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So now the new 17 Hornet and maybe the 17WSM are fast enough to buck prairie winds? I'm either adding a 204Ruger or a 17 Hornet to the options.
Mule Deer and others let me know.


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you need both. The Hornet AND the 204.... What's with this 'either/or' bullchit?>

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17 Fire Ball


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I'm a big fan of the 204 with 40 grain VMAX loads. Hunted in WY this summer and didn't notice any issues with excess drift.


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Originally Posted by huntsman22
you need both. The Hornet AND the 204.... What's with this 'either/or' bullchit?>


To clarify, I have a 22 Hornet and two 17HMR's already.
I have a lot of .204 bullets and brass but intrigued by the 17WSM. Maybe I answered my question already in a time of brass of bullet shortages.


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I just stick with my .223 Savage and .22-250 Kimber. I want a CZ in .17 Hornet, though....

If I was just buying and owning one, though, it'd probably be a .204.


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I guess I am just too fuddy or old school, I prefer the 222 myself. I don't really see a better option for varmints and yote sized game!! I live variety and rifles though, so I'll keep adding to the collection!

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Calif. Hunter,

Before plastic-tip bullets became commonplace, I used to bring a .223 and a .22-250 or .220 Swift on prairie dog shoots, but the bullets of the day had pretty sad ballistic coefficients. The hollow-points were a little better, but didn't open up like soft-points.

These days I find the .17 Hornet and .204 with plastic-tips will do the same things on PD's a .223 and .22-250 used to, but with less powder and less recoil.


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Thanks for the response, Mr. B. For years, I used the 50 gr Speer TNTs in my .223 and it was all I seemed to need for most CA ground squirrel shooting. Then I won the .22-250 Kimber at a FNRA dinner and started loading it with V-Maxs and Ballistic Tips. I had a helluva time getting the gun to shoot and finally got "OK" accuracy with H-414 and 5o g plastic tips. It just took a while ( a couple hundred rounds) to shoot in, I guess, as it suddenly started shooting much better. Then I switched (upon reading your remarks) to Big Game and the rifle started shooting the same 50 gr bullets into one hole. I now use 40 gr plastic tips in the .223.

But I sure want a CZ Varmint in .17 Hornet...

Here is my son with "our" Kimber -

[img:center]http://i743.photobucket.com/albums/xx74/vanstra1/MichaelampKimber.jpg?t=1374543942[/img]


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I suspect you would like the .17 Hornet!

The .17 Fireball is a good one too, for taking a step down from the .204 and .223.


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I bought a 17 fireball last winter, love that little rifle. I shoot a lot of sage rats. I shoot rats with 17fb,17rem, 204ruger, 221fb, 222rem, 223rem and 22-250rem. Since I got the 17fb it gets the most use, lol my other rat guns are getting jealous. I guess I better buy a 17 hornet to give the 17fb a rest lol. Ed

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I also like the 17 FB, but am actually "downgrading" a bit with my next build to the 17 VHA.

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m s s,

Yeah, I ended up with an extra .17 Fireball barrel for my 700 for when the first one starts to go south, just because I use it so much!


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sscoyote,

I shot a .17 VHA some this spring and it works real well. But the gap it plugged between the .17 HMR and the .17 Fireball is filled just as well with the .17 Hornet. Though right now brass for the .17 VHA might be more easily available!


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I'm not sure there were ever any more worthy 300 yardish prairie dog bullets ever designed than the 17 cal. V-Max's.

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They're pretty darn good, that's for sure!

The 20-grain tipped Nosler Varmageddon is also very accurate and explosive. The hollow-point version doesn't open up as violently, but still works OK.


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with the exception of the standard hornet they all do fine at 300. 223 would be my recommendation except for the shortage of brass and bullets so I have migrated to 20 cal

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I have yet to own any wildcats, lol I am sure I will. I love my two 17's, like my 204 and my various 22 cals. Not a PDog shooter as we don't have them here. Shoot a lot of sagerats. Love shooting 250 plus on yardage. Probably the 22-250 is my long distance gun, 350 to 400 yds, lol seem to hit them little buggers with the others as well. Ed

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rainierrifleco,

Actually, the .22 Hornet does pretty well at 300--with plastic-tipped 40's and a longer barrel. My Ruger No. 1B gets around 3100 fps from 40-grain Ballistic Tips, V-Maxes and Blitzkings, and does well out at 300. That's about the limit, though.

Of course, most Hornets don't have 26" barrels, and most repeaters don't have long enough magazines to use plastic-tipped 40's.


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I have really enjoyed my CZ 527 varmint in 223. I have yet to find a bullet that I couldn't get to shoot extremely well. Also for a factory trigger it is very difficult to beat.

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