My hunting partner is looking at buying a new gopher rig and is trying to decide between a .17 hornet and a .17 WSM both on a Ruger platform. Both of these calibers are are new to us and would appreciate some advice on the pros and cons. Thanks. Tuchodi
Yep we do a lot of reloading that is why the hornet was appealing, but not being familiar with either caliber just need some wisdom. Just getting into gopher shooting as where we live we have to travel about 600 miles to gopher country so still feeling our way feeling our way around.
Reloading the 17 hornet is a plus compared to the 17 wsm. Very economical too. After you get the brass of course. Because the low powder charge (9.7 gr of lil gun for hornady 20 gr vmax) the real expense is in the bullet.
17 wsm in the newer rifles is a fun way to rimfire. Use caution when buying a bmag. (skip the original bmag sporters...all of them just for simplicity --- the first ones were complete and total dog chit) You'll be best served in 17 wsm if you go the route of ruger or a bmag with heavy barrel. You mentioned your buddy is looking at a Ruger- I say that it very wise.
The 17 hornet has more significantly more horsepower than the 17 wsm, most instances 200+ more feet per second...and if you want to see something cool try the hornady 15.5 gr NTX superformance--- 3850 fps out of a factory load.
In my ruger 17 H, the ntx shoot very well. On small ground squirrels the red mist effect is there for sure.
The main reasons someone would go 17 wsm over 17 hornet (IMHO) would be: 1.)if they don't reload -- factory ammo for wsm is as cheap as $15 a box of 50 rounds versus 17 hornet $17 a box for 25 rounds 2.) if you are hunting in a state that has special areas with rimfire only restrictions 3.) near urban areas where rimfire is a better/safer/more tolerable/ less noise-- idea 4.) potentially a 17 wsm rifle can be had for a lower cost
I'm guessing you mis-typed somehow where you say the .17 Hornet has 200+ fps over the .17 WSM. It's more like 700 fps with the same 20-grain bullet weight. That's from chronographing factory ammo from both rounds, in 22" barrels.
Another general note: Even some shooters who don't handload use .17 Hornets. The factory ammo is low enough priced that they sell the brass afterward for enough to make up the price difference of .17 WSM ammo. There are usually plenty of handloaders looking for once-fired .17 Hornet brass, and the accuracy of Hornady .17 Hornet ammo is superb. I just shot a couple of 5-shot groups from my CZ a couple weeks ago, while getting ready for Montana's rodent season, which went into .45 and .44 inches.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
I just bought a bunch of .17 Hornet factory ammo at just about exactly the same price the same website (not Midway) was selling new brass. And yes, that was the same price PER ROUND, not 25 rounds of ammo for the price of 50 new cases.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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