PPHA Forums
Predator Hunting => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: war_nrg on December 09, 2012, 12:28:18 PM
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Greetings Guys,
Any word on this cal. yet? Anybody heard anything on it?
Cheers,
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I was wondering myself. I'm looking into getting a newer caliber next season.
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Its funny I was just looking into it also. The one worry I have is price.
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Hey guys i got one back in the beginning of Nov. bin playing around with reloads haven't got it to shoot real good yet.
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you put any fur down with it?
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I onow wheres there are two rifles sitting on a shelf
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Hornady is the one that came up with this caliber to compete with the 22 hornet. For a box of 50rds its roughly $20. Savage is the only manufacturer of rifles right now. However, I have heard CZ will have a rifle out sometime after the first of the year. From what I've heard its a fast round. I hope to have one after tax return.
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I purchased the Savage Walking predator 17 hornet. I love the gun!! It was a special center fire caliber designed by Hornady and Savage. The ballistics are very close to a 223, but without any recoil. I have mine sighted in at about an inch high at 100 yards and its dead nuts on at 200 yards. The muzzle velocity is right around 3650 fps. I've shot a few fox with mine. Small hole going in and not an exit hole. The bullet just explodes inside the animal. Its great for varmints and predators up to coyote size. For me its the perfect caliber for fox. I dropped one dead in its tracks the other night at 165 yards. Very accurate gun. I can put 3 rounds in the bull and all 3 rounds are all but touching each other. I was truly impressed.
Jake
York PA
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CZ has this caliber out now in the 527 american and varmint. I just may pick one up. Can anybody suggest a good 4x14 or 4x16 scope.
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You can never go wrong with a Leopold. I wouldn't gol less than a VX II. I use a VX II 3X9X40 on my 17 and have no problems at night seeing. It has great light gathering.
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ruger now has a rifle out.......... but i think it is very salty............ a little over 1,000
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Second the on the leupold
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I use a 4-12 rifleman and its perfect for night hunting
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I am picking up my hornet tomorrow and also am trying to decide which scope to put on it. I was leaning towards a VX II
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You'll be very pleased with the VX II !!
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Dear Mr Jake, 100% right on the Leupolds. Bought my 1st one w/ Part of my discharge pay in 1961. 100% wrong on Savage & Hornady designing the 17 Hornet. All that they did was Read P.O. Ackley's book. He among others were playing w/ 17's in the early 50's. He is the 1st to publish a design for that cartridge. If you read his book read about the 20 Cals. He gave the recommendations for the 204 Ruger a long time before Ruger and Hornady came up w/ that Cal. Dick
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Dick,
Thanks for the education and info! Just goes to show ya that you can't always trust everything you read on line!!!
Just curious....what (in a nut shell) was his advice on bullet gr on the 204 Ruger. I just bought one and was going to go with the Hornady 40 gr.....good choice????
Jake
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Jake, It doesn't look like he did anything w/20 cals. From what I can find the 20 fans went for heavier (45 & 50 Gr. pills). The development of 20's was by wildcatters and Bullet makers. The 40 GR v-max is great as is the Hornady factory load. My gang has Encores, Savage and Rugers (#1 & 77). All shoot both 32 & 40 Hornady FL's in little groups. Just now getting enough brass to reload. 1st will be some 35 Bergers. With FL 40's Ground hogs just collapse. Fox come to pieces. If you want to shoot fox I would load a lot slower, under 3,000 if you can get the accuracy. Dick PS don't believe anything that you read on line. INVESTIGATE for yourself
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Dick,
I really appreciate the bullistic info. For fox I use the Savage 17 Hornet with Hornady ammo. I bought the 204 more for ground hogs and coyotes. I 'm going to try the 40 gr hornandy. A friend of mine has one and he swears by the 40 gr hornady. All I need now is for a coyote to come into range !!
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Deep breath,hold tight and squeeeezzze. That 204 will do its part.
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These are two calibers I was looking at but I'm already having a hard time finding the 17 hornet ammo, so I think the 204 is my choice. The ruger !7 Hornet Predator is around $810.00 from my gun guy (FYI). My guy is the only place I found the 17 ammo and now he's having a hard time getting my Superformance 22-250. Everything is on back order. >:(
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Anybody consider a Swift?
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Couldn't stand it anymore. I broke down and bought the Savage wood stock 17 Hornet today. I'm getting a lower end Leopold scope put on it. I actually found someone who had the ammo in stock and it's going quick. Hopefully there will be harvest pics to go with the update... :D
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+2 on the VX ll
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Ian, congrats on the new purchase. Please let me know how you like it as I've been considering a 17 hornet as well and probably would also go with the savage... Rick
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Ian,
You'll find that 17 hornet to be a tack driver. I have they Savage Walking Predator Model. I love it. I use it for fox and ground hogs mostly. EVERYTING I hit (irregardless of the shot placement) never went a single step. It dropped the animal in its tracks.
Check out the bullistics on the ammo. it's a good gun for out to 200-250 yards. I shot a red fox last year at roughly 165 yards.
Keep us posted on how you like it and how it shots!! I'm sure you'll love your's as well as I love mine. I've read where some people also use it for coyotes.....I'm tempted to try it some day, but for now I'll stick to the 204 Ruger and my 22-250.
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Having shot a few foxes with the Hornet myself and watching Misterjake also shoot a bunch of animals with it I do believe it will be the next rifle I buy. Shots have ranged from 15 yds to 220 yds and with the Hornady VMax it's one hole and a dead critter. Happy shooting!!!
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Thanks guys! I already love it based on appearance and shooting the range briefly. I needed this gun. I'm not a fur seller but I do give fur away to other people. My reason for this caliber was to replace my 22 mag. I love that gun but it's been letting me down for the last couple seasons and last year I left the woods after getting a great coyote response and not wanting to shoot it with the 22 mag, I left the woods and came back with my 22-250 and found fresh scat 30 yards from where I had originally called from. My point it, I feel better taking a shot at a coyote with this gun and I've heard it's very fur friendly. The only con I can think of is finding ammo since Hornady is the only makers, so far. I will buy the riflesmiths last box when he gets back from vacation and then I feel I'll have enough for a bit with the ground hogs, coons, fox, coyote and anything else in the 2013-14 seasons. ;D
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That's a nice pick up Ian, im glad your happy. Savage makes a quality firearm, i really think that will be my next putchase...Rick
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These are two calibers I was looking at but I'm already having a hard time finding the 17 hornet ammo, so I think the 204 is my choice. The ruger !7 Hornet Predator is around $810.00 from my gun guy (FYI). My guy is the only place I found the 17 ammo and now he's having a hard time getting my Superformance 22-250. Everything is on back order. >:(
Just in response to your .22-.250 comment, I didn't have any luck at all with the superformance stuff. Before I went out west I tried 3 or 4 different weights with no result out of my tikka t3 lite. I ended up with Winchester silver tip and my gun loved it. Doesn't cost as much either which is always a plus.
Ryan.
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Ryan....I think you said alot when you said your gun liked one ammo over another. One ammo may shoot fine in one gun and completely diffrent in another, even though its the same calibre, weight etc. Thats why its so important to experiment with your gun. Its sorta like patterning a shot gun for turkeys with diffrent ammo and shot loads.
Just my opinion...
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Ryan....I think you said alot when you said your gun liked one ammo over another. One ammo may shoot fine in one gun and completely diffrent in another, even though its the same calibre, weight etc. Thats why its so important to experiment with your gun. Its sorta like patterning a shot gun for turkeys with diffrent ammo and shot loads.
Just my opinion...
Absolutely, vibration frequency, metal density all sorts of variables, just saying I had a ton of problems with it along with a few close friends.
Ryan.
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Just curious how the 17 Hornets are holding up. I searched high and low a few months back to find one. I bought a Savage M25 Walking Varminter. I bought every box of ammo I could find while searching for the rifle. I stocked up 30 boxes. I wanted this rifle primarily for night fox hunting and set a 3-9X50 Nikon on it. Took it to the range and it shot under a dime at 100yds. Wicked accurate...BUT....if you investigate this rifle there are many many issues with some. Go figure mine was diseased. It would double feed, not extract, and the bolt would lock up after firing. It was basically a single shot. I did take it G'Hog hunting and nailed the first hog I aimed at (lasered 137yds) and another at 204 yds. I popped a few more well under 100 as well. I really LOVE the accuracy and performance of the round.....the rifle not so much. It has been at Savage for almost 4 weeks now. They are backed up on M25 17 Hornet repair.
On the other hand.....I know others with the 17 Hornet that have had no issues at all! I think once Savage gets the bugs out and puts better quality parts in the bolt (IE: Extractor) this will be a fine rifle! Can't wait to get mine back!
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I also have the Savage walking varmiter. Everynow and then I get a feed issue. I haven't had any extraction problems yet. My feed problems are usually when I work the bolt to slow. My best shot was at a ground hog pup at 220 yards. It never moved.
I recently bought a CZ 17 hornet with the set trigger. I put a Zeiss 3X9X40 on it. I haven't made it to the range yet. I hope to within the next few weeks though. I'll let you know.
Like you, I stocked up on ammo before the shortage hit. I have 2 cases. Hopefully that will last me till things ease up a little. Everynow and then I see a box or tow on the local sporting goods store shelf - Mom and Pop store. I haven't looked much at the big retailers for it.
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I bought all but 8 boxes from Dicks. I travel a good bit in my line of work and there is a Dicks close to several of the areas I visit.
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I will not be switching from the Hornady Superformance ammo. It nice making 200 and 300 yard shots with little to no drop. I just took three more tonight at ranges of 90, 198 and 305 yards. Incredible! ;)
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Were you holding dead on at 305yd? holding over or adjusting elevation clicks?
I had mine zeroed dead on at 100yd...my 204yd kill I held a hair above his head and hit dead center. With my zero at 300yd I would need to hold over some or adjust elevation at least 20 clicks...thank the stars for laser range finders!...lol
Man I want mine back.....hurry up Savage!
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I'm sure the last shot was well over 300 but I'm gonna range it out myself today. The 200 yard shot I held it on and it might have dropped an inch or so. The furthest shot I help it at least 12 inches high and hit it low but a killing shot. I love this caliber. ;D
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I like it also....just miss it right now though..
I'm not going to use it much over 200yd though....my intentions are for a dedicated night rifle so my shots will be closer.....thats why I chose the 100yd zero instead of 200yd.
Sure hope some other bullets come out for it......would love to see a XTP Hornady in 17 Hornet!
I would think I would be hearing from Savage any day now.....
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man, I have the thumbhole M25 .223, had it since 2008, and I never had any issues with this gun other than never missing...I told a few people back in the day that the M25 is a sweet deal, and since then savage is my rifle of choice hands down...now everyone wants one, my buddy just picked up a walking varminter in 222, just because he doesn't have a 222, no issues...now, he reloads some ammo for me in 223 and 22H, and my M25 223 always shot 50-55 grainers touching at 100 with factory ammo, but with 35gr VMAX bullets, the little babies they are, 1 ragged hole with 5 rounds off bags...with that pill pushing 3850fps, not good for fox, but he's tested the round on chucks and says he held at the top of a chucks head at a lasered 450, and knocked him a$$ over teacups with a center chest entrance, no exit