.17 Hornady Hornet

Feisar

Anyone have a look at this "new" caliber from Hornady?

17 Hornet

I have a HMR and always wanted an Ackley Hornet. Even if it was legal the fireforming etc would put me off.

I'll admit I have no experience with the caliber but it seems a really efficient way to get out to 250-300 yards.

I reckon with the amount of hornets knocking about and going cheap, a donor action wouldn't be a problem, stick a new barrel on it and happy days.

I must look at what it's like in the wind out around 300 yards.

P.S.

I'm fantasizing about an Anschutz with a satin stainless barrel and a bog oak stock.

Tackleberrywho

If you were reloading it would be a cheap option.

It's a weak round though, similar FT/Lbs at muzzle as 53grain .223 has @ 400 yards.

It would be a good way of making an old Hornet more useful if you lived in NI and could reload.
A nice bunny/greycrow round.
I'd still prefer the .223 myself.

I also heard that real small cal's are a nightmare to reload so a .17 flatbase would be fun, where half a grain of powder +/- would make a big difference in SD

Glensman

It's a bit tame for the price.
You would be better with a .17 REM there are plenty of .223s out there to serve as donors.

landkeeper

well i'll be changing my hmr for one whenever the ammo comes on stream and i'll get a 22 hornet re barrelled in .17. once the ammo is available commercially and the possibility of reloading sooner rather than later means it'll be as much fun as a hmr at a fraction of the price with home loads

Feisar

I agree it's not a .223, but the .223 isn't a .243 which isn't a ....

There's always more gun to be had. Where I do most of my shooting 250 yards would be grand.

I would also be waiting to reload as it would be pricey shooting for what it is otherwise. I wonder will the case suffer from the same problems I've aften read about the hornet? That is, weak brass, three reloads before case splitting. also with a cartridge that small everything will have an effect.

I don't mean to offend with my next question, why does everyone jump on the .223 bandwagon? Over in the states people seem to like the various smaller calibers for the rolls they fill (based on forum reading). Whereas here the comments are, "ah it ain't a .223" I'm generalizing when I say that but it does appear to be the case.

When I got my HMR a lot of people said it wasn't much good for foxes, well I didn't get it for foxes. It does a great job on rabbits and crows out to 175 yards.

landkeeper

223 is popular as there is so much choice of ammo and firearm in that calibre
and the fact that its plenty gun enough for it's biggest legal quarry the fox at reasonable ranges

Tackleberrywho

Feisar wrote: »

I agree it's not a .223, but the .223 isn't a .243 which isn't a ....

There's always more gun to be had. Where I do most of my shooting 250 yards would be grand.

I would also be waiting to reload as it would be pricey shooting for what it is otherwise. I wonder will the case suffer from the same problems I've aften read about the hornet? That is, weak brass, three reloads before case splitting. also with a cartridge that small everything will have an effect.

I don't mean to offend with my next question, why does everyone jump on the .223 bandwagon? Over in the states people seem to like the various smaller calibers for the rolls they fill (based on forum reading). Whereas here the comments are, "ah it ain't a .223" I'm generalizing when I say that but it does appear to be the case.

When I got my HMR a lot of people said it wasn't much good for foxes, well I didn't get it for foxes. It does a great job on rabbits and crows out to 175 yards.

My point was it was designed and offered as a replacement to hornet users who wanted flatter traj.

From watching the video, I got the impression that it was for the US market so reloaders with old hornets could get a new lease of life out of them.

I'm not getting on any bandwagon, i just feel it is of no strategic advantage to irish hunters who haev no reloading, and factory ammo is still in a semi wildcat stage. It generally takes 1.5 years for what ever Hornady have on the US market to hit here.

The Video shows shooting prarie dogs, our closest species in size and availability would be bugs bunny.

So unless you had an old Hornet and could rebarrel & reload, it's a white elephant IMHO.

And I would imagine case wear would be an issue on such a small neck size as already is an issue for folk who reload hornets overseas.

Hornady obviously feel there is a market and are producing it, but one would imagine that it is solely a reloaders market when they mention amount of powder required.

Glensman

Feisar wrote: »

I agree it's not a .223, but the .223 isn't a .243 which isn't a ....

There's always more gun to be had. Where I do most of my shooting 250 yards would be grand.

I would also be waiting to reload as it would be pricey shooting for what it is otherwise. I wonder will the case suffer from the same problems I've aften read about the hornet? That is, weak brass, three reloads before case splitting. also with a cartridge that small everything will have an effect.

I don't mean to offend with my next question, why does everyone jump on the .223 bandwagon? Over in the states people seem to like the various smaller calibers for the rolls they fill (based on forum reading). Whereas here the comments are, "ah it ain't a .223" I'm generalizing when I say that but it does appear to be the case.

When I got my HMR a lot of people said it wasn't much good for foxes, well I didn't get it for foxes. It does a great job on rabbits and crows out to 175 yards.

If you were looking for a small fast bullet that isn't a .223 have a look at a .204.
If you want something that would be cool to reload, go for a .20tac

If I were to go for a .17 it would be the .17 REM.

The .17 hornet would be a cool round, but it would be for long-range rabbits and crows etc. But the .17REM would do it better.

But by all means if you want one, get one!

Feisar

Tackleberry, I didn't mean to offend and hope I haven't. Just stirring up a bit of debate.
Your points are well made. I'm now in the market for a .223!

Feisar

Glensman wrote: »

If you were looking for a small fast bullet that isn't a .223 have a look at a .204.
If you want something that would be cool to reload, go for a .20tac

If I were to go for a .17 it would be the .17 REM.

The .17 hornet would be a cool round, but it would be for long-range rabbits and crows etc. But the .17REM would do it better.

But by all means if you want one, get one!

No ye have me convinced! .223 for me.

Tackleberrywho

Feisar wrote: »

Tackleberry, I didn't mean to offend and hope I haven't. Just stirring up a bit of debate.
Your points are well made. I'm now in the market for a .223!

I was just giving my opinion and you gave yours.
If everyone agreed about everything it would be a very dull world.

I'm surprised you were not interested in the 35 grain .22-250 ammo from Hornady

http://www.hornady.com/store/22-250-Rem-35-gr-NTX/

Some foxing round 4450fps Claimed!

If I was in the North I'd reload a .243 and have a very versatile round 58-100 grain.
Or perhaps something like a .223 WSSM.

But all we can do is dream........
Coz in the deep south we can not load

Glensman

Feisar wrote: »

No ye have me convinced! .223 for me.

Sure I'll sell you mine and I'll buy a 20 tac

The Big Fella

Are they not retailing at the same price as a .223 40gr v-max?

Glensman

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

I
I'm surprised you were not interested in the 35 grain .22-250 ammo from Hornady

Some foxing round 4450fps Claimed!

If I was in the North I'd reload a .243 and have a very versatile round 58-100 grain.

You'd be burning a lot of powder to throw a 35gr pill and there's be a fair bit of barrel wear/throat errosion for a rabbit gun.
I think if you are looking for speed and it's 'varmints' you're shooting then you are as well dropping down to .20's and .17's.

You're dead right on the .243, I have a friend loading for one and it's very versatile, he never takes his 22-250 out of the cabinet anymore.

As a side note, this northern state isn't the shooter's Utopia you seem to think. If you were here you would be allowed to load. But they wouldn't let you have the .243!

cavan shooter

landkeeper wrote: »

223 is popular as there is so much choice of ammo and firearm in that calibre
and the fact that its plenty gun enough for it's biggest legal quarry the fox at reasonable ranges

Now have to say the grand daddy of varmint cartridges the 22 Hornet is still holding there for me...;) and talking to lads its making a come back with the second hand market. Lads looking for a foxing rifle for small out lay.:)

Glensman

cavan shooter wrote: »

Now have to say the grand daddy of varmint cartridges the 22 Hornet is still holding there for me...;) and talking to lads its making a come back with the second hand market. Lads looking for a foxing rifle for small out lay.:)

I heard the price of bullets had gone through the roof?

kildare.17hmr

cavan shooter wrote: »

Now have to say the grand daddy of varmint cartridges the 22 Hornet is still holding there for me...;) and talking to lads its making a come back with the second hand market. Lads looking for a foxing rifle for small out lay.:)

223s can be got for small enough money now and cost to run is a good bit less than a hornet, no brainer for me anyway

The Big Fella

kildare.17hmr wrote: »

223s can be got for small enough money now and cost to run is a good bit less than a hornet, no brainer for me anyway

Lads seem to have hornets for sentimental reasons over costs and performance I think.

fish slapped

What about the .17 fireball??

I'm having one built - rem action, border barrel, Jewell trigger, boyds thumb hole stock.



.223 rem and .17 Fireball

Ammo is available. I'm looking at getting some in from the north £119/€142 for Remington 20gr accutip premier.

here's a review by Bruce Potts:

LINK

The fact that the fireball is outselling the .17 rem says a lot amongest small bore addicts!!!

Fish

The Big Fella

fish slapped wrote: »

What about the .17 fireball??

I'm having one built - rem action, border barrel, Jewell trigger, boyds thumb hole stock.



.223 rem and .17 Fireball

Ammo is available. I'm looking at getting some in from the north £119/€142 for Remington 20gr accutip premier.

here's a review by Bruce Potts:

LINK

The fact that the fireball is outselling the .17 rem says a lot amongest small bore addicts!!!

Fish

Is that per 100 fish? Is there many other brands available up north?

fish slapped

Yeah, sorry thats per 100, have to shop around.

tac foley

Glensman wrote: »

But they wouldn't let you have the .243!

Is that so?

Please explain.

tac

Glensman

tac foley wrote: »

Is that so?

Please explain.

tac

You can't shoot vermin with anything over a 22-250.

You can't get a deer legal calibre unless you have done you DSC course and have deer permission. Once you get that you are then only allowed to use it for deer.

landkeeper

the 22 hornet will always be around it's quiet and plenty gun enough for foxes out to 200 yrds the only downside is the cost of ammo however it seems to be coming down in price slowly if reloading is allowed it will bounce back in popularity cheap to load and easy to shoot it's a great calibre if you want a 22

fish slapped

've always liked the hornet. but I've hornets, wmr, 223,22/250 etc. etc. for foxing and just fancied something a little different and the fireball fitted the bill.

cavan shooter

The Big Fella wrote: »

Lads seem to have hornets for sentimental reasons over costs and performance I think.

You have a point there however I would also say they are big enough to do the job and ideal for the countryside they shoot over.

I will say it again 90 % of foxes shot I shoot at night are below 200 yards, there is little rapport from the hornet compared to the 223 so I don't need a heavy moderator. As for bullet prices I bought 45 grn Remington for €37.50 for 50 and 35 grn Hornady for €22.50 for 25. I have shot 60 foxes this year so outlay isn't too bad.

You are 100% right there is a buyers market out there for second hand rifles shops are full off them