17 AH heat up much when shooting lots?

[Hugh204]

I'm interested in the new 17 Hornady Hornet and I wandered if any folks familiar with the 17 AH could comment? How does this cartridge do when volume shooting gophers and prairie dogs from a heat perspective? If you had a medium weight varmint barrel, how many shots can you fire before having to let it cool off?? My experience is with 204 heavy barrel, I'm curious how many more shots a person could get off, and also how many shots before cleaning??

 

[ab_bentley]

Shoot enough and you will, for the most part you could shoot 50rds or more in fairly quick succession without harm. Adam

 

[Hugh204]

Damn - that would make a nice gopher gun

 

[MrMajestic]

Hugh, AB would know! I don't get high volume shooting on Woodchucks.
Shooting the .17's will force you to become a "Wind Doper" but I consider that a good thing!

 

[Hugh204]

Mr Majestic - The ballistics on Hornady's 17 Hornet are intriguing though. They advertise it as being similar ballistically to the 223.

I ran a comparison using a 50 VMAX for B.C. and load data for H4895 from Hogden for a 223 and compared it to the 20 VMAX B.C. with Hornady's published 3650 fps for the 17. At 200 yards and 10MPH wind, we are talking 5.6 inches drift for the 17 versus 4.4 inches for the 223.

I don't mind giving up 1.2 inches for wind at 200 for such low heat and cheap reloading. Trajectories are nearly identical at 250 yards.

I know this is only on paper, but makes me want one! Of course it doesn't take much logic to make me 'need' a new rifle.

 

[SS427]

I'm thinking I want one too, so good to hear about the heat issue.

What about cleaning? How many rounds do you think you can shoot before accuracy drops off to the point you have to clean it?

 

[MrMajestic]

Once again, I don't high volume shoot but can tell you that my .17AH doesn't foul even remotely as quick as my .17 Fireball. This could be due to bore condition and w/o a bore scope I can't condemn the caliber. The difference in powder quantity of my loads is 6 grs. however that's a 50% increase for the Fireball!

 

[ab_bentley]

What about cleaning? How many rounds do you think you can shoot before accuracy drops off to the point you have to clean it?

Well that's dependent on your components. If you buy quality you get quality, I know of a few people who go hundreds of rounds without cleaning, now they are running their 17AH's at 3600fps so really threre is no heat. If you ran it hard, like 4000fps with the 20gr bullets you may have to clean more often. Adam

 

[SS427]

Thanks Adam, that's good info to know. I'm looking forward to hearing more about this caliber.

 

[Hugh204]

Mr. Majestic - how would you describe the terminal performance of the 17AH vs the 17 Fireball? And what bullet are you using at what yardage?? I've been fussing with a second rifle to go along with my 204. I've tried all of the rim fires and am not happy with any of them. The 17HMR bullet, for example, is just too frangible in my opinion - I've seen them splash on a gopher shoulder at 20 yards and not do a great job of killing. Also, the 17HMR drifts 3-4 inches at 100 yards in a 10mph wind limiting its usefulness. I'm thinking the centre fire 17 Hornady Hornet might be my rimfire replacement gun: low heat = lots of volume, accurate and powerful enough out to 200 yards, cheap to reload, good terminal performance (I hope)

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Hugh: I built my 17AH on a Ruger No.3 action with a 22" Pac-Nor SS Super Match barrel of sporter dimensions. I also do alot of high-volume ground squirrel shooting, usually with calibers from 17AH, 22KH, 17M4, 20VT, 204 Ruger, and of course a battery of .22 CF's.

That said, I can run as many as 200 rounds through my 17AH without cleaning (shooting WS2), and even when a hot string of shots is fired at squirrels, the barrel heat is minimal; you can easily hold and keep your hand against the barrel. I'm shooting the 20gr V-Max at 3,810 fps, and the effective range of this rig is right around 350+ yards, maybe a bit better in calm conditions. It will completely puree a squirrel out past 250 yards, usually with a decent "launch factor" thrown in for fun.

As a companion gun to your 204R, I don't think you'll be disappointed. The 17AH or 17HH is/will be an ideal rat rifle for you IMHO.

 

[Catfish]

I have a 17 AH Bullberry barrel on a Contender and it is a tack driver with the 19 gr. Calhoon bullets. I`m only getting 3,600 fps. with mine, but with the Calhoon bullets I would not be scarred to try a coyote at 200 yrds, with it. The Calhoon bullets are alot tougher than any of the other bullets and hit larger game alot harder.

 

[MrMajestic]

Mr. Majestic - how would you describe the terminal performance of the 17AH vs the 17 Fireball? And what bullet are you using at what yardage?? I've been fussing with a second rifle to go along with my 204. I've tried all of the rim fires and am not happy with any of them. The 17HMR bullet, for example, is just too frangible in my opinion - I've seen them splash on a gopher shoulder at 20 yards and not do a great job of killing. Also, the 17HMR drifts 3-4 inches at 100 yards in a 10mph wind limiting its usefulness. I'm thinking the centre fire 17 Hornady Hornet might be my rimfire replacement gun: low heat = lots of volume, accurate and powerful enough out to 200 yards, cheap to reload, good terminal performance (I hope)

Hugh, In my arsenal they have two distinct purposes. I shoot the 20 gr. V-Max in the AH in populated areas. At 3575 fps from a 20" barreled Contender it does not exit a Chuck and eases my concern of over penetration. The FB pushes the 25 grain V-Max at 3975 fps from a 26" barreled Savage SA and exits Chucks out past 200 yards which is the furtherest I have tested to date. I have yet to harvest a Red with either but I carry the FB and the 25 thinking it will perform better especially if bone is encountered. I feel the pain in combating the wind with .17 rimfires, I shoot the M2 in areas were even the AH makes too much noise. An uncorrected 5 MPH full value causes a miss at 100 yds as head shots are mandatory with it if recovery is required.
IMHO the AH is the "Cat's Pajamas"!

 

[Hugh204]

Mr. Majestic - thats it, I'm buying a pair of cats pajamas. Incidently, Savage is going to be selling them for around $600 soon I hope. Well at least I'll be buying the Hornady Hornet kind which I believe are basically a knock off of the AH, no?

I'm curious to know what you find for terminal performance on coons at shorter ranges with the AH and the FB. Are you getting enough penetration for quick deaths or are bullets exploding too much at say 25 yards if you hit a shoulder? I may be the only guy wanting to shoot a centerfire at 25 yards, but its so much fun blowing things up.

Also interested that you have landed on the M2. I have an HMR, 22LR and a 22Mag. The 22 Mag is in a Sako Quad so I could put an M2 barrel on it. I realize I misspoke when I said I have tried all of the rim fires. I have yet to try the M2 and from talking to folks on here I am wondering if it wouldn't solve my rimfire frustration because it is slow enough that you can get enough penetration even at shorter ranges like 25 yards making it a great gun from 0-100 yards on light wind days.

Happy Shooting

 

[MrMajestic]

I'm curious to know what you find for terminal performance on coons at shorter ranges with the AH and the FB. Are you getting enough penetration for quick deaths or are bullets exploding too much at say 25 yards if you hit a shoulder?

I carry a scoped .22LR S&W 617 for the shorter ranges to keep it challenging. Got one last season at 79 yards from the prone position with it! As for penetration I've never had any complaints or repeat customers!

Also interested that you have landed on the M2. I have an HMR, 22LR and a 22Mag. The 22 Mag is in a Sako Quad so I could put an M2 barrel on it. I realize I misspoke when I said I have tried all of the rim fires. I have yet to try the M2 and from talking to folks on here I am wondering if it wouldn't solve my rimfire frustration because it is slow enough that you can get enough penetration even at shorter ranges like 25 yards making it a great gun from 0-100 yards on light wind days.

My reasoning for the M2 is less noise and less cost. M2=$3.75/50 HMR=$11.00/50! I am amazed it didn't make a bigger splash but I have 14K rounds of Eley just in case it pulls a 5mm on me!

Happy Shooting

Thanks, same to you.