Gaznazdiak wrote:Thanks for getting back to me.
Brett, that sounds like a great idea, although it's about 250km drive for me. I'm not familiar with indoor ranges but one look at the included pic of 2 layers of 3mm W-strap steel sheepyard fence I accidently clipped the other day and you can see why the .17WSM is not welcome at the local small bore range. The hit on the fence was from 65m.
Bladeracer, awesome pretty much covers the performance of this round. The almost comically small 20gr projectile is still carrying 198fp at 200m compared to the .17HMRs 90fp. As with any 17, any more than 11 or 12kph of wind and you can forget hitting anything past 250m. Having said that, when it is calm like it is here tonight you can pull off shots that will have you giggling to yourself for days.
A case in point, I have some sheds 450m from my house that Tony Rabbit has moved into. Over the past 2 weeks I've lobbed 19 rounds at him in the constant wind we have here with no hits. Tonight, with no wind I head shot him first shot.
As to price, I buy mine at the only gun shop in Goulburn which is the nearest town to me, and the Winchester come out at 64c per shot, slightly cheaper than the Federal because Winchester make the brass. Things may have changed, but if I remember correctly last time I looked .17 Hornet was dearer than .223.
As to brass, yes I always collect mine, even .22s as it helps me keep track of barrel state etc.
I have a bit over 350 empty WSM cases.
I was given the ammo to make some drop tubes for loading the .204 as I didn't have a funnel smaller than .22 at the time
The .204 Ruger is similar to the .17's in the same respects, just heavier bullets at higher velocities.
The reason I would choose the Hornet over the rimfire .17's is so I can load my own, much cheaper and greater versatility.
I'm the same, I keep shot logs for every firearm and I save the rimfire brass. Besides, we don't want the cattle getting a gut full of brass.
I just bought a 6.5mm Carcano and getting the .268" bullets is a pain in the arse. I did some research and found that .17WSM brass is .269" so I'd like to get some, pour lead into them and see how well they work as bullets