Reloading .17 Hornet

K

Kevin Arsenault

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Hi Guys,

Starting to reload the .17 Hornet, while I have had a mentor to show me lots of things on this caliber, I was wondering if anybody else is reloading for this cartridge?

I shoot a Ruger 77/.17 Hornet I would be curious to hear your results, I just started to reload with Lil Gun getting some pretty impressive results.

Thanks
 
Good day: i have been reloading the hornady hornet for a couple of years now in a cz american.
i also started with lilgun and found the es very high and as the temp went up so did the pressures.
I've had much better luck with a1680 and small rifle primers.

Z
 
N-120 works well as does H-4198, both using the 20gr v-max. I sold my 77/17 after spending a lot of time and effort to get it to shoot. My CZ varmint shoots great with no work. I have a Cooper on the way as well. My CZ is going out with me tomorrow on my first ground squirrel shoot of the year.
 
Hi Stubble Jumper,

Sorry to hear you had a hard time with your Ruger, what was the group size at 100 yards? were the groups 3 or 5 shoot groups?

My Ruger 77/.17 is shooting a 3 shot group around an inch or a bit less with factory Ammo, the best 5 shot groups would be somewhere around 1.5 inches.

I have shot 3 shot groups of 1/2 inch, but not always. I shoot with guys that have Sauvages and they seem to shoot around the same.

Going to reload and go from there

Thanks for your input
 
Not too many combinations regarding bullet and powder. I've reloaded both 20gr and 25gr Vmax bullets with Lil'Gun, H4198 and H322. I've got no use for the Lil'Gun other than for this cartridge, so it'll be getting used up before I move back to H4198. Or some 1680 if I can ever track some down. I've settled on 9.6gr of LilGun for the 20gr bullets. Hodgdon's starting load is 9.7gr, but I was getting pressure signs on hot days at 9.7, so I backed it off a tick.

My CZ varmint was deadly accurate right out of the box. Five-shot groups under an inch with factory, under 3/4" with reloads. I love this little cartridge, can't wait for the little gophers to start multiplying!
 
Kevin Arsenault said:
Hi Stubble Jumper,

Sorry to hear you had a hard time with your Ruger, what was the group size at 100 yards? were the groups 3 or 5 shoot groups?

My Ruger 77/.17 is shooting a 3 shot group around an inch or a bit less with factory Ammo, the best 5 shot groups would be somewhere around 1.5 inches.

I have shot 3 shot groups of 1/2 inch, but not always. I shoot with guys that have Sauvages and they seem to shoot around the same.

Going to reload and go from there

Thanks for your input
Click to expand...

Five shot groups out of the box averaged around 1-1/4" to 1-1/2" with the handloads that it liked best, which to me isn't at all acceptable given that it is a varmint rifle, intended for small targets. After bedding, replacement trigger, fitting other parts, I did shoot a couple of back to back sub 3/4" five shot groups, then I sold the rifle. My CZ averages well under 1" for five shots generally in the 5/8" to3/4" range at 100 yards. My Cooper 17 Fireball averages under 1/2" for five shots, and I am hoping that the Cooper in 17 Hornet will do the same.
 
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