.17 Ackley Hornet

[Reed1911]

For those that are interested, we have been making the .17AH brass for a while and as is typical due to requests we will shortly have .17AH ammunition available. The first three loads will be a 20g Berger, 20g v-max and 22.7g SP.

[GatCat]

I'm looking forward to them when they become available. I just got a .17M2 NEF barrel rechambered to .17 A/H, ( to use on a centerfire frame )  and since this will be my first reloading proposition, I'll use your ammo as "quality control" for my attempts. Hope they are available soon!
Mark

[Catfish]

Reed,
   One of my all time favorite rounds. Be interesting to see how much ammo you`ll be able to sell. I think it would have been a better round to have put on the market than the .17-221. The .17-221 is to close to the .17 Rem., where the .17 AH down in case size alot but still a great preformer on small varments and shoots like a lazer with the lite bullets.

[aulrich]

GatCat

If you have not already done so let the guys on the handi sub group know about this project, plenty of guys there would love to hear about it

[GatCat]

Aulrich, will do, once I get to shooting it. Right now the barrel is at the 'smiths, being fitted to the frame ( no luck in having it fit "out of the box" ). I'm also having the 'smith rechamber the .22 Hornet "donner" to a "K", and fit a .280 barrel to the same frame. I do have the forming dies and reloading dies for the .17A.H. waiting, so things should come together before long.
I've used the .17 HMR for ground squirrels and marmots up in B.C. since the Marlin first became available. I think the extra velocity of the A.H with 20 gr. bullets, or moving up to 25 gr. bullets will be much better for the big Marmots, or the occasional 'yote, without going to the larger ( noisier ) .17 M IV.
Maybe Hornaday and H&R will "domesticate" it some day??
Mark

[IOWA DON]

GatCat - My TCR-87 .17 Hornet shoots 20-grain Hornadays at 3650 fps. I've shot 3 fox (I think), 3 coyotes, one badger and a whole bunch of smaller stuff with it. I also use 15-grain Berger hollow-points for some small animals at closer ranges. I read test reports on .17 Hornet rifles in the past complaining about the .17 Hornet not expanding bullets properly at longer ranges.  This was with 25-grain bullets intended for the more powerful .17 Remington. I think the .17 Hornet only became a practical cartridge when lighter bullets like the 20-grain Hornadays became available, since they can be driven to higher velocities and expand better at lower velocities. - DON

[shotgun31]

I've got a .17AH on an Encore, that is a super shooter!  20 gr V-Max is great on Prairie Dogs, and effective to 200 yds.  I think it's a wonderful cartridge and I'm happy that it's being loaded commercially. 
Shotgun