If you were to build a custom in 17 Rem. Fireball..

[CloudNein]

..how would you do it, and not break the bank? I've got a strange fascination with 17 caliber cartridges, owning two rifles in 17 HMR and 17 Hornet*. I recently finished up a prefit build in 22 ARC with the standard components from Northland shooters supply (Origin action and criterion barrel) and that was quite straightforward, I'm used to the R700 ecosystem.

It looks like through that website a Savage Model 10 action paired with a Shilen barrel would be the way to go. I'm assuming from the description the barrel will thread on like a prefit. I'm thinking a boyd's thumbhole varmint stock.

*I'm a bit hesitant with Savage actions, both of mine have issues, specifically the Model 25 with that tiny 17 H. cartridge. Feeding issues and stuck fired cases. Hornet being a rimmed case doesn't help of course.

Now where to get some brass..

 

[L.Sherm]

Now where to get some brass..

Thats easy get ahold of czkid on here.
Now do you want a repeater or single shot? Single shot thats easy any SA 223 bolt face action will work, repeater more difficult a 527 would be the easy button with the right metal and mag box but they have went up in price.
You want something different try out the 17 Javalina, ive got all the components at the smith now.

 

[Woollybugger]

Thats easy get ahold of czkid on here.
Now do you want a repeater or single shot? Single shot thats easy any SA 223 bolt face action will work, repeater more difficult a 527 would be the easy button with the right metal and mag box but they have went up in price.
You want something different try out the 17 Javalina, ive got all the components at the smith now.

I’m not (yet) a 17 cal shooter so my question is based on 20 practical repeaters. Won’t the 17 fireball feed out of 223 aics mags? The 20 practical is no issue, especially in a semi-cone bolt Kauger action.

 

[L.Sherm]

No it won't and the extractor is in a different position on a Rem action for the fireball case. The 300Blk out actions had the same positioning as the fireball.
The 223 case is almost .5" longer than fireball cases.
A sako or m-16 extractor can be installed to take care of the extraction timing issues.

 

[JSH]

I suppose the intended purpose, I took all the ejectors out of my “little” rigs. Got to much time energy and effort in a lot of those cases I don’t want to be crawling around in grass cactus etc looking for brass. Just reach in and pluck it out.

Savage still catches a bad rap. I got zero problems them for the most part, got a half dozen or so. The Model 40 is a glorified 22RF. Some chambers were funky and some of the early 17HH ammo there was issues. Only reason I wish I had the 527, 17HH back, is so I could double my $ for what I sold it for. Sorry gents, neat cartridge but was a royal pain in the arse for me.
You can down load the 17FB to 17HH if you so desire.
20VT, skip it and go straight to a 20-222 and don’t look back. I was advised to do so and didn’t. Would have been the easy button.

Forgot to mention stocks I prefer for Savage, yes they are ugly by some standards, Choate. I take the grip cap and butt pad off and fill with lead shot.
Custom rigs I prefer KRG Bravo

 

[244remington]

..how would you do it, and not break the bank? I've got a strange fascination with 17 caliber cartridges, owning two rifles in 17 HMR and 17 Hornet*. I recently finished up a prefit build in 22 ARC with the standard components from Northland shooters supply (Origin action and criterion barrel) and that was quite straightforward, I'm used to the R700 ecosystem.

It looks like through that website a Savage Model 10 action paired with a Shilen barrel would be the way to go. I'm assuming from the description the barrel will thread on like a prefit. I'm thinking a boyd's thumbhole varmint stock.

*I'm a bit hesitant with Savage actions, both of mine have issues, specifically the Model 25 with that tiny 17 H. cartridge. Feeding issues and stuck fired cases. Hornet being a rimmed case doesn't help of course.

Now where to get some brass..

I built my 17 Fireball on a CZ 527 chambered in 223 Remington. I use the 223 magazine and so far it has fed fine. You can usually buy the 223's for less than the other chamberings. It would be expensive to get a 221 Fireball and change it for sure.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

I had that same dilemma. I have a fascination with the Ruger No. 1. I too wanted a 17 cal. and decided on the 17FB. I had The CZ Kid do 1K pcs for me. He also did the same in 20VT, 20SCC and 20P. Beautiful brass!

 

[Mike in Oregon]

I had that same dilemma. I have a fascination with the Ruger No. 1. I too wanted a 17 cal. and decided on the 17FB. I had The CZ Kid do 1K pcs for me. He also did the same in 20VT, 20SCC and 20P. Beautiful brass!

And FWIW, the three 20's mentioned will be built on Savage PTA's.

 

[TheCZKid]

I'm partial to the Sako Vixen action, so I'd recommend going that way if you can. Or, another great option is the CZ 527, if you can find one affordable. Both are somewhat pricy, but excellent for the 17 Fireball (or 20 Vartarg, or 221 FB, or a 222). Another option, is the Remington XP-100 or variants. Short, very stout for smaller cased calibers.

 

[hogpatrol]

Have two original .17 Fireballs actions, a Model 7 and depending on the bullet, feeding can be problematic. The other was a CDL model it wasn't much better. It's now single shot. Other than the XP100, I would go with what TheCZKid recommends instead of a Remington action.

 

[Flatlands_Outdoors]

I've had two reminton 700s that were originally 17fbs. It would feed but always felt a little janky. Not filling the mag box helped. 1 in the chamber and two in the box usually made it feed just fine.

If I were to do it today I'd probably do it on a Howa Mini, re-stocked with Jefferson bottom metal or if you could find a CZ 221FB at a decent price (good luck) I'd send it to PacNor and have them install a 17fb barrel on it.

I actually built a Howa Mini 17fb 2-3 years back and foolishly sold it before I even fired a round. It was a sweet little rig.

 

[Woollybugger]

No it won't and the extractor is in a different position on a Rem action for the fireball case. The 300Blk out actions had the same positioning as the fireball.
The 223 case is almost .5" longer than fireball cases.
A sako or m-16 extractor can be installed to take care of the extraction timing issues.

The kauger Semi-cone bolt head has a sliding extractor on the lug.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Around 1995 or thereabouts, I had this same conundrum in regard to what could be called the 'ideal' accurate rat rifle chambered for the small cases for the rat patch; Fireball for instance.

My issue was solved with the Cooper line of solid-bottom receiver single shot bolt rifles. Super stiff and rigid actions w/o the mag cutout, Wilson SS barrels hand-lapped, very well bedded, and with the addition of a Jard 10oz trigger, rat patch nirvana.



Perfect ejection every time that puts the fired case in your receiving hand, and accuracy that is almost in the BR category....more than adequate for sage rats and rockchucks. We all shoot our rifles as single shots for the patch, if using a repeater, the single shot adapter tray goes on top of the follower.

The dark cloud on this reflects the loss of Cooper Firearms of Montana, and subsequent sale to NH which seems bent on abandoning the Cooper tradition and instead focusing on very expensive larger caliber hunting rifles, while ignoring what put Cooper on the map in the first place......uber accurate varmint rifles.

Sorry this doesn't answer the OP's question, but it begs saying, and the single shot Coopers are still out there for that 'ideal FB-based rifle' such as the 17FB if one cannot find that unicorn Sako Vixen.

 

[Ackman]

Mine are 17 MachIV , from when there was no such thing as a 17 fireball. Had there been it could have simplified things quite a bit. A perfect action for that cartridge and the 221 is Sakos 461/A1. Feeds perfectly, lke it was designed for the 221 cae. But not really practical from a monetary standpoint unless you happen into a good deal on a whole rifle. I've been fortunate. Now there are several other good ones to choose from. A fun cartridge.

 

[L.Sherm]

The kauger Semi-cone bolt head has a sliding extractor on the lug.

Couldn't tell you if the Kauger timing is correct or not never been around one

 

[ricco1949]

No it won't and the extractor is in a different position on a Rem action for the fireball case. The 300Blk out actions had the same positioning as the fireball.
The 223 case is almost .5" longer than fireball cases.
A sako or m-16 extractor can be installed to take care of the extraction timing issues.

And while you're doing the Mini M16 you can make it into a drop port single shot colony exterminator extraordinare.

 

[B23]

Other then they are a smaller version of their short action I know little about them but would the Howa Mini be a viable candidate for any of the Fireball based cartridges?

 

[L.Sherm]

Other then they are a smaller version of their short action I know little about them but would the Howa Mini be a viable candidate for any of the Fireball based cartridges?

I've wondered the same thing, if a guy wants a repeater seeing if it would pick up the brass out if the mag and extraction timing is right.

 

[CloudNein]

Hmm, these are some complicated answers and workarounds, but to be expected for a short, niche, and basically dead, cartridge. I'd just missed the CZ 527s being discontinued when I was searching for the hornet. I'll give a call to James @ Northland and see what his opinion is about the Savage action he sells and if it's possible it'll work. Extraction seems to be an issue for this cartridge. I'm not one for used guns, or really going the gunsmith route.

I've had two reminton 700s that were originally 17fbs. It would feed but always felt a little janky. Not filling the mag box helped. 1 in the chamber and two in the box usually made it feed just fine.

If I were to do it today I'd probably do it on a Howa Mini, re-stocked with Jefferson bottom metal or if you could find a CZ 221FB at a decent price (good luck) I'd send it to PacNor and have them install a 17fb barrel on it.

I actually built a Howa Mini 17fb 2-3 years back and foolishly sold it before I even fired a round. It was a sweet little rig.

Looks like that Jefferson website is basically DOA. Nothing is in stock. PacNor is actually a 1.5 hr. drive from my location. That Howa Mini seems like the best fit of all the options.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

Hmm, these are some complicated answers and workarounds, but to be expected for a short, niche, and basically dead, cartridge. I'd just missed the CZ 527s being discontinued when I was searching for the hornet. I'll give a call to James @ Northland and see what his opinion is about the Savage action he sells and if it's possible it'll work. Extraction seems to be an issue for this cartridge. I'm not one for used guns, or really going the gunsmith route.



Looks like that Jefferson website is basically DOA. Nothing is in stock. PacNor is actually a 1.5 hr. drive from my location. That Howa Mini seems like the best fit of all the options.

So your in Oregon?