Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Finally - I Found A Ruger 77/17 Hornet!

I think it was in the year 2,013 that I first started "itching" for a Varmint Rifle in the then newish 17 Hornady Hornet cartridge.
Then a bit later, as the itch intensified, I decided I could only get relief by finding a Ruger Model 77/17 Hornet in their "Varmint" version with the 24" heavier barrel and flush fitting rotary magazine.
By then a few of my friends had found savage Rifles in this caliber and a few in the handsome CZ line - and all raved about the accuracy.
So my search intensified - but was compounded by my being a VERY frugal shopper.
Well just a few days ago I finally found a mint condition Ruger 77/17 Hornet with the laminated stock and heavy barrel.
This morning I mounted a Weaver 4x16 variable scope with the fine crosshairs and fine dot reticle onto it and bore sighted it.
Yesterday I bought a "box" of Hornady 17 Hornet ammunition with the 20 grain V-Max bullet.
When the wind quits I will "sight it in" and fireform some of the Hornady brass in doing so.
My question to you all is which bullet/loading are you finding good accuracy with?
My plan with this Rifle and the Weaver fine dot scope reticle is to use it 98% on Ground Squirrels and Prairie Dogs.
I have several boxes of the wonderfully accurate Berger 25 grain bullets on hand but that may be "over-taxing" the tiny case?
Any and all input on loading the 17 Hornady Hornet would be greatly appreciated.
The "latest" edition of Hornady reloading books on my shelf does NOT have the 17 Hornady Hornet information in it.
So again, thanks for any input.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Accurate 1680 is a good powder for 17-20 and even the 25grain pills. IMHO
20grain pills and 12.4 grains 1680 was best for my loads with CZ rifle.

Don't use Lil'Gun. I found Lil'Gun to be extremely hairy, and spikes velocity and pressure quickly. Hogdon will say 10g is max for the 20g bullet, but anything past 9.3 grains was way too much for me. Just my opinion here, and my experience. YMMV


Vmax, Dogtown, NightmareXtreme, bullets all work fine too. I found that the Hornady 25g HP's to be very accurate at around 3200fps, amazingly so

What does this mean? In laymans terms?......

huntsman22: That means just what it says - I am cheap therefore my ability to buy a 17 Hornet was a bit more difficult because I would not pay full retail for a new one and wanted a great deal on a used (which I indeed finally found!)!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Lanenebraska: Thank YOU very much - I printed that out.
No 20 grain V-Max bullets in my home town - next closest venue is 65 miles away.
Thanks again for your input - much appreciated.
Just got back from town and they have a rather new Hornady Manual on the counter for people to peruse and NO 17 Hornady Hornet data - they did have 17 Mach2 data?
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

My CZ loves 20 gr hornady V-Maxs with CFE- BLK.

I couldn’t get my Ruger to shoot the Hornady 25 grainers with any powder I tried. Finally settled on 1680 with the 20 grain varmint nightmares. I’m almost out of the last batch I loaded with 1680 and my plan is to give CFE BLK a try based on mule deers rave reviews on it in the Hornet.

Good luck!!

Here is some 17 Hornet data from the Hodgdon 2020 Annual Loading Manual.

Check the twist if it's a 10 I would stay with 20 grainers.

Sherm 61: Thank you very much for that reminder - I began reloading at age 12 (self taught back in 1959!) and there was VERY little mention/reference of barrel twist rates back then and for some time after. I just "roll with what the factories offered for so long and then when I went through my "custom Rifle" phase much later I let the Riflesmiths decide for me.
I should be more attentive to this aspect of our hobby.
Thanks again.
I have the "new" Ruger 77/17 Hornet all packed up and ready to go but the wind is hummin it here for the second day in a row!
Never fails, that.

OSU Sig: Thank you very much for that depiction I have copied (hand written) the Hornady 20 grain V-Max information.

Lower River: I have some of the "regular" CFE but none of the CFE BLK - its on my list now. Thank you.

Skinner: Thank you also for your recommendation with the CFE BLK.
I am getting excited to get my sausage like fingers workin on those tiny 20 grain projectiles and get some blood blisters on my fingers (pinched in my loading press!)!

I will let you all know how this rig shoots with the factory ammunition.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Sherm 61: I found two different write-up references to the Ruger 77/17 Hornet having a 1 in 9" twist rate - thanks again for the reminder.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

All: Heck with it I have been waiting all morning and mid-day for the wind to calm down so I can shoot my new rig but alas it is not to be.
My nearest neighbors professional quality "weather station" shows wind speeds up to 26 M.P.H. and steady at 20 M.P.H. and temperature of 38.4!
Maybe things will calm down tomorrow?
I am off to do some shopping.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

My only Hornet experience is with a Anschutz .22 Hornet I had rebarreled eons before the present chambering was a twinkling in anyones eye. The 17 Ackley Hornet was fabulously accurate even with it's light sporter weight Lothar Walther barrel. Sighted in at 90 yards I could head shoot squirrels, and usually hit them in the eye! Eventually I needed money for an eqipment purchase and sold off $20K worth of guns, the little .17 included.

I found it to be a good coyote rifle if shot placement was good. My favorite shot was in the front of the neck as they were headed in. For squirrels it was amazing. At the time all I tried were Remington and Hornady 25 grain bullets and both worked well. I don't remember the twist.

Enjoy that rig VG, I have no doubt you'll have fun with the cartridge.

Fireball2: I am still waiting for "calm air"!
Wish you could have kept that accurate 17 Ackley Hornet!
Speaking of 22 Hornets though - I have had THE worst luck in obtaining accuracy with Rifles in this caliber.
I mean I went through maybe ten Rifles in that caliber and never obtained GOOD accuracy from any of them.
I tried a couple of Winchester Model 43's, a couple of pre-64 Winchester Model 70's, an Anschutz, a couple of Ruger 77's in 22 Hornet and a couple of Ruger #1's in 22 Hornet!
Never shot/owned one that pleased me.
The closest I have come to "pleasing" accuracy is the current Ruger #1-B in 22 Hornet that I own. It has a Leupold 6x18 variable scope on it and after several years of load development I finally got it to shoot fair/mediocre by switching to NICKEL plated brass! It will now shoot a five shot group at 100 yards in the mid and upper NINES (.950"+!).
If it did not have such beautiful wood on it I would have sold this Hornet also.
Looking back on 40+ years of on and off chasing" accuracy with many and varied 22 Hornet Rifles - I think my lack of success has/had to do with "neck tension" somehow - thus the improvement with the nickel plated brass?
Thanks for the words of encouragement - I needed them.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Hey VG, just by coincidence I saw one at a gunshow today in Grants Pass Oregon for $850. Is that high?

VG I tried the ruger 77s and #1b, several of the 77s. They were poor at best accuracy wise. Had one Kimber of oregon that did shoot sub inch.
Now I have two Anschutz 1730s one heavy, one sporter, both easy sub .75”.

Fireball2: Pardon my slow reply I had to watch my favorite "documentary" on TV "Montana On My Mind"!
Are you talking Ruger 77/17 Hornet or 77/22 Hornet?
I paid $600 cash for my mint condition Ruger 77/17 Hornet last week and consider that a GREAT buy! I have been looking for a Ruger 77/17 Hornet and trying to get a deal on one for many years now.
If that Rifle you saw in Grants Pass was a new 77/17 Hornet Rifle or in mint condition then that price "I" would consider to be full bore and I would not pay that.
Certain (most?) of the Ruger 77 rimfire line and the ones in 44 Magnum, 17 HMR, 357 Magnum, 17 WSM, 22 Magnum, 17 Hornet and 22 L.R. just command high prices! Often more than what they sold new for 5 - 10 years ago.
My LGS has a near mint, used, Ruger 77 in 22 Hornet with the walnut checkered stock and blued finish for $550.00 - I would have bought it when it came on the shelf last Friday - but I was flat broke.
If I can come up with the dollars I'll buy it next week and re-sell it in a more populous area for $100.00 profit!
Yeah the current values of many of the Ruger 77 rimfire and rare rotary magazined calibers is STRONG!
Hope you enjoyed the gunshow - the ones I have been to so far this year (in three states) have been just "smokin"!
Praying for calm air here tomorrow.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

VG, It was a laminate stocked heavy barreled Ruger 77. Now I'm wondering if it wasn't a 17hmr. Crap, I can't remember. It had a Leupold scope of some kind but not being in the market I just gave it a glance and remembered yiur thread. I should have kept my potatoe trap shut as I didn't give it enough time. Anyhow, have a good week.

VG, I hope your hornet 77 shoots as good as mine does. With factory Hornady's in 20 gr. I can shoot m&m sized groups at a hundred yards. It is a fine prairie dog and ground squirrel gun as I can find . Good luck!

Ctittrgittr: Ooh, ooh ooh! That would be so nice!
I am in my fifth straight day of high winds here in SW Montana and am about at my wits end.
Normally one of out ten days here is windy but of course I have a new Rifle to "wring out" and now a wind fest!
But its a warm wind 40 degrees right now.
Patience is another of the virtues I do not possess.
I can't remember if I mentioned my scope but I have mounted a Weaver V-16 (4 to 16 power variable) with the ultra-fine cross hairs and ultra-fine dot on my rig. This scope/reticle is very pleasing to shoot from the bench and again it would be so nice if my rig shot half as well as your'n.
By the way what scope do you have on your 77/17 Hornet?
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Fireball2: Yeah they look quite a bit alike - how about the color of the stock was it laminated light brown and light blackish or laminated green and brown with just a little gray and black - the 17 Hornets I have seen have all had the green and brown laminated stocks.
My week is starting out like last week finished way to windy to shoot - just checked my nearest neighbors sophisticated on line weather station and the wind is a constant 23 MPH and gusts to 36 MPH.
Can't get no group in that wind.
Come on spring!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

VG, my scope on the hornet is a leupold 4.5-14x40 with the varmint hunter reticle, nice fine crosshairs. It was a great choice for this rifle. Hope the wind stops soon for you to go stretch the wings on yours!

vg, is your'un a Target Grey model?

Crittrgittr: Thank you for that comeback. That is an excellent choice for both Colony Varmint HUnting and predator Hunting.
Good for you.
Still windy as heck here in SW Montana - it blew all night. Where does the air go?
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Huntsman22: Yes it indeed IS the target gray Varmint model - looks about exactly the same as your'n!
Thanks for posting all the wonderful and wonderfully clear pictures of your trophy Varmints!
Two quick questions - which scope is that on your 17 Hornet and which bullet/projectile are you using for those successes?
Thanks again.
I can't wait to get my 17 Hornet afield.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

the scope in the pics was a bushnell 5-15 (I think). It was replaced with a LRHS

I bet it becomes one of your favorite rifles.

I own one. It is very accurate. Shoots under .5" at a 100 yards. Same bullet trajectory as a 55 grain out of a .223 Rem. It's stainless with laminate stock. I reworked the trigger, fairly easy task.

If you experience accuracy issues, play with the torque on the bedding screws.

Lennie: Thank you very much for that.
I was stuck at home today waiting for the "Culligan Man" (who is now 6 hours late!) and the wind has NOT let up one iota anyway.
The sophisticated weather station nearby shows wind readings of 11 MPH steady with gusts to 36 MPH.
In like a lion out like a lamb - I guess.
Thanks again.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
P.S.: Congratulations on your and your Rifles "great shooting".
Any particulars you would like to share on your loading/ammo?

VG, did you get out and shoot that new gun yet?

Crittrgittr: Indeed just this morning I got out to test fire and sight-in the new 17 Hornet - and I also "bonked" my first Ground Squirrel of the year with it!
The Rifle shot fair in what I would call "poor" conditions.
I drove the 26 miles south to my friends private range and in the time it took to drive that far the wind/weather conditions worsened.
Wind came up and it started snowing so I got it sighted in and made one five shot group (5 shot at 100 yards) in poor conditions, that measured 1.12"!
Got that done and killed the Ground Squirrel with 10 shots, even.
Like the trigger and the scope/Rifle set-up and can't wait for spring!
Wanted to run the whole box of 25 rounds of factory ammunition through it but the wind and snow were getting worse so I "adjourned"!
Did see a Badger on the way home but it was on a ranch I do not have permission to Hunt on.
The guy that owns that ranch is a multi-billionaire from kalifornicationikopia that owns 105 elder and nursing care facilities in kalifornicationkopia and is very anti-Varmint Hunting!
So passed on that Varmint.
Will get after "it" again tomorrow if weather improves.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Bet I know that guy.....

Ulvejaeger: Yeah you do...
Are you up and at'em nowadays?
Come on spring.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

All: I could not take the "Cabin Fever" anymore! 24 degrees and 5 inches of new snow on the ground - I didn't care.
So today at high noon (M.S.T.) I loaded up the new 17 Hornet and my window bags and headed out to whack some Gophers.
Didn't take long as the Ground Squirrels showed up like "black sore thumbs" on top of the fresh snow.
The sun was just blazing and there was not a breath of wind when I touched off the first shot on a distant Gopher that instantly went spiraling into the air!
The sun was so blazingly bright that the ejected brass that fell onto the floorboards of the VarmintMobile was simply impossible to see in the shadow.
I guesstimated that first Gopher to have been right at 150 yards and soon another much closer Gopher popped up on top of the snow.
Crack he was done.
Shot 3 more Ground Squirrels and decided that five straight was as good a way as any to start "the season"!
Next I ventured out and took pictures of the bonked Varmints and the "V" shaped fans of red on the snow! We call this "painting the snow" here in SW Montana. Some workers had moved into the area and I decided that was enough and packed up and headed for home.
I now have 15 fireformed cases and ten more live rounds to shoot til I start putting to use the above recommended handloads to try.
What a great way to get the Cabin Fever" off'a my back!
The VarmintWife will be home from work in a few hours and I will try, again, to load some of my "painting the snow" pictures.
Come on spring.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I’ve got a similar rifle in 22 Hornet ... it’s been the best damn rifle I’ve ever put my hands on! Probably have owned it for 20 years now. It’s the older dark brown laminate stock with target gray barrel. I put a Bausch and Laumb scope on it years ago and it still wears it. I have killed every kind of critter that’s ever roamed my farm place with it. It’s got lots of battle scars now but it’s still beautiful in my eyes! I will never sell it ... period. It’s my go to rifle around here.

I’ve always wanted to try a 17 Hornet ever since it’s birth. I’m just afraid my 22 Hornet will get forgotten and she’s been too damn good to me to deserve that. Lol. Good Luck with your new rifle! Sounds like lots of fun in the very near future for you.

RickyBobby: I also bought one of the heavy barrel Ruger 77/22 Hornets "long ago" and I had trouble getting it to shoot well!
That was not surprising to me as virtually EVERY 22 Hornet Rifle I have owned has shot poorly/not well (including an Anschutz and several others!)!
I am so happy your 22 Hornet is working so well for you.
Enjoy that "Hornet" for the duration!
My local gun shop has a very nice Ruger 77/22 Hornt in the walnut stocked sporter weight barrel version and I have been so tempted to buy it - it's in 97% condition and its on consignment sale at $550.00.
I am not sure how many magazines come with it - but again it has pretty nice wood and is cool looking.
I have a scope all picked out and set aside for this shiny blued Ruger Rifle (Leupold 2x7 variable).
I even have a left over set of 22 Hornet dies from one of my previous Hornets.
I do have a Ruger #1-B in 22 Hornet and after several years of on and off handloading I finally got it to shoot "fairly"!
It has a Leupold 6x18 variable scope on it and every once in a while I take it out and bag some Ground Squirrels/Prairie Dogs with it.
I say give the 17 Hornet a try - the 17's are sure fun for me (both the centerfires and the rimfires).
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Love my Hornet!

Hey VG--when are you gonna start using specialty pistols for vmnts.? Just had a 9T 17 HH built on a Savage Striker. Netting 3650 with 20 v-maxs from an 18" barrel with 1680. Having shot a dog one with it yet but will soon. Great pics BTW!!

Sscoyote: I was early in on the bandwagon of the Remington XP-100 in 221 Remington Fireball - and have owned several of them since. Most of the XP-100's I bought were for the purpose of making un-taxed profits though!
I did turn 2 (two) of the XP-100's into custom Varmint Rifles and still have one of those (6mm Remington Bench Rest).
They are fine and accurate and were "innovative" pistols.
Today I have just one XP-100 pistol and it is an all stock early mid-grip model in 223 Remington - it has a Burris 10 power pistol scope on it. It is deadly accurate - which has never ceased to amaze me.
I also have a Thompson Contender with a 14" heavy barrel in 223 Remington with a Burris 3x9 pistol scope on it.
I should do more "shooting/Hunting with both of these fine and accurate pistols!
Enjoy your new 17 Hornet.
And this - what brand reloading dies are you using?
TIA
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Got Hornady dies, can't remember now which ones have to go back and check--3-die set is all I know for now. Will see. Yes looking forward to sending some PD's to PD Heaven this next week off.

Sscoyote: My local pawn sport shop has been unable to find either Redding or RCBS dies from any of their suppliers so I am going to try as set of Hornady dies. The good news is they are a LOT cheaper than either the RCBS or Redding dies.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I use a lot of Hornady dies and like them very much.

OSU Sig: This will be my first "venture" with Hornady loading dies so wish me luck.
They just came into my local pawn/gun shop and I haven't even taken the Saran Wrap off of them yet.
$34.00 (no sales tax). I may have to give you a P/M if I get in a bind with setting them up.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I bought the day before thanksgiving last year. I waylayed one coyote last winter and I’ve killed a couple hand fulls of ground squirrels so far. It may be the best squirrel round of all time

I'll be happy to help if I can. I doubt you'll have issues.

Jdb: From my observations of my friends Rifles and what little Ground Squirelling I have done this spring with my 17 Hornet you may be right?
Low recoil, no barrel heat, relatively quiet and I have seen my friends clipping off the diminutive Gophers easily out at 250 yards with their 17 Hornets (CZ's and Ruger 77's).
Which bullet are you using on the Coyotes?
Come on good weather!
TIA
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

VG: I’ve only shot the Hornady factory 20gr vmax

Jdb: Received thanks for the comeback.
Day before yesterday had a chance to harvest a "field Lion" with the 17 Hornet - that went pretty well.
Some people call them "ditch Tigers" I guess.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

VG: do you have a factory trigger in your rifle. I’m looking at after market triggers, wondering your opinion?

Jdb: I posted here recently about installing a "JARD" trigger in a friends Ruger 77/17 HMR.
It cost $95.00 and because I did not have a particular special articulating (?) hex-head allen wrench I had to call on my local gunsmith to install it ($40.00).
The trigger turned the normal crisp but heavy (86 ounce!) Ruger 77/17 HMR trigger into a wonderful 36 ounce thing of beauty.
If I change the trigger on my Ruger 77/17 Hornet and if (I think they do?) JARD makes a trigger for the 77/17 Hornet I will do that next winter.
I have installed 12 or 14 "Volquartsen" trigger sear and trigger spring kits in various Ruger 77/17 HMR's and Ruger 77/22 LR's over the last decade - but sadly Volquartsen quit making this wonderful and affordable kit for the Ruger 77/17 HMR's and Ruger 77/22 LR's!
I don't know why.
When I started buying these Volquartsen kits they were like $22.00! They went up over the years to about $32.00 (IIRC).
I highly recommend the JARD trigger/trigger sear/trigger spring kits - the results in my "one of" experience was/is wonderful.
If you could find a Volquartsen "kit" around somewhere I also highly recommend those.
No other experiences from me with other brands of triggers.
Best of luck to you with whichever you choose.
Let me know - please.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy