- Location
- Okanagan Valley B.C.
17HMR long range?
- Thread starter coleman1495
- Start date
I love my CZ 457 in 17HMR but there is no way the wind has less effect on 20gr vs. 40gr bullet. Btw, I had great success with 17gr Hornady @ 100m.
BigBore585
CGN Regular
- Location
- Southern Alberta
I had shot a fair pile of gophers and magpies out to 150 yards with my 17HMR. I’m sure it will go further. I haven’t shot any of my 22’s past 50 yards, but I’m definitely going to try 150 yards with my 22 soon.
coleman1495
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Whitecourt
17” and mine is a 16.5”
prairie lover
CGN Regular
- Location
- southern MB
Sometimes I think people expect too much from the hmr. Think of it as a hotter 22lr and you will be impressed. Think of it as a mini 223 like some do and you will be very disappointed.
I always found the wind drift to be very similar to what the 22lr got with a lot less drop, with top notch accuracy. As far as I remember the 17 gr stuff has a lower bc than a 22 cal 40 gr solid but its going much faster so its very close in drift. The 17 is often used at greater distances so you notice wind drift alot more, I think that's where the reputation comes from.
How did the 17 group at 50? If it can't consistantly keep 5 shot groups in under 5/8 or less, and a good gun with good ammo will be less, than that could explain your issues at 200 yards. I've seen 1 bad lot of hornady ammo that shot terrible. 1 inch at 50. Next lot was back to 3/8 groups. I've shot alot of stuff with the hmr out so some crazy distances.
I always found the wind drift to be very similar to what the 22lr got with a lot less drop, with top notch accuracy. As far as I remember the 17 gr stuff has a lower bc than a 22 cal 40 gr solid but its going much faster so its very close in drift. The 17 is often used at greater distances so you notice wind drift alot more, I think that's where the reputation comes from.
How did the 17 group at 50? If it can't consistantly keep 5 shot groups in under 5/8 or less, and a good gun with good ammo will be less, than that could explain your issues at 200 yards. I've seen 1 bad lot of hornady ammo that shot terrible. 1 inch at 50. Next lot was back to 3/8 groups. I've shot alot of stuff with the hmr out so some crazy distances.
coleman1495
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Whitecourt
The 17 was only grouping about an inch at 50yds where the 22lr were grouping 1/2 to 3/4 inch. Definitely better accuracy from those particular 22lr rifles. Ammo used in the 17hmr was the CCI A17 stuff.
Maybe the accuracy of that particular ammo and rifle really goes to crap at longer ranges. I’ll have to do some more testing with a different ammo to see of this is normal.
Edit- now that I’m looking, the A17 ammo only has an advertised BC of .128. That’s marginally better than a 40gn 22lr but who knows what velocity its rated at
prairie lover
CGN Regular
- Location
- southern MB
Try different ammo. Most 17s shoot twice as good
The 17hmr round, regardless of whether it's 17 or 20 grains, drifts more in the wind than SV .22LR once past 200 yards. Of course as distance increases, neither does well in wind.
What makes the 17hmr round a relatively poor choice for accuracy is the fact that it's not available in a match quality round. ES is only one cause of dispersion related to cartridge quality. As a result, it will often have wider dispersion downrange than will .22LR match ammo, regardless of wind.
What makes the 17hmr round a relatively poor choice for accuracy is the fact that it's not available in a match quality round. ES is only one cause of dispersion related to cartridge quality. As a result, it will often have wider dispersion downrange than will .22LR match ammo, regardless of wind.
coleman1495
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Whitecourt
How comes the 17hmr drifts more? The BC numbers I’m seeing are higher and the velocity is obviously higher.
I think it does drift more, just don’t understand why.
coleman1495
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Whitecourt
So what BC is the 17hmr in that calculation?
Looks like the 17 hmr is superior to the 22lr up to 240 yards a far as wind drift goes, at least according to your chart. Never would have thought that...
North
The key is in why .22LR SV ammo drifts less beyond 200 yards.
While in this case instinct suggests time-of-flight is the most important factor in wind drift, it's not the way it works with .22LR ammo. It's precisely because .22LR SV is slower that it drifts less. In fact before they get to 25 yards, slower .22LR rounds drift less than faster .22LR rounds.
Regarding the ballistic coefficient, the BC of most 17hmr bullets are lower than that of most if not all match .22LR bullets.
Realistically who will shoot a rimfire past 200 yards pesting? Unless you want to mortar in rounds? Yes we have all had fun hitting gongs with 22s while aiming at the sky, but if I am pesting past 200 yards I am breaking out my center fire as why bother wasting ammo with a 22 plus foot holdover at 400 yards with a 22. But I get the context of the post just not the real world need while pesting. I just know more and more of my friends are using 17s when they want to get serious while pesting.
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coleman1495
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Whitecourt
Makes sense considering the charts. The BC of.147 for the 22lr seems pretty optimistic. I only get .11 with 40gn round nose
The actual BC of the 17hmr must be dismal.
