what ammo for 17HMR

mikthestick · August 21, 2014, 11:10 AM

My son in law has a .17HMR 14" barreled rifle and a laser range finder. The rifle is a wierack pronounced yrak. The rifle has an 8-12 magnification scope. He has bought Winchester 17gr polymer tipped rounds. Now he is considering buying more expensive ammo because he gets the odd flyer. I think he may be the problem. What do you think.

JD0x0 · August 21, 2014, 11:20 AM

Could be either. I know it'd be frustrating if, my ammo was creating flyers, and everyone told me that 'it's me' not the ammo. At the same time it might be him. Or it could be a gust of wind occasionally blowing a bullet off course. Those little rimfire projectiles are quite easy to push around in the wind.

a box of CCI really isn't that expensive. I'd say try a box, it it's getting flyers too, that should narrow the problem.

Also have you tried shooting that rifle? It might just take you shooting a couple of good groups to show him it's him not the ammo. Or if you're getting flyers too, you'll know it's the ammo or possibly the rifle/scope.

Rob228 · August 21, 2014, 11:28 AM

I tried the CCI, Winchester and Hornady (all 17 grain) in a Savage, I had the best groups with the CCI but not by a whole heck of a lot.

taylorce1 · August 21, 2014, 12:07 PM

I'd never heard of the rifle before so I had to look it up. Sure a nice looking rifle and I'd really like to have the HW66 Weihrauch rifle in .22 Hornet or .222 Rem.

precision_shooter · August 21, 2014, 12:51 PM

Interesting, good looking rifles, but had never heard of them before.

When I had my Savage 93R17, it liked the 17gr Hornady Vmax the best. My friends Marlin liked CCI with same bullet.

With any new gun, if only able to shoot factory ammo, it's always a good idea to try several different mfg/bullet weights to see what the gun likes best.

mikthestick · August 21, 2014, 01:56 PM

Thanks. My son in law researched rifles and was recommended by a gunsmih who said the barrel was better quality than competitors, further research seemed to confirm this. the bottom line with nothing to compare against it it's still a sweet rifle.
I will get him to try these different rounds.

Unlicensed Dremel · August 21, 2014, 06:50 PM

I got better groups with 17 grainers of any make (CCI, Hornady, Remington), than with the Hornady 20 grainers. Seems odd, that 3 measly grains would make a difference, but in that that rifle I had, it did.

upstate81 · August 21, 2014, 07:32 PM

Honestly thats what I hear from all .17hmr shooters. The .17 grainers usually group the best. Especially the original hornady load. Im a .22wmr guy as I have no extensive time behind the .17 to really say.

Mobuck · August 21, 2014, 07:53 PM

I started shooting 17HMR using Hornady ammo and it was a consistent clover leaf producer so I bought several 500 round cartons. THEN, I found that different lots made a significant difference in accuracy. I decided I didn't (at that time anyway) have either the patience or time to sort out all the lot numbers and shoot groups until I found the sweet lot numbers. Ended up buying a carton of Winchester gray tipped ammo and haven't used anything else since.

Sappyg · August 21, 2014, 09:26 PM

I've had two 17 hmr rifles. Each one preferred a different load. They look to be a little finicky. When you find the right one buy a lot of it.

August 21, 2014, 11:10 AM	#1
mikthestick Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2012 Location: Devon England Posts: 177	what ammo for 17HMR My son in law has a .17HMR 14" barreled rifle and a laser range finder. The rifle is a wierack pronounced yrak. The rifle has an 8-12 magnification scope. He has bought Winchester 17gr polymer tipped rounds. Now he is considering buying more expensive ammo because he gets the odd flyer. I think he may be the problem. What do you think.

August 21, 2014, 12:07 PM	#4
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,248	I'd never heard of the rifle before so I had to look it up. Sure a nice looking rifle and I'd really like to have the HW66 Weihrauch rifle in .22 Hornet or .222 Rem. __________________ NRA Life Member

August 21, 2014, 12:51 PM	#5
precision_shooter Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 2,475	Interesting, good looking rifles, but had never heard of them before. When I had my Savage 93R17, it liked the 17gr Hornady Vmax the best. My friends Marlin liked CCI with same bullet. With any new gun, if only able to shoot factory ammo, it's always a good idea to try several different mfg/bullet weights to see what the gun likes best. __________________ "Laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes...Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man." - Thomas Jefferson, 1776

August 21, 2014, 06:50 PM	#7
Unlicensed Dremel Junior member Join Date: February 13, 2014 Location: Flathead Valley, MT Posts: 2,187	I got better groups with 17 grainers of any make (CCI, Hornady, Remington), than with the Hornady 20 grainers. Seems odd, that 3 measly grains would make a difference, but in that that rifle I had, it did. Last edited by Unlicensed Dremel; August 21, 2014 at 08:03 PM.

August 21, 2014, 11:20 AM	#2
JD0x0 Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2013 Posts: 1,037	Could be either. I know it'd be frustrating if, my ammo was creating flyers, and everyone told me that 'it's me' not the ammo. At the same time it might be him. Or it could be a gust of wind occasionally blowing a bullet off course. Those little rimfire projectiles are quite easy to push around in the wind. a box of CCI really isn't that expensive. I'd say try a box, it it's getting flyers too, that should narrow the problem. Also have you tried shooting that rifle? It might just take you shooting a couple of good groups to show him it's him not the ammo. Or if you're getting flyers too, you'll know it's the ammo or possibly the rifle/scope.

August 21, 2014, 11:28 AM	#3
Rob228 Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2010 Location: Hampstead NC Posts: 1,450	I tried the CCI, Winchester and Hornady (all 17 grain) in a Savage, I had the best groups with the CCI but not by a whole heck of a lot.

August 21, 2014, 01:56 PM	#6
mikthestick Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2012 Location: Devon England Posts: 177	Thanks. My son in law researched rifles and was recommended by a gunsmih who said the barrel was better quality than competitors, further research seemed to confirm this. the bottom line with nothing to compare against it it's still a sweet rifle. I will get him to try these different rounds.

August 21, 2014, 07:32 PM	#8
upstate81 Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2011 Location: NY Posts: 801	Honestly thats what I hear from all .17hmr shooters. The .17 grainers usually group the best. Especially the original hornady load. Im a .22wmr guy as I have no extensive time behind the .17 to really say.

August 21, 2014, 07:53 PM	#9
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	I started shooting 17HMR using Hornady ammo and it was a consistent clover leaf producer so I bought several 500 round cartons. THEN, I found that different lots made a significant difference in accuracy. I decided I didn't (at that time anyway) have either the patience or time to sort out all the lot numbers and shoot groups until I found the sweet lot numbers. Ended up buying a carton of Winchester gray tipped ammo and haven't used anything else since.

August 21, 2014, 09:26 PM	#10
Sappyg Member Join Date: June 24, 2014 Posts: 47	I've had two 17 hmr rifles. Each one preferred a different load. They look to be a little finicky. When you find the right one buy a lot of it.