Building 17 Hornady Hornet on a Ruger #1

[Kittitas George]

Starting on a 17 Hornady Hornet, Ruger #1. Lilja barrel on a former 7mm Rem. Mag. The barrel will be pretty heavy, so thinking about fluting. It is strictly a bench type varmint gun, off the bench at the range and off the bench in the back of my pick-up. So, looking for some of the wonderful advice that I know is out there. The barrel is about 3 months away, so plenty of planning time. I also need to know more about chamber/throat dimensions. I'm a re-loader, but don't want to be a neck turner.

 

[SSL]

Mechanically, you will probably have to either modify or replace the extractor/ejector. The rest will depend on your barrel contour and length. My Rugers are all #1 B models and have factory contour 26" barrels, which I don't find too heavy. If it is for bench only, as you mentioned, weight probably isn't of that much importance when compared to the additional expense of fluting. But it's your rifle. Do what makes you feel good and is pleasing to you. Remember that rest support needs to be as close to the receiver as possible, regardless of the barrel weight, to keep the forearm from pushing against the barrel.

 

[Kittitas George]

Thank you the rest position advice. I was thinking the barrel maybe very heavy if we used the factory contour. I don't want a lot of daylight on either side of the barrel. It might be more reasonable to make a new forearm with a narrower channel, gotta shoot and gotta look right. Quite a difference between 7mm and 17 bore. I only need to lift it from the tool box to the bench. I knew about the extractor/ejector. I don't have much info on chamber dimension, I would like a 'no turn' neck and shoot the 20 grain V-Max. I'll have about 5 or 6 months before gopher season.