That .17 you're thinking about ought be be a real zinger HEAD. But I'm not sure what you would gain (other than the fun of playing with a new cartridge ). Would you gain much in trajectory over the Hornet? Probably not that much difference in noise level and those little bullets sure would be a pain in the butt to reload.

I sight my Hornet in for dead-on at 100 because the longest possible shot on my hunting lease is right around 150 yards (except for our 300 yard rifle range). I'll tell you one thing, that 40 grain V-Max will really roll a coyote.

I love my Hornet too. Use it mostly for head shooting rabbits on our food plots and putting meat in the camp pot. Uummmm! Rabbit Sauce Picante.