anyone have a centerfire 17 over here?

[casts_by_fly]

Hi guys,

 

Just wondering if anyone over here shoots a centerfire 17 and what you use them for. Seriously contemplating a barrel for one, just wondering about how commonplace it is.

 

Thanks,

Rick

[dunganick]

the 17 remington is probably the most common centerfire over here.

 

typically vermin, and foxing. However its one of those rounds lots of people have opinions on who have never used or owned one.

 

I haveny owned one, however would expect it to be flat shooting, good crow/rabbit bashing gun, possibly slightly less suitable for longer range fox.

 

Also going to be issues with ammo, reloading bits and pieces.

[casts_by_fly]

from the lack of response I'm going to take that as a resounding 'no'.

 

nick,

 

From all of my searching, the 17 rem is the only one that any of the catalogs even mention in terms of bits and bobs. Midway is my normail mailorder in the US, so naturally I look to them here in the UK. They show the 17 rem as a stock item in dies, but all of the others are generally special order (the rem fireball has a few stock items). 17 Rem brass is a stock item, though the parent cartridges of the other wildcats are stock also (22 hornet, fireball, bee, 222, and 223). Bullet choices are surprisingly normal. I figured this would be the case since the prime use of the 17's is varmints and fur (of which neither really apply here).

 

In terms of ballistics, you can get better ballistics out of the 17 than you can a 223. The 25 grain .172" bullets will have a BC around .230 which is better than a 40 gr v-max .224". The 30 gr heads compare favorably to a 60 gr v-max. At the same speed they will have the same trajectories. However (depending on calibers compared) you can drive the 17's faster with a lot less powder (meaning less recoil and noise, and of course cost). The bullets are more frangible. Seems like a no brainer to use over a .223 for smaller stuff and it extends the range of the HMR by a good ways. With the 20 gr bullet you gain 200 yds of range over the HMR.

 

Thanks,

Rick

[JRDS]

the 17 remington is probably the most common centerfire over here.

 

How do work that out?? Probably the least common!!

[dunganick]

sorry, my bad, meant 17. centerfire

[dunganick]

from the lack of response I'm going to take that as a resounding 'no'.

 

nick,

 

From all of my searching, the 17 rem is the only one that any of the catalogs even mention in terms of bits and bobs. Midway is my normail mailorder in the US, so naturally I look to them here in the UK. They show the 17 rem as a stock item in dies, but all of the others are generally special order (the rem fireball has a few stock items). 17 Rem brass is a stock item, though the parent cartridges of the other wildcats are stock also (22 hornet, fireball, bee, 222, and 223). Bullet choices are surprisingly normal. I figured this would be the case since the prime use of the 17's is varmints and fur (of which neither really apply here).

 

In terms of ballistics, you can get better ballistics out of the 17 than you can a 223. The 25 grain .172" bullets will have a BC around .230 which is better than a 40 gr v-max .224". The 30 gr heads compare favorably to a 60 gr v-max. At the same speed they will have the same trajectories. However (depending on calibers compared) you can drive the 17's faster with a lot less powder (meaning less recoil and noise, and of course cost). The bullets are more frangible. Seems like a no brainer to use over a .223 for smaller stuff and it extends the range of the HMR by a good ways. With the 20 gr bullet you gain 200 yds of range over the HMR.

 

Thanks,

Rick

 

 

This much is true, however 17 tends to be a funny calibre with regards to accuracy and particually consistancy. Also bare in mind the weight of the projectiles, whilst you have a good BC you will loose energy very fast and may well be effected by wind more.

 

Personally i would go for a fast .224 calibre rifle, then you have the ability to shoot heavier projectiles should you desire, also knock down the foxes.

 

Also to be honest there is really no recoil in a .223, so wont make a massive difference.

 

Brass is another issue, i use only lapua brass as it is the best by far, they dont to my knowledge make it in 17 rem. They also no longer make it in .222.

 

So you will probably end up using rem. brass, which is thin in my exeriance.

 

anyhow, if your intrested enough do it, it would be a good crow/bunny gun and something different from all the 223's and 243's

[highseas]

i know a couple af lads who have em and they love em for longer range crows and hares

[casts_by_fly]

nick,

 

wind drift is a function of bullet velocity and BC plus of course the wind you're in. The 30 gr out of a 17 rem at 3800 will drift only slightly more than the 55 gr v-max (2-3" at 300 yd). That also assumes you can get a 55 gr v-max up to 3800 (which is pushing the limits of a 22-250). In real terms the differences will be negligible at normal UK hunting ranges (300 yd and in). And again, the 17 rem does it with half the powder and noise of the 22-250.

 

You can get up to 50 gr heads for the 17 also.

 

No reason you couldn't use it for fox. Most serious fur guys are shooting centerfire 17's for coyote, fox, and bobcats. Tiny pinhole going in, no exit, bang-flop. Can't ask for anything more than that.

 

Thanks,

Rick

[tulkyuk]

Go onto the UkVarminting site - a few of the boys on there use 17 rem's and love em, even though a few are opting for the 204 rugers now as the perfect vermin and foxing round.

[Dead-Eyed Duck]

I had a Tikka 17 Rem for a couple of years.

 

At the time I had 'graduated' from a 223 to a 22-250, and wanted something 'different'.

 

I was attracted by the thought of a small 'pill' whizzing along a 4,000 fps.

 

The rumours were of a round that was difficult to reload and cleaning problems, but I found this to be far from the case. Reloading was easy, and the rifle was wonderfully light compared to my then Rem 22-250 Varmint. Cleaning was simple as long as it was done every 50 rounds or so - perhaps I was too meticulous.

 

Accuracy was brilliant - easily attaining 0.5" groups. I well remember shooting out the primer of a used 12 bore cartridge at 100 yards (even if it was a fluke)

 

However, I was not too happy with it's ability to consistently knock down foxes - at that time there were no V max bullets, and I was using Berger 25g hollowpoints.

 

So, after a happy couple of years with it I got rid of both rifles and bought a Sako 223 and can honestly say that I have never regretted it. I have consistently killed just as many foxes with the 223 as I did the 22-250, and at night (when I do most of my foxing) I have found that the 223 is perfectly adequate out to my maximum of 250 yards.

 

The 17 Rem was attractive in terms of something different, and it was certainly fashionable at the time - a bit like the .204 is today. I am pretty sure that a 22-250 will outperform a .204, but I am equally certain that there are many .204 owners who will not agree with me!

 

Don

[al4x]

the yanks rave about them due to the lack of pelt damage, and there is no doubt its a very capable caliber in the right conditions and hands but as ever you get differing opinions. Only way to make up your mind is to have a go

[Sako7mm]

Had 17 Rem's (Sakos and Tikkas) for over 10 years. Currently have a Sako 75 Varmint and am having a Sako A1 re-barreled as a 17 Rem. It's nothing like as wind sensitive as those who've not had one think- I shot a 150 yard crow in a 20mph (ish) crosswind today with no problem- no aiming off.

Bullet construction for foxing with a 17 Rem is vital. The Hornady 25 grain HP bullets don't reliably expand and many 17 Rem's with the standard 1 in 10 twist won't stabilise the 25 grain V max. I find the 25 grain Bergers to be a fantastic fox bullet.

The calibre moderates extremely well and the lack of recoil allows you to see just about every bullet impact.

I have no interest in 223's and the like, but will never be without a 17 Rem.

For some reason, people with little or no experience of the 17 Rem seem to enjoy spouting the same old ****- along the lines of 'they're too light for use on foxes' 'the bores foul' and 'they're no good in the wind' at every opportunity. I would estimate that I've killed a couple of hundred foxes with the calibre and feel entitled to hold a contrary opinion. I love the calibre.