I have been wanting to see my bullet hit and cannot with my CZ American 22 Hornet with my scope turned up above about eight power.
The CZ 527 Varmint is really a heavy sporter, more or less, but still I would really rather not carry a half pound if I don't need to. I have a buddy that just bought a 17 Hornet CZ Varmint, so I will be able to try that configuration out on my own... but if one of you has HONEST REAL WORLD experience, I would like to consider the American as it is my first choice.
Friends say: just load the 22 Hornet down and use lighter bullets in it - I shoot (with encouragement from the owners of the ranches) up the alley in a couple feedlots at chucks. Missing a chuck at sub 125 yards is not really a consideration, but my concern is that the 22 cal 40 gr Vmax tears adult chucks in two at those ranges and on smaller ones I am concerned about a large enough bullet fragment when a young tender chuck is hit.
Really, in all seriousness, I would feel much better starting off with a 20 gr bullet going 300 - 400 fps faster on impact. I am also concerned about the muzzle blast near market steers if I were to consider using my old 17 Rem UltraWildcat with 25 gr Hornaday HPs.
The last thing I need would be another rifle just to have something new and at this point in my life... I don't really want another rifle, but in this case I honestly think I have a real need for something that doesn't already reside in my three overfilled gun safes.
I have some EagleView Contender Barrel Stubs on order and CZ takeoffs in 22 Hornet (American) and 17 Hornet (Varmint) to build up a couple Contender barrels for my kids to shoot. And I don't want to wait, and wait, and wait for those stubs to finally come in before making a decision and even if I wait I still won't have a light weight barrel 17 Hornet to try on my own.
I was given a couple Contender Youth stocks many years ago (decades) so that when I finally settled down, got married and had kids...
The stocks have been gathering dust for twenty-five years and are finally going to be put in service when my daughter turns seven next year and those barrels are to be hers and her little sister's and brothers rifles as they grow out of their Jimney Crocket 22s.
These barrels are not mine and never were meant to be mine, they are THEIRS, they were bought for THEM. I firmly believe that children need to have an "ownership interest" in what is their equipment so that a sense of pride of ownership develops and when I take them out shooting I want them to say:: "this is my rifle" and I am going to beat you at your own game with MY rifle. And I want them to have the equipment to make that happen. I also want them to be able to honestly say: "this is mine." It is not mine, and I let them use it, it is theirs to shoot, to show off, and to clean before we lock them up.
I really want these barrels to be THEIR property, not something I let them use every once in a while. That is the way it is with my six-year old and her Jimney Crocket, she wants to go to the club the shoot HER rifle. Both of my other kids have their own Jimney Crocket a friend bought when they were born, and in the coming years I hope this becomes a pattern as they grow into them.
If that were not a consideration... that 17 Hornet Contender Carbine barrel would be all I would want. But if I am going to make a purchase, I want it to be a well informed decision that I base that purchase on. So, if you have experience regarding whether I can put a 6.5-20 or similar scope on a CZ 527 American in 17 Hornet and see my bullets impact with the scope turned up to 15-20 power I would very much like to consider what your experience has been before making a final decision.
Thank you