Latest Loads: A Heavier .17 Hornet

by
posted on September 4, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
horne.jpg

When habitually pitting your .17 Hornet against coyotes, or pressing it into service for prairie dogs in the windy West, you should consider Hornady’s heavier, 0.172"-diameter, 25-gr. V-Max bullet. Thanks to its 0.230 (G1) ballistic coefficient, in a 10-m.p.h. full-value breeze the tiny projectile deflects a tad less than its lighter 20-gr. sibling at 200 and 300 yds., thereby making hits easier. It also delivers slightly more energy at distance, too. More important to the coyote hunter, though, is the 25 percent increase of metal brought to the quarry; that greatly boosts the potential for lethality. Lastly, I’ve found 25-gr., .17-cal. bullets to consistently exhibit better accuracy than their lighter counterparts, as demonstrated at the range with this load. So, for those in search of an accurate, do-it-all recipe for a trusty .17 Hornet, look no further.

Latest

Franchi Momentum MULE rifle
Franchi Momentum MULE rifle

New for 2026: Franchi Momentum Mule Rifle

Franchi’s do-it-all MULE rifle is designed as a general-purpose carbine.

New for 2026: Smith & Wesson Spec Series M&P9 and R Handguns

Smith & Wesson expands its Spec series with the Spec Series IV M&P9 M2.0 Metal Compact pistol and the Spec Series R revolver.

New for 2026: Henry Provider and Protector Rifles

For 2026, Henry adds two new product families, one designed for hunting, the other for protection.

Gun Of The Week: Daniel Defense DDPCC 9 mm Carbine

Daniel Defense's pistol-caliber carbine, the DDPCC, offers AR-15-style operation in a more budget-friendly caliber.

The Armed Citizen® Jan. 23, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

New for 2026: Stoeger STR-45 Combat Pistol

For 2026, Stoeger adds the .45 ACP chambering to its Combat line of STR handguns.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.