Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles .17 Hornet...ugh.

VV 130, IMR3031, VV133 in this order on the Hodgon burn rate chart
I think I may have some VV130 I will have to compare the manuals tonight..... OH boy another project UGH

Geesh, I can't wait until 14 cals become popular.

Haved used 1680 from the get go and will continue to use it. I really don't need another project.

i am going to try CFE BLK as soon as i get a chance.

Ed

It seems to give about the same velocities in the books as 1680.

If anything, it might be finer grained than 1680....should meter well.


Maybe be a bit more temp stable too. No experience with that, but seems like folks have said that 1680 is not as stable as others.


CFE BLK works well in my .221 FB ar-15.

1680 has worked well for me in my 17 Hornet and 22 K hornet especially in my used to be mine 14 H&R mag

Jim,

I have four pounds of CFE 223 on hand for testing in various small varmint rounds, but haven't gotten to it yet.

Shot a hot-weather test with 1680 this past summer, on a 90+ degree day with the rounds "greenhoused" inside a clear plastic bag with a small thermometer until the temperature read 115. The velocity was 87 fps over its average 70-degree reading, but POI at 100 was the same, accuracy was still good to go for gophers, and there wasn't the slightest sign of high pressure. That was with 12.0 grains of powder, 20-grain Varmageddons, and Rem. 7-1/2's.

Thats good info, thanks.

Cant remember where I read where 1680 was temp sensitive.

I tried to figure out if CFE 223 was going to be good in a .17 Fireball but Hogdon did not recommend it I guess.

The CFE BLK might be good. I seem to build some copper in that barrel,

It's pushing my .221 Fireball to 3550 with a 40 grain v max out of a 21 inch barrel.

My understanding based on a conversation with a friend who's been in the commercial reloading biz for decades is that CFE BLK is basically the same powder as 680 which is basically the same as 1680.

Thats interesting.

In my .221 AR, CFE BLK runs around 400 fps faster than 1680.

While I load for a 221FB in a CZ, I haven't tried any CFE BLK yet. But take a look at the burn rate charts in the following two links, and note the positions of Win 680, Accurate 1680 and CFE BLK relative to each other. Of course, the caveat applies that all powders can and do shift positions on a burn rate chart depending on their application in different cartridges.
Ramshot/Accurate Burn Rate Chart
Hodgdon Burn Rate Chart

Jim,

ALL powders gain some pressure, and hence velocity, as temperatures rise above 70 degrees, but temp-resistant powders gain less. Others can vary from results like 1680's, which are obviously OK, to some that will blow primers or lock up bolts on a hot summer afternoon on a gopher or prairie dog town. And if course barrel temperature affect everything too.

On the same hot day I tested the .17 with 1680, I also tested my .204 with its usual prairie dog load, the 40-grain V-Max and a max charge of Ramshot TAC. It only gained 24 fps from 70 to 115 degrees.

Good information John, thanks.


MT DD FAN...your friend might be right. While the two powders look different, they do produce some of the same types of velocities now.

My old Sierra book listed the 1680 loads as 400 FPS slower than Western lists theirs now.

My 17FB coppers fouls a bit....thats why I picked up a can of BLK. Thought it was worth a try.

I dont know about .17-20 cal screw in drop tube for the Uniflow.

I did not see that when I ordered the Quick Change adapters. I do not like the quick change models, and much prefer the screw in type.

The screw in type for the Uniflow looks to be made of metal too......it might be a good unit.

Anyway, the Sinclair stuff showed up the other day. It looks just like the set up that Huntsman22 showed.

You have to buy an adapter for the Uniflow. After that you buy drop tubes for each caliber.

I ordered a .22 tube and a 17-20 tube.

The 22 tube is clear lexan. The 17 tube is the same but with a hardened plastic or maybe aluminum tip on the end. I assume because the little 17 cases are quite sharp after you chamfer them.

The Sinclair setup works great! I did spill one charge of CFE BLK powder but it was because I did not have it lined up properly. CFE and TAC are about the finest grained powder I use.....it looks like dust.

No other grains were spilled. The clear lexan makes it easy to see if a charge is brigded. Not a problem with the CFE powder, but R7 and 8208 can bridge. Handy to be able to see.

One nice feature of the Sinclair tubes is that they are use a simple cone design. No fancy angles or shoulders or anything. I have noticed that once in a while a freshly chamfered case will get stuck in a drop tube, or the case mouth will hang up. This usually jars the whole load block and spills powder out of the already charged cases.

The Sinclair tubes will not allow the case mouth to enter the center hole, solving this problem.

I am very pleased with these Sinclair products.

Thanks for the report.

I wish I could drop the powder straight into the 17 hornet case but my lee powder measure just isn't up to the job. It's the only caliber I load for so doesn't warrant spending loadsa money on. This thread has given me the idea of a drop tube though, especially when using Trail Boss because the donut shapes bounce a lot no matter how close I hold the pan. I've even seen the buggars bounce out of the pan frpm the trickler. A deeper pan would be very useful.
I only use the TB when searching for a quiet, short range, reloadable round. So far I've got 2.6gr TB behind a 17gr Vmax and it's already quieter than hmr @ 100yds.
Normal powder Is LilGun but I've just got some Lovex D063 (AA1680) which I will switch to.

Hey, if anyone wants a Sinclair drop tube for a Lyman powder measure....shoot me a PM.

I ordered one by mistake.

.17 caliber.

Jim, Is it specific to the Lyman powder measure?