The 17 Hornet was created by P.O. Ackley in the 1950s by necking down the 22 Hornet cartridge to 17 caliber. It delivers ballistics equal to larger 17 caliber cartridges while being an effective 200 yard varmint cartridge known for its accuracy. The 17 Hornet uses standard 17 caliber rifle twists and is a good choice for areas where a mild report and reduced ricochet are desired, with IMR 4198 and Ball BL-C2 being recommended powders.

1. 17 Hornet (Ackley)
Historical Notes:
The 17 Ackley Hornet is simply the 22 Hornet Improved necked down to 17 caliber. It was originated by
P.O. Ackley in the early 1950's and he describes this cartridge as one of the most balanced of the 17 caliber
cartridges. Although small, it delivers ballistics equal to some of the larger 17 caliber cartridges. It is an
effective 200 yard varmint cartridge and is quite accurate. It is normally used in single shot rifles, although
the small Sako bolt action was favored by many because it was made to handle rimmed cartridges such as
the 22 Hornet or 218 Bee.
General Comments:
The 17 Hornet is a good cartridge for use in settled areas where a mild report and minimum ricochet are
desirable characteristics. It is one of the most accurate of the 17 calibers. Its use should be confined to
varmint shooting. The standard twist is 1 in 10 inches, the same as most other 17 caliber rifles. Reportedly,
IMR 4198 gives the most uniform results, although Ball BL-C2 as well as several of the newer powders
should work well.
Source: Cartridges of the World
Back to Wildcat Cartridges
© www.reloadbench.com 1999 - 2005 All Rights Reserved
Help support The Reload Bench by shopping our sponsors...
Help Support This Site By Visiting Our Sponsors
17 Hornet (Ackley) Reloading Data
Bullet (grs.) Powder / (grs.) MV ME Source
25 HP BL-C2 / 15.0 3040 510 n/a
25 HP IMR 4198 / 11.0 3300 600 Ackley
25 HP IMR 4198 / 12.0 3585 710 Ackley
25 HP H-4227 / 11.5 3570 705 Ackley
Home | What's New | Search | Reload Bulletin Board | Site Map | Guest Book | Links | Reload Components | Email This Page
Page 1 of 217 Hornet (Ackley)
3/26/2009http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/w17horn.html