What is 17 Hornet ammo?🧐
It is a caliber of ammunition designed for hunting and other recreational activities. This type of ammo is used in rifles, handguns, and shotguns. It has a high velocity and accuracy rate making it perfect for long-range shooting, but it also has enough power to bring down mid-sized game like deer and wild hogs with one shot.
Features🧩
Today, we’re diving into the world of the .17 Hornet ammo, a favorite among varmint hunters and target shooters. This little gem is born from the .22 Hornet case, but with a neck-down design to handle those sleek .17 caliber bullets.
✍️ Let’s talk specs – it boasts a slim bullet diameter of 0.172 inches (4.37 mm) and usually sports lighter bullets ranging from 15 to 25 grains, all aimed at reaching jaw-dropping velocities above 3,000 feet per second (fps). That’s right, this round packs some serious punch!
✍️ What makes this ammo stand out is its super flat trajectory – it practically flies straight as an arrow, making it a dream for varmint hunting at those extended distances. And when we say accuracy, we mean pinpoint precision! It earns its reputation for letting you make those long shots with ease.
✍️ Recoil – almost nonexistent. You’ll have no trouble comfortably shooting for hours on end without feeling like you’ve been punched in the shoulder repeatedly.
✍️ Speaking of varmint hunting – this ammo was practically made for it! Ground squirrels, prairie dogs, and other pesky critters don’t stand a chance against its speed and accuracy.
Benefits✨
The .17 Hornet ammo comes with a bunch of awesome benefits that make it a favorite among enthusiasts. Here’s a rundown of what makes it stand out:
💣 Flat Trajectory: It is a master of precision with its incredibly flat trajectory. That means less bullet drop over longer distances, making it easier to hit those pesky varmints with spot-on accuracy.
💣 High Velocity: This little cartridge can pack a punch. It achieves impressive muzzle velocities, often exceeding 3,000 feet per second (fps). The high velocity contributes to its excellent performance at long ranges.
💣 Exceptional Accuracy: Thanks to its design and high velocity, this cartridge delivers superb accuracy. Whether you’re out on the range or stalking varmints, you’ll appreciate the consistent and precise shot placement.
💣 Low Recoil: No need to worry about a sore shoulder after a day of shooting. It boasts minimal recoil, making it a pleasure to shoot for extended periods.
💣 Varmint Hunting Specialist: When it comes to taking care of pesky varmints like ground squirrels and prairie dogs, this ammo shines. Its high velocity and flat trajectory make it an excellent choice for small-game hunting.
💣 Versatile Bullet Weight: With a range of lighter bullets available, typically in the 15 to 25 grains range, the .17 Hornet can be optimized for various shooting scenarios. You can choose the right bullet weight for your specific needs.
💣 Easy on Your Firearm: Its relatively modest recoil and low chamber pressure are gentle on your rifle, potentially extending its lifespan.
💣 Fun and Efficient Target Shooting: Whether you’re practicing your shooting skills or participating in competitions, ammo’s accuracy and velocity will make your target shooting sessions enjoyable and productive.
Types📢
There are several types of .17 Hornet ammunition available, catering to various shooting preferences and applications. The most common types include:
| ✅ Varmint/Tipped Varmint: Designed specifically for varmint hunting, these rounds typically feature lightweight bullets with polymer-tipped or ballistic-tipped designs for rapid expansion and high velocities. They are excellent choices for small game like ground squirrels, prairie dogs, and other pests. |
| ✅ Hollow Point: Hollow point rounds are popular for varmint hunting as well. The hollow point design promotes controlled expansion upon impact, delivering energy efficiently to the target. |
| ✅ Soft Point: Soft point rounds feature a lead-tipped bullet with a partially exposed lead core. They are designed to offer controlled expansion and are suitable for hunting small to medium-sized game. |
| ✅ Full Metal Jacket (FMJ): FMJ rounds have a bullet jacket that fully encloses the lead core, resulting in less expansion upon impact. These rounds are often used for target shooting and plinking. |
| ✅ Match/Target: Match or target ammunition is optimized for accuracy and consistency. It typically features high-quality bullets and precise manufacturing to meet the demands of competitive shooting and precision target shooting. |
| ✅ Frangible: Frangible rounds are designed to break apart upon impact with hard surfaces, reducing the risk of over-penetration and ricochets. They are often used for training and close-range shooting. |
| ✅ Subsonic: Subsonic rounds are specifically loaded to achieve velocities below the speed of sound, resulting in reduced noise and recoil. They are commonly used for suppressed shooting and in areas where noise reduction is essential. |
📌 Keep in mind that the availability of specific types of this ammunition may vary depending on the manufacturer and local regulations.
17 Hornet Ammo Review | Best 17 Hornet Ammo
| Image | Product | Brand | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Winchester VARMINT X RIFLE 17 Hornet Ammo 20 grain | Winchester |  |
 | Hornady Superformance 17 Hornet Ammo 20 Grain | Hornady | |
 | Federal Premium VARMINT PREDATOR 17 Hornet Ammo 20 grain | Federal Premium | |
1# Winchester Varmint X Rifle 17 Hornet Ammo 20 grain
Introducing Winchester Varmint X Rifle 17 Hornet Ammo – the ultimate ammunition crafted exclusively for predator and varmint hunters like us. The polymer tip is the secret to unlocking top-notch long-range performance while ensuring rapid expansion upon impact. And let’s not forget about the alloy jacket with its ingeniously engineered sidewall profile, designed to create explosive fragmentation for maximum effectiveness. With it, you get the best of both worlds – a lead core tailored for rapid fragmentation, making it ideal for taking down those elusive varmints swiftly and efficiently. It’s the go-to choice for hunters who demand nothing but excellence in their ammunition. Say goodbye to uncertainty and embrace the precision and power this ammo brings to your hunts.
2# Hornady Superformance 17 Hornet Ammo 20 Grain
If you’re seeking a game-changer for your rifle, look at the Hornady Superformance 17 Hornet Ammo. The secret behind its exceptional capabilities lies in the progressive propellants at its core. Say hello to a new era of performance, where conventional ammunition pales in comparison. No more compromises between speed, accuracy, and versatility. Using this product, our team found that this ammunition defies the norm and elevates your shooting experience to extraordinary heights. Say hello to a whole new level of shooting prowess with such ammo- your rifle will thank you!
3# Federal Premium Varmint Predator 17 Hornet Ammo 20 grain
As avid varmint hunters, we know how crucial it is to have ammunition that checks all the boxes. Federal Premium Varmint Predator 17 Hornet Ammo offers unwavering accuracy and consistency on the target. Every shot counts, and you can rely on these rounds to perform consistently, shot after shot. Consistent primers are the backbone of reliable ammunition, and loads live up to the expectation. No worries about misfires – it’s reliable feeding and function every time. In the realm of varmint hunting, this ammunition has earned trust and respect. With its consistent performance, explosive impact, and affordable price tag, it’s the perfect round for any passionate hunter!
How prepare brass and reload?🛠️
Reloading .17 Hornet ammo can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to shoot this fantastic cartridge. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to prepare brass for reloading:
| 🟣 Collect and Inspect Brass: | Start by collecting fired brass from your previous shooting sessions. Inspect each case for signs of damage, such as cracks, splits, or deformities. Discard any brass that shows signs of excessive wear or damage. |
| 🟣 Clean the Brass: | Before starting the reloading process, it’s essential to clean the brass thoroughly. You can use a brass tumbler or a sonic cleaner with the appropriate cleaning media to remove dirt, residue, and carbon buildup from the cases. |
| 🟣 De-Priming: | The first step in the actual reloading process is de-priming. You can use a dedicated de-priming tool or a press with a de-priming die to remove the spent primers from the brass. |
| 🟣 Inspect the Primer Pocket: | After de-priming, inspect the primer pocket of each case to ensure it’s clean and free from any residual primer material. Use a primer pocket cleaning tool to remove any remaining debris if needed. |
| 🟣 Case Resizing and Trimming: | It is a bottlenecked cartridge, so you’ll need to resize the cases to ensure they fit your chamber properly. Use a resizing die to resize the brass to the correct dimensions. Check the length of each resized case using a caliper, as brass can stretch during firing. Trim any cases that have exceeded the maximum allowable length using a case trimmer. |
| 🟣 Chamfer and Deburr: | After trimming, use a chamfer and deburring tool to remove any burrs from the inside and outside of the case mouth. This step ensures smooth bullet seating. |
| 🟣 Priming and Powder Charging: | Now it’s time to prime the cases. Use a primer seating tool to insert new primers into the primer pockets of each case. Then consult your reloading manual for the appropriate powder charge for your chosen bullet and load. Use a powder scale to measure the precise amount of powder and carefully charge each case. |
| 🟣 Bullet Seating: | Finally, use a bullet seating die to seat the bullet to the desired depth. Follow the recommended seating depth from your reloading manual to achieve the best accuracy. |
| 🟣 Crimp (if applicable): | Depending on your specific load and bullet choice, you may need to apply a crimp to secure the bullet in place. Follow the guidelines provided in your reloading manual. |
❗ Always adhere to safe reloading practices, and double-check your loads with reliable reloading manuals.
FAQ✒️
Conclusion😊
In conclusion, the .17 Hornet is an effective and accurate round for varmint hunting and target shooting. It has a very flat trajectory and can reach high muzzle velocities with minimal recoil. We hope this article gives you a lot of useful information and now you can choose the right type of ammo just for your needs! Let us know in the comments which you ended up choosing and how it performed! Happy shooting!🤠🎯
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I’ve been considering the .17 Hornet as an option for my small game hunting and target shooting needs. From what I’ve gathered, the term “long-range” is relative in this context, but I’m looking for something effective within a moderate distance for squirrel hunting and paper punching.
I love the Hornady Superformance 17 Hornet Ammo 20 Grain! It’s an incredibly devastating round for varmint hunting, and the best part is the zero recoil, which makes shooting a real pleasure. Recently, I was able to ring steel targets at 500 yards even in challenging 10-15 mph wind gusts, and this ammo handled it with ease. Overall, it is an amazing little caliber, but I’d recommend considering the CZ rifle over the Ruger. The CZ might save you from the extra modifications and costs I had to put into my Ruger to achieve the desired performance.
I own a Savage chambered in .17 Hornet, and I must say it’s an impressive tack driver, especially out to 400 yards on a normal day. However, I did encounter some peculiarities with the feeding due to the action being originally designed for .223 and adapted to the rimmed .17 Hornet cartridge. Additionally, the scope bases on the rifle were quite odd and didn’t match any standard I knew of, so I had to do a bit of machining to make them work. Reloading for the .17 Hornet isn’t too bad, but it does require attention to detail, especially with powder weights. I’ve noticed that this cartridge tends to be more accurate at the top-end velocities, which is worth considering during load development. Bullet selection is limited, but I find that the Hornady Superformance 17 Hornet Ammo 20 Grain work well. The same goes for brass availability.
Does anyone have experience hunting with 17 Hornet ammo? Can you share it with me and maybe give me some useful advice?
In my experience, .17 Hornet does shoot flat and offers good accuracy, I’ve found it good in stopping power for body shots on coyotes. I would feel confident in dropping them quickly or leaving a substantial blood trail. For me, when I use this ammo, I limit my shots to headshots only to ensure a humane and effective kill.
I’m currently torn between three options for my shooting needs the .17 Hornet, .17 WSM, and .17 HMR. Each of them has its unique strengths and considerations, and I could use some advice to make the best choice. In the end, I’m seeking advice on which of these three options would be the best fit for my shooting preferences and intended applications. I’d love to hear from experienced shooters who have used these cartridges in various scenarios.
I went through a similar decision-making process. Early on, I was drawn to the .17 caliber platform over the .22. In the end, the .17 Hornet checked more boxes for me. Ammo availability seemed better (at the moment), and there were several rifle options available at different price points with various features. So, for now, I’m happy with my choice of the Federal Premium Varmint Predator 17 Hornet Ammo 20 Grain and look forward to enjoying my new rifle.
I’m really happy with my choice of the Winchester Varmint X Rifle 17 Hornet Ammo 20 Grain. It turned out to be the most cost-effective option among the various 17 calibers I considered. I love that I can use it for inexpensive plinking sessions, allowing me to focus more on reloading for my big game rounds without worrying about dealing with tiny bullets and small necks all the time. It’s a perfect fit for my needs, and that’s what matters most.
What do you think about the .17 Hornet?
In my view, I appreciate the lighter kick and high ballistic coefficient (BC) of the .17 Hornet. Its minimal recoil makes shooting enjoyable, and the high BC contributes to its impressive performance at longer distances. Hornady Superformance 17 Hornet Ammo 20 Grain still holds a special place in my heart, primarily for its unique characteristics. It’s flat trajectory and excellent accuracy within its effective range are perfect for the kind of varmint hunting I do. The minimal recoil is a welcome bonus, especially during extended shooting sessions.