17 Hornet loads/target @ 100yds

[Furyan]

Testing some 20grn vmax and 25grn vmax loads yesterday with the 17Hornet wind was right to left gusting to 7mph at the target and 3mph with me,

 

Not overly fast for the 20grn 3333 / 3400 / 3402 fps with 12.1 grn of DO63 in 24" barrel no signs of pressure 20grn bullets seated to 1.762 coal

bottom row is he 20grn top 25grn , The middle bottom target has two in the same hole then i pulled one doh.

Speed for the 25grn were 2769/2863/2945 fps with 10.7grn DO63 seated to 1.770 coal.

 

Then the wind stopped as if i was in the center of a twister as all around me i could see the corn blowing , But nothing with me so i shot the smallest group i have ever done .

[Sherlock]

Thanks for posting.

I run a 17 H - CZ 527. using 12.2 grn AA1680 behind a 20 grn Vmax.

 

Personally I found that groups and accuracy was seriously affect by shooting in wind ... even a slight change in wind speed or direction made a difference.

The 17 H is certainly not a patch on the 17 rem regarding performance.... god I miss my 17 rems.

 

ATB

S

[Furyan]

Cheers have you yours over chrono ?, My next batch is 12.2 / 12.3 / 12.4 with the 20s.

[Sherlock]

Yes - 3700+ fps using 12.2 grn AA1680 - out of 24" tube.

 

ATB

S

[Furyan]

Thank you

Is that from the muzzle or set distance ? I have my chrono set up at 10ft from muzzle.

[Sherlock]

crono was set about 5ft from muzzle.

 

I have recently had be barrel chopped to 20 ins to make the rifle more of a truck gun and easier to cart around.

 

I haven't had a chance to check what difference the 4 inch reduction has made to velocity or accuracy.

 

Hoping to rectify that this weekend

[Furyan]

Keep me posted on how it performs , i tried some 20grn @12.2grn group ok but 12.4 was spot on giving 1650fps , I did try one at 12.5 giving 1798fps hence only fired one .

 

Need to concentrate on the 25grn now as i have plenty to go at.

 

thanks for the reply Sherlock.

[gbal]

Furyan,something isn't clear-you report 20g bullets and 12.1 (DO63)giving 3333,3400,3402fps-seems a large ES (69fps).

Then 12.4 gr (of ? Powder?) giving 1650 and 12.5 giving 1798 ...//. Or a .1 gr increase,and 148fps. (Seems implausible...)

 

Not sure how two shots in a group which don't touch can give a centre to centre less than calibre size.....?

 

The groups do tend to show that wind is a real issue,and that 3 shots (in wind) is a very unreliable basis....note the two bottom targets seem to be clones. Two close,one off to left...both 'pulled' (not clear which shot was 'pulled'....)

 

Maybe I'm misunderstanding,of course,but it's hard to give helpful feedback with such spreads/discrepancies...is the chrono reliable...a Magnetospeed preferably,or could light be variable,if it's a screen model? The Mvs seem quite erratic...?

 

There seems inconsistencies,and such small samples,that it's not at all clear -pity you didn't shoot some more of the 'edge of paper' ,wind lull,three shot very good group (not quite .18,but maybe low .2s) to check consistency....?

 

gbal

[Furyan]

Sorry ive just noticed i put (1650fps , I did try one at 12.5 giving 1798fps) should be all i can say i need new laptop as some keys dont work lol, that should for 12.5grn @3798 and 12.4 @3650 , my chrono i am guessing is not spot on and when funds allow i will be getting the Magnetospeed .

 

I weight each powder load via lyman gen 6 then check on beam scales and trickle to suit .

 

Thanks for spotting my mistake , I am not too good at paper shooting any help would be greatly appreciated.

[gbal]

Thanks Furyan, my iPad doesn't seem to spell as well as well as I used to do either..! I assumed maybe a typo (but maybe a different powder)-the corrected MVs are more plausible,though a Magnetospeed is a worthwhile £200 investment....nothing new,I remember when affordable Chronos became widely available,it was clear that wildcatting had been set back maybe 10-20years (previously estimated velocities suddenly were found to be ...err..'optimistic'!)

Weighing to .1,or .2 is adequate for short range field work-many Bench Resters shooting in the .1s regularly just throw by volume;long range comp needs at least .1 though-in bigger capacity cases,so suggests even more important there.

The 17 Hornet is an impressive little performer-Berger. Used to make some very light 17s...under 20g,but don't seee them now-they tended to become a shotgun pattern of small bits at about 70 yards mid air in my 17 Rem,going (too) fast (no chrono),but fairly obvious-bit like a very well hit clay pigeon-puff of grey and gone forever...

 

The obvious is not to shoot in wind ( let me put that better-don't expect to learn much about best loads/precision/accuarcy in wind,but 'enjoy' watching the wind having it's fun,and remember it'll do the very same in field shooting). Very small groups only become informative when consistent/repeated more often than not (as in Bench Rest,where a .3 can spoil your competition), Field shooting adds in other skills,of course-mainly gun handling,but well rested/paper is the way to develop the load first. And it's a little more comfortable-and it's interesting- especially when you do get the kissing shots!

g

[Furyan]

Thank gbal

I do have some 20grn Berger varmint to try. My target mainly consists of end ways on coke cans at 100yds very technical lol, but decided to do bit on paper, for some reason i go to pieces when shooting paper ? (Shake like #hiting dog comes to mind) .

But ill keep at it and wait for no wind or vey little .

[gbal]

Furyan,mucho macho men have baulked at a 40 +X scope on a 2 oz trigger,despite near zero recoil.....the mag of course does exactly that to any hitherto unnoticed rifle shake,and the trigger lets go unexpectedly soon....and the adrenalin gets the heart pounding,which twitches the scope....

TIn cans are more forgiving,and I'll confess to liking reactive targets too (coke cans before consumption are quite gratifying,but not as much as the exploding/smoke options where useable..and they are smaller,like 2 inches...so not ultimately challenging ,just fun).

LIve quarry of course deserve the very best we can do,so careful load dev and zeroing etc...

 

g

[Furyan]

Cheers G

[Tremo]

I was running 20gr Nosler BTs out of my CZ527 pushed by 12.4gr of D063. I found that this charge gave the best groups. No pressure signs, so I am confident that I could have gone a little higher if needed. Sadly though I didn't get the opportunity to run them over my chrono.

 

Tremo

[Furyan]

Thank you Tremo thats where i have settled at 12.4grn Do63.