I have a noted gap at the bottom end of my hunting battery, with a jump from a .22LR to .250 Savage. I'd like to obtain a rifle to fill the gap - something that would make a nice walk-around, light varmint style rifle.

I have been tossing up between .17HMR and .204 Ruger - one being lighter than I would like and the other being heavier!

Accordingly, I have been leaning towards getting a .17 Ackley Hornet put together - either on a Brno ZKW-465 or one of the new CZ Hornets, rebarrelled (maybe even a switch-barrel between .22 Hornet and .17 Ackley Hornet).

So my question: who has experience with the .17 Ackley Hornet and can make comment/suggestions on my dilemna?

Bwanabob ,
Whilst I haven't had a .17 Hornet I do have a .22 K Hornet .
Frankly I think that the .17 Hornet would be a fun gun but a pain in the bum with case forming etc. . The Hornet case is very light and is difficult to work with as a result .Don't think I'd go down the Hornet road again myself .
I'd suggest you look at the classic .222 or perhaps .221 Fireball or .17 Rem . The CZ 527 is available in all those calibres .
Rebel Gun Works had a new .222 that they were discounting heavily a few weeks back .
Could always do a .17 Mach 1V on a CZ 527 Fireball .

I have shot rabbits will both, NZvarminter did have a 17 AI hornet and has a copper 204 now,I'm sure he will answer your post when he see's it.

You might also want to consider a 20VT or by another name a 20/221 fireball.

39 BK AT 3400+ fps from a sporter barrel gives you a enuine 300 yard walkabout rifle using between 14 and 21 grains of powder.

I'm building one on a Sako 461 sporter action at the moment

later
p

Yep I had a Thompson Contender with a Bullberry 17 AH barrel. 12 grains of Ar 2205 was giving me 3850fps with 20g Vmaxes.

Dont underestimate this little round. The 20g vmax has a BC of 0.2 which is the same as the 40g .22 vmax. A 223 wont push a 40g .22 at 3850 so thwe 17ah will outshoot the 223 for drop and drift but not energy.

The other advantage is 12g or powder means you can shoot all day and the barrel dosnt get hot.

Also very light on recoil so you can see your hits.

If you can find a suitable 22 hornet, rebarrel. Onother option to look at with qyite a bit more range is the 17 Mk IV (17-221 fireball)

This would be my pick if I did another 17 cal, as it will push the new 25g vamax at 3800fps or 20g at 4000. 223 boltface so plenty of doner guns around.

Then theres alway the 20 calibre now. I've imported a Cooper in 204 and its great.

Cheers

Grant

there's a write up in the new Guns Australia mag about a Browning micro hunter in .22H saying that 'ts a proper front locking action.

Might be worth a look as a project rifle.

A 20 K hornet running euro brass in a strong action might enable you to run some good velicites and get the light 20 cals shooting as fast as the light 17 calls for more FT=lbs on target.
IMNHO
More ft-lbs on target is alwas a good thing

later
p

Bob,
I have both 22 hornet and 17 Ackley and the 17 is my preference. Only on a Martini Cadet action so primary extraction ain't that great but if I spray the chamber before use with Tandy electronic cleaner to eliminate oil film the cases just pop out.
As to performance, the 17 kills out of all proportion to its size and with the low report you can shoot something this side of the hill, walk over the ridge and find another target because you haven't stirred up everything within 2 clicks with your 250.
I have used Hornady 25 grainers exclusively in the 25 years since it was built and can't fault them. Using Win. 296 powder, 10 1/2 grains gives unknown velocity but terrific penetration and destruction.I used it to cull fallow in a tourist park enclosure with head shots at 90 -100 yards off a bipod and never had to use a second shot.
Know a fanatic fox shooter who rebarreled a BRNO ZKW465 and as far as I know still uses it, but my 465 is staying original.
As long as you are careful in forming the cases so that the shoulder forms fully forward you won't get the case head separation that plagues some.The 17 isn't a 223. If you recognise its limits it will reward you handsomely.
Best, Garry

I was talking to a gunsmith today who said that while the 17 Ackley Hornet is a good cartridge, in the ZKW465 I can only expect reliable feeding around 60% of the time.

Does anyone have a comment about feeding of the 17 Ackley Hornet in the Brno ZKW-465?

The Cz 527 in hornet is a nice rifle, as well as the Ruger 77/22 in 22 hornet.

If you want to read about the small calibers.. go here: www.saubier.com

They will help you, and give you all the information you will want!

The 17 Ackley is a nice cartridge because of the strong brass, and cheap was well.

Just ran the figures for the 39 BK in a 20 VT or 20/221 fireball.

39 BK BC .287 @ 3400 FPS muzzle
+1.5inches @100 Y 800+FT-lbs
gives a
max +1.7 @ 145 Y +720 FT-lbs
zero @ 220 Y +600 ft-lbs
- 1.5 @ 250 Y
- 4.5 @ 300 Y with 500 ft=lbs remaining energy

This is what the PC predicted.

HTH

later
P

quote:

Originally posted by BwanaBob:
I was talking to a gunsmith today who said that while the 17 Ackley Hornet is a good cartridge, in the ZKW465 I can only expect reliable feeding around 60% of the time.

Does anyone have a comment about feeding of the 17 Ackley Hornet in the Brno ZKW-465?

My first 17 Ackley was a ZK465 and was a pain to feed from the mag as the 25gn Hornady had to be set into the case a fair way to retain the o/a cartridge length that would feed. I found that single loading direct into the chamber with the bullet just short of the lands gave better acuracy and more powder room.

A little Martini 17AI became available and I bought it. About the same time Hornady introduced the little 20gn V-max but again, it would not feed reliably. The Martini shot better & faster than the Brno so I sold the 465.

Later I bought a Fox model in K Hornet and the magazine was longer and would feed the 17AI cartridge length with 3mm of the plastic insert in the back of machined off. I kept that for a few years figuring I would eventually rebarrel but a 1947 ZK465 Hornet in mint condition was swapped for the K as it is, for me anyway, a much more comfortable rifle stockwise for a left hander than the Fox was.

This little 465 will feed 5 rounds of standard Hornet realiably time after time without fuss.