.17 bushing size

[hogpatrol]

Just purchased a factory stock Remington 700 in stainless .17 fireball. I have the Redding bushing competition dies coming & for anyone that has one of these rifles and die setup, would like to know what size bushing(s) you are using. Going to buy a box of factory ammo & see how that measures before & after to get an idea but thought I'd poll the forum for any tips/tricks with regards to this rifle. TIA, Hog

 

[MrMajestic]

I run a .197 for the Remington cases but unfortunately it sizes to .196! :-(
H4198 is the powder choice by many including myself. Match primers of course! Just received my .17 caliber Sinclair flash hole deburring tool to prep the cases. Last time out it was very calm and I was shooting 1/2 MOA at 200 yards with my 26" EABCO, Varmint contour, 1 in 10" twist barrel screwed on my Savage short action. FYI- The wind is not your friend with this caliber!

 

[hogpatrol]

MrMajestic, .197 sounds right. I bought a box of Remington factory ammo and the loaded neck checks at .199 plus or minus a half a thou. Need to pick up some 4198 and I know about the wind ;D , been shooting the HMR & HM2 for the last few years on groundhogs. Those two calibers will force you to learn how to dope the wind. Hog

 

[Catfish]

You will get abt. .002 expantion when you resize so if your loaded rounds mic .199 go with a .197 bushing.

 

[hogpatrol]

Catfish, My fired rounds measured .205 & factory ammo measured .199 plus or minus so going to try a .199 for starters. I'm thinking the handloads will size .002 larger so my loaded round should be .201. At least this gets me in the ballpark. Thanks, Hog

 

[hogpatrol]

Sized my first rounds of once fired factory ammo using a Redding S type bushing die. Using the .199 bushing, it requires some serious pressure to resize the case. Am lubing the necks and bodies and still seems awfully tight for such a small squeeze. For those that have the same rifle & sizing setup, I'd be interested to know what size bushings you are using & do you think .200 or .201 is too big. Fired rounds necks open up to .205 & measurements show I'll have about .004 neck tension on a loaded round with the .199 bushing. Hog

 

[Catfish]

Mic the necks on your loaded rounds and go with a bushing .002 under that size. I was just useing those sizes as examples in the other post.

 

[hogpatrol]

Short of doing a chamber cast, I'm guessing these factory rifle chambers and Remington brass dimensions are all over the place. I'm going with a .202 bushing as my loaded rounds are .199 with the .199 bushing & feel this is too much clearance in the chamber neck and too much neck tension when they are coming out fired at .205. Waiting on the bushing. Factory rifles are always more fun.