.17 barrel question

[bobcat93]

Who makes high quality barrels for the .17 cal.
I'm playing with the thought of building a .17 fireball rifle. I just can't seem to find what I'm looking for.
Either I'm going to have a .17 fireball upper built for my ar-15, or build a magazine feed .17 fireball bolt rifle with a left hand bolt.
I've searched everywhere for a left-hand remington 700 .17 remington fireball rifle with no luck. I did however find a few for sale in the UK but by the time I pay the import fees and transfer fees I'm not to fare from a custom build.
I really don't want to spent that kind of money on this rifle but I don't think I have a much of a choice.
I am really excited about this cartridge. About 4 months ago I purchased a barrel for my Thompson center contender and just love the .17 fireball cartridge. I'm amazed at the accuracy of a 10" barrel, can can only imagine how a 20" barrel will shoot.
So if you guys can help me out..what barrel maker would you use, and would you build a bolt action , or go with an ar-15 upper and why.
Thanks all
P.S. if you have a left-hand remington fireball rifle for sale please contact me..

 

[MrMajestic]

I'm running a Pac-Nor 26" 9tw 3 groove on a Savage 12 action. Sub 1/2 MOA for 5 rounds at 200 yards consistently. Don't clean during the season with probably 50 rounds fired and no degradation of accuracy. Cleans with 1/2 dozen patches at that schedule. Highly recommend them.

 

[WyleWD]

Lilja. Both of my gunsmiths recommended that if I build or rebarrel a 17 centerfire to go with the 9twist stainless Lilja. WD

 

[bobcat93]

Thank you gents. What. Bullets weight works best with a 9 twist for the 17 fireball?..I thought most people go with a 10 twist..

 

[hogpatrol]

Shilen, Lilja and PacNor make good .17 barrels. The .17FB Remington bolt is different from the standard Model 7 or 700 bolt. If you are going with a non FB action, repeater operations will be problematic. I shoot 30 Kindler Golds and no problem with accuracy with the 1-9

 

[johnmyers]

Lilja 1:9 twist has worked very well for me

 

[bobcat93]

The fact is unless I find a left-hand fireball action, a custom build is going to be the only way to go..I think I remember reading the the ejector is in a different location in order to function properly with the fireball short case.. So using a 223 action will not work properly for a build ..thus making things more expensive..
I want to build a magazine feed repeater, lefty, 17 fireball rifle..this should not be hard to find..looks like the new trend is all on the 204 ruger.
To me the 17 fireball or 20 vartag is a much more efficient case..the 204 just seems like a 17 remington..a lot of powder , hot barrels with short life..but readily available.. What the hell am I going to do....

 

[hogpatrol]

The fact is unless I find a left-hand fireball action, a custom build is going to be the only way to go..I think I remember reading the the ejector is in a different location in order to function properly with the fireball short case.. So using a 223 action will not work properly for a build ..thus making things more expensive..
I want to build a magazine feed repeater, lefty, 17 fireball rifle..this should not be hard to find..looks like the new trend is all on the 204 ruger.
To me the 17 fireball or 20 vartag is a much more efficient case..the 204 just seems like a 17 remington..a lot of powder , hot barrels with short life..but readily available.. What the hell am I going to do....

Pending finding an original .17FB, have you considered the .20 Practical? You can shoot 32s at a high velocity with good accuracy and use any .223 action.

 

[bobcat93]

Maybe the 20 vartag..less powder, cooler running, less barrel ware ...the 20 practical In my opinion is like the 17 rem.. Just burning up way to much powder for such a lite bullet..
But with the 20 vartag I'm still in need of a fireball action.

 

[hogpatrol]

Maybe the 20 vartag..less powder, cooler running, less barrel ware ...the 20 practical In my opinion is like the 17 rem.. Just burning up way to much powder for such a lite bullet..
But with the 20 vartag I'm still in need of a fireball action.

I hear you. It does take an inordinate amount of extra powder for a couple hundred feet per second. The 221FB may be easier to find in a LH action for a Vartarg conversion. At any rate, the 17FBs are going for more than the 221FBs. Good luck with your search.

 

[bobcat93]

I even thought about picking up a remington 100XP just for the action. Have it barreled with mayba an 18" .17 fireball and making some sort of custom stock..the gears of creativity are turning..lol..I want to get this done with out is costing me 2k..
800$ would be better but I just don't foresee that happening

 

[Gabe22BR]

I don't think they made a lefty in fireball, but I could be wrong... I bought a LVFS 221 ,and re-barreled it with a Krieger to 22" tight .243 neck. The factory barrel was pitted bad. Whittaker Guns is where I got mine.

 

[bobcat93]

I don't think they made a lefty in fireball, but I could be wrong... I bought a LVFS 221 ,and re-barreled it with a Krieger to 22" tight .243 neck. The factory barrel was pitted bad. Whittaker Guns is where I got mine.

Thank you sir.
I will keep searching..I may just take my time and have one made..I'm thinking .17 fireball, or 20 vartag. The 221 fireball is just to slow for me but I believe it is the perfect case for varmint spraying. Just as the 6 mm BR is for targets.
I was able to get out and put a 100 rds. Through my contender yesterday.. A magazine feed with a 24" barrel would be more fun....

 

[ab_bentley]

Fyi, x-caliber Has a 17cal 3 groove 9 twist now.

Adam

 

[L.Sherm]

Well almost Adam they are waiting on the drill bit holders to start drilling the blanks, but stay tuned.

 

[Phil]

Lilja 9 twist will cover from 20gr. to 30gr.

My second one is a .17 Fireball.

Both are shooters, at least the furry critters think so.........

Phil.

 

[drumie]

They are right with the ejector being in a different place with the 17 FB. Also you will have issues getting it to feed from a magazine. I have 4 17 FB. I can put them in a AI chassis but they will not feed right from the magazine. I have heard that other people have had issues with it feeding from a AR mag. Go with the 17 Rem. No issues with the ejector and they can be downloaded to the FB speeds. That is what I did with a AR build and a Kimber Montana.