NEWBIE AND 17 HORNET

[ebb]

Do the same consistency problems exist with the 17TCM? I didn't know that the 17TCM existed till a friend was talking about his, he loves it.

 

[B23]

I weighed 100 new Hornady brass (all the same lot). They varied from 52.46 to 51.76, that's .7 of a grain difference. Much better that what I have been using. I will do a volume check and let you know.

I did a little 17 Hornet brass measuring today and came up with some interesting information and here's what I got.

I took four pieces of once fired brass that was originally Hornady 20gr Vmax ammo, I took four pieces of factory loaded ammo from the same box, pulled the bullets, dumped the powder out and popped out the primers. This is Factory Hornady 20gr Vmax ammo I bought around 3-3.5 years ago. Then I grabbed four pieces of new unfired Hornady brass that I bought about nine months ago.

So I could get as accurate as possible I cleaned the primer pockets on the once fired brass and these were their weights with case volume, measured with water, in parentheses.
50.50 (14.85), 50.40 (15.00), 50.50 (14.85), 50.20 (14.90)

Then I measured the case weight and volume of the four pieces of loaded ammo where I pulled the bullets and dumped the powder. These came from the same box as the once fired.
50.25 (14.35), 50.50 (14.35), 50.40 (14.50), 50.50 (14.65)

Next, I measured the new unfired brass that I bought about nine months ago.
52.70 (13.90), 52.80 (13.85), 52.90 (13.90), 52.80 (13.90)

Granted, this is a fairly small sample size but the consistency appears to be pretty decent. I'd definitely say there is a certain amount of variance in this brass depending on when it was made.

Going forward, I'll certainly be keeping my brass from the shot factory ammo separate from the new unfired brass.

 

[JSH]

Frankm, trying to wrap my head around what you did exactly. Trying to figure out your spacer arrangement.

B23, is your 1680 load a bit high or is that as per Hornady manual. I looked at AA data and it was a fair bit lower than yours.

 

[B23]

The Hornady book shows 12.4gr as max with 1680 and their 20gr Vmax. I've loaded some at 12gr, 12.2, and 12.4 the 12.4 shot the worst of the three but was still under MOA. The 12 and 12.2 shot nearly the exact same so any that I've loaded, which hasn't been a whole lot because I have so much factory ammo to shoot up, has been with 12.2gr 1680.

It hasn't appeared to be a warm load at all and I know quite a few other 17 Hornet shooters that are using the same load. I've run this load through my QL program before and it always showed it as being a little on the hot side and showed it as being about 100fps faster than I was getting, but now that I've measured the case volume of my brass I just went in and changed the default setting for case volume and put in what mine actually is and it now shows the pressure being well under max and the velocity is within 4 fps of what I'm actually getting.

In these tiny little cases a minimal change in volume can make a relatively big change in the end result.

 

[JSH]

I have seen the 12-12.2 being liked by many. I have a Western powder data book, but no Hornady. As always their can be a fair spread of difference 11.2 was Westerns max.

Jeff

 

[oneshot 66]

I have seen the 12-12.2 being liked by many. I have a Western powder data book, but no Hornady. As always their can be a fair spread of difference 11.2 was Westerns max.

Jeff

Great information. I'm away from my loading bench for a week and it's been-40 the past few nights, so I won't be contributing for a bit.
Thanks
Scott

 

[Frankm]

JSH, I m a visual guy myself and know the verbal description a little confusing.

Basically we cut (shortened) the bottom of the collet so the neck sizing portion dropped down lower inside the die ( because of 17 HH being shorter than 17 Rem) and built a spacer the same thickness that we shortened the collet with a hole in it for the anvil/de-prime rod to go through. This 'raised the anvil' and kept it in the same location with the collet prior to any die modifications being made. Said spacer sits on top of collet sleeve and under the aluminum cap on the top of the die. I ll send you an exterior photo.

 

[JSH]

I figured those collets were harder than wood pecker lips.

 

[oneshot 66]

I figured those collets were harder than wood pecker lips.

JSH,
I loaded 35 rds. today with CFE BLACK and A1680 close to max with NOSLER and VMAX 20 gr. I used graphite on the first 30 and not on the last. Big difference in the amount of pressure it took to seat the bullets. Will shot when it warms up, -38.5 this morning.
Scott

 

[JSH]

Been a year guys! Speak up;-).
I got side tracked and have neglected my 17HH. Glad I chased this thread down. Gonna get my graphite out and make a mess.
Always have to mess with success, am gonna try some AA2200

 

[searcher]

The biggest accuracy-gainer I found for my .17 Hornet was turning the necks till at least 80% clean. Inconsistent neck tension on this little round will have your shots spread more than I have found with my "target cartridges" such as 6PPC, 6BR or Dasher. I had also found this to be true with my .20 caliber cases. I use Hornady brass, do an 80% neck turn (which also aids me in using a "non-bushing" die, as I use factory RCBS dies), and have no problem getting 1/4" MOA in calm conditions with three loads. My rifle is a CZ which I had a Lilja barrel installed by a gunsmith who took the time to do a really nice, tight chamber job. Bedded it into a HS Precision graphite stock. Getting down to within a 1/10th grain on powder is not good enough if you want the tightest groups. Need to use a scale that will cut that down to half of that, accurately. I use a Gempro doing it for this rifle. I have not found it necessary to weigh and sort cases, bullets or primers to get these groups. If I can get 1/4" to 3/8" MOA in my varmint rifles - I'm a happy guy. I shoot HBN-coated Berger 25's .018" off the lands (that is 1.478" measurement using the Hornady tool) with 10.8 grns H4198 and a CCI400 primer. H4198 also propels 20 V-Maxes very well, as does IMR4227. One of the biggest challenges is getting a day at the range with little to no wind, as I'm sure you know. I'm experimenting with the new copper bullets out for the .17, but not having the best of luck with them so far. Good Luck!