17hmr

[lawman29]

I don’t think I’ve ever tried TNT Green (lead-free). I use the standard TNT.

The same for me. I previously posted my results.

Anschutz 1717 17 HMR "Load Development"

As we all do I was looking at my 'varmint rifles' pondering what am I missing (I have a .218 Mashburn Bee custom build on an 1885 Winchester Low Wall, Sako A1 .221 Fireball, Custom Ruger No. 1 in 221 FIreball and a Ruger No.1 22/250 - all custom and barrel work done by Keith Kilby at Wyoming...

forum.accurateshooter.com

I did a follow-up later at 200 yards under better conditions with little wind.

 

[jsof]

Regarding 2 vs 3 manufacturers, I can only name 2, but about 2 years ago someone on another forum claimed there was a third one starting up so I said 3 to avoid being overly negative. As you said the two were CCI and Winchester.
I shoot a CZ 455 with a Lilja barrel that my kids gave me for Christmas a few years ago (great present) and the best lots have all been CCI TNT, but maybe it was the luck of the draw. It happened so often that I pretty much have made it my go to.

Add on: the third one is Norma. They announced it in 2019. It sounds like it's not just rebranded.

 

[dgeesaman]

I think I remember seeing the Norma 17hmr announced. As far as I know it’s still vaporware but I will keep looking for it.

 

[doclu60]

I don’t think I’ve ever tried TNT Green (lead-free). I use the standard TNT. https://www.cci-ammunition.com/rimfire/cci/tnt/6-53.html

I wish I could claim I owned the 1727 with hummer barrel but it belongs to a friend. Maybe someday I can gather the cash and work out a deal.

Dave,
I said this thread had some good info, you just made it better. I was unaware of the two different TNT rounds. The bulk of my time shooting is RFBR, but I do love the .17hmr and the rifle I have to shoot it. I will check this round out. After getting results like I achieved with the ammo I have, I kind of quit testing. Thank you for your post and link!

Best regards.........Scott

 

[RabbitSlayer]

I have a 455 with a fluted varmint barrel. With a god lot of ammo a whole box will avg sub moa at 50 yards from a folding table. Think that was with a bipod, can't recall now. It is glassed and pillard with an ace hardware spring. The smith who did the pillars specialized in cz rimfire. He said cz barrels are hit or miss. If it doesn't shoot right away sell it and get a better barrel. I suspect a rimx or something would be better, but expensive.

 

[Todd Earhart]

My 17 is a cheap synthetic stock Mossberg. I bought it probably 15 years ago because I thought it would extend my range squirrel hunting. It delivered that. No other rifle have I killed more squirrel on single trips. It stays in my truck all the time. Has definitely been neglected but I have never regretted getting it.
Todd

 

[JoeMcNeill]

I bought a Ruger precision rifle in 17 HMR and it is a shooter. All factory except for the grip which is a Magpul no angle one. I adjusted the factory trigger to my liking and when I hold correctly it will group 1/2" at 50 yards with the Hornady 17 grain ammo. My son in law shoots 3/8" groups with it!! It is easy to hit our steel targets at 200 yards. I also have a Ruger American and an Anschutz pistol in 17 HMR which I enjoy shooting. I really like the round.

JDM

 

[ROBARRC50]

Not sure about the best but this is my contender pistol bottom groups 17 hmr hornady 17 grain , the keyhole groups 17 hmr ntx lead free obviously my twist rate did not stabalize those. Top groups are 223 rem just swapped barrels. I have not searched for any ammo lots that shoot better figured what i first picked up was more than good enough.

 

[Lawboy]

I bought the Tikka. It has not disappointed me. Very accurate, good trigger. Factory stock is good, but I opted for a KRG Bravo for better ergonomics and accessory mounting.

 

[stacy]

I have a Bergara BMR Carbon Barrel 17HMR that does very well with CCI 17gr V-Max out too 200 yds

 

[Turkeytider]

CCI TNT rounds have been most consistent through my Savage 93R17 FV. Currently really enjoying shooting 200 yards at 4" and 2" targets. It`s a challenge and misses aren`t uncommon, but it`s certainly doable and a hoot to break 2" clays at 200 yards! Newest challenge is trying to put 5 inside of a 6" painted aiming circle at 300 yards.

 

[Knotwild]

I know Contenders aren't everyone's cup of tea, but Bullberry makes barrels with a "match" chamber that they say is 0.004 smaller than what Hornady recommended. They claim better accuracy and no split cases. I'm tempted to try one.

 

[ksmuleman]

I have a contender factory bull barrel that reallyshoots.

 

[jlorenzo]

I found CCI TNT to shoot the best. That being said the QC, lot variance, price and availability have really put me off 17 hmr. I think its a cool round but its not reliably accurate enough for me from lot to lot.
I could do it again I'd find some 17 Fireball or something, then brass becomes the problem which is unfortunate. So its either 22 LR or 204 Ruger if I every buy another small caliber rifle. My opinion anyway.

 

[dgeesaman]

I found CCI TNT to shoot the best. That being said the QC, lot variance, price and availability have really put me off 17 hmr. I think its a cool round but its not reliably accurate enough for me from lot to lot.
I could do it again I'd find some 17 Fireball or something, then brass becomes the problem which is unfortunate. So its either 22 LR or 204 Ruger if I every buy another small caliber rifle. My opinion anyway.

I really need to go back to my 17hmr and give them another shake. I have some new barrel cleaning methods and nothing to lose. Ideally some Norma ammo will show up too.

It has a home for short range (<200y) small game / varminting for a shooter who wants the ease and power of rimfire without the loopy sadness of 22LR. But as soon as I got into reloading the 17hmrs gathered dust.

 

[Turkeytider]

I found CCI TNT to shoot the best. That being said the QC, lot variance, price and availability have really put me off 17 hmr. I think its a cool round but its not reliably accurate enough for me from lot to lot.
I could do it again I'd find some 17 Fireball or something, then brass becomes the problem which is unfortunate. So its either 22 LR or 204 Ruger if I every buy another small caliber rifle. My opinion anyway.

With the well known variability of 17HMR ammo, I don`t know how you could really objectively determine which brand of rifle is " best ". The lack of a true match round only compounds this.
In reviewing different sites and numerous posts concerning best ammo, there seem to be frequent references to hollow point loads, particularly CCI TNT. I know this is the ammo that`s most consistent in my own Savage 93R17. Since a lot of match centerfire ammo utilizes a hollow point of sorts, could this possibly be a contributing factor with these 17HMR loads?

 

[rr2030]

I have a Savage ,17 BVSS. The single best thing I did for accuracy was not through ammo selection, (although that was a factor), replacing the bottom metal with a thicker plate purchased at savagegunsmiths.com helped the most. Experiment with the plate torque for fine tuning.

Being as I am on the far side of the pines, I must hunt with led free, ammo selections are few, especially now that I am unable to order ammo online.

 

[jlorenzo]

I really need to go back to my 17hmr and give them another shake. I have some new barrel cleaning methods and nothing to lose. Ideally some Norma ammo will show up too.

It has a home for short range (<200y) small game / varminting for a shooter who wants the ease and power of rimfire without the loopy sadness of 22LR. But as soon as I got into reloading the 17hmrs gathered dust.

Thats true. Inside 200, there is a place for it.

 

[searcher]

With the well known variability of 17HMR ammo, I don`t know how you could really objectively determine which brand of rifle is " best ". The lack of a true match round only compounds this.
In reviewing different sites and numerous posts concerning best ammo, there seem to be frequent references to hollow point loads, particularly CCI TNT. I know this is the ammo that`s most consistent in my own Savage 93R17. Since a lot of match centerfire ammo utilizes a hollow point of sorts, could this possibly be a contributing factor with these 17HMR loads?

I, along with my few shooting buddies, collectively have a half dozen .17 HMRs we use for ground squirrels. We have shot about every brand of ammo out of them and the only one which has proven to be pretty consistent from lot to lot - and to have shot well from the beginning is the Hornady V-Max. The CCI shot poorly in comparison in all of them. Everything else was just O.K. Interestingly, the V-Max lead-free shoots almost as good or as good as the leaded version in our rifles, though starts getting squirrely a bit sooner at distance. That many swear by the CCI shows how each barrel has its own appetite.

 

[Turkeytider]

I, along with my few shooting buddies, collectively have a half dozen .17 HMRs we use for ground squirrels. We have shot about every brand of ammo out of them and the only one which has proven to be pretty consistent from lot to lot - and to have shot well from the beginning is the Hornady V-Max. The CCI shot poorly in comparison in all of them. Everything else was just O.K. Interestingly, the V-Max lead-free shoots almost as good or as good as the leaded version in our rifles, though starts getting squirrely a bit sooner at distance. That many swear by the CCI shows how each barrel has its own appetite.

You`re so right about once you`ve seen one barrel shoot, you`ve seen exactly that.....one barrel. Now, you do know that unless something new has come on the market of which I`m unaware ( entirely possible ), all 17HMR ammunition is made by two companies, CCI and Winchester (?). Having said that, I have no idea if CCI makes, for example, the Federal 17HMR loads to different specs than they do their own brand.
Maybe Jaia will see this and comment. He probably knows more about 17HMR ammo than anybody else you`re likely to encounter.