Thinking about a 17 Hornet

[Ohio Varmint Shooter]

I have a 17hmr and a 223. I would like to do more groundhog hunting. I live just north of Columbus, Ohio and urban sprawl has people moving north into what was mostly farmland. But the northern and western parts of my county are still mostly farmland and small towns. But the problem is it's still populated enough in some areas...and the land flat enough that I'm worried the 223 is too susceptible to ricochet. A 40-55 grain bullet at 3500 fps will go through a hog and travel some. So I'm always concerned about what's beyond what I'm shooting...especially because the land is mostly flat. There's been more than a few times I've not taken a shot because I know what's beyond...

So I'm thinking about a 17 hornet. It's got enough punch for a hog, but that little 17 grain V-max bullet will explode upon hitting anything. It has 1/2 the ballistic coefficient of the 55 grain 22 cal Vmax. I just feel it's safer than the 223. I'll never shoot past 250 yards...something the 17 hornet can handle.

I've seen the destruction the 17hmr can do on hogs at closer ranges (and watch it explode squirrels)...and it seems the 17 hornet just adds more energy and range, but retaining the safety that I'm looking for.

 

[Rdlningcltchdmpr]

Good choice, or 17 fireball. You will gain more consistency /accuracy over the hmr.

 

[sawcarver]

Ive got a 17 hornet and a 17 fireball, the will both kill chucks 350+ and 90% of the time the 20gr vmax never leaves the Chuck. They are my go to for more populated areas. You will have more accuracy/consistancy with a centerfire hornet over the HMR

 

[Adam in WI]

I've shot woodchucks with a 53 grain vmax out of a 223. No exits and entrances are often hard to find. Your concerns are not without merit, but the 223 isn't as high risk as you may be thinking. With care to follow the basic rules you should be fine.

Should you buy a 17 Hornet? Absolutely, when you explain to your SO how you need one to protect the safety of your neighbors not only will she be on board, she'll find your care and compassion for those around you very attractive

 

[BoydAllen]

A friend is a huge fan of both the .17 and .20 Ackley Hornets.

 

[Mark M.]

I have one in a CZ 527 and there good, but finicky, I'm having mine re-barreled by James Calhoon to the 19 Badger, (JamesCahoon.com) great improvement all the way around, especially with factory formed brass and loaded ammo available.

 

[Ohio Varmint Shooter]

Ive got a 17 hornet and a 17 fireball, the will both kill chucks 350+ and 90% of the time the 20gr vmax never leaves the Chuck. They are my go to for more populated areas. You will have more accuracy/consistancy with a centerfire hornet over the HMR

I guess I should have added in the original post, is that I'm less concerned about ricochet if I hit the hog...but more concerned if I miss. Hitting the hog (and the ground behind it) will slow the bullet considerably. But if I miss the hog and just hit flat ground...that bullet could go a long way. This is the ricochet issue that concerns me.

I should also add, the reduced volume will also be a bonus. While the 223 is not some big game cartridge, it's still pretty loud. And I've run into issues where to the average person: volume= danger. Especially with the urban sprawl I mentioned above. One case in particular, a new spouse (female) has moved into a home on a multi-generational farm. (I'm friends with the multi-generational people) She doesn't understand (or care) that every hog I shoot puts money in her pocket. There's a plot of land next to a creek that is prime with groundhogs. (a few years ago, I counted 17 live holes in the spring in about a 200 yard stretch) It's about 300 yards from their house but I don't think she wants me to hunt there. Especially now that there's two small children. I think if she hears the 223 she'll finally get word back to me not to hunt there. And at the moment, I don't want to take the time, hassle and money for a suppressor.

 

[Ackman]

You'd be very happy with 17Hornet. I've been shooting a 17AH since '92 or '93 and it's still a favorite cartridge. Made a real nice mess out of literally thousands of pd's and groundsquirrels. And has worked beautifully on a whole ton of rockchucks in areas where l wanted to minimize the noise. Very quiet for a centerfire. Mine is a T/C Contender carbine, custom 20". Couldn't ask for a lighter, easier to handle gun for walkaround and it's absolutely the perfect truck/window gun. Burns very little powder and with a good barrel will shoot many hundreds of rounds between cleanings, whether necessary or not. And the barrels last about forever. That cartridge is just perfect with 20gr. bullets and those little things can surprise you. They're frangible, but many times a target was visible behind light foliage or grass and still wound up very dead. At about 3650-3700, terminal performance with 20gr Vmax and Berger HP varmint bullets is pretty much indistinguishable.

Addition:Besides making very little noise even with a 20" barrel, this round has only barely felt recoil, there's no muzzle jump - see every hit in beautiful color.

 

[Tommie]

The 17 Hornet is perfect for your intended purpose.

 

[KY_Windage]

My experience is that anything will ricochet if you miss on ground that is at all flat. Super-fast, small bullets tend to blow up easily, but they will still ricochet at times.

I would get a suppressor and then make sure you don't miss, and don't take any questionable shots without a backstop. I just got the approval on a suppressor and it took 4 months and 4 days. Of course, they are still spendy but well worth the expense to me.

You get way more shots if you are suppressed, not to mention not alarming nearby residents.

 

[SBOOMER]

Move cautiously if you are looking at a Ruger or the Hornady Hornet. Out of the box, it shot patterns not groups. I have way more time than should be necessary to get it to shoot consistent(not) 1” groups. Hoping that bedding will take it to 3/4” but I wont hold my breath. Hands down the most persnickety cartridge I have ever loaded for. A tenth of a grain is huge in some cases. Thrown charges, even out of my Harrell’s are not close enough for remotely decent standard deviations. That said, it is a ball to shoot. If I had to do it over again, I would do the Ackley version.

 

[shoot4fun]

I have owned a CZ527 with a custom 17 Ackely Hornet barrel on it for a while now. I almost had the barrel cut back and rechambered in 17 Hornet but, even though forming 17AH is a PITA, am glad I didn't. It is some serious fun for small varmints and my 24" barrel really sends the 20 gr Amax downrange quickly and with deadly results.

 

[B23]

I've got two CZ 527 17 Hornets, both are their Varmint model, and they're a lot of fun. Generally, the CZ 527's shoot MOA right out of the box with factory ammo and often much better. Sometimes you'll hear of one that doesn't shoot quite as well, but its been my experience that is certainly not the norm.

They aren't particularly loud which makes them a great choice for close quarters shooting and shooting them with a suppressor, for get about it, they're crazy quiet and will make you giggle like a little girl every time you pull the trigger.

I have a 17 HMR, 17 WSM, and 17 Hornet. The 17 WSM is a noticeable step up from the 17 HMR and the 17 Hornet is a substantial step up from the 17 WSM.

IMO, you'd be very happy with a 17 Hornet and it'll check all the boxes for you.

 

[Ohio Varmint Shooter]

. Hoping that bedding will take it to 3/4” but I wont hold my breath. Hands down the most persnickety cartridge I have ever loaded for. A tenth of a grain is huge in some cases. Thrown charges, even out of my Harrell’s are not close enough for remotely decent standard deviations.

I guess another thing I should add: I'm an 'out of the box' shooter. I don't reload, I don't bed the action, I don't purchase special barrels. I'll put a decent 'budget' scope on my rifles (I like Muellers), a bipod and use factory ammo. I'll at least splurge on a few different boxes of ammo to see what shoots best. I was getting ready to purchase different boxes of ammo for my 17hmr when I first got it. But I had a box of 17 gr Vmax cartridges from Hornady...went to the range and shot several 4 shot groups inside a nickle at 100 yards. A few were inside a dime. That was it for me, I packed up and left. I was shocked at the accuracy. (Savage 93R17 w/varmint barrel) I've never shot anything else out of it....no need too. The only problem is...now if I miss, I know it's me, not the rifle!

If I do get one, it will probably be a Savage...as I support them because they make left handed rifles. (I have three savage left handers) But I don't think Savage makes a left handed 17 Hornet. But it's ok...with a bipod, a left hander doesn't need to take their left hand off the rifle to work the bolt.

 

[WyleWD]

I have a 17hmr and a 223. I would like to do more groundhog hunting. I live just north of Columbus, Ohio and urban sprawl has people moving north into what was mostly farmland. But the northern and western parts of my county are still mostly farmland and small towns. But the problem is it's still populated enough in some areas...and the land flat enough that I'm worried the 223 is too susceptible to ricochet. A 40-55 grain bullet at 3500 fps will go through a hog and travel some. So I'm always concerned about what's beyond what I'm shooting...especially because the land is mostly flat. There's been more than a few times I've not taken a shot because I know what's beyond...

So I'm thinking about a 17 hornet. It's got enough punch for a hog, but that little 17 grain V-max bullet will explode upon hitting anything. It has 1/2 the ballistic coefficient of the 55 grain 22 cal Vmax. I just feel it's safer than the 223. I'll never shoot past 250 yards...something the 17 hornet can handle.

I've seen the destruction the 17hmr can do on hogs at closer ranges (and watch it explode squirrels)...and it seems the 17 hornet just adds more energy and range, but retaining the safety that I'm looking for.

Being very familiar with the area that you'll be hunting as I am, you have a good plan and legitimate concern. Personally, I wouldn't be afraid of the 17 Fireball or 17 MachIV and shooting 25gr Vmax or HP's. But again, I think you are on the right track. JMHO. WD

 

[Ohio Varmint Shooter]

Being very familiar with the area that you'll be hunting as I am, you have a good plan and legitimate concern. Personally, I wouldn't be afraid of the 17 Fireball or 17 MachIV and shooting 25gr Vmax or HP's. But again, I think you are on the right track. JMHO. WD

IF I recall correctly, you're NE of Columbus. Even just that short distance away from me, the terrain changes from the (almost exclusively) flat lands of NW Delaware county, to more rolling hills where you are. But it's nice to hear from an experienced guy like you that my concerns aren't off base.

I think it was this forum, several years ago...There was a guy who groundhog/rockchuck hunted out in Wyoming or Idaho? He was 'hired' by several wealthy families close to each other. All had very expensive homes and expensive horses. So he used a 17 Hornet because he needed to keep the noise down and squash concerns about ricochet.

And as a bonus, it looks like the trajectory of the 17 hornet is VERY similar to the 223....at least in the ranges I'll be shooting.

 

[Bill K]

Have and use the 17 HMR, 17 Hornet & 17 Fireball. For plinking around the HMR is great. Then for squeeks/rock chucks/rabbits the Hornet or Fireball come to play. You will enjoy the 17 Hornet.

 

[MrMajestic]

I run an Ackley Hornet, Ackley Bee and Fireball in .17 caliber. The 20 gr. V-Max at 3550 fps in the AH up to 4125 fps in the FB have not exited a Chuck yet for me at ranges to 350 yards(FB). Actually had one expand on grass in front of one with the AB at 3925 fps from 25 yards. Bad surface wound and thinking it was dead moved on but upon return it was gone. Felt bad about the suffering and vowed to insure before walking away again. Does say something about their construction anyway...FYI, the 25 grain will occasionally exit so I avoid it in tight areas.

 

[Sheehan93]

You would be happy with the 17 Hornet. I have shot a lot of prairie dogs with great results with it. It should do well with your ricochet concern.

 

[spencerhenry]

17 Hornet is a wonderful little cartridge. I run 20gr vmax for ground squirrels, its jut the right amount of power, little recoil, not very loud, and those little 20gr bullets don't make it very far after hitting anything.