CZ 527 17 HORNET

[WARDY91]

I thought I would add my input to the forum on my experience with the new 17 hornet. I bought a Cz 527 Varmint and I'm glad that I did. The trigger is getting sorted now and then ill happy with it. My load testing found 2205 or lil gun worked best for me. The weather did groups sizes no favors when I went to test the loads but I figured at least I know how far the wind pushes that little pill around. All targets were shot with poa on the centre dot.

[xa-coupe]

Seems to be the thing to do .. CZ527 in 17 Hornet ... glad to see !

I see you're using the faster powders. After reading I decided to try the 2207 ( as I had some and most people were doing well with it ) rather than the faster stuff due to reports of erratic performance. Next comes the VV powder. It seems that LilGun is a hit or miss affair. I've read some people getting very erratic performance and others just seems to love it. One thing I would be very wary of is hot weather performance. What may be great now may end up being a problem when it warms up, Only time will tell. Downside to load development is having to spend 50 bucks or more on a powder that may or may not work. If you're from Melbourne way and want to try a little 2207, send me a PM and I will give you some to try.

Real accuracy testing seems to be a tough ask this time of year. Everywhere seems to be windy and cold.

edit: now I am out of 'reply' mode, I see you're in WA .. don't think Aus Post will like it if I mail you some ....

[WARDY91]

I did all my load testing in summer when we had some of the freakishly hot 40+ degree conditions. I bought lil gun,win 296,2205 just for that rifle now I've got heaps of powder. I didnt see any pressure signs at 10 grs. The primers backed out of the pockets on firing but thats partly from hornadys shitty brass having concave heads. Dunno if thats how they are meant to be or just dud cases.The factory stuff is loaded pretty hot with the AA1680. XA couoe how do you find the hornady dies?

[xa-coupe]

I hate Hornady dies as a matter of course but short of options. They seem to be okay ( haven't broken a pin on first use unlike others ) so far.

[WARDY91]

I'm using a 17 fireball neck die for neck tension and it only sizes the top half of the neck. Trying to full length the cases is bloody hard work from the ones ive done. The dies are sizing the cases back down far more than I like. The seater die is an absolute P.O.S. Ive made a custom micrometer seater up.

[xa-coupe]

I've always FLS everything I reload. It became a habit long before I realised it wasn't necessary. Funnily enough, I still get quite good case life from everything. Some Norma 6.5x55 Brass is still going from the 80s .. though I am retiring them as I find them. Most of them have had 20+ reloads .. every one a FLS.

As for the seater dies ... hell yeah .. I look like I am doing brain surgery when seating to make sure it all does well. What's the deal with your custom setup ??

[aaronraad]

WARDY91

What's the bedding and barrel clearance like?

Were you shooting groups with the bi-pod off the bench or from a solid front rest with rear bags?

Do you have the 24" (Varmint) or 21.9"(American) version of the CZ 527?

[WARDY91]

I modified a forster ultra micrometer do with a different calibre sleeve and made up a seating stem to suit 17 cal.

The factory inlet seems fine to me. I can't really justify pillar bedding and all that. I don't see a need for it. With the minimal recoil I don't think it will make a big difference. Barrel has about 2-3 clearance right the way along the barrel channel. The groups were shot off the ground with my bipod and a rear bag. It's the 24" varmint weight barrel.

[aaronraad]

I modified a forster ultra micrometer do with a different calibre sleeve and made up a seating stem to suit 17 cal.

The factory inlet seems fine to me. I can't really justify pillar bedding and all that. I don't see a need for it. With the minimal recoil I don't think it will make a big difference. Barrel has about 2-3 clearance right the way along the barrel channel. The groups were shot off the ground with my bi-pod and a rear bag. It's the 24" varmint weight barrel.

The bedding doesn't need to be anything spectacular but just getting it off the timber stock can help. I've seen something as simple as small washer under the rear screw and some shimming material under the front of the action just behind the recoil lug help.

The barrel clearance can disappear with flex in the timber stock. 2-3mm might be okay but just check to see what happens when your in position.

Is your bi-pod technique reliable/repeatable? My bi-pod never came with any instructions and it wasn't until later that I learned you can't just throw out the legs, set them up level and go to work on the target. Maybe you're already onto this.

My experience is the with the 17AH in a Brno ZKW with 20gr V-Max's, Winchester cases and Federal GM SR primers and AR2205. No problems getting 5-shot groups down to 1/2" and no more than 3/4" @ 100y. At the moment I'm a believer in short barrel small capacity .172 calibre cartridges, primarily to maximise muzzle velocity. The other advantage is with the shorter barrel is accuracy from a relatively stiffer barrel. I'm still getting 3800fps from a 20" barrel without doing anything special, so if you do run out of options don't be afraid to shorten the barrel.

[WARDY91]

The day I did that testing was horrible. On calm days since 5 shots can be covered with a 5c piece. I'm happy to leave it as is. Yes I could get more accuracy out of it does it really need it? I'm only shooting rabbits and foxes when I do get out either way they would be dead.

[aaronraad]

The day I did that testing was horrible. On calm days since 5 shots can be covered with a 5c piece. I'm happy to leave it as is. Yes I could get more accuracy out of it does it really need it? I'm only shooting rabbits and foxes when I do get out either way they would be dead.

You're 5c piece is better than my 10c. I certainly would touch anything!

[trevort]

looks like a really tiny rifle under that giant scope!

[WARDY91]

It is an oversize scope but it was in the safe doing nothing so it got the job.