Caliber Question

[RockinHRacin]

Has the 17HMR been considered for FP? There are plenty of other bottleneck cartridges that have been made exceptions, what about this one?

[BurmKiller]

I do not believe it has been. I have shot the .17HMR at small bore silhouette targets in a fun match (not IHMSA related) and from my experience the round would generally cause too much target damage to the close targets, though field pistol targets are thicker. I was using the 20gr rounds that barely took the rams. Field Pistol rams are larger and heavier, so another possible concern. If both of these are tested and found to be non issues, then I would love to see that round allowed in FP. There would be almost no sight setting adjustments and ammo is cheap and effortless.

[19Turkeys]

Todd Spotti did an article on this a few years ago in the IHMSA News. It damaged chickens and was unreliable on rams.

Steve W.

[BurmKiller]

I just posted what some steel looks like when shot at 50 yards from a .17HMR 20gr round from a rifle.

http://www.ihmsa.net/photos/anschutz...hmr-rifle.html

Ron has this Extreme Rimfire game down in GA shooting IHMSA small bore silhouettes moved out to like 220 yards or so:
http://www.cherokeegunclub.org/HTML53.phtml

We wanted to do something similar in Greenville, SC. I ordered some small samples of 1/4" and 3/8" T1, A400 and A500 steel to shoot at and see what happens. All tests were at 50 yards. All tests resulted in significant damage. Now, I know nothing about steel - but these were the only types of steel being listed on a particular target maker's website. There are probably much harder types of steel, but the costs involved for cutting a set of targets would be extreme. Going to thicker steel would make it impossible to knock over the targets. So if you were at a range that had minimum weight field pistol targets made from some insanely hard steel it may work and be great. Only problem is that would not be the norm and most ranges would not allow .17HMR due to the target damage rule. That is why I feel .17HMR in IHMSA would probably not work out.

[fatelvis]

Even A500 steel was being damaged? WOW! That small diameter bullet really does a job focusing the energy. I guess you can say that's impressive, although not good for our sport.

[BurmKiller]

I keep meaning to google the differences and see what those numbers mean...I am just too lazy and too busy! I remember someone telling me that they had targets made from scrap steel they got in a navy yard that were previously part of a ship or sub hull that could withstand anything. Maybe we need some of that. Anyone have some 4'x8'x3/8" sheets laying around?

[19Turkeys]

I remember someone telling me that they had targets made from scrap steel they got in a navy yard that were previously part of a ship or sub hull that could withstand anything.

BK,

I believe you are referring to JCSA's Super Ram. He is well over 20 years old with no dents or dings and has not ever bowed. I wish we had a set of all targets made from that stuff!

Steve W.

[ChargerFan]

Even A500 steel was being damaged? WOW! That small diameter bullet really does a job focusing the energy. I guess you can say that's impressive, although not good for our sport.

I had no idea that dinky little bullet was capable of that sort of damage either, that's pretty impressive. I now have a strong urge to try it out myself!

[highstandard40]

Velocity has far more effect on damage to steel than does bullet weight. A 17 cal bullet at 2200fps impact velocity will do far more damage than a 30cal at an impact velocity of 1800 fps even though bullet mass is far greater. Bullet construction has some effect but not as much as velocity.

[lionslair]

Here is a site that shows T1 (320) and AR 400 - 500 - and armor

http://www.chapelsteel.com/alloy-abr...resistant.html

This is one of my vendors.
Martin

[Win1917]

The practical solution to target damage is to keep velocities down but I'm curious if there is some kind of hard facing treatment that could be done to the targets? I had done some hard facing once with 1/8" welding rod which probably wouldn't be practical for this but if there was some industrial process that could apply the material evenly accross the target that could make for some tough as nails targets.

[lionslair]

I'd simply weld a 3/8" on the front of the target - e.g. sandwich the target as done in body and auto armor.
That would naturally increase weight and force to topple it. Might try two quarters welded for a 1/2 and see.
Then the weight is the same - with added weld.
Martin