.17 hornet and lilgun

[andyh5]

Hi All

I have just finished reloading my first batch of .17 Hornet 20gr bullet
Having read a articles and write ups on the web and hodgdons recommended (start 9.7 max 10gr)
I decided my first loads to be 9.9gr. Looking at the powder levels in the case you wouldn't get much more in there, so 10gr is probably max due to actual case capacity. Ran 12 rounds over the chrono last night and was getting speeds of 4050 as an average. Factory loads 3500. No Issues with sticking bolt or cracked cases.
Has anyone else seen the same speeds? or is my chrono knackered?

Are there any issues with case pressures at this level. Next batch will be back to 9.7 just in case.

Andy

[andyh5]

Anyone?

[stillair1]

Nope, and the next batch I'm bring a 1/2" lexan screen to sit behind..

[jackal1]

My mate used lil gun and it over pressurised the cases, distorting them and blowing the primers out. This was at all loads from min to max out of a savage 24" barrel. It made reloading impossible as cases only lasted one firing. He is now using H4198 and it is perfect for the 17 hornet round with no case damage. I would also look at recalibrating your chrono .

[andyh5]

My mate used lil gun and it over pressurised the cases, distorting them and blowing the primers out. This was at all loads from min to max out of a savage 24" barrel. It made reloading impossible as cases only lasted one firing. He is now using H4198 and it is perfect for the 17 hornet round with no case damage. I would also look at recalibrating your chrono .

Thanks Jackal

I think i know someone with a tub of 4198 I'll give it a go.
Andy

[stillair1]

I'm at a loose end Sunday night with an unopened pot of 4198.

[andyh5]

I'm at a loose end Sunday night with an unopened pot of 4198.

Seems a shame to open a tub that may be sealed for the next 6 months?

[andyh5]

Hi Stillair

If anyone else in this country other than me, is reloading .17 Hornet
The following i found on the web may be of interest. At least it may have answered my question
9.9gr being waaay to hot and not surprised at the speeds I found if you read below.

I still have 12 rounds loaded at 9.9 that will be getting the bullet pulling treatment this afternoon.

Andy


Lil Gun powder in .1 grain increments from 9.2 to 9.7. Found that 9.4-9.5 grains matches velocity of factory Hornady ammo. (3600+ fps) 9.7 was too warm with bolt a little sticky and 3800 fps. I've tried pretty much every combo with Remington 7 1/2, 6 1/2, Fed 205 and CCI 400 primers but nothing consistent or good. (haven't tried small pistol primers which is apparently a 22 Hornet trick but that's also a lower pressure cartridge....!!) Most groups 1 3/4 to 2+ inches. Using 20 grain Hornady Vmax bullets only at this point. Have played with seating depths from 1.780 down to 1.710-.715 (factory length) Did find that my barrel had some side pressure in the stock (Ruger 77/17) and had a good smith free that up with floating the barrel and glassing the action/receiver. Also noticed a very slight mark on the crown so we went ahead and recrowned just to eliminate one more variable. All the gun work didn't seem to help the accuracy at this point. Best groups currently with factory ammo and running in 1" range. Using an 18 power proven Leupold, had a 12x Leupold before that, so confident scopes and mounts are not issue. Today 'found some' AA1680 which I've seen a number of shooters mention for the 17 Hornady Hornet and the 17 Ackley Hornet so going to play with that. Starting at 10.5 grains, increasing the loads to 11.1 in .2 grain increments....

[Graham2]

I'm not sure how many people have actually bought a .17 Hornet in the UK but I bet it's not many. Good luck with the reloading.

[andyh5]

Hi All

Well with 380 views, someone must be interested but only 2 replies?

I loaded another batch last weekend. Whilst checking cases from last batch found 2 with split necks and all where very tight in the sizing die.
Reloaded a batch with 9.4gr of Lilgun and found the speeds to be 3460 so close to factory loads with 5gr less powder than before. Will try the next batch at 9.5gr

To anyone that is reloading i have struggled to get Brass. However after talking to Hornady, Edgar's are the only importer into the Uk.
They had 200 cases in stock of which i now have 100.
100 left if anyone wants them. they would not sell direct but got mine posted to my Local RFD overnight £69 per hundred.

Andy

[Peter M]

Andy,
I have been loading for my .17 Ackley for three or so years....... Found most of my recipes on another well known site. Will happily dig out any info I have if it helps you?
ATB
Peter

[Graham2]

Hi All

100 left if anyone wants them. they would not sell direct but got mine posted to my Local RFD overnight £69 per hundred.

Andy

You paid £69 per hundred?! Bloody hell, that's a lot of money for a few tiny cases!

I bought Remington .22 Hornet cases for around £20 per hundred last year. It's nice to see British shooters are still being ripped off.

[stillair1]

You paid £69 per hundred?! Bloody hell, that's a lot of money for a few tiny cases!

I bought Remington .22 Hornet cases for around £20 per hundred last year. It's nice to see British shooters are still being ripped off.

A hundred .17 fireball will set you back around 70 quid too.

[johnny k]

Glad to see someone is re loading. how are you finding the .17 hornet? are you pleased with it. priced mine up today. Gulp. ammo not cheap, so reloading it may have to be.

[bewsh]

you mention the velocities of the various charge levels but not the accuracy.

I appreciate the point of the 17H is high mv to make up for low bullet weight and retained energy but the difference between say 3500 and 3800 is marginal
It is only if you can sustain over 4k fps MV that things start to really show a difference in drop, retained energy etc etc

compressed loads in hornets are not uncommon though
really depends on your chamber, rifle, load components combination and the pressure levels you can tolerate before material failure shows itself
your brass internal volume and dimensions can be all it takes to reduce or increase displayed pressure signs

I personally prefer accurate loads, many of my loads in a variety of calibres are moderate to high on the load charts, way off max
one however is above book max as it was the most accurate and showed no signs of any adverse pressure

Book Max is exactly that. in a book
rifles have their own Max levels, they could be way below book max or way above ...or around that book figure
only you can find that