17-204 build

[bjsiillinois]

I was thinking about building a 17-204 benchrest rifle, single shot. Am looking at using the 25 grain vmaxs, and was wondering what freebore I would need for these bullets? Was wondering too, what kind of velocities is everyone pushing them?
Many thanks, and Merry Christmas
Billy

 

[fredo]

Anything .172 caliber = 0 freebore.
With a hotrod .17-204, you'll burn the throat out fast enough to see why...

 

[Tommie]

Why have you chosen a 17-204 to punch paper?

 

[bjsiillinois]

Anything .172 caliber = 0 freebore.
With a hotrod .17-204, you'll burn the throat out fast enough to see why...

Fredo, thanks for the info.

Why have you chosen a 17-204 to punch paper?

Tommie, was thinking about a benchrest, groundhog gun. Wouldn't get shot a lot, have plenty of 204 brass, been wanting a hotrod 17 caliber, wasn't going to push it too hard.

 

[vlcakc]

Maybe something like this?

Rem 700 in 17/204. McMillan Edge stock pillar bedded, Lilja 9 twist barrel, Jewell 2 oz trigger, PT&G bolt with Sako extractor. Shoots real good! Vic
Attached Files:

 

[bjsiillinois]

vlcakc,
Good looking rifle, what bullets are you using, and how fast are you pushing them? You using a no turn, or are you turning them?

 

[WyleWD]

I was thinking about building a 17-204 benchrest rifle, single shot. Am looking at using the 25 grain vmaxs, and was wondering what freebore I would need for these bullets? Was wondering too, what kind of velocities is everyone pushing them?
Many thanks, and Merry Christmas
Billy

I shoot them from time to time out of my 17 Rem. while chuck hunting. I've run it across the chrony a few times and it gives me readings between 4100 and 4150ish. From mine, the 25gr Hornady hollow points are slightly more accurate, for what that is worth.

I'm looking into looking to rebarrel mine sometime in the next year or two. My most trusted sources advise me to go the 1-9 Twist route in 17 Tac.

As far as how fast you'll wear out the barrel depends upon a lot of variables that no one can give you a very accurate number of rounds that you can really hang your hat on. Among them is how many rounds you put through it in a 10 minute timeframe and how often you do that..... JMHO.

I have to agree with you, that would be a fun round to do some casual target shooting with. And the 17 is a fun round to chuck hunt with. WD

 

[vlcakc]

vlcakc,
Good looking rifle, what bullets are you using, and how fast are you pushing them? You using a no turn, or are you turning them?

It likes the Hornady 25 gr HP's with H380. Started with load manual 17 Rem loads and worked up. Have some Berger 25 gr HP's, but haven't tried them yet. Haven't chronoed them yet either. No turn neck. Another view:

 

[WyleWD]

It likes the Hornady 25 gr HP's with H380. Started with load manual 17 Rem loads and worked up. Have some Berger 25 gr HP's, but haven't tried them yet. Haven't chronoed them yet either. No turn neck. Another view:

+1 on the H380 in my 17 Rem. on the 25gr Hornady HP. And if you can get the Berger 25gr HP's all to make it to a 100 yd target you're doing better than me. About 3-4 out of 10 won't make it beyond 40yds before there's that gray cloud and rancid smell of a disintegrating bullet. But that's just my luck. WD

 

[bjsiillinois]

Thanks for the replies. What would you think would be the longest barrel length you could get away with? This is going to be strictly a bench gun, so I was thinking about a 1.25 straight taper barrel, with a 10 twist.

 

[WyleWD]

Maybe something like this?

Rem 700 in 17/204. McMillan Edge stock pillar bedded, Lilja 9 twist barrel, Jewell 2 oz trigger, PT&G bolt with Sako extractor. Shoots real good! Vic
Attached Files:

Personally, I'd duplicate this fellow's rifle. Especially barrel, trigger, and definitely a 9 twist.WD

 

[DOGCAPPER]

I have an abandoned 17 204 project with components FS.
Benchmark barrel fitted to a 700 Rem <100 rds.
LE Wilson neck die with 0.195 bushing
LE Wilson 204 micrometer top seater working excellent with .17 cal 25 gr.

Ship it all $350.00 (lower 48)

 

[squirrelsplitter]

Not to hijack the OPs thread but can anyone give me the COAL for a 17-204 cartridge with
25 and 30 grain bullets seated. Just trying to make sure I can stay inside 2.260 for an AR magazine.
Thanks
Dave

 

[DOGCAPPER]

Dave:
No problem.
My 17 204 is loaded 2.285 shoots best here in my bolt gun.
Loading to 2.205 looks possible. Bullet is 25 grain.

 

[squirrelsplitter]

Thanks Dogcapper!!

 

[hogpatrol]

Thanks for the replies. What would you think would be the longest barrel length you could get away with? This is going to be strictly a bench gun, so I was thinking about a 1.25 straight taper barrel, with a 10 twist.

I would go with a 9 twist that way ALL available .17 caliber bullets will stabilize. Go with a ten twist and you may wind up only being able to shoot ONE particular bullet. Now, you can read about all the guys who shoot ten twist .17s in every stripe and don't have any problems with them. Of course, if it's on the internet, it's true.

 

[jcm24m]

I was thinking about building a 17-204 benchrest rifle, single shot. Am looking at using the 25 grain vmaxs, and was wondering what freebore I would need for these bullets? Was wondering too, what kind of velocities is everyone pushing them?
Many thanks, and Merry Christmas
Billy

I own a 17 HMR, 17 WSM, 17 Saunders Jet, 17 Saunders Hornet, 17 Hornady Hornet, 17 Ackley Bee, 17 Fireball, and (2) 17 Remingtons. Three have 10 twist barrels and the rest are all 9 twist. The 9 twist is the BEST , believe me!

 

[Tommie]

I thought the 17 caliber 1-9" vs 1-10" twist argument was settled years ago.

 

[hogpatrol]

I thought the 17 caliber 1-9" vs 1-10" twist argument was settled years ago.

It was but some rifle manufacturers are still stuck in the "years ago" category.

 

[bjsiillinois]

Sounds like a 9 twist would be the way to go then, how bout barrel length on a bench gun? I was thinking about ordering a 30" blank, just not sure what would be the maximum length I could get away with.