.17 Hornet Load Data w/ IMR 4198

[kcjim]

Has anyone developed a .17 hornet load with 20 gr Hornady V-Max's using IMR 4198 or RL 7? I can find load data with 25 gr Hornady's using IMR 4198, but nothing with 20 gr bullets.

Thanks.

 

[swed6.5]

Imr 4198, 17ack hornet, 20gr vmax depending on brass you have capacity will very, ideal to fit 12gr, but 11.8 will be a full case, i agree your velocity will be higher with faster powder, my accuracy has improved with4198. I you cant overload it with that powder . Good luck

 

[kcjim]

Thanks Dave Berg and swed6.5 for the helpful information. I got some Win 296 powder over the weekend. Since there's published data with it in the .17 Hornet, I will try it first.

 

[MrMajestic]

FYI-I run VV N120 in my .17 Ackley Hornet, same only different, with great velocity and superb accuracy!

 

[kcjim]

N120 is one of the suggested .17 Hornet powders in the latest Hornady manual. I would love to try it, but like a lot of powders, it is extremely hard to find. I went to a big gun show in Kansas City over the weekend, but no one had N120 or Accurate 1680. I did find some Win 296.

 

[MrMajestic]

Dave, I get 3575 fps with the 20 gr. V-Max in a 20" .17AH and 3940 fps with the 20 gr. V-Max from a 24" .17 Ackley Bee. QL shows both loads safe and have many reloads on the cases. They are both in T/C's, 1 Contender 1 Encore, so the cases are very well supported. Don't think 400 fps more is feasible. JMHO

 

[MrMajestic]

Sorry Dave, we were talking about N120 and I didn't specify. Perhaps there is more difference between the HH and AH but I'm at 13.1 grs. with no crunching or effort and QL shows it within Hornet pressures with my H2O capacity.

 

[asauer]

I think you'll be happy with the accuracy of 296/H110. I know I am with 20gr varmageddons.
I found a pound of AA2200 shortly after, and have been using that with 25gr V-max. Max load with that combo was most accurate for me. Haven't tried lil gun or AA1680 and don't see a need to. AA2200 also fills the case nicely with 25s, and seems to show less pressure than the max H110/20gr varmageddon load.
I have a lifetime supply of a couple pounds of H110 and 20s for general shooting. 8.x grains of powder will make a pound last a long time... Now if only I could get brass!

 

[Techthompson]

My best accuracy has been with H4198 20gr V-max. I have to admit that I have not tried some of the faster powders.
The lots of H4198 and N120 that I have are very close to same burn rate. 11.2gr of H4198 and 11.5 of N120 show light cratering.
I have not chronographed though. Tapping the case I can get 11.2gr of H4198 to settle at the neck shoulder junction with no compression.

 

[kcjim]

What primers are you guys using in your .17 HH? I shot my rifle for the first time yesterday with WSR primers and Win 296. I got partially pierced primers on two shots. I have read somewhere that thicker cupped primers such as Rem 7 1/2 was the way to go with the .17 Hornet. I used WSR primers to match with the Hornady reloading manual. I will switch to 7 1/2 primers, but wondering what you use.

Thanks.

 

[asauer]

I've only used CCI 400 in my hornet.

 

[swed6.5]

1 thing I have found is that with such a small case capacity and using some of diff internet loads that you really need to watch for pressure with this hornet case. start your test with the softest primers and watch for pressure, ive even played with small pistol primers, also if you find em remington brass will aid in case capacity.

 

[trader steve]

I'm shooting 20gr dog town hp and 11gr imr 4198 I swirl the powder to get it in there and slowly Steve

 

[TheCZKid]

Has anyone developed a .17 hornet load with 20 gr Hornady V-Max's using IMR 4198 or RL 7? I can find load data with 25 gr Hornady's using IMR 4198, but nothing with 20 gr bullets.

Thanks.

A friend has Savage and developed an accurate load with H4198, 12.7 grains 3542 fps. 20 grain Nosler HP bullets (same as Dogtown) Fed 205M primers. He had a lower load node, but was too slow for his taste. But he said it's a very compressed load, actually extremely hard to get it to fit without tapping the funnel and messing with getting the last kernel in from the neck... I decided not to even try it, sounds like a PIA.

I have a CZ and my best load is with CFE BLK 12.6 grains, CCI 400 primers, Vmax 20 grain, base-to-ogive-length (BTOL) 1.455". Speed is 3636-3675 fps. Another load which was pretty good is A1680 12.0 grains about 3570 fps, had good accuracy with Rem 7 1/2 primers. A2200 12.7 was okay too, 3453 fps, Rem 7 1/2, but A2200 is better with a 25 grain bullet, mine likes it with Hornady 25 HP.

Primers: I've tried Rem 7 1/2, CCI 400, Fed AR Match, and WSR primers. The first 3 did about the same, depending on the powder load it seem to favor these three, did not have as good of accuracy with Winchester SR primers.

A couple areas you can improve accuracy is testing seating depth for a specific load / bullet. Really makes a difference some times. I had decent accuracy when my 20 Vmax were seated about the same as Federal AE 20 grain bullets, about 1.389" BTOL, but dropped off quickly if I varied it slightly longer. However, my accuracy has a wider node at 1.455" being best, and 1.450" and 1.445" were close, so a lot more forgiving on the longer side. This is for a CZ factory chamber, if you have something different, you likely will have different results.