Optimize Your Varmint Hunting with Hornady Superformance Varmint .17 Hornet Ammunition
Are you a serious varmint hunter seeking to push the boundaries of range, precision, and terminal effectiveness? Do you frequently find yourself asking: "What is the best ammunition for long-range prairie dog hunting?" or "How can I achieve flatter trajectories and devastating terminal performance on small game without excessive recoil?" If so, look no further than Hornady Superformance Varmint .17 Hornet 20 gr Hornady V-Max ammunition. This exceptional cartridge is engineered to solve the most common challenges faced by varmint and pest control enthusiasts, delivering unparalleled speed, accuracy, and impact.
For hunters targeting small, fast-moving critters like groundhogs, prairie dogs, coyotes, foxes, and even certain types of birds, the ability to make clean, ethical, and decisive shots at extended distances is paramount. Hornady Superformance Varmint ammunition in .17 Hornet, featuring the renowned 20-grain V-Max bullet, is specifically designed to meet these exacting demands. It provides the competitive edge needed to consistently hit difficult targets, minimize wind drift, and ensure humane, one-shot kills, making it an indispensable asset in any varmint hunter's arsenal.
The Breakthrough: Hornady Superformance Technology
What sets Hornady Superformance Varmint ammunition apart from conventional cartridges? The core innovation lies in Hornady's proprietary Superformance propellant technology. This advanced formulation allows for significantly higher velocities—an impressive 100 to 200 feet per second (fps) increase—without a corresponding rise in chamber pressure. This means you get enhanced performance without added wear and tear on your firearm.
- Increased Muzzle Velocity: Experience a blistering muzzle velocity of 3650 feet per second. This remarkable speed translates directly into less time for your bullet to travel to the target, reducing opportunities for target movement and external factors like wind to affect your shot.
- Flatter Trajectory: The enhanced velocity results in a noticeably flatter trajectory. This simplifies holdover calculations, particularly at longer ranges, allowing for more intuitive and precise aiming. Imagine less guesswork and more direct hits, even when dealing with varied terrains and extended distances.
- Reduced Wind Drift: Higher velocity also means the bullet spends less time exposed to crosswinds. This significantly minimizes wind drift, a critical factor when engaging small targets at hundreds of yards, where even a slight breeze can throw off a shot.
- Enhanced Downrange Energy: Despite its lightweight bullet, the Superformance technology ensures the 20-grain V-Max bullet retains substantial energy downrange, crucial for achieving quick and humane kills. The muzzle energy of 592 ft lbs is efficiently transferred to the target upon impact.
This combination of attributes makes Hornady Superformance Varmint ammunition a true game-changer for those who demand peak performance from their varmint rifle.
Deep Dive into the .17 Hornet Caliber
The .17 Hornet is a fantastic choice for varmint hunting, particularly when paired with high-performance ammunition like Hornady's Superformance line. Originally a wildcat cartridge developed from the .22 Hornet, the .17 Hornet offers a unique blend of velocity, accuracy, and efficiency.
- Low Recoil: One of the most significant advantages of the .17 Hornet is its incredibly low recoil. This allows for rapid follow-up shots, minimizes shooter fatigue during extended hunting sessions, and makes it an excellent caliber for new or recoil-sensitive shooters.
- Exceptional Accuracy: Rifles chambered in .17 Hornet, especially when fed quality ammunition like Hornady Superformance, are known for their inherent accuracy. This is due to the cartridge's efficient design and the precise manufacturing of both the brass cases and the bullets.
- Minimal Noise Signature: Compared to larger, high-velocity rifle cartridges, the .17 Hornet typically produces less muzzle blast, making it more pleasant for both the shooter and anyone nearby, and less likely to spook other game in the vicinity.
- Pelt-Friendly Performance: For hunters who also harvest furbearers like foxes and coyotes, the .17 Hornet with a rapidly fragmenting bullet like the V-Max often delivers terminal results that minimize damage to valuable pelts, striking a balance between effectiveness and preservation.
While many varmint hunters might consider larger calibers like the .223 Remington, the .17 Hornet offers a compelling alternative for those prioritizing reduced recoil, lower noise, and often, less over-penetration, making it ideal for open field varmint control where ricochets are a concern.
The Hornady V-Max Bullet: Terminal Devastation
At the heart of the Hornady Superformance Varmint cartridge is the 20-grain Hornady V-Max bullet. This projectile is specifically engineered for rapid, explosive fragmentation upon impact, ensuring quick, humane kills on small game.
- Polymer Tip: The signature red polymer tip enhances aerodynamic efficiency, contributing to the bullet's flat trajectory and high velocity. Crucially, it also initiates rapid, violent expansion and fragmentation immediately upon contact.
- Highly Concentric Gilding Metal Jacket: This jacket design ensures consistent bullet rotation and stability in flight, contributing significantly to the ammunition's exceptional accuracy.
- Precise Lead Core: The lead core is precisely engineered to work in conjunction with the jacket and polymer tip to achieve devastating fragmentation, ensuring maximum energy transfer and tissue disruption.
- Boat Tail Design: The boat tail base further improves the bullet's ballistic coefficient, reducing drag and helping to maintain speed and stability over longer distances.
When the 20-grain V-Max bullet impacts a varmint, its design ensures that virtually all of its kinetic energy is dumped within the target, resulting in an explosive and decisive termination. This minimizes the chance of a wounded animal escaping and contributes to ethical hunting practices.
Who Benefits from Hornady Superformance Varmint .17 Hornet Ammunition?
This ammunition is an excellent choice for a variety of users and scenarios:
- Dedicated Varmint Hunters: If your passion is targeting prairie dogs, groundhogs, woodchucks, or similar small pests at extended ranges, the flat trajectory and precise accuracy will give you a significant advantage.
- Farmers and Ranchers: For effective and humane pest control on agricultural lands, this ammunition provides the speed and terminal performance needed to dispatch varmints that threaten crops or livestock.
- Predator and Furbearer Hunters: When hunting coyotes, foxes, or bobcats, especially when pelt preservation is a consideration, the .17 Hornet with its rapid fragmentation can offer effective kills with minimal hide damage.
- Precision Shooters: Those who enjoy challenging themselves with highly accurate, low-recoil shooting will appreciate the inherent precision and consistent performance of this Hornady load.
- New Shooters: The extremely low recoil makes it a fantastic round for introducing new shooters to centerfire rifles, allowing them to focus on marksmanship fundamentals without anticipating heavy recoil.
Achieving Optimal Results: Tips for Using Your .17 Hornet Superformance Ammo
To truly maximize the performance of your Hornady Superformance Varmint .17 Hornet ammunition, consider the following:
- Quality Optics: Pair your rifle with a high-quality scope that offers clear glass and reliable adjustments, essential for precision at extended ranges.
- Stable Shooting Position: Whether using a bipod, shooting sticks, or a sandbag rest, a stable shooting platform is crucial for leveraging the ammunition's inherent accuracy.
- Wind Awareness: While Superformance reduces wind drift, understanding and accounting for wind conditions remains vital for long-range shots. Practice reading mirage and using a wind meter.
- Know Your Rifle: Understand your rifle's specific zero, and practice shooting at various distances to learn your holdovers or scope adjustments for different ranges.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hornady Superformance Varmint .17 Hornet
Q: What is the primary advantage of Superformance technology?
A: The main advantage is significantly increased muzzle velocity (100-200 fps faster) without an increase in chamber pressure, leading to flatter trajectories, reduced wind drift, and increased downrange energy.
Q: Is the .17 Hornet effective for coyotes?
A: Yes, with proper shot placement and a rapidly fragmenting bullet like the 20 gr Hornady V-Max, the .17 Hornet can be very effective on coyotes, particularly at closer to moderate ranges, and is often favored for its minimal pelt damage.
Q: What is the optimal use for the 20 gr Hornady V-Max bullet?
A: The 20 gr Hornady V-Max bullet is specifically designed for varmint and small game hunting where rapid, explosive fragmentation is desired for quick, humane kills and to minimize ricochets.
Q: How many rounds come in a box of Hornady Superformance Varmint .17 Hornet ammunition?
A: Each box contains 25 rounds of this high-performance ammunition. For larger quantities, this product is also available in cases containing 10 boxes, totaling 250 rounds.
Q: What is the casing material?
A: The casings for Hornady Superformance Varmint ammunition are made from high-quality brass, known for its durability and reloadability (though always verify with Hornady if you plan to reload).
Q: Can this ammunition be used for target shooting?
A: While designed for hunting, its exceptional accuracy and consistent performance make it an excellent choice for precision target shooting, especially for varmint rifle practice.
Choose Hornady for Unmatched Varmint Performance
When precision, speed, and devastating terminal performance are non-negotiable for your varmint hunting or pest control needs, Hornady Superformance Varmint .17 Hornet 20 gr Hornady V-Max ammunition stands out as a superior choice. Its combination of advanced Superformance propellant, the highly effective V-Max bullet, and the inherently accurate .17 Hornet caliber creates a synergy that will elevate your success in the field. Trust Hornady's legacy of quality and innovation to provide the reliable, high-performance ammunition you need to make every shot count.
Technical Specifications: Hornady Superformance Varmint .17 Hornet
| Feature | Detail | Product Identifier |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Hornady | |
| Model | Superformance Varmint | |
| Caliber | .17 Hornet | |
| Bullet Type | Hornady V-Max | |
| Bullet Weight | 20 grains | |
| Muzzle Velocity | 3650 fps | |
| Muzzle Energy | 592 ft lbs | |
| Application | Hunting, Pest Control | |
| Game Type | Small Game, Varmints | |
| Casing Material | Brass | |
| Rounds Per Box | 25 | |
| Boxes Per Case | 10 | |
| SKU | 83005 | |
| UPC | 090255830057 |
