and expect not to mess up the carcass badly.

If it was me I would just crack on with the 20 grainer and just head shoot them as sundog says why make life more complicated if you dont have to.

 

[billy_boyle_2010]

Hmmmm very interesting thanks guys.

It sounds like it's possible but probably more hassle than it's worth unless I'm prepared to put a lot of time tweaking and then likely I will just use the most accurate full power load and put up with the mess at close range.