[LDBennett]

Both the 17HMR and the 17HM2 seemed to be very poorly thought out by Hornady. A couple of years ago many were converting 10/22 to 17HM2 with disastrous results because of the pressure characteristics of the 17HM2 ammo and the bad concept that you only had to bolt on a barrel and you were suppose to be good to go. These modifiers forgot that the bolt mass, the recoil spring and the cartridge pressures all have to be in balance in a blow back semi-auto design. Then they found that the 10/22 was so crude as to have excessive head space if not adjusted. The excessive pressure peak of the ammo with these two problems left the shooter with blow out cases and all kinds of similar problems. Some were able to solve the problems, some not, and some only temporarily. The whole key to the problem was the pressure peak Hornady needed in this cartridge to make it perform significantly better than a 22LR cartridge. Their attempt to create a market where their was not one before apparently has turned into a disaster.

Now we see the 17HMR with perhaps similar problems in at least the Remington 597. Hornady ought to be ashamed for putting such ill conceived cartridges on the market place.

Too bad I bought a 17HM2 (CZ bolt gun). Even though I have not had any problems, the ammo will eventually disappear and I'll be stuck with a gun and no ammo. I'll have to re-barrel it to 22LR, I guess, when that happens.

LDBennett