17 Hornet

By Pete Moore

57 Comments
Last updated: 22/11/2016

Review
Guns For Sale
Comments

By now you might have read my initial article on the new Hornady 17 Hornet cartridge and the first rifle chambered for it to hit the UK - Savages Model 25 Walking Varminter. Part 1 was in the January 2013 edition and for me it threw up questions as to the rifle design. To recap the calibre is modified 22 Hornet necked down to .17” firing a 20-grain V-MAX bullet at a quoted 3650 fps/592 ft/lbs of energy.

The M25 Walking Varminter has a basic synthetic stock and a 22” barrel unlike the two other models, which have more stable laminate furniture in a choice of standard or thumbhole (TH) layout and 24” barrels. The profile is the same being what has to be described at heavy given the bore diameter. Though built on a rimfire-like chassis they are not overly heavy though weighted at the front due to the bulky tube.

Though none of these models offers Savage’s internal alloy bedding block (AccuStock) build they do feature their excellent AccuTrigger. Which offers an easily adjustable pull that cannot be set too low, as it will go into a ‘fail safe’ mode, which is equally easy to get out of.

ACCURACY OK

Accuracy was good with the M25 capable of shooting a good ¼” with a solid ½” average; however, the forend is very flexible on the synthetic stock, which can cause consistency issues given where the forend bears and what it’s supported on. Real time figures showed the 22” barrel of the M25 was producing 3598 fps / 581 ft/lbs, which is pretty good in relation to what Hornady says.

Stock material/build aside I had two other mechanical issues with the Model 25. First was the overly heavy bolt lift, which did cause the rifle to rotate left in the shoulder if operated in that way. Second and more vexing was the feed. Initial testing showed between 2 to 3 misfeeds per mag. Importers Edgar Brothers supplied a second unit, which was not a lot different. Apart from accuracy testing most of my initial ammo allocation went to seeing if more use would improve things.

I am glad to say they did, with the bolt lift starting to run in. I would imagine here it’s a case of metal surfaces not being properly polished so they create more friction as the pass over each other to re-set the mechanism. Likewise the magazines also improved with both giving far better function with just the occasional hiccup. However, in both cases I tend to be more aggressive when I cycle the action too.

FOX-CAPABLE?

story continues below...

For me where the 17 Hornet fits in is a bit confusing as it was really made as a light and cost effective small varmint cartridge for the US market, were they are mad for that sort of thing. However, we don’t have masses of prairie dog towns with unlimited targets as the Yanks do. This being the UK the big question is, is it enough gun for foxes? Something I have yet to prove as I have been out with it a few times and not seen a single animal; typical!

Testing so far has been restricted to hares. Given the velocity and frangible nature of the V-MAX bullet I was expecting serious destruction on an engine room shot. I use my 17HMR for hares and where possible, and up to 150-yards head shoot so as not to damage the meat. I can push my rifle out to 200-yards (little to no wind) on body shots with good effect and no serious flesh damage. There’s little doubt the 17 Hornet kicks the HMR’s butt in terms of range ability.

The test was simple a 100-yard hare body shot. At this distance the Hornet is doing around 3000 fps/400 ft/lbs, my 17 HMR gives 1921 fps/ 139 ft/lbs, which is significantly lower. I put the bullet behind its shoulder and unsurprisingly down it went with barely a twitch.

ROAD SIDE AUTOPSY

Recovering the animal I expected to see it torn apart, but far from it! Whipping out my knife I did a quick road side autopsy! A tiny entry hole and no exit like an HMR, inside the chest cavity the ribs (both sides) were shattered, the heart had a big chunk out of it and other organs were suitably shredded. There was less meat damage than I expected though I doubt if the butcher would give you anything for the carcass… Given a fox is probably three to four times bigger than a large hare and tougher too, I wondered about the lethality as the range increases?

OK foxes are vermin and there’s little love lost between them and most hunters. However, as a matter of course we should be aiming to do the job as humanely as possible regardless. A head shot is advisable, but not always possible, especially at night, and as the distance steps out not everyone can guarantee that. So think on!

MOVING ON

Personally I feel the 17 Hornets metier is the aforesaid small varmints and corvids, probably out to around 300-yards. Distance testing proved its accuracy potential. With a 3-12x56 Zeiss Victory HT with ASV (ballistic turret) with a 17 Hornet-matched ballistic ring on top accurate and consistent first round hits were recorded out to 300-yards shooting off a bag. Windage is a bit more than my ballistic programme would indicate. At 250-yards in a 10 mph wind @ 3 o’clock the 20-grain pill should be shifting 6.7”. In the field an average 3.4 mph blow coming from 9 o’clock pushed it right by around 4”, so a bit of difference.

I now have both 20 and 25-grain V-MAX bullets for reloading and just waiting for the dies from Hornady. I have never loaded anything in .17” before so it should be interesting. A quick look at their website shows that the rumour I picked up of a lighter weight is now a fact. As they now show the 15.5-grain NTX (non-lead) load, the same as with the 17HMR. This tiny ballistic tip uses a compressed copper and tin core with a spec of 3870 fps/515 ft/lbs. In the HMR I found they do not expand well but I have used the 35-grain 223 Rem version to good effect and assume that the added speed of the Hornet will get over that problem.

Final comment goes to the 17 Hornet-dedicated Hardy Mk IIII moderator. It really is the perfect companion for the rifle and calibre. Light and very efficient and as I said last month with its own distinctive signature, which sounds neither rimfire nor centrefire it does a superb job. Time is running out for me to get a fox for this issue but I will keep trying and get back to you when I do.

click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge

57 Comments

order generic diflucan 200mg <a href="https://ciprotbs.com/">order ciprofloxacin sale</a> order sildenafil 150mg generic

#207939

Nqveew
06 Aug 2022 at 01:42 PM
order zofran pills <a href="https://simvastatinl.com/">simvastatin 10mg cost</a> buy finasteride 1mg

#206354

Iityvv
04 Aug 2022 at 06:15 PM
purchase zantac <a href="https://meloxicamp.com/">buy meloxicam 7.5mg without prescription</a> order flomax generic

#204196

Uvxlwx
03 Aug 2022 at 11:38 AM
cialis 40mg generic <a href="https://tadalcialsl.com/">buy cialis 5mg generic</a> avodart 0.5mg canada

#202051

Mfdahd
02 Aug 2022 at 04:58 AM
purchase esomeprazole online <a href="https://sidenafilppl.com/">female viagra pill</a> cialis 40mg usa

#199927

Shvgpm
31 Jul 2022 at 09:58 PM
sildenafil overnight shipping <a href="https://losartanp.com/">buy losartan 50mg pills</a> order cozaar 50mg online

#197732

Vbqrqc
30 Jul 2022 at 02:30 PM
generic isotretinoin 40mg <a href="https://aurograpl.com/">aurogra sale</a> order sildenafil 50mg pill

#195471

Amxmuo
29 Jul 2022 at 02:55 AM
order sildenafil 150mg generic <a href="https://cialiedfs.com/">cialis generic</a> deltasone for sale

#193361

Vajjzv
27 Jul 2022 at 07:32 PM
buy methotrexate 5mg sale <a href="https://metoclopramy.com/">metoclopramide pill</a> metoclopramide for sale online

#191232

Ggqsnf
26 Jul 2022 at 11:43 AM
purchase cyclobenzaprine pills <a href="https://ketorolacbuy.com/">toradol 10mg pills</a> order generic plavix 150mg

#189148

Cmwbtb
25 Jul 2022 at 01:47 AM
cheap ezetimibe <a href="https://tetracyclinbuy.com/">purchase tetracycline generic</a> motilium cost

#187023

Xfinkt
23 Jul 2022 at 12:51 PM
sildenafil 20mg <a href="https://edtadalp.com/">generic cialis</a> cialis 5mg uk

#184673

Mcuflv
21 Jul 2022 at 03:28 PM
baricitinib 2mg over the counter - <a href="https://baricibd.com/">baricitinib usa</a> buy lisinopril 5mg online cheap

#180905

Nzxlhv
18 Jul 2022 at 02:22 AM
plaquenil 200mg tablet - <a href="https://tadalaficial.com/">purchase cialis sale</a> buy cenforce

#178124

Vvpsau
16 Jul 2022 at 04:15 AM
cost gabapentin - <a href="https://dgabapentin.com/">neurontin 100mg uk</a> ivermectin order

#177211

Fodfum
15 Jul 2022 at 09:49 AM
deltasone 10mg pill - <a href="https://damoxicillin.com/">amoxil 1000mg drug</a> order prednisolone 20mg for sale

#175086

Lyjknk
13 Jul 2022 at 07:25 PM
buy fildena 50mg sale - <a href="https://fildenapl.com/">order generic sildenafil 100mg</a> buy sildenafil 50mg online cheap

#170902

Vuouhb
10 Jul 2022 at 06:02 PM
finasteride online buy - <a href="https://finasterider.com/">propecia 1mg oral</a> cost ciprofloxacin 1000mg

#166978

Smafxm
08 Jul 2022 at 06:06 AM
zofran ca - <a href="https://simvastatinr.com/">buy zocor 20mg online cheap</a> valacyclovir 1000mg for sale

#164667

Dowpul
06 Jul 2022 at 08:29 AM
order cialis 10mg pill - <a href="https://rtamsulosin.com/">tamsulosin 0.2mg pill</a> tamsulosin 0.4mg without prescription

#161743

Eecxbl
03 Jul 2022 at 12:28 PM
purchase levaquin - <a href="https://dutasterider.com/">order avodart 0.5mg pills</a> cialis 5mg drug

#159442

Qegrdf
01 Jul 2022 at 11:23 PM
losartan 25mg tablet - <a href="https://esomeprazolen.com/">esomeprazole for sale online</a> phenergan online buy

#156777

Rwljbo
29 Jun 2022 at 08:13 PM
buy plavix for sale - <a href="https://metocloprami.com/">order generic metoclopramide 20mg</a> buy reglan 10mg online

#154989

Oedkkj
28 Jun 2022 at 03:22 AM
cyclobenzaprine 15mg cost - <a href="https://rpropranolol.com/">propranolol usa</a> buy propranolol without prescription

#153399

Faafyq
26 Jun 2022 at 10:00 AM
isotretinoin 20mg over the counter - <a href="https://risotretinoin.com/">purchase accutane generic</a> tetracycline 500mg canada

#151781

Hndpcb
24 Jun 2022 at 05:04 PM
modafinil 200mg uk - <a href="https://prednispill.com/">cost deltasone 5mg</a> rhinocort nasal spray

#150151

Loehnn
22 Jun 2022 at 10:47 PM
buy viagra 150mg generic - <a href="https://rtadalafil.store/">cheap cialis pill</a> order tadalafil 5mg generic

#148569

Scbpsy
21 Jun 2022 at 07:02 AM
buy cenforce generic - <a href="https://xezetimibe.com/">order ezetimibe for sale</a> motilium sale

#146847

Xxlcgo
19 Jun 2022 at 10:11 PM
prices of cialis - <a href="https://edsildx.com/">viagra professional</a> viagra 150mg generic

#142872

Zcrjdn
14 Jun 2022 at 10:04 PM
synthroid pills - <a href="https://chloroquinedi.com/">hydroxychloroquine 400mg cheap</a> generic hydroxychloroquine 200mg

#140845

Urvttu
13 Jun 2022 at 10:53 AM
albuterol buy online - <a href="https://casinoandslotx.com/">slots games free</a> buy priligy online cheap

#138742

Lxfjib
11 Jun 2022 at 11:17 PM
buy vardenafil pills - <a href="https://vardenafilxp.com/">cheap levitra</a> clomiphene 100mg price

#136569

Grtlmm
10 Jun 2022 at 08:33 AM
cost lisinopril 10mg - <a href="https://omeprazolepx.com/">prilosec usa</a> buy tenormin 100mg for sale

#134492

Dgnakn
08 Jun 2022 at 08:18 PM
glucophage 500mg brand - <a href="https://amlodipine.store/">buy amlodipine 5mg sale</a> amlodipine 10mg ca

#132741

Mhbraq
07 Jun 2022 at 07:40 AM
order plaquenil generic - <a href="https://plaquepll.com/">purchase plaquenil pills</a> purchase baricitinib pill

#130843

Oxvhch
05 Jun 2022 at 06:38 PM
lasix drug - <a href="https://furosemideg.com/">lasix 40mg price</a> ivermectin price usa

#128959

Ulqwsd
04 Jun 2022 at 03:46 AM
cost prednisolone 40mg - <a href="https://neurontinx.store/">buy gabapentin without prescription</a> purchase sildenafil without prescription

#127006

Pikbff
02 Jun 2022 at 11:34 AM
amoxicillin 500mg pills - <a href="https://azithromycpl.com/">cheap azithromycin 500mg</a> generic viagra 150mg

#125068

Ynizcn
31 May 2022 at 08:39 PM
deltasone 40mg ca - <a href="https://prednissone.com/">cost deltasone</a> isotretinoin 10mg generic

#123190

Mgagvp
30 May 2022 at 11:37 AM
cialis 40mg price - <a href="https://provigpill.store/">buy modafinil 200mg for sale</a> provigil 100mg cheap

#121290

Hfrlvl
29 May 2022 at 02:39 AM
order doxycycline 200mg pill - <a href="https://edponlines.com/">cialis 20mg us</a> generic cialis 5mg

#119311

Vgxaqa
27 May 2022 at 06:12 AM
ivermectin 6mg over the counter - <a href="https://stromectolg.store/">ivermectin 3mg for humans</a> order vardenafil 10mg generic

#117407

Ecdjav
25 May 2022 at 07:01 PM
amoxicillin usa - <a href="https://zithromycinc.store/">cost azithromycin 500mg</a> cheap levitra 10mg

#116148

Pbzyoc
24 May 2022 at 08:40 AM
buy ampicillin 500mg - <a href="https://ampicillinc.store/">ampicillin 250mg drug</a> order cialis 40mg without prescription

#114271

Fbedio
22 May 2022 at 08:00 PM
purchase cefuroxime for sale - <a href="https://robaxinx.store/">methocarbamol 500mg cheap</a> tadalafil 5mg cost

#112272

Jhhtap
20 May 2022 at 08:47 PM
budesonide online - <a href="https://tadalafde.com/">tadalafil for sale online</a> buy disulfiram 500mg online

#110355

Aaqozt
19 May 2022 at 09:02 AM
generic sildenafil 100mg - <a href="https://xnolvadex.quest/">buy generic nolvadex 10mg</a> stromectol tablet 3 mg

#108446

Uycldp
17 May 2022 at 08:45 PM
buy cephalexin generic - <a href="https://clindamycin.store/">buy cleocin</a> erythromycin 500mg ca

#106945

Cbltst
15 May 2022 at 11:05 PM
buy sulfamethoxazole without prescription - <a href="https://xsildenafil.store/">cheap sildenafil 50mg</a> viagra 150mg ca

#104800

Plwglo
13 May 2022 at 07:31 PM
augmentin 375mg tablet - <a href="https://tadalcialis.store/">tadalafil drug</a> overnight delivery cialis

#102667

Rcbzlo
11 May 2022 at 12:05 PM
prednisolone 10mg usa - <a href="https://cialisxb.store/">buy tadalafil 5mg online</a> cost tadalafil

#100315

Cfcglo
08 May 2022 at 07:17 PM
sildenafil 200mg price - <a href="https://bestusasild.com/">order viagra 100mg for sale</a> sildenafil for men over 50

#95094

Nbhpmv
02 May 2022 at 10:22 PM
sildenafil para que sirve <a href="https://viagrahom.com/">female viagra walmart</a> sildenafil price walmart

#94685

swocug
02 May 2022 at 07:07 AM
<a href=https://vskamagrav.com>precios del kamagra

#68815

gunteew
11 Jun 2021 at 06:04 PM
<a >kamagra fed ex delivery uk

#57535

gunteew
12 May 2021 at 02:41 PM
http://vsviagrav.com/ - viagra

#54746

gunteew
15 Mar 2021 at 07:51 AM
Asendin https://agenericcialise.com/ - where to buy cialis cheap Does Amoxicillin Help Inected Bud Bites <a >Generic Cialis</a> Kamagra Jelly France

#39162

kneeque
24 Jun 2020 at 10:31 AM