Was thinking of picking up a 17 Hornet for varmits. Ive got a few areas I hunt where the lower noise level would be a plus over my usual 223.
Anyone using one and what do you think of them?

I go 22 hornet over 17. Or even 22 mag.

I see limited availability and high prices in that caliber. Same for 22 Hornet. 22LR or 22Mag would be best depending on exactly what you are trying to do. If you handload, subsonic/reduced load 223 would be good as you already have the gun.

Also, I see a ton of 17HMR on the shelf.

I really like the little cartridge -I bought a CZ 221 Fireball with the intentions of building a 17Mach4 and gave the little 17 ackley hornet and 17 hornet a lot of thought.
BUT I made the mistake of shooting the build gun -just can't bring myself to touch a perfect little coyote hammer.
What's not to like with the 17 hornady hornet might as well say NO recoil -relatively quiet -accurate and hard hitting .
20gr. bullets for crows -30gr. bullets for coyotes .
The 20gr. bullet shoots 1,000fps faster than the HMR -30gr. have 400fps with a bullet nearly twice as heavy and a far better BC .
I'd say the 17 hornet at least doubles the range of the 17HMR -so yes I vote you get one coming your way -TONIGHT !

Its just a new cartridge with LOTS of advertizing behind it. 17 remington is MUCH better. 4100 fps with 20gr v-max. IF you hand load you can use the much better 223 Lapua brass. To me reloading hornady brass, is a NO-Go. Hornady brass to me is pure CRAP!! I avoid Hornady = brass,like the plague. I just dint want to reload it! 17 Hmr is good to me. IF i was concidering a 17 caliber to hand load, I would go 17 remington

My 22mag has done everything i could ask it to do. No need for a 17.

I have a 22 mag and I like it but would rather have something that will stretch out there a little farther than it. Thats why I usually fall back and carry the 223. That and the availability of 223 over 22 mag.

I do not handload at this time but that is one of the attractions of the hornet that came from a article I read.
It stated that you could get 6 or 7 reloads on the same hornet case.
Reloading bullets are about $30 per 100 and the article said from a canister of powder you can get 700 hornet reloads.

Shooters .. wasnt one of the touted pluses of the 17 hornet was the longer barrel life vs the 17 remington?

The ability to reload it (cheaply) along with the low noise level both seemed like a plus to me along with seeing more of it on the shelves than of 22 mag in the last few years.

Yes. But a 17 rem at 4000 fps Vs 17 hornet at 3600 fps would be that much difference in barrel life, I wouldnt think? But then again I dont know anything about the 17 hornet. Except what I read about it. 16 grs of powder = would give about 450 rds of so per 1 lbs can of powder. So thats 150 more than I use to get out of 17 rem.