.17 centrefire

[Boristhedog]

I’ve noticed a fair amount of discussion about the .17 HMR cartridge on here, but nothing (that I can find) on the older .17 cf cartridge. Is it still available, does anyone still shoot it?

 

It was a .223 size case (I think) necked down to .17. I used to shoot it some 20 years ago and from memory it was a little 20grm hp bullet shooting at some 4000 fps. Very flat, accurate but not worth shooting if the wind got up.

 

Just wondered whether anyone still used it, although it would cost far more to shoot than the HMR.

[kyska]

.17 remington? Thats a .223 case necked down, the remington fireball is a .221 rem necked down according to wiki.

 

There are a couple of people on here who use .17 fireballs I think.

[jamie g]

look sir slots alot up on youtube he has one and really rates the rifle. whats not to like about drawing pin size groups 4000 fps speed and nice and safe due to the bullets allmost all the time never exiting the body.

 

look his video's up on there and your see it put to good use

[sako751sg]

Had one about 5 years ago and was an excellent wee round.Obviously windage is a prob at ranges and sold mine when all my reloads started splitting cases and the holes in the target not matching the number fired.Think i was over doing the powder a touch.

[macca]

Hi,

I have a heavy barrel 17 MKIV built on a sako A1 action. Cheap to run, gives me 3800fps with a moderate load and 25gn projectiles. Much quieter then the 17 rem, much easier on barrels and cases. Extremely accurate and kills way above its size. Wind is nowhere near the factor that a lot of people think as the bullet gets downrange extremely quickly.

Cheers

[Vince Green]

The only thing I could see that might be discouraging is the availability of ammo.

[Dekers]

There are a couple of .17 Centrefires available and they serve a purpose. Do not discuss in the same breath as HMR, they are very different animals!

 

The reality is life is about supply and demand, these calibres are specialist, the calibre and ammo is not easy to find, and not cheap, have fun reloading if you must.

 

They fill a very small niche but are good for that very small area, plenty of other stuff about that most find more than acceptable!

[mark@mbb]

I have a cz 17 rem with a 3x12x56 zeiss scope and i homeload great little gun very accurate to 300yd make a mess of the rabbits unless head shot and very good for charlie

 

ATB Mark

[Vince Green]

There are a couple of .17 Centrefires available and they serve a purpose. Do not discuss in the same breath as HMR, they are very different animals!

 

The reality is life is about supply and demand, these calibres are specialist, the calibre and ammo is not easy to find, and not cheap, have fun reloading if you must.

 

They fill a very small niche but are good for that very small area, plenty of other stuff about that most find more than acceptable!

Even reloading it would involve supply problems these days

[Treestalker]

I had a .17 Remington for a couple of years and used everything from 15 grain to 30 grain Bergers in it. It wasn't a problem to reload and once I'd bedded the rifle and re-crowned it the accuracy was superb.

 

I went back to a 223 as I found the .17 wasn't a quick killer of foxes with the lighter bullets. In my opinion the best bullets were the 25gr Hornady and the 30gr Berger.

 

One of my friends has got a 17 BR by the long tedious process of necking down 6mm BR cases. The case looks ridiculous but it has unbelievable accuracy.

 

I've seen a few of the 17 Fireballs about as well lately but the 17 Remington is fairly rare now. 5 of us had them after our 222s in the early 1990s before moving back to the 22 centrefires.

[Rem223]

I have a 17 Remington. It has taken me a while to get it to where I am happy with its performance and in hindsight I wish I had specified a 1:9 twist rather than the 1:10. It shoots the 20gr Vmax in excess of 4300fps and it puts them in a tiny cluster at 100yds. As for being affected by wind. There is some truth in it, but with the 25gr hollowpoints or the 25gr Vmax the amount of drift is probably less than a .223

 

In the future I will probably re-barrel it as a 17 Fireball since this does pretty much everything the 17 Rem does but with less powder. The small bore and relatively large powder charge is hard on barrels. The bullet is devastating on winged vermin and effective enough on fox out to 250-300yds but it is a bit of a niche market. If I was starting out from scratch and wanted a small calibre I think the .204 Ruger would be a more user friendly option. However I have 600+ unused brass and 1000+ bullets so it may be a while before I switch!

[Dave-G]

I have 17REM and have had 200 25 grain V-max on back order for two months from my localish RFD.

 

I don't have time to travel further afield so it looks like I'll have to wait till I go on holiday to Cornwall 'cos Helston gun shop doesn't seem to have trouble getting them. It's a ****** they can't be courier'd erm kant spel that - shipped in a secured manner. Till then it's destined to stay in the cabinet.

[6br]

been using .17 rem for 11 years and it's taken a fair few foxes over the 200 yard mark I use 25gr burgers sent at over 4000 fps and groups around 1/4 inch at 100 yards

also used the 20gr v-max sent at 4400 fps groups the same as the bergers. all in all a good little round.

[Sako7mm]

.17 remington? Thats a .223 case necked down...

 

No it's not.

[kyska]

No it's not.

 

I don't know much about it, so I was using wiki, maybe an edit is in store....? And maybe rather than just posting single lined answers, actually correct my 'wrong' info?

 

The .17 Remington was introduced in 1971 by Remington Arms Company for their model 700 rifles.

 

It is based on the .223 Remington, necked down to .172in (4.37 mm), with the shoulder moved back[2]. It was designed exclusively as a varmint round, though it is suitable for smaller predators. There are those such as P.O. Ackley who used it on much larger game, but such use is typically not recommended.

 

 

From shooting UK

 

First, a bit of background history. Remington surprised everyone by legitimising the .17 by not domesticating the .17/223 cartridge, as expected, but by using the .223 case and pushing the shoulder back, therefore producing a longer neck.

Edited December 13, 2010 by kyska

[jamie g]

http://www.6mmbr.com/17wildcats.html here is a good read. looks like it come from a 222 magnum 1st then went on to become a factory round which used the 223 case ?

 

there was that many different forms of it and wildcats

Edited December 13, 2010 by jamie g

[barrelsniffer]

I also have a 17Rem recently bought some 30gn bergers did a few loads and found 2 groups to look at next time im home which look promising..will try differing seating depths next..but it is a great little round..

 

Mick

[njc110381]

I think pretty much all the .22 centrefire rounds have the same head size so as long as the case is long enough it can be made from any of them?

 

I don't know what to make of the .17 Rem but the .17 Fireball looks impressive. It's very similar but just a bit shorter.

[wymberley]

No it's not.

Come on everybody; it's that time of year:-

 

OH YES IT IS!

[Dekers]

.17 remington? Thats a .223 case necked down, the remington fireball is a .221 rem necked down according to wiki.

 

There are a couple of people on here who use .17 fireballs I think.

 

 

No it's not.

 

 

I don't know much about it, so I was using wiki, maybe an edit is in store....? And maybe rather than just posting single lined answers, actually correct my 'wrong' info?

 

The .17 Remington was introduced in 1971 by Remington Arms Company for their model 700 rifles.

 

It is based on the .223 Remington, necked down to .172in (4.37 mm), with the shoulder moved back[2]. It was designed exclusively as a varmint round, though it is suitable for smaller predators. There are those such as P.O. Ackley who used it on much larger game, but such use is typically not recommended.

 

 

From shooting UK

 

First, a bit of background history. Remington surprised everyone by legitimising the .17 by not domesticating the .17/223 cartridge, as expected, but by using the .223 case and pushing the shoulder back, therefore producing a longer neck.

 

 

Lets not get toooooo excited, whichever way you look at the the .17 centrefires have a use, very limited for sure, as are a few other calibres, nevertheless, they serve a purpose.

 

For those involved with general quarry at general distances they will not give a hoot, MOST, have one, two or maybe three guns, and it will be unusual for any of the .17 centrefires to be one amongst them!

[jamie g]

Lets not get toooooo excited, whichever way you look at the the .17 centrefires have a use, very limited for sure, as are a few other calibres, nevertheless, they serve a purpose.

 

For those involved with general quarry at general distances they will not give a hoot, MOST, have one, two or maybe three guns, and it will be unusual for any of the .17 centrefires to be one amongst them!

 

well im getting one for vermin and fox i think there very handy on the smaller shoots. and well we all no we have to becareful still. its not a magic caliber and still can exit vermin and fox its less likely to which makes it ideal for the smaller shoots

 

sent off forms today for 17 cf and 6mm. i left it as this so i can pick which 17 i want to go for and which 6mm i want to go for.

the 6mm is going to be a br but have left it as 6mm just incase deal go's tits up :yp:

 

as for 17cf dont no if it will be remington or a rem fireball yet will see whats about when ticket comes back.

 

all bases covered then 22lr for rabbits, 17 for vermin and fox 22/250 for munty and as night time foxing rifle. and 6br for deer. well it might be abit close for comfort on bigger deer due to the ftlb its not needed for them anyway only munty, roe and the odd fallow which i have been told are on the one little permission i go on with a freind. it will also be used for some gong shooting and varmint shooting. and it only comes in at around 8 to 9 lbs scoped and with mod on. so ideal carry rifle for my old man

 

i no there are alot of roe on the new permission i have just picked up but will have to get the go ahead off the farmer 1st. im just happy to have got it and get on there to control rabbit and fox for them gain there trust then im sure the deer shooting will come B)

Edited December 15, 2010 by jamie g

[Rasher]

For those involved with general quarry at general distances they will not give a hoot, MOST, have one, two or maybe three guns, and it will be unusual for any of the .17 centrefires to be one amongst them!

 

That may be true. All it goes to show is that they don't realise what they are missing out on. I guess is they would give a hoot if they knew.

Before anyone asks, yes I have had a 17rem for at least 12 years

[markg]

I have a .17 rem fireball and think its excellent (Rem 700sps)

I use a 25g vmax reload,3600ft/sec,It is very accurate,fast and flat shooting cartridge.

I have shot foxes upto 150y and they just drop,I would say 200y would be the most I would use it,foxing,(how much further would you shoot at night anyhow).

Good crow round too.

 

this is worth a look

http://www.saubier.com/smallcaliber/which17.html

Edited December 29, 2010 by markg

[Rasher]

(how much further would you shoot at night anyhow).

 

Depends entirely upon your competence and the quality and type of the kit you were using. i.e. Scope, lamp, rifle, calibre, rest etc. But that's an entirely different subject.

 

This site is really good and interesting for anyone shooting small c/f calibres like 17Rem www.coyotegods.com

Edited December 21, 2010 by Rasher

[Alycidon]

I am just getting my hands on a CZ 17 Ackley Hornet, next stage up from HMR, same energy at 200 yards that HMR has at the muzzle, great short range lightweight do it all working rifle. Not a caliber for a novice though.

 

A