When comparing the .17 Hornet to a .20 Hornet.....

[VaniB]

........what happened to the 20 Hornet?
I just need your honest opinion in trying to understand why the 20 KHornet or 20AH is so out of favor when compared to the 17AH or 17 Hornady Hornet. Will higher velocity figures almost always take precedence over everything else? I'm not knocking the neat little 17HH round as much as I'm trying to understand why the the 20AI - 20KHornet just never got anywhere on its own merits. (?)

For the 17HH stats, let's use the Hornady factory 20 grain round advertised velocity of 3,650 fps, since it is what has helped drive this huge success of this rifle. (....though some folks say that this
advertised number may be about 50 fps or so a bit optomistic in their rifle.)

_______________________________________________________________________

The Hornady 17HH Hornet,
with a 3,650fps muzzle velocity;
At 100 yards, the 17HH is traveling 3,111 fps
At 100 yards, the 17HH has 429.8 ft.lbs of energy, and is off 1.0" windage with an 8mph wind.
Zeroed at 200 yards, the 17HH delivers 304.1 ft.lbs of energy, doing 2,577 fps.
Zeroed at 200 yards, with a modest 8MPH wind, it is off 4.3" windage
Zeroed at 200 yards, the 17HH has an -6.4" drop at 300 yards.

The 20AH, or 20K Hornet,
with a 3,000fps muzzle velocity;
At 100 yards, the 20Khornet is traveling 2,656 fps
At 100 yards, the 20KHornet has 610.9 ft.lbs of energy and is off .9" windage with an 8mph wind.
Zeroed at 200 yards, the 20KHornet delivers 468.6 ft.lbs of energy, doing 2,326 fps.
Zeroed at 200 yards, with a modest 8MPH wind, it is off 3.9" windage.
Zeroed at 200 yards, the 20KHornet has a drop of -8.2" at 300 yards.
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-Though there are no factory 20KHornet or 20AH advertised velocity ratings, I think most would agree that a Sierra 39 grain BK bullet traveling at 3,000 FPS, and 650 fps slower then the 17HH would be a fair figure and comparison. It is obvious to me that the most evident disadvantage that the 20Hornet has when compared to the 17HH is about 1 3/4" more drop at 300 yards. But then again, do we really rely on the hornet for shots at these kinds of distances anyway? And while the velocity of the 17HH is superior under 200 yards, I can't help but be impressed with the aproximately 50% greater energy that the Sierra 39BK delivers onto its target. That would have to make a difference...... especially on larger game, would it not?

 

[Catfish]

It will get here given time. Shooters have been playing around with 17 cal rounds since the 1960`s. There have been a lot of wildcats with that cal, every thing form the Hornet case to the 250 Savage, with a few guys even using larger cases. The 20 cal bullets have been around for about 35 years less so there are few 20 cal. wildcat with a following large enough to intice manufacture them to bring out another 20 round.

 

[Phil]

I have a buddy with a .20 K hornet...

He loves it and has taken a few coyotes with it..

Very forgotten cartridge....too bad...

 

[snert]

I have an theory:

There are more PD's than groundhogs.

You only need a 17 for a PD, but in reality, a G-hog absorbs a bit more lead. So the market drives popularity, and recognize that even here at Accurateshooter, varmint hunting is a niche in the gun industry.

personally though, I lean heavily toward the 20-22 cal for my work on chucks. most 17's just leave a bit to be desired in the oooomph factor.

Snert

 

[ohlongarmisle]

........what happened to the 20 Hornet?
I just need your honest opinion in trying to understand why the 20 KHornet or 20AH is so out of favor when compared to the 17AH or 17 Hornady Hornet. Will higher velocity figures almost always take precedence over everything else? I'm not knocking the neat little 17HH round as much as I'm trying to understand why the the 20AI - 20KHornet just never got anywhere on its own merits. (?)

For the 17HH stats, let's use the Hornady factory 20 grain round advertised velocity of 3,650 fps, since it is what has helped drive this huge success of this rifle. (....though some folks say that this
advertised number may be about 50 fps or so a bit optomistic in their rifle.)

_______________________________________________________________________

The Hornady 17HH Hornet,
with a 3,650fps muzzle velocity;
At 100 yards, the 17HH is traveling 3,111 fps
At 100 yards, the 17HH has 429.8 ft.lbs of energy, and is off 1.0" windage with an 8mph wind.
Zeroed at 200 yards, the 17HH delivers 304.1 ft.lbs of energy, doing 2,577 fps.
Zeroed at 200 yards, with a modest 8MPH wind, it is off 4.3" windage
Zeroed at 200 yards, the 17HH has an -6.4" drop at 300 yards.

The 20AH, or 20K Hornet,
with a 3,000fps muzzle velocity;
At 100 yards, the 20Khornet is traveling 2,656 fps
At 100 yards, the 20KHornet has 610.9 ft.lbs of energy and is off .9" windage with an 8mph wind.
Zeroed at 200 yards, the 20KHornet delivers 468.6 ft.lbs of energy, doing 2,326 fps.
Zeroed at 200 yards, with a modest 8MPH wind, it is off 3.9" windage.
Zeroed at 200 yards, the 20KHornet has a drop of -8.2" at 300 yards.
______________________________________________________________________________


-Though there are no factory 20KHornet or 20AH advertised velocity ratings, I think most would agree that a Sierra 39 grain BK bullet traveling at 3,000 FPS, and 650 fps slower then the 17HH would be a fair figure and comparison. It is obvious to me that the most evident disadvantage that the 20Hornet has when compared to the 17HH is about 1 3/4" more drop at 300 yards. But then again, do we really rely on the hornet for shots at these kinds of distances anyway? And while the velocity of the 17HH is superior under 200 yards, I can't help but be impressed with the aproximately 50% greater energy that the Sierra 39BK delivers onto its target. That would have to make a difference...... especially on larger game, would it not?

The 17 Hornady hornet should be zeroed at 50 yards, i've done 50,100,and 200 yards with factory ammo and the 50 yard zero gives the flattest trajectory at the ranges mentioned.With a 50 yard zero
100 yards +0.7,150 +0.5,200 -0.8 250 -3.4,and 300 -7.6 trust me these are 100% correct, using Hornadys ballistics calculator and real life testing.at 300 yards if you can hit your victim most will succumb with 200 foot pound of energy, she's still cruising at 2122 at 300, as far as i want to take a shot with a 20 grain bullet. Your results may vary as wind,mirage etc can alter these stats.I'm fairly confident when I put the dot on a gh, or coyote at these ranges I can hit them.

 

[ohlongarmisle]

I have an theory:

There are more PD's than groundhogs.

You only need a 17 for a PD, but in reality, a G-hog absorbs a bit more lead. So the market drives popularity, and recognize that even here at Accurateshooter, varmint hunting is a niche in the gun industry.

personally though, I lean heavily toward the 20-22 cal for my work on chucks. most 17's just leave a bit to be desired in the oooomph factor.

Snert

I know what you're saying but in three years over 200 gh's not one crawl off and dozens of coyotes, I believe shot placement rules, imo I always found the splat factor great with the 17HH, within its limitations which i call 250 yards, over that and the 204 reigns supreme, not disagreeing just stating my experiences.

 

[JSH]

IF I were to do a build, the Hornet case would not be my first choice. I would opt for one of the 30 carbine wildcats, still being able to use the Hornet action.
I had a 17 Hornet 527 for a few years. It was a love hate relationship. I had and still have a 17WSM, stocked up on ammo when it was cheap. I acquired a 17FB and found it to be soooo much easier to work with than the 17HH.
The 30 carbine brass is pretty good stuff.

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]

You are right on this. The hornet brass is some of the worst brass ive ever used. Tho i do love my 17 Ackley hornet im fixing to take a CZ 527 hornet action and make a 17 Badger!

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]

If i was too build a new rifle on a hornet case it would be the 20 Ackley Hornet! Better bullets available in my opinion today for the 20s vs the 17s!

 

[Webster]

If i was too build a new rifle on a hornet case it would be the 20 Ackley Hornet! Better bullets available in my opinion today for the 20s vs the 17s!

If I was going to put over $1000 into a rifle and scope I would want something a little bigger than a Hornet of any kind. Buy a suppresor if noise is a problem. 222, 223, 6BR, 6BRX ect.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

Cuz the hornet case and brass suck. I love my 17HH, but dang id rather do a 20-222 or vartarg or something.

 

[chuckshooter]

I love my 20AH, only shoot a 32vmax out of it and i believe my speeds are 3300 to 3400. 2 different loads. One for ppu brass and one for winchester. Yes there is a lot of brass loss early on but now seams to be stable. In calm winds, have many kills beyond 300 yards. Only have one 20AH , and i have quite a few other .20 cal. What i am trying to say is one is enough. I don't do 17 cal because my borescope does not fit inside.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

I love my 20AH, only shoot a 32vmax out of it and i believe my speeds are 3300 to 3400. 2 different loads. One for ppu brass and one for winchester. Yes there is a lot of brass loss early on but now seams to be stable. In calm winds, have many kills beyond 300 yards. Only have one 20AH , and i have quite a few other .20 cal. What i am trying to say is one is enough. I don't do 17 cal because my borescope does not fit inside.

The borescope thing does suck.