Anschutz 1717 17 HMR "Load Development"

[lawman29]

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 Armory). Some where along the line the 17 HMR came up - so I started doing some research on manufactures and stumbled on an old thread by RickinOregon regarding his Woodchuck Walkabout: https://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/anschutz-hmr-rockchuck-walkabout.3845521/

He described his Anschutz 1517; I brought it up to Keith and got a big thumbs up on Anschutz but told me spend a little more and get a one on a 54 action - I do what Keith tells me so I did. I found a lightly used 1717 from a good guy in Oregon. I put a Leupold VXIII 6.5-20x40 on it (got it from one of our forum members - I'm a big fan of them - three of the previous listed rifles have one) with Warne bases and rings.

Like any rimfire "load development" is testing ammo. I decided to stay with 17 grain bullets based on what I've read from others experiences. I tested 5 different brands as follows: CCI 17 grain TNT, Hornady 17 grain Vmax , Federal 17 grain Vmax, Remington 17 grain accutip and Winchester 17 grain poly tip - all rated at 2,550 ft/sec. I conducted an initial test on 6/28 at 100 yards at the Cody Shooting Complex. I tested in the morning, conditions started fairly okay, but the wind did pick up a little. The preliminary results were trending CCI and Hornady.

 

[lawman29]

Today 6/30 I went back to the range to re-test at 100, 150 and 200. The conditions were better but did have a little - doesn't take much. The test at 100 yards the results were; CCI #!, Hornady #2 and Federal #2, with Remington and Winchester eliminated. At 150 yards CCI was the winner. I then shot a target at 200 with the CCI. Needless to say I am very pleased. Regarding the Leupold varmint reticle: as you can see from the targets the reticle is working with the 17 HMR - I hold center at 100 yards and then use the next two lines to hold for 150 and 200 respectively.

 

[dgeesaman]

I too have generally found the TNT to be the best performer. And Winchester isn’t even worth loading and pulling the trigger.

 

[X Count]

Accuracy looks really good!

Now to buy as much of that CCI batch as you can find!

 

[nr123]

Just finished some tests with my Tikka 17 HMR. I had very good results with A17 ammo, and CCI 17 VNT. The Hornady 17 gr shot good groups as well. I took the Tikka on a prairie dog shoot a couple of weeks ago and killed several at 180 yds and beyond (mostly luck, but I'll take it).

 

[thebeav]

Looks great!
That 100 yard CCI group is special. Especially in wind conditions.

 

[jepp2]

I found a lightly used 1717 from a good guy in Oregon.

That was a great find. Those are not readily available. My very first 17 HMR was an Annie 1717D HB. When I shot it at the range the first time, I was impressed to say the least. But it lead to my downfall. It was so pretty and accurate, I decided I should "save" it. If I used it as intended (riding around in the vehicle with me when I shoot prairie dogs) I knew it could pick up some use marks.

Here is how it did for me last year prior to selling it.

 

[USMCDOC]

one question isn't all ammo for this chamber made by one company for all the other companies that sell this ammo?

 

[hogpatrol]

May be a pistol thing but my Annie 17P had best results with A17 and VNT versions of the 17 grain. The 20s never shot good in anything by my CZs.

 

[webfoot56]

Agree with USMCDOC, except for the Winchester I think CCI makes it all for everyone else. Just packaged and branded differently for each.

 

[Schandler]

I believe the ammo changes with each batch made !! I’ve bought and shot my fair share and in several rifles. My 2 cents and that’s what it’s worth - the Hornady 17 and buy a couple bricks at a time and then sort it by weighing each round. Shooting in Annies a couple tikka t1x and cz 450’s the Hornady overall produced the best groups. I have nothing that likes the 20gr stuff except 17 contender barrel. Next choice would be the A17 ammo. i dont think lot number matters nearly as much as weight sorting each piece And even then you still get the flyer here and there. I will mention this for giggles - the A17’s rifles not being a bolt gun shoot really really well ! Especially in the hm2 cartridge !

 

[ALK]

An old timer told me once that if you shoot to far, you'll stretch. the barrel. So I keep my HMR shots at 100 yds. and in.

 

[tmwinds]

one question isn't all ammo for this chamber made by one company for all the other companies that sell this ammo?

That’s my understanding. There are several different bullet weights and types available and then lots change. If you find what shoots good buy all you can afford.