17 fire ball

[snert]

I have one in a contender carbine. Honestly, every time I touch it off I just get the sensation of shoving a tiny plug down a tiny hole with way too much pressure behind it. Its in my head, i know, but it just never feels"right". It shoots ok, kills fine. Works great for those groundhogs that don't have perfect limitless backdrops. I like the fact i have neve recovered a shred of bullet from either a hit or a miss. And it tips PD's right over. I have a 20 VT also and do not get that too much in too tight a hole sensation. I like a 20-222 even better.

I have 1000 loaded 17FB and that barrel and hardly use it. i would also mention that it is all made from LC 223 brass and i have had several case seperations and one very weird case body split that went from datum to almost shoulder...but never had even a puff of gas in/from the TC.

I blame it on suspect LC brass with unseen faults.

So, while it's cool, I am not a lifelong fan of the 17. Scratched an itch..over it now. Ill shoot up the ammo on PD and sell the brass and barrel someday.

 

[ricco1949]

I've always thought a 17 FB, .100-.150 short, would be a nice addition for PDn.

Something in the 13.0-15.0 powder capacity to rival the K Hornet, only with good brass that'll take some pressure. I just don't know if there's anything to be gained over the 20 VT.

The straight 17 FB seems to overlap the 20 VT with little to nothing to be gained over the 32 V-Max and you lose the .204 40 V-Max BC.

For those of you with 17 FBs please tell me where I'm wrong....I'd love to justify a short 17 FB.

 

[SD guy]

Just as there is nothing wrong with the 20 VT, 17 FB is nearly a perfect round with the right bullet IMHO . I would not change a thing. 30 gr berger target bullets were my favorite bullet in the 17 FB at 3600 FPS.

Sounds like you may prefer the 17 HH or 17 Ackely Hornet

 

[ricco1949]

Just as there is nothing wrong with the 20 VT, 17 FB is nearly a perfect round with the right bullet IMHO . I would not change a thing. 30 gr berger target bullets were my favorite bullet in the 17 FB at 3600 FPS.

Sounds like you may prefer the 17 HH or 17 Ackely Hornet

I use a 20 VT with 40 V-Max for 90% of PDn. I have a 22 K-Hornet but rarely use it. VT bridges everything from 100-300 and then switch to 222 with 50 TNT's for 300+.

Shot up all my remaining 223 loads this year and doubt I'll ever use it again now that I have a Triple Deuce.

I have couple K of 32 VMs for the VT that I bought on AS when 40's have been hard to find but have just never found the need for them. Guess I just gotta load 'em and let 'em do their thing.

I'm finding I rarely shoot over 250 yards these days anyway, so the 32's BC/windage deficiency won't be so detrimental.

Still likin' a 17 FB .100-.150 short though....just because I can and I like the challenge of wildcattin.

 

[ggshoots]

I've always thought a 17 FB, .100-.150 short, would be a nice addition for PDn.

Something in the 13.0-15.0 powder capacity to rival the K Hornet, only with good brass that'll take some pressure. I just don't know if there's anything to be gained over the 20 VT.

The straight 17 FB seems to overlap the 20 VT with little to nothing to be gained over the 32 V-Max and you lose the .204 40 V-Max BC.

For those of you with 17 FBs please tell me where I'm wrong....I'd love to justify a short 17 FB.

Small 22CF case is like a shortened 223AI. 40gr Vmax with 13.5gr running right at 3250fps. Very accurate. I have Starline brass with 12 firings and no need to trim yet. Tight primer pockets as well. I could run it hotter but no need. Im guessing a barrel will last many thousands of rounds.

 

[Tommie]

If I were to build another 17 caliber (which is unlikely) it would be a 17 Fireball. It’s the Goldilocks between the 17 HH and 17 Remington.

 

[ricco1949]

View attachment 1589807
Small 22CF case is like a shortened 223AI. 40gr Vmax with 13.5gr running right at 3250fps. Very accurate. I have Starline brass with 12 firings and no need to trim yet. Tight primer pockets as well. I could run it hotter but no need. Im guessing a barrel will last many thousands of rounds.

What is the 22 CF case?... 5.7x28?.....4.6x30?

 

[ggshoots]

Rick, I use 223 cases. I built dies, and had from the beginning intended to use the 40gr Vmax. May have to play with a lighter bullet for fun.

 

[ricco1949]

Rick, I use 223 cases. I built dies, and had from the beginning intended to use the 40gr Vmax. May have to play with a lighter bullet for fun.

Nice...I like your approach.

I would start from LC brass for a 17 or 20 FB short. I'll probably try a 20 VT short since I already have a VT reamer.

I've successfully made 3 .100 shorts, 6.5 WSM, 6.5 SAUM, and 6 x47 Lapua (think 6 GT) by merely cutting off a parent die so this should be feasible.

Did u simply run a parent reamer short and lap rear of chamber or did u have a custom reamer made?

 

[rickiesrevenge]

Nice...I like your approach.

I would start from LC brass for a 17 or 20 FB short. I'll probably try a 20 VT short since I already have a VT reamer.

I've successfully made 3 .100 shorts, 6.5 WSM, 6.5 SAUM, and 6 x47 Lapua (think 6 GT) by merely cutting off a parent die so this should be feasible.

Did u simply run a parent reamer short and lap rear of chamber or did u have a custom reamer made?

17 Viper is close to what you're talking about. It has the full length case but the shoulder pushed back for a longer neck. Good lookin case. I did a 17TCM Improved a while back. Its a lot of fun!

 

[ggshoots]

Rick, just ran 223AI short, cut down die and lapped base.

 

[ggshoots]

Now you guys have me thinking and may load up some 35gr Hammers I have. See how fast I can get them going. I'm thinking close to 4k but not sure on accuracy.

 

[450BM]

I love my 17 Fireball! Thought about selling it twice, glad I didn’t. Hadn’t shot it much but brought it out a few months ago and started playing with it again. It’s become my favorite Centerfire.

Found the sweet spot for Hornady 20gr Vmax’s and 20gr Midway Dogtowns to be about 3600 fps with IMR 8208.

I had tried the Midway Dogtowns years ago but quit on them when I found a good load for the Hornady 25gr HP (now discontinued…). Found out I was pushing them too fast and slowing them down to the 3600 range makes them shoot as good or better than the Vmax’s. I have about 300 of them left.

I just got a box of 25gr Vmax’s, got some loaded but haven’t shot them yet.

One thing that did bring me around to this particular rifle was a scope change. Got a killer deal from Optics Planet on a Vortex DiamondBack 6-24 FFP. Those 17 caliber holes were impossible to see at 100 yds with my previous scope but not with this one.

This is just a sweet cartridge to shoot. Mild report, zero recoil, fast, accurate and cheap to reload. There’s is nothing I dislike about it.

BB

 

[danny]

I love my 17 Fireball! Thought about selling it twice, glad I didn’t. Hadn’t shot it much but brought it out a few months ago and started playing with it again. It’s become my favorite Centerfire.

Found the sweet spot for Hornady 20gr Vmax’s and 20gr Midway Dogtowns to be about 3600 fps with IMR 8208.

I had tried the Midway Dogtowns years ago but quit on them when I found a good load for the Hornady 25gr HP (now discontinued…). Found out I was pushing them too fast and slowing them down to the 3600 range makes them shoot as good or better than the Vmax’s. I have about 300 of them left.

I just got a box of 25gr Vmax’s, got some loaded but haven’t shot them yet.

One thing that did bring me around to this particular rifle was a scope change. Got a killer deal from Optics Planet on a Vortex DiamondBack 6-24 FFP. Those 17 caliber holes were impossible to see at 100 yds with my previous scope but not with this one.

This is just a sweet cartridge to shoot. Mild report, zero recoil, fast, accurate and cheap to reload. There’s is nothing I dislike about it.

BB

8208 works superbly in my 17 Remington Cooper 21 VE. I bet it would do just as well in my Cooper 21 Phoenix 17 Fireball (or my Remington 700 SPS Varmint 17 Fireball with VS Stock).

Danny

 

[450BM]

8208 works superbly in my 17 Remington Cooper 21 VE. I bet it would do just as well in my Cooper 21 Phoenix 17 Fireball (or my Remington 700 SPS Varmint 17 Fireball with VS Stock).

Danny

Only 1 way to find out!
I really lucked out finding 8208, it was the first powder I tried and I think the rifle (and I) are shooting as good as we can.

 

[Flatlands_Outdoors]

Just finished giving this one a facelift. Well, I guess not quite finished as It needs cerakote.

Going to take a few yotes and hopefully a cat with it this year.

Hornady 25HPs with a max charge of Benchmark

 

[bobcat93]

I thought we had to own a rifle based on a 221 fireball just to be a member here..hahaha
Im just playing around.
I love that little cartridge its so much fun..even just to stand up next to a 30-06 cartridge and laugh..but dont be fooled for one second.
The .17 fireball is no joke..it deadly serious
On game, and on paper if handloaded
Sell a gun ya dont use and then buy a 17fb , 20vt, or 221 fireball i dont think you can go wrong with any of them.
Well..you would be better off to assemble one then try and find one to purchase i think..
Good luck, let us know what you end up doing..