17 HMR in a Contender

[AlanF]

What type of accuracy are you getting from you T/C 23" 17 HMR barrels? Which ammo does your's prefer? Thanks.

Alan

[T/Chmr]

I had an old contender 44 mag that I had not shot in years that I put a 17hmr barrell on, picked up a used weaver 6x scope at my local gunshop.  And I must say it is an awesome little rifle to shoot, my 8y/o daughter has been practicing all summer with it (plans on her first whitetail this year....no, not with the 17 but with a .243).  It will group 5 shots about the size of a quarter at 100yds, mine likes CCI.

[Possumcop]

Alan

I bought a new G2 rifle a few years ago and it usually shoot's 1/2 - 3/4 groups @ 100 yds if I do my part. I had my barrel cut off to 18"/re-crowned, which I like short barrels.  It likes the Hornady 17gr V-Max ammo the best. Here's a couple of links with some good info. on the 17 HMR.

http://www.varmintal.com/17hmr.htm

http://www.bullberry.com/HMRdata.html

Doug

[sk330lc]

Under an inch at 100 yards is the norm for me as well.  Thats with Hornady 17gr v-max's , CCi 17gr. TNT's, and CCI 20gr FMJ's.   It shoots the 20gr XTP's and the CCI 20gr game point into about an inch and a half @100yards.  I can't explain why.

[AlanF]

Thanks guys.  I should have one here by the weekend and I've several different types of ammo to try in it. 

[woodchukhntr]

I'm getting 3/4" up to 1" groups with Hornady 17 gr V-Max's.  I've tried others, but the Hornady 17 works best for me and it is a great 'chuck killer!

[awshucks]

I have the 23" in .17 HMR and just noticed I'm splitting the necks on the cases.  I was shooting both 17 gr Vmax and 20 gr Hornady at the time and am not sure if it's just one or the other or both.  Anyone else notice this?  Suggestions?  I've put less than 1000 rounds through it.  Thanks!

[Keith L]

I haven't seen that yet, but many others have reported cracking, regardless of gun make.  It was just discussed over on the Handi forum a few weeks ago.  It seems to be ammo makers problem, not the gun.

[sk330lc]

Have seen it in CZ with CCI, WInchester, Speer, and Hornady.
Have seen it in Savage With Hornady and Federal.
Have seen it in My G-2 23" Barrel with Speer, Hornady,and Federal.  I don't believe that they aneal the cases.
I have noticed you might shoot a box of fifty and never have a crack.  Next fifty you will have half of them crack.
Does it hurt anything, I don't beleave so. I can't see anything in my chamber. I just scrub the chamber when I'm  done shooting.

[awshucks]

Thanks, sent an email to T/C to see their position on this, will advise as I get a response.  Ok to keep shooting?

[sk330lc]

I haven't Stopped..  I couldn't tell you, how many I have shot that have done it.  Please let us know what TC says.

[woodchukhntr]

It looks like the necks weren't annealed.  Forming the case will harden it, and if it is hardened enough it will split.  You can see this in resized cases that are overworked, especially when belling case mouths for cast bullets.  Old cases will age harden and may split, but this shouldn't be a problem in this caliber for several decades.

[Ladobe]

It's an ammo problem that's been around since Hornady was still working out the final configuration of the cartridge before it was first released for sale to the public.   I was "in the loop" then.   Comes down to lot number's I believe, some lots still do but most do not have the problem.   Seems like I remember back when the huge acceptance of the new round soon caused extreme shortages in available ammo for sale that more lots had the problem than didn't as they increased production trying to catch up with demand.

I bought my HMR ammo all at once so it would all be in the same lot numbers by brand (literally a lifetimes supply of each type of ammo).   Got real lucky on the lot numbers I guess because I've never had a split neck, and that's after many, many thousands of rounds fired in the 3 HMR's I own.

...There was a similar problem with the 17HM2 when it first came out too, but rather than a split it was a basal bulge.    I worked with Tim P. at TC on that one.   Again, lot numbers.   I'm not in the loop anymore, so no idea if that one is still out there with new lot numbers or not.    My lifetime supply of HM2 ammo was also all bought at once in the same lot number and so far so good.

All just from my recollection FWIW...

[awshucks]

Thanks all. No word from T/C yet.  Bite my tongue, just got this email.
"If you are not overloading your bullets then you will have to send in the barrel to us for evaluation under our warranty."

Asked how I could be 'overloadin' a rimfire.  Is there another meaning to the word I'm not familiar w/?

[k9jri]

Thanks, sent an email to T/C to see their position on this, will advise as I get a response.  Ok to keep shooting?

I have this very same issue with my 23" .17HMR G2 barrel and my range buddies see see exactly the same neck cracking in their Anschutz 1416s, Weatherby .17s, Savage .17HRMs and NEF singleshot .17HMR.

I believe that it is an ammo issue, not a gun issue.  Probably, as mentioned earlier, by the neck sizing process causing hardening of the case.

As far as T/C's request that you send the barrel back for evaluation.... I would not think they would have any other option in evaluating their product.  I am sure that their "overloading" comment is a standard and required caveat in their email responses.  Bullets have been pulled in .22WRMs and the case then reloaded and I am sure that it would be possible to do the same with .17HMR bullets.