17 Hornet~any fans/reloaders here?

Well 22LR hope this helps. Do it, just do it.

It's a very nice little caliber. Lots of fun to shoot.

Now to hijack! For you guys shooting CZs. American or Varmint? And why?

I bought the Varmint and often wonder if I'd have been better off with the American. Lighter weight, I just use it for gophers so it doesn't really heat up. Seems it just might be easier to handle. Thoughts and preferences?
 
I have an odd inclination to get a savage 340 in .22hornet and have it rebarreled to 17hornet.

I will probably get a cz 527 american eventually as it's more practical than my crazy ideas.
17hornet seems to fly off the shelves here.
 
lpel said:
Well 22LR hope this helps. Do it, just do it.

It's a very nice little caliber. Lots of fun to shoot.

Now to hijack! For you guys shooting CZs. American or Varmint? And why?

I bought the Varmint and often wonder if I'd have been better off with the American. Lighter weight, I just use it for gophers so it doesn't really heat up. Seems it just might be easier to handle. Thoughts and preferences?
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I was able to handle (but not shoot) an American in 223 and if I would have handled it first it would have been a coin toss. The American is lighter and handier but I can hold the Varmint much steadier when shooting offhand and it's also very stable from a bench. It's really not bad to carry around for a morning hunt either. Having said that if it was going to be a replacement for a 22 just for woods hunting I would get the American, if you plan on long range stuff like gophers as well than get the Varmint. I topped mine with a Leupold VX-1 4x12 and that makes for a great combination. Be forewarned though the CZ is cursed with the "scope on stilts" look. There just doesn't seem to be any rings available to get that scope down.
 
.22LRGUY said:
I was hoping SOMEONE would say "no, don't do it". lol Decisions...
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No good reason not to try one if that's what you want.

I bought a Ruger 77/22 Hornet from another CGNer. When I was buying some ammo for it, guy behind the counter said "hey, if you like the little cartridges, I have a deal for you." So I came home with a Ruger 77/17 Hornet ;)

Haven't shot either enough to know how accurate or consistent they'll shoot. Haven't started reloading yet either, so I'm using factory loads. The prospect of getting almost 700 reloads from a pound of powder makes for some economical shooting.

I really like the CZ 527 Varmint, but the magazines hanging down kinda turn me off. The Ruger's flush rotary mags are much nicer. Won't matter though if the rifle proves not to be very accurate. In that case I might end up getting a CZ.
 
I don't own one but my dad does and I've shot it a lot, as well as reloaded for it. His is a CZ American and it easily shoots 3/4" groups or better depending on the load. It's very effective on gopher or small pests out to a fair distance and I dropped one coyote at close range with it. I would like to buy one for myself some day but other priorities keep popping up.
 
Hmm...you guys aren't helping. lol Yeah, looking more like I will get one. Part of the appeal for me is having a centerfire with a lower report...so I can use it closer to home. Friends of mine have a farm about 20 minutes from my house and while I can legally use anything there...I limit it to rimfire and shotgun. A 17 Hornet (from what I know of it) shouldn't be any issue with the neighbors. I've also always wanted a CZ527 Varmint, but have my .223 needs covered. Feels like a good fit. Except for the $ involved. :)
 
lpel said:
Well 22LR hope this helps. Do it, just do it.

It's a very nice little caliber. Lots of fun to shoot.

Now to hijack! For you guys shooting CZs. American or Varmint? And why?

I bought the Varmint and often wonder if I'd have been better off with the American. Lighter weight, I just use it for gophers so it doesn't really heat up. Seems it just might be easier to handle. Thoughts and preferences?
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I honestly can't see myself getting a varmint-caliber rifle in anything but a heavy barrel. For me, shots are longer...almost always prone~the extra weight REALLY helps hold things steady. I ignored these sensibilities (reluctantly) when I got my 204R years ago, regretted it the moment I took the first shot. I might still have that rifle if it was a HB. For close shots, improvised rests like a tree...tree branch, when there will be a shot here/there, long hikes etc.~lighter guns rule. For range use, for varmint "work"...HB rules the day for me.
 
Had both the CZ 17 H Varmint and my Browning ABolt 22 Hornet out today for late season gophers. Really like them both and neither will be sold but the nod sure goes to the 17. Longest shots were 190 and 200 yards. Both in a bit of a cross wind. Gotta love retirement!
 
I've had my Savage 25 Lightweight Varminter for about a year and a half now, and really like it a lot. I've reloaded somewhere between 6-700 rounds and have never found it a challenge. I use Hornady dies with the sliding collar in the seating die, which helps a lot. I've also shot about the same number of Hornady factory rounds, and they are impressive for their accuracy and velocity. It's cheaper to buy and shoot factory loads and re-use the brass than to buy virgin brass.

I love the little cartridge; I shoot it at 200 yards at my club regularly, and have even shot at 300 to see what the trajectory looks like. The problem is those tiny holes are pretty much impossible to see through a spotting scope at more than 100yds. Also, the tiny bullets really are subject to wind drift.

But it's a heck of a lot of fun to shoot.
 
Question about the small bore rifles like the 17 Hornet. A friend insists that they need much more cleaning than larger bores. Like every 10 shots. Have any of you shooting the 17 Hornet found it fouls quickly?
 
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No accuracy is still good with about 75 rounds fired since cleaning the bore. The 17 Rem had a reputation of fouling fast but I have no first hand knowledge of that, the one I built got sold before I shot it much.
 
Thanks guys...I think. :) Window shopping for one now..half-hoping I don't find one.

My next question will probably be about dies...
 
UPDATE~well, thanks to a combination of you lot...and some bad judgement on my part, a new 527 Varmint in 17 Hornet is on it's way. :) I likely will end-up hand loading for it, but have decided to order some factory ammo first to get a feel for it..and harvest the brass as I go of course. :)

Thanks for the input/encouragement~nice to hear it from somebody. Won't hear it from my buddies who are "bigger is better" types! :)
 
.22LRGUY said:
UPDATE~well, thanks to a combination of you lot...and some bad judgement on my part, a new 527 Varmint in 17 Hornet is on it's way. :) I likely will end-up hand loading for it, but have decided to order some factory ammo first to get a feel for it..and harvest the brass as I go of course. :)

Thanks for the input/encouragement~nice to hear it from somebody. Won't hear it from my buddies who are "bigger is better" types! :)
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Hey Hey!! Another one joins the .17cal club! Good idea buying ammo, when I bought my 527 I bought a case of ammo (and another case a week later) with it so I had all the same lot of brass. Reloading is the way to go in the future for this little guy though.

What optic are you thinking of putting on it out of curiosity? Going to need some magnification to see those little holes in the paper, and the gophers out west whenever you make the trip again! :)
 
Prairie Plinker said:
Hey Hey!! Another one joins the .17cal club! Good idea buying ammo, when I bought my 527 I bought a case of ammo (and another case a week later) with it so I had all the same lot of brass. Reloading is the way to go in the future for this little guy though.

What optic are you thinking of putting on it out of curiosity? Going to need some magnification to see those little holes in the paper, and the gophers out west whenever you make the trip again! :)
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Thanks Prairie Plinker! :) None of the LGS around me carry 17 Hornet anything...so I'm not going to commit to any real qty. of factory ammo until I have a little time with it, and some (rough) sense of what bullet weight it might prefer. Not that you can really achieve that with factory ammo. I'd be inclined to try factory ammo first regardless, but have heard pretty stellar reports about how good Hornady ammo is in these guns right out of the gate. It'll be very interesting.

Optic~well, being close to Christmas...and having bought a snazzy 22 only a couple of months back~the timing of the rifle purchase itself was a bit sketchy to be honest. lol The place I ordered it had only 1 left in stock, and no ETA an anymore...so I nabbed it, and thought the rifle might just have to sit unused for a short while. I kept an eye on the EE and a (vintage, Japanese) Bushnell 5-20x40mm AO scope in mint condition popped-up at a good price. I've had very good luck with old Japanese Banners (my HMR wears a 6-18 AO) so this CZ will start with this and we'll see how it goes. When resources allow, it's likely a Sightron STAC will end up on there, but I'll be watching the EE for a Burris FF E1, 4.5-14X AO as well. I've never had one, or even looked through one...but the 3-9X E1s I've tried..I like the reticle and clarity/brightness of the glass.

Looking for a .17cal (Satern) powder funnel now...and then rings. I thought 527s came with rings (or did?) but I honestly don't know. Got an email today that the rifle and spare mag showed-up at my LGS, but it may be the weekend before I can get over there.
 
Prairie Plinker said:
...gophers out west whenever you make the trip again! :)
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..forgot to add~spring of 2018. :) My nephew and I will be there, ammo already purchased...500/5000 rounds of CCI Blazer 22LR have already been run through the Waltz HP die. :) Whether or not the 17 Hornet goes? We'll see. It would be a welcome addition out there. :) Lots of gophers to contend with if 2016/2017 were any indication. Hard to hand load gopher-qtys of anything with a single-stage press!
 
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