Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters .17 Hornet

I can't see any real advantage over a .223 Anybody mess with one?

Less powder, less noise, less recoil.

Should be great for whackin p dogs at long range.

Here's the Salvage, I'm waitin on CZ.

I think less recoil is a stretch as far as an advantage. I buy less noise. Less powder as an advantage is a matter of opinion- who reloads to save money in this class of cartridges? Also, the diversity of available bullets for the .223 seems to trump all.

Oh yer prolly right. lol

The 17 should make a dandy fox gun. That's why it was originally wildcatted.

I think the new cartridge is gonna do pretty well on the market.

Time will tell.

I see the point. It may not be a point for you, but don't be so dang narrow-minded that just because its not for you, you jumpin' to the conclusion its not for anyone else, either.

If I didn't already have a .17 HMR I'd be all over the .17 Hornet. Might be anyway before all is said and done.

Tom

I had MGM chamber up a barrel for my Contender. I had it finished at 23" and .650 at the muzzle and use a carbine fore arm.
The cartridge is a gem and averages in the high 3500fps range out of my Contender.

The difference in recoil, while not a issue for the shoulder,is there in a pleasant impression sort of way.
So is it's moderate report.

Comparison's with the 223 are a apples vs. oranges one ,IMO.

Sakoluvr: I have not obtained one of these as yet - I am kind of waiting for a Ruger 77/17H V/T to come along.
My Ruger 77/22 V/T (L.R.) and my Ruger 77/17 V/T (17 HMR) shoot so very well that I am anxiously awaiting Ruger to burp out some of these heavy barrel Model 77's in 17 Hornet.
I did own a Ruger 77/22H V/T in 22 Hornet several years ago and it shot only fair AT BEST!
The advantages I see in a Ruger heavy barrel Model 77/17 V/T is the high capacity rotary magazine, very low recoil (see your misses/hits), low cost to reload, great bullets available and perky ballistics and trajectory out to 250 yards or so.
The 223 Remington has more versatility and usefullness over-all as a Varmint round, I am sure.
But what a fun little cartridge this 17 Hornet should be - especially for us Ground Squirrel Hunters.
I have not heard one go off in the field but I bet the noise level would be low thus not scaring the Gophers down as much as a 223 Rifle would?
The "new shape" of this 17 Hornets case should aid in accuracy especially over the 22 Hornets shape (inherently inaccurate)?
And another reason the 17 Hornet interests me is because it is something new in the world of Rifles.
I do know that my 17 Remington Fireball and my older custom 17 MachIV perform WAY beyond my expectations.
But, as I recall, the "sales pitches" I have heard and read regarding the 17 Hornet none of them claimed to have "an advantage" of any kind over the 223.
About the only cartridges the 17 Hornet would hold an advantage over are the 17 HMR, 17 Mach2, 22 Magnum and the 22 Hornet.
I am hopin to be messin with a 17 Hornet come winter and have it ready for the late spring (around my parts anyway) arrival of the Gophers.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

VarmintGuy, much thanks for the input. As always, good insight and well written.

VG, how much advantage will it hold over a single shot (pointed bullet) 22 K-Hornet?

Mark

17 Hornet boasts over 3600 fps. My 22 K Hornet ran @ 3200 fps stuffed with Lil Gun and 35 gr Hornadys.

1B

17 Hornet boasts over 3600 fps. My 22 K Hornet Ruger 77VHZ ran @ 3200 fps stuffed with Lil Gun and 35 gr Hornadys.

1B

I don't know why but I want one!

I just wish they packaged them in something nice...the Savage just doesn't cut it.

Too bad someone doesn't make a small action that isn't cheap, over the top expensive, or clunky. Hello Remington??? maybe a 700 scaled down???

I'm looking into having an old Remington 580 (22 long rifle) converted to centerfire in 17HH but I'm waiting to see what comes on the market.

Yeah, The 17 Hornet crushes all the named while maintaining much of their manners.
1000 fps and 3 grs. more v-max bullet than the 17 HMR make 300 yards pretty easy.

Sakoluvr,

For myself only : It's a "Got to have"... Sorry, I'm just an incurable rifle looney...

I have flirted with the .17 Javelina, .17 Rem, .17 Fireball, and the only .17, I currently own, is a .17 HMR.

I'm just waiting for it to come out in a Ruger #1... Hopefully, #1-AB or a 1-A... But likely I'll take whatever they make... I don't DEMAND that Ruger conform to my wishes, nor require them to make it in a form of my choosing... If Ruger thinks that it will sell, I'm sure they'll build it in whatever format they think will sell the most rifles... (After all, manufacturing is a business, and one must treat it as such...)

I'm more inclined to think of it as a reloadable .17 HMR, with a bit more OOMPH!, or equal if one is so inclined... That's one of the greatest advantages of reloading... One can choose the power level...

Have a great day...

GH

GH,

How about a .17 Hornet in a #1S? From the guys who made them in the 218 Bee?

1B

1B... I fail to see the purpose of sights on a .17 Hornet, but if that's the way it came, I'd likely buy it and whack the barrel to 23 5/8" and then have it fluted...

GH

I just can't warm up to the .17 Hornet. I can't figure why a cartridge like the .17 Fireball just about dies on the vine and then everybody jumps all over the .17 Hornet like it's the greatest thing sliced bread. The .17 Fireball has much better brass, can be loaded down to .17 Hornet and up to within a few fps of the .17 Rem. The Fire ball is a much more effecient cartridge in my opinion and deserves more respect than it's recieved. Again, this is just my opinion and I have nothing against anyone that likes the .17 Hornet and wants one, more power to you.

CZ is advertising their 17 Hornet rifles to be available in January. Looks like it'll be in the 527 Varmint and American.

Good deal.