Know it's a while to varmit season but gotta play with the new 17 and get it all dialed in. Anybody have much experience with loading 17 caliber? I've been reading and researching all the magazines, internet sites, etc. that I can find but appreciate any first hand experience/input. Here's what I've been playing with and nothing promising yet.
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....
Thoughts, input, experience?? Thanks guys.
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....
Thoughts, input, experience?? Thanks guys.