Had to sight in the 17 hornet.

[ohlongarmisle]

I've been using a Hornady 15.5 grain NXT at 3810 fps for three years now, it's no longer available and I won't pay $2 a round for it on Gunjoker, so i'm using Hornady 20 grain Superformance at 3610 fps. Two groups at 100 yards 5 shots each , right hand target threw one shot low right.Both groups are less than 0.5 moa. Ok for a stock rifle.The group on the right measured .435, the left .290, the commander on our swat team measured them with calipers the way you're supposed to, as for now no aftermarket barrels.

 

[Tommie]

I’m gonna assume it’s a CZ 527 based upon the great groups

 

[ohlongarmisle]

I’m gonna assume it’s a CZ 527 based upon the great groups

That's correct, stock rifle everything even the 1 pound set trigger.I've thought about a Pac Nor match barrel for it but am wondering if it would do that much better, hopefully hillbilly long rifle can interject as he's an expert on these mouse calibers.

 

[Tommie]

That's correct, stock rifle everything even the 1 pound set trigger.I've thought about a Pac Nor match barrel for it but am wondering if it would do that much better, hopefully hillbilly long rifle can interject as he's an expert on these mouse calibers.

Yours shoots pretty typically. Considering the 17 Hornet’s effective range I don’t know what would be accomplished for real-world shooting by spending money to try shaving off maybe one tenth MOA.

 

[ohlongarmisle]

Yours shoots pretty typically. Considering the 17 Hornet’s effective range I don’t know what would be accomplished for real-world shooting by spending money to try shaving off maybe one tenth MOA.

You're 100% correct , I sent some of my groups to a couple very reputable barrel makers and they told me save you're money. Mind you that group was shot in a lead sled no wind 80 degrees high humidity, but still good shooting, haven't missed many varmints in three years , that's for sure.I limit shots at 250 , and have been satisfied , there's always the 20 cal for extreme long range.

 

[Tommie]

You're 100% correct , I sent some of my groups to a couple very reputable barrel makers and they told me save you're money. Mind you that group was shot in a lead sled no wind 80 degrees high humidity, but still good shooting, haven't missed many varmints in three years , that's for sure.I limit shots at 250 , and have been satisfied , there's always the 20 cal for extreme long range.

250 is pretty easy with that setup. If/when you finally burn the factory barrel out then a custom barrel will be a fun upgrade

 

[ohlongarmisle]

250 is pretty easy with that setup. If/when you finally burn the factory barrel out then a custom barrel will be a fun upgrade

I've got 250 rounds down the pipe in 3 years , 95% live targets.I imagine with cleaning regular 100 rd life , don't really know.

 

[Tommie]

I've got 250 rounds down the pipe in 3 years , 95% live targets.I imagine with cleaning regular 100 rd life , don't really know.

Totally guessing but somewhere around 2K down mine. No noticeable drop in accuracy. The 17 Hornet is a polite round.

 

[TheCZKid]

If you can hand-load, then you should be able to improve group size further. I have a stock CZ Varmint contour barrel, and after dialing in my load I can shoot in the 2's. My last 4 test targets to verify the load averaged .197" between the four. I decided that's more than I thought it would be able to achieve. Mine likes the Federal American Eagle as far as factory loads, but not available for a few years now. I got a "Back in Stock" email from somewhere that the Hornady 20 grain ammo was available, for a few minutes at least.

 

[ohlongarmisle]

If you can hand-load, then you should be able to improve group size further. I have a stock CZ Varmint contour barrel, and after dialing in my load I can shoot in the 2's. My last 4 test targets to verify the load averaged .197" between the four. I decided that's more than I thought it would be able to achieve. Mine likes the Federal American Eagle as far as factory loads, but not available for a few years now. I got a "Back in Stock" email from somewhere that the Hornady 20 grain ammo was available, for a few minutes at least.

View attachment 1454744
View attachment 1454743

Nice shooting , but i don't handload, no patience for that,I stocked up on American Eagle black tipped before Covid BS, and Hornady as well, set at about 750 rds, Hornady is beginning to show up,in a few places. I haven't noticed a big difference in the two, however the Hornady 15.5 grain I believe is the most accurate.No longer available unless you want to pay 2$ a round on Gun Joker. No THX, the 20 grain flattens anything i'm drawing down on. Nice groups for sure.

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]

Leave the stock CZ rifle alone and burn that barrel out shooting Groundhogs! You want get a better shooting factory gun and factory ammo. Like others have said later on when the barrel is toast get a custom barrel put on.

I love the 17 Ackley Hornet I use for Groundhogs. It sure does kill well inside of 250 yards!

 

[ohlongarmisle]

Leave the stock CZ rifle alone and burn that barrel out shooting Groundhogs! You want get a better shooting factory gun and factory ammo. Like others have said later on when the barrel is toast get a custom barrel put on.

I love the 17 Ackley Hornet I use for Groundhogs. It sure does kill well inside of 250 yards!

HB, what exactly is the difference between the two, may have asked you before, but technical stuff is out of my realm. THX

 

[TheCZKid]

HB, what exactly is the difference between the two, may have asked you before, but technical stuff is out of my realm. THX

I think this photo shows the 17 Ackley Hornet on the left two, and 17 Hornady Hornet on the right. Longer neck and steeper shoulder angle on the 17 AH

 

[Tommie]

It looks like more but the 17 Ackley only has about .1 grain capacity advantage. The Hornady version, while shorter, has way less body taper.

 

[ohlongarmisle]

I think this photo shows the 17 Ackley Hornet on the left two, and 17 Hornady Hornet on the right. Longer neck and steeper shoulder angle on the 17 AH
View attachment 1455283

Nice pictures and explanation, performance wise , is it negligible?The 17 HH has not failed me yet on anything, out to 250, no need or desire to push it further , that's where the 20 cal steps up to the plate. THX

 

[Kittitas George]

Nice pictures and explanation, performance wise , is it negligible?The 17 HH has not failed me yet on anything, out to 250, no need or desire to push it further , that's where the 20 cal steps up to the plate. THX

My 17HH is a Ruger #1 w/ Lilja heavy barrel. I haven't got it shooting as tite as yours though I have made some 250 yard shots on gophers. What powder are you using? Amount? I need to find more brass, so I can shoot it more.

 

[ohlongarmisle]

My 17HH is a Ruger #1 w/ Lilja heavy barrel. I haven't got it shooting as tite as yours though I have made some 250 yard shots on gophers. What powder are you using? Amount? I need to find more brass, so I can shoot it more.

I'm using factory ammo only those groups were shot with Hornady factory, I don't reload. I sent those groups to Lilja, and the owner said leave it be, it's a shooter honest company.Pac Nor same response, I got lucky. Standard sporter barrel.

 

[Kittitas George]

I'm using factory ammo only those groups were shot with Hornady factory, I don't reload. I sent those groups to Lilja, and the owner said leave it be, it's a shooter honest company.Pac Nor same response, I got lucky. Standard sporter barrel.

The Hornady factory ammo shoots better than my hand loads, I'm sure it is what I'm doing not the Lilja barrel. Many would be happy with the groups I'm shooting, it just I had better groups with other guns. Like many I need more brass.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

I am guessing they will do a run of that ntx eventually as long as it doesn't say discontinued. My buddy who handloads gets the best accuracy with them too. My cz 527 shoots good, but not that good. I wouldn't expect a custom barrel to shoot better. The brass sucks and the tiny case makes any difference in charge weight have a big difference in velocity. I would consider bedding and a timney trigger and burn out that barrel. Save or sell that brass. Should be able to get 30+ bucks per 50 no problem. Haven't seen brass in 3 years.

 

[ohlongarmisle]

I am guessing they will do a run of that ntx eventually as long as it doesn't say discontinued. My buddy who handloads gets the best accuracy with them too. My cz 527 shoots good, but not that good. I wouldn't expect a custom barrel to shoot better. The brass sucks and the tiny case makes any difference in charge weight have a big difference in velocity. I would consider bedding and a timney trigger and burn out that barrel. Save or sell that brass. Should be able to get 30+ bucks per 50 no problem. Haven't seen brass in 3 years.

I'm not going to touch the barrel, and the stock set trigger adjusts to 1 pound which is where I have it, the 17' hornet is not tough on barrels from what I know, only about 300 down the pipe so far in the 3 years I've had this particular one.All on varmints and brief sight in.As for the brass I can't even get 75$ for 250 pieces. Thankfully I stocked up on plenty 20 grain Superformance.I had the swat team supervisor measure this at work with calipers.I don't believe any barrel out there would outshoot it, everything came together under perfect conditions. I threw one shot low in the right hand target but knew it.I don't plan on missing much, but haven't seen one gh yet today.