17 Hornet primer tests...

[Tilleyman]

After a lot of trials, I have settled on a load of 11.6gr 2207 (H4198 in the US) with the 20gr bullet as the best compromise of accuracy and velocity in my rifle. This was confirmed recently by a member of an Australian Hunting forum as also suiting his CZ527 American (part of the same consignment mine was in...)

I was able to update the primer test data... all using a slightly reduced load of 11.2gr 2207 to give a bit of pressure headroom just in case



Note the difference a simple primer change makes in the tiny 17 Hornet case... same bullet and cases!

RWS 4033 easily has the most brisance, acting more like a Magnum Benchrest primer adding 212fps to the MEDIAN baseline standard Vihtavuori primer velocity of 3215fps.

VV N-120 is next on my load development list for the 17 Hornet...

[Roverhound]

I did a primer test with .17 Hornet yesterday. I don't use magnum primers because I believe they actually degraded accuracy in my loads.
My test were between CCI 400, WSR and Remington 6 1/2.
My averages for each are, WSR, 3672fps, CCI-400, 3676fps and Rem 6 1/2, 3659fps.
This was with 9.3 gr of Lil'Gun with 20 gr VMax and Hornady brass.
Mainly I was testing accuracy to see if it changed with primers since some are easier than others to locate. Accuracy with all 3 was satisfactory considering the wind was blowing from 8 to 15 mph.
How was the accuracy with your primer changes?

P.S. I know my charge for little gun is much lower and faster than published data, this is what I find works for me.
P.S.S I chronoed a factory round at over 3800fps yesterday!

[Alycidon]

I just stick in what I have, usually 205s or BR4s, currently the latter.

A

[Tilleyman]

Originally Posted by Roverhound

I did a primer test with .17 Hornet yesterday. I don't use magnum primers because I believe they actually degraded accuracy in my loads.
~snip~
How was the accuracy with your primer changes?

Generally I have found accuracy with the 17 Hornet falls into a series of 'nodes' depending on the primer and powder used.
For example there is an accuracy node with 11.2gr 2207 and again at 11.6gr 2207 both using the RWS 4033 primer.

If you absolutely want to wring the last few fps out of the 17 Hornet at moderate pressure, then 2207 powder teamed with the RWS 4033 primer is the way to go.

Early tests tend to show softer brisance primers like the Federal 205 do offer more accuracy with faster powders like VV N-120, where the RWS 4033 'Magnum' Benchrest primer is too much of a good thing.

Will be doing more testing on this theory along with some more VV N-120 loads next weekend.

[L Cazador]

I notice that you did loads only for the 20g bullet. Why? I used to load the old 17 Ackley Hornet and all we had back then was 25gr. bullets.

[Tilleyman]

Mainly because I have a lot more of them on hand

But also because the 17 Hornet holds about 1gr less powder than the 17 AH and cannot drive the 25gr bullet fast enough to give the same laser-like trajectory as the 20gr bullet...

IMO the 25gr bullets are best in the bigger capacity 17's... starting with the 17 AH, then 17 Fireball, 17 Rem etc.

[Roverhound]

Originally Posted by Tilleyman

Generally I have found accuracy with the 17 Hornet falls into a series of 'nodes' depending on the primer and powder used.
the way to go.

I'll agree with that. I found a nice accuracy load using Remington 6 1/2 with 10.7 grains of H4198. Averaged about 3150 and I could cover it with a nickel.
I need to work some loads up with 25 grain bullets.
The absolute best I have found is with the 9.3 grains of Lil'Gun and Remington 6 1/2 primers. That group I can cover with a dime.
Trying different primers to use what is available.

[L Cazador]

[quote=Tilleyman;200052]Mainly because I have a lot more of them on hand

But also because the 17 Hornet holds about 1gr less powder than the 17 AH and cannot drive the 25gr bullet fast enough to give the same laser-like trajectory as the 20gr bullet...

IMO the 25gr bullets are best in the bigger capacity 17's... starting with the 17 AH, then 17 Fireball, 17 Rem etc.[/Quote
Yeah, I should consider myself lucky to have the choice of components I have. This shortage can really restrict a guy. I'm loading 25's at almost 3400fps with 1680, that's certainly not as fast as the 20's, but groups are great.

[Tilleyman]

In Australia we are pretty much restricted to 20gr Nosler Varmgeddons (FBHP and Tipped) or 20gr/25gr Hornady VMax. The VMax is more common, so I used it as a base point for my load development.

There may still be pockets of the now-discontinued Berger 20gr FBHP Varmint/Match... I bought a HEAP at the last place I found them in stock!!

I have ONE box of the Berger 25gr FBHP Varmint/Match...

But potentially an unlimited supply of ex-17HMR 20gr XTP's

[17tbs]

Tilleyman,


I have a few hundred of the XTP 17HMR 20gr, where,
how who do you know that can get more of them,
what is your experience with them loaded down to HMR velocities?

I personally love them, I wish I had a source like yours.

Hutch

Originally Posted by Tilleyman

In Australia we are pretty much restricted to 20gr Nosler Varmgeddons (FBHP and Tipped) or 20gr/25gr Hornady VMax. The VMax is more common, so I used it as a base point for my load development.

There may still be pockets of the now-discontinued Berger 20gr FBHP Varmint/Match... I bought a HEAP at the last place I found them in stock!!

I have ONE box of the Berger 25gr FBHP Varmint/Match...

But potentially an unlimited supply of ex-17HMR 20gr XTP's