.17 HMR -Sight in for Ground-Hogs

M

Meroh

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Hi,

I took my CZ455 .17 HMR out to the range Sunday. I had a box of Winchester 17gr ammo and a box of Hornady 20 gr. HP. Last year, the Winchester did not shoot so well, but thought I would give it another chance; best it would do was 3" at 100 yards; I went back to the Hornady, and < 1" at 100 yards.

What I did notice this time was that almost 1/2 or the Winchester brass was split at the neck while all of the Hornady brass remained intact.

Anyone else notice similar issues?
 
I would avoid the Winchester made ammo, there has been a lot of issues reported that you have described. I would personally stick with CCI, which happens to load all of the .17 HMR ammunition for the CCI, Federal Cartridge, Hornady, and Remington brands.
 
Winchester 17HMR and 22WMR ammo is the worst I've ever seen/used. It's to be avoided, honestly. Can't say a whole lot positive about their 22LR ammo either, but the bulk white box stuff shoots OK in my own CZ. When I had a CZ 452 in 17HMR, it shot the 20gr. Hornady best. I was convinced the 17gr. ballistic tip stuff would be better on groundhogs but it really wasn't that effective on them. In fact, I don't believe 17HMR is even a great choice for groundhogs but 20gr HPs will be best, head shots if you're confident making them, and limit the range to about 150 yards..max.

Spent a whole summer chasing them with 17HMR, the next summer 22WMR (less accurate, but more effective), then moved to .223.
 
Winchester was most accurate for me but a lot of the cases split and get stuck in the chamber like you mentioned. It's too bad because my guns prefer the 20 gr over 17gr.

North
 
CCI TNT hollow points are great, and generally my go-to ammo for killing critters. If I want to just plink or shoot targets, I'll use whatever else. I get very similar results with Hornady and CCI ammo.

I've had good luck with Winchester, but for what it's worth, it was technically the worst out of all the 17HMR ammo I've ever used. I guess someone has to be on the bottom, and there aren't exactly any bulk/budget offerings in 17HMR ammo to begin with. I don't recall any split casings, but the only duds I've ever encountered were Winchester.
 
Thanks everyone, it is nice to know I'm not alone!

.22LRGUY said:
Winchester 17HMR and 22WMR ammo is the worst I've ever seen/used. It's to be avoided, honestly. Can't say a whole lot positive about their 22LR ammo either, but the bulk white box stuff shoots OK in my own CZ. When I had a CZ 452 in 17HMR, it shot the 20gr. Hornady best. I was convinced the 17gr. ballistic tip stuff would be better on groundhogs but it really wasn't that effective on them. In fact, I don't believe 17HMR is even a great choice for groundhogs but 20gr HPs will be best, head shots if you're confident making them, and limit the range to about 150 yards..max.

Spent a whole summer chasing them with 17HMR, the next summer 22WMR (less accurate, but more effective), then moved to .223.
Click to expand...

It has been working well for me, but a bit more "overkill" would be OK; I am looking for a 6.5 x 55; I sold the three that I had and have been kicking myself ever since. With hollow point boat tails; ground hogs blowed up; they blowed up reel good! (as John Candy used to say) LOL.
 
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