Losing interest in my 17HMR ...

[Tommie]

I'm a prairie dog shooter first and foremost. I purchased a 17HMR soon after Hornady released the cartridge and took the rifle on a poodle shoot. The low cost, lack of recoil and 200 yard capability,with several hits beyond that range) made for big fun. I was a 17HMR fan after that trip.

Within the past year or so I've shared everyone's dismay regarding ammunition prices. For whatever reason, 17HMR ammo has seemed to rise in price especially high. With ammo now costing twenty cents per round a lot of the fun factor has disappeared for me.

Recently I did some calculations and discovered that a .17 Ackley Hornet can be reloaded for the same price as 17HMR ammo. Looks like the 17HMR is going on the chopping block!

 

[Scott7m]

is everyone in this hobby so tight they squeak? lol

have fun, forget about the money part. the hmr will always have a place in my cabinet

 

[Forum Boss]

You could have your rifle set back and rechambered for the 17 Mach 2. It runs about 2100 fps compared to 2650 for the 17HMR. Same 17gr bullets.

Big differenct is cost. The 17 Mach 2 ammo is widely discounted and you can get it for about $4-$5 per box, about half what 17HMR ammo goes for.

 

[Tommie]

Although money certainly is an issue,wish it weren't) the .17AH simply offers too many advantages to ignore. Being a centerfire, the .17AH can be loaded down to HMR velocities if desired, but it can also be loaded to "full steam" velocities which surpass the HMR by 1000 FPS .. and with a heavier bullet. Also, being reloadable allows the owner the advantage of working up a pet load instead of being limited to factory offerings. Component bullet selections are relatively large for the reloader when compared to the few factory HMR loads.

The .17AH can do everything the HMR can do and then some. Recoil is almost nil, muzzle blast is still relatively low. When the performance advantage figures into the equation, the HMR just doesn't shine as brightly for me. And again, the cost factor does mean something.

The .17AH is like a Corvette that gets 40 MPG.

Bring the flame on! I'm a big boy.

Tom

 

[ghermitage]

I will leave 17 HMR and go back to 22 Mag if the new Hornady 30gr V-Max ammo gives the claimed dramatic improvement in accuracy as I would prefer 30gr V-Max rather than 17gr V-Max on foxes. Don't know if the 22 Mag V-Max ammunition will be any cheaper than 17 HMR ammunition though.

 

[tuck2]

What is the 17 AH ? There are so many wildcat rounds,I dont keep up. What bullet, powder and cases are used ?

 

[rangerruck]

the 22 mag vmax rounds are no cheaper than 17hmr, and it still drops like a stone after 100yds, losing almost half it's speed at that point. i would rather go 17remmy fireball, and reload, or go with the 17mach2, which I have and love. it is 150 yd capable, on the ground rats.

 

[Scott7m]

Of course there are other 17 calibers that will out number the 17hmr. but for a rimfire case, and a production rifle! man, it's been the best thing to come along in years and years.. to me it only adds to the joy of the rifle to not have to reload for it to get great accuarcy, the other day i shot a 0.283 5 shot group at 110 yards. hard to beat.. and for a 279 dollar rifle that is impressive..

it is the best rifle for squirrel hunting after the leaves fall i've ever seen. with the 12X leupold, you can just make head shots all day long off of a good rest. i love it

 

[cockcroft]

Very good cat killer round.

 

[Twud]

Gotta agree with Scott, why does everyone have to do everything on the cheap. If you buy a box of HMR's and spend the afternoon shooting them I would call that cheap entertainment. Everybody seems to want the cheapest they can buy, Bushnell Scopes, CZ Rifles and Savage Rifle to name a few.
Seems pretty obvious why HMR ammo is going up.

 

[jb77]

Twud I agree to a point. But my Savage 93/17 meets all my criteria for what I use it for. It shoots into 3/4 of an inch at 100yds with a cheap BSA scope,hoping Santa drops a Leupold scope under the tree for it). I would really like for some of my expensive Remingtons and TC's to shoot this well.

The price of the ammo doesn't bother me as long as it stays reasonable. I like the convenience of a rimfire with this much performance.

 

[Tommie]

If they were both priced the same, which would you buy: A Mazda or a Mercedes?

My point is about the "bang for the buck" factor. As stated in my original post, I shoot prairie dogs, not tree squirrels. For my use, the .17AH offers 1000 FPS over the HMR, a better selection of bullets, more flexibility, great barrel life and costs the same to reload per round as the 17HMR.

Tom

 

[Scott7m]

but a 17hmr isn't a mazda, and a 17hornet isn't a mercedes.. both are very different, sure you can get the hornet to shoot the same as the hmr with lighter loads. but to go out and buy a rifle for 269, slap a good scope on it and for me i'm shooting consistent groups in the low .3's and occassionally .2's... with factory rimfire ammo.. beats me..

You can't load 17 ackley hornets for the same price of 17hmr ammo... Well I guess you could if you don't count your time worth anything, which I count my time worth something.. thats why I smile when I reach for the hmr!

jhmo.....

 

[jb77]

Exactly Scott, at some point all that case forming,load development, reloading. I have gotten ready to go shooting a couple of times with the 223 or 22-250 and uh-oh out of cartridges, time to reload. Not with the 17 just a quick stop at the local wally world and I am back in business.

And Tommie I don't want a mazda or mercedes I will stick with my Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins turbo diesel. Besides the 17 HMR is the Ferrari of the rimfire world.

 

[Tommie]

To each his own.

Tom

 

[Ogre6br]

What about a 17 FB or 17 MK4- downloaded to HMR- possible

Then you can also buy factory ammo for it if you run out.

later
p

 

[Twud]

Tommie,
Did you figure in dies, excess powder, a rifle, wasted load work up components and the premium cost of brass?
For my money I'll take the 17HMR. Never enjoyed shooting a rifle so much.

 

[squirrelduster]

I purchased a 17hmr two years ago and it got me involved in shooting again. I absolutely love to sit out in the hay fields or orchards and reduce the squirrel population. I shot over 1100 squirrels last year and the majority of them were with the cheapo Savage that I only paid $200 for and the Tasco 6x24 mildot scope. Entire set up under 300.00.
I still like to vaporize them with the big guns but it is just as fun and challenging to make the 250+ yard shot with factory ammo. My best shot last year was 317 yards and a 310 yard shot shortly after. Makes you learn how to shoot in a hurry. The big guns are fun but I find more challenge shooting the 17.
Look around at all of the online places and you still can find ammo for 9 bucks.

 

[CIA]

I own a 17ah and a hmr. My hmr in my American express card. I don't leave home with out it. The ah has a definite purpose and great to shoot. I use my hmr around the house for vermin and out for ground squirrels and pd's in close to houses. The answer is obviously have both guns and add a hm2 for cheaper shooting after all there is no such thing as too many guns
Mark

 

[kochie]

what 17 cal is the best to go with ?