PPHA Forums
Predator Hunting => Varmint Hunting => Topic started by: predator77 on June 22, 2013, 10:17:00 PM
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Well, I made it out for the first time in the field with the new 17 Hornet. It shoots like a dream. Although it has flaws, I love this caliber and the lack of recoil. This is a great replacement for my Marlin 22mag.
(http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq297/dawgpredator77/GHOGMass_zps10c73521.jpg) (http://s457.photobucket.com/user/dawgpredator77/media/GHOGMass_zps10c73521.jpg.html)
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Looks like a nice rig you got there. The leopold on top is definitely a nice touch. What was your longest shot on the hogs with your .17? I tagged a pup the other day at 220 yards. The groundhog never took a step! I love mine
Keep knocking 'em down !! Next we'll have to get you into one of Ernie Wilsons Tri X Tripod stands!!
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The longest shot was around 125 yards. I was interested in that tri pod but I'm liking the ease on the Primos trigger stick right now. i know the Ernie Wilson one will make shooting easier but I wouldn't want to walk far with it though.
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Looks great and it must shoot pretty good to. Congrats on the ground grizzles....
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Thanks, Icecube! I'm super impressed with this caliber but it does come with downsides. For one, I missed one hog because a shell problem. I had this happen at the range and I'm not sure if it's a common problem but every once in a while a shot will produce a lot of smoke out of the barrel and even out of the breach area (back into the face). This happened again in the field on another 100 yard plus hog. After I shot, the scope went white with smoke and I seen the slug hit high, no meat report, the case didn't want to eject and where it has the caliber name printed, it was black like it was burned.
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Ian you made mention of flaws can you elaborate? Rick
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Sounds like an ammo issue....
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The flaws on this gun/caliber would be what I mentioned above with every once in a while getting a smoky bullet that doesn't hit the mark. The Savage swivel studs are set a little deep and my bi pod wanted to dig into the wood stock so I used the Primos tripod trigger stick instead. Sometimes the bullet doesn't want to eject therefore jamming up when another one tries to chamber. When I got home after the hunt, I was cleaning the gun and took the bolt out and wiped it down and the extractor and extractor pin came out when I tried to remove some oil build up around the firing pin hole.. It was a quick fix because I heard the parts drop on the floor and found them quick.
Over all, I love this gun. It's everything that I've been asking for for years, I feel. This has the capabilities of all Pa predators/varmints and is fur friendly. I think the flaws will solve themselves when more companies get on board with this caliber and Hornady will have to step it up. This happend twice with rounds from two different boxes.
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Ian,
I like my for basically the same reasons. I have yet to see it "blow out" the other side of an animal. It is definitely "fur friendly" as you've said. The bullistics are also amazing for such a small round. Very similar to the .223. I hve the synthetic stock on mine. It's the "Walking Predator" model. Basically its a medium barrel. It's probablly my favorite and most often "go to" gun in my arsenal. From reading various articles on it, they claim it will bring down a coyote.....I haven't tried yet.
I'm glad you like your's. I've been bragging mine up on the forums here....glad to have someone else on my band wagon!!
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The Sav model 25 is slick as snot boys! I have one in .223 with the thumb hole stock and not only does it look nice, shoots factory ammo that will have 5 rounds touch at 100 yards...like the commercials say, this isn't your grandpa's savage! Little heavy for my liking, wish they would of had the walking varmiter when I was buying my rifle, still not heavy enough for me not to take it with me with the confidence i've gained with it in the last 5 or so years. Excellent gun for chucks on a rest, which is just icing on the cake...if you haven't checked one of these out, they're hard to beat for roughly $550
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This gun is amazing. I want to get back to the range and dial it in even better (if that's possible). I added a pivoting 9-13" bipod to this gun and took a small groundhog yesterday at around the two hundred yard mark. I missed one at 300 yards but it sounded like a hit but "nothing"! The coolest about this caliber is the delay and the sound confirming a hit.
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Ian, it is killing me that I don't have that caliber. As soon as I am able to afford a new gun I am going to get that. I was looking the CZ model though.
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Tim, It's something else. The only thing that was holding me off as long as I did was the ammo availability. I have 5 boxes now, which should last me a good while. I was looking for the Ruger version but nobody around here had it. But I am extremely happy with the Savage wood stock M25 that I got.
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For what it's worth, Remington will be coming out with the .17 Hornet ammo shortly.
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timmy, screw that CZ junk...save some cash, buy american, and shoot just as good if not better and get that savage...then let me shoot it haha...what you gonna do with .17 hornet when you already got its .22 counterpart?
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You can go the T/C Encore Route and buy an 17 Hornet already on the shelf at www.eabco.com. $325.00 for the barrel... not bad price if you already have an Encore rifle action...It does take the heavy barrel forearm. If you have a Prohunter action you can use the Prohunter forearm with this custom barrel... nice you don't have to wait for them to make you a custom barrel..
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I have some Midwayusa .172 Cal 20 grain HP Dogtown bullets that I was going to reload in my 17 Fireball... I'm sure these would be excellent in the 17 Hornet...I'm sure by Christmas I to will have an Encore 17 Hornet too!... Hornady annual reloading mag stressed that the 15 grain .172 bullets should work nice in the 17 Hornet also...I think they high lighted the Berger made the 15 grainers for reloading...
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Great to hear of the success of this neat fox varmint caliber.
Somebody mentioned the Ernie Wilson Tri Stand. I do not find them heavy in the least bit honestly. I frequently hunt with one from sundown to sunup for predators with lots of walking and I have never minded the weight. Use mine for groundhogs and deer too. Probably the best hunting item I have invested in to date. My gun weighs more than the tripod. :o I have found the key is to put it up on your shoulder so no muscles are involved. It works so great I wouldn't hunt without one...
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I use mine all the time also. I've been slaying the ground hogs this year with it. Whats the point in investing all the money in calls, gear, guns, equipment, etc., if you can't close the deal at the end. With Ernie's Tri X, it sure does improve my success !!!
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I too invested in E. Wilson rest.. I no longer belong to a sportsman club. Since I can now shoot in any farmers field that allows me too. So instead of spending lets say $50.00 plus dollars per year for membership the rest is already paid for... It outstanding for sighting in all your rifles... from 12 gauge slug guns, to 3006, all the way down to 22 WMR.
I have harvested so many fox now just with a 22 WMR Marlin bolt action and a cheap BSA illuminated scope and EW rest..
IMO....Most important thing is a good light on the rifle and a good rest for night time shooting and you will get more fur...You have to be standing when you shoot... All you people that sit down on the ground and use tripod like the Harris are selling yourself short.... You need to be standing and using a good rest so you can see the predators coming in 500 yards away...
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I'll second that.
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It might be time to check one of those rests out. I want to check it out in person first though. I bought a primos tripod trigger stik that I think will do fine for now. It's gotten some ghogs already with it and most of my shots are under 100 yards at night. I do want one if I feel that it's practically for how I hunt. Sometimes I park the truck and walk a couple mile circle hitting different fields. I've only heard great things about this rest but I don't like to purchase things before I see them.
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I have a Primo's Tripod Trigger Stick also.....It now collects dust.
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It might be time to check one of those rests out. I want to check it out in person first though. I bought a primos tripod trigger stik that I think will do fine for now. It's gotten some ghogs already with it and most of my shots are under 100 yards at night. I do want one if I feel that it's practically for how I hunt. Sometimes I park the truck and walk a couple mile circle hitting different fields. I've only heard great things about this rest but I don't like to purchase things before I see them.
Predator77...you are a smart man for trying out things first. I wish I had that control over the years...I bought way to much stuff on impulse :-). If you can, hook up with somebody in your area that has the rest. I had negative thoughts about using this tripod then I hunted one night with somebody who had one. I didn't want to be willing to try it. Well we hunted a second time together and I tried the rest. Bought one the next day. Best piece of predator hunting equipment I own. Contact Ernie Wilson and he can probably set you up with someone in your area that has a rest you can demo.
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Predator 77 did the 17 Hornet VMAX blow up the chucks bad? I hope that like the 17WSM rimfire... Ammo mfg make the 17 Hornet ammo in different bullet types and grainage????? I reload anyway but I'm just saying. I would think the 20 Grain HP MidwayUSA Dogtown bullets would be great in the 17 Hornet...
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The bullistics are quite similar to the 223. The counterpart can't come close to that. Most of the test targets I've seen have placed 3 rounds at 50 yards within a dime. I think thats pretty tough to beat. I recently purchased a CZ in 17 hornet. I like the set trigger that feature that the CZ offers. I can't wait to get a good scope mounted on it and try it out.
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Please let me know because I am considering the CZ in .17 hornet as well.