Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Split after shooting isn't a problem. It's them that are split before firing that are the potential threat. Just checking you understand.
How could you not like the HMR
- Thread starter Smellydog
- Start date
Turnips
Well-Known Member
Absolutely.
I found that the ones which split after firing have a barely visible seam/split on the neck before firing, usually in the same boxes which have proper splits. Like I said, I stay away from Winchester as the problem is (in my experience) only with that brand.
Out of curiosity, if it was a centrefire round we would be concerned about splits after firing wouldn't we? Why doesn't it matter with rimfires?
MagicLantern
Well-Known Member
On the FAC renewal front, after a phone call to D&C Firearms it's been confirmed all is in order, I'm in the queue for an FEO phone call. During that phone call I will be emphasising I'd very much like a slot for another HMR. I am very impressed with my T1X in 22LR, so I'll be going that route in 17.
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
It's not really an issue in center fire, just a symptom of a need for annealing after so many reloads. New brass, center fire, is annealed before loading, unlike HMR brass etc.
Turnips
Well-Known Member
I'm with you, thanks for explaining that. For some reason I had it in my head that split necks were to do with too much pressure.
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
No mate, not really. Really flat primers and loosened primer pockets and your getting hot.
Split cases, never seen one. Must be from a dodgy chambering or a specific ammo (thanks to Turnips for flagging it is Winchester rounds that split).
Shot 600 rounds in the past 2 months alone from my Weirauch 0.17 HMR, no split cases, running Hornady Vmax red tips and CCI 17 grain grey tips (alas, local RFD does not stock 20 grain).
Noise: varies, usually just a crack like a whip cracking, but sometimes a definite bang that one could mistake for a moderated 5.56. I have an unbranded German moderator fitted. While a 0.22LR is far quieter, HMR noise is not really intrusive, it does not attract attention or complaints even when shooting close to public areas.
The beauty of HMR is the flat shooting, so no mucking about getting the range spot on when one is trying to hit the neck of a squirrel at anywhere from 20 to 120 yards - zeroed at 30m, it is an inch high at 60m, spot on at 100m.
Another massive benefit of HMR over 22LR is no ricochet: so much energy in a small bullet it disintegrates instantly on impact with anything hard.
Finally, HMR is really accurate, as in sub MOA at 100 yards so long as it is no wind conditions. However even with that, I stopped doing head shots because hitting just front of the eyes in a side shot leaves the animal injured but alive, compared to a neck or chest shot which kills instantly and allows one to be ½" out, or even an inch out, without leaving a wounded animal to find. The HMR dumps a lot more energy than a 22LR so there are no run-ons: imagine a tomato sized volume of mince.
Overall, far, far prefer HMR over 22LR. If you get a HMR, you will not regret it.
Shot 600 rounds in the past 2 months alone from my Weirauch 0.17 HMR, no split cases, running Hornady Vmax red tips and CCI 17 grain grey tips (alas, local RFD does not stock 20 grain).
Noise: varies, usually just a crack like a whip cracking, but sometimes a definite bang that one could mistake for a moderated 5.56. I have an unbranded German moderator fitted. While a 0.22LR is far quieter, HMR noise is not really intrusive, it does not attract attention or complaints even when shooting close to public areas.
The beauty of HMR is the flat shooting, so no mucking about getting the range spot on when one is trying to hit the neck of a squirrel at anywhere from 20 to 120 yards - zeroed at 30m, it is an inch high at 60m, spot on at 100m.
Another massive benefit of HMR over 22LR is no ricochet: so much energy in a small bullet it disintegrates instantly on impact with anything hard.
Finally, HMR is really accurate, as in sub MOA at 100 yards so long as it is no wind conditions. However even with that, I stopped doing head shots because hitting just front of the eyes in a side shot leaves the animal injured but alive, compared to a neck or chest shot which kills instantly and allows one to be ½" out, or even an inch out, without leaving a wounded animal to find. The HMR dumps a lot more energy than a 22LR so there are no run-ons: imagine a tomato sized volume of mince.
Overall, far, far prefer HMR over 22LR. If you get a HMR, you will not regret it.
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it’s not or was not just winchester brand that had the split case problem, may be they have found away to fix the problem.
The case neck is reduced to 0.17 after priming the case which work hardens the brass.
If you check every round carefully before using I would be surprised but pleased if you do not find a split.
It was the reason i moved to a .17hornet.
The case neck is reduced to 0.17 after priming the case which work hardens the brass.
If you check every round carefully before using I would be surprised but pleased if you do not find a split.
It was the reason i moved to a .17hornet.
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Can you explain these Hornady rounds that have not been chambered in a dodgy chamber?
Or this one.
That is a nice macro photo there Smellydog! What did you use to take it?
You have got me rummaging through my ammo with a magnifying glass.
Edit 5 mins later: The ammo I have left is all CCI. It is made in the same factory as the Hornady ammo, according to the Hornady podcast Youtube videos. Only difference is the CCI has a grey tip. None in that box of 200 are split (there are 170 left in it). When I next go for ammo (in a week or two), I will take the magnifying glass to look at the Vmax again before buying. Thanks for highlighting the QA problem that Winchester and Hornady seem to have with HMR ammo.
You have got me rummaging through my ammo with a magnifying glass.
Edit 5 mins later: The ammo I have left is all CCI. It is made in the same factory as the Hornady ammo, according to the Hornady podcast Youtube videos. Only difference is the CCI has a grey tip. None in that box of 200 are split (there are 170 left in it). When I next go for ammo (in a week or two), I will take the magnifying glass to look at the Vmax again before buying. Thanks for highlighting the QA problem that Winchester and Hornady seem to have with HMR ammo.
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Smellydog
Well-Known Member
A camera
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
There you go buddy. Thems the ones to dismantle and bin.My camera is a potato in comparison (probably the operator), but here's a Winchester with malformed tip and split neck, and a Hornady with some kind of damage from the factory and a split neck.
Camera's on phones today usually have a makro option. That'll let you take close ups
.
Turnips
Well-Known Member
I normally collect them and take them back to where I got them from like a true grumpy farmer. Dismantle them by pulling the bullet out with pliers or something?
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Yeah, just pull the bullet sprinkle the powder on the lawn and bin the brass.
MagicLantern
Well-Known Member
There's nothing quite like dropping a crow at 100m+ with the HMR then having all his mates come in for a wake. Disappointingly, no mourners on foot yet.
ColinBr
Well-Known Member
Picked up my 17hmr last week along with a 22 WMR barrel to suit.
Tried the rifle out by zeroing at 50 yards and trying a gong out at 120 yards. Was more than happy with the rifle and more so that it was the same zero between the 2 distances. My young man decided then to use the remaining 30 rounds having a go as he puts it.
Next day I decided that I would add another Hik Alpex (in the BF sales) and just keep it mounted to the HMR and keep the other for the 22lr and air rifles.
Re-zeroed the rifle once I picked up some new Hornady 17gr Vmax ammo and the new scope had arrived.
Was out later in the week and picked off 7 rabbits at the local golf course within an hour of walking around. Amazingly accurate little rifle and I've yet to even try the 22 WMR barrel.
Sits perfectly between my 22lr and 223
Would like to try a 17 Hornet though as I reload.
Tried the rifle out by zeroing at 50 yards and trying a gong out at 120 yards. Was more than happy with the rifle and more so that it was the same zero between the 2 distances. My young man decided then to use the remaining 30 rounds having a go as he puts it.
Next day I decided that I would add another Hik Alpex (in the BF sales) and just keep it mounted to the HMR and keep the other for the 22lr and air rifles.
Re-zeroed the rifle once I picked up some new Hornady 17gr Vmax ammo and the new scope had arrived.
Was out later in the week and picked off 7 rabbits at the local golf course within an hour of walking around. Amazingly accurate little rifle and I've yet to even try the 22 WMR barrel.
Sits perfectly between my 22lr and 223
Would like to try a 17 Hornet though as I reload.
love my HMR and 22lr, use them both for different jobs, shot many a group of rabbits with both calibers, never seen a split case only ever used Hornady V max, on my second outing i took a shot with the HMR and it sounded like nothing happened apart from the click of the trigger, i waited a minute then ejected the case to find it all still full of powder and knew something was wrong, took the bolt out and couldn't see daylight so did an internet search and found out i had a squib, had nothing to get it out with so hour back home to get my cleaning rod to poke it out, it now lives in my truck just incase, always inspect my bullets for splits, iv probably shot a good 3000 and not one split,
