.17 Centerfire Choices

[Dogbone]

Looking for your expert help/opinions.

I have a .17 HMR and would like to step up to a centerfire rifle/cartridge.

I don't handload/reload so I'm looking at a factory gun and factory ammo.

Would like your opinions on which .17 to go with and why.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Phil]

I would say .17AH,BUT since you don`t reload you might want to wait for the .17 Hornady Hornet....


What would it be used for????????

Your answer might change mine.... ;D

 

[hogpatrol]

I have 17 Fireballs and have had better accuracy and velocity with handloads than with the factory stuff. Another choice would be the .17 Remington but I would not buy it in a Remington made rifle. I would go with the CZ. Saubier.com is a good site to check with many .17 CF shooters.

 

[Dogbone]

I would say .17AH,BUT since you don`t reload you might want to wait for the .17 Hornady Hornet....


What would it be used for????????

Your answer might change mine.... ;D

Groundhogs.

 

[Dogbone]

I have 17 Fireballs and have had better accuracy and velocity with handloads than with the factory stuff. Another choice would be the .17 Remington but I would not buy it in a Remington made rifle. I would go with the CZ. Saubier.com is a good site to check with many .17 CF shooters.

Thanks. Will check out the CZ site.

 

[hogpatrol]

Dogbone, The Saubier forum to best ask the question on .17CFs is

http://www.saubier.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=2


CZ rifles at http://www.cz-usa.com/products/by-category/centerfire-micro/

Hope this helps, Hog

 

[johnmyers]

Go with a 17 Fireball. I have a 17 Mach IV which is basically the same cartridge and it is an amazing little round. Fast and flat and if you ever load your own and have a 1:9 twist bbl you can go with a Kindler 30 Gold bullet and eliminate alot of your wind drift.

 

[moorepower]

I like my Fireball, but they are on the way out. I don't think any company chambers a new rifle in one, other than Cooper. The .17HH is less expensive to shoot, and if you do ever decide to handload, you get over 500 rounds per pound of powder. The handloads are seeing 3750 fps.

 

[Dogbone]

I like my Fireball, but they are on the way out. I don't think any company chambers a new rifle in one, other than Cooper. The .17HH is less expensive to shoot, and if you do ever decide to handload, you get over 500 rounds per pound of powder. The handloads are seeing 3750 fps.

Not familiar with a 17HH???

I figured maybe the 17 Rem or 17 Hornet???

 

[hogpatrol]

17HH is the 17 Hornady Hornet. Checking Remington's website, it appears that they have discontinued all 17s, both the fireball and 17 remington. Don't know of any manufacturer making the 17 hornet. Most info I have is all are custom rifles.

 

[Dogbone]

17HH is the 17 Hornady Hornet. Checking Remington's website, it appears that they have discontinued all 17s, both the fireball and 17 remington. Don't know of any manufacturer making the 17 hornet. Most info I have is all are custom rifles.

Found out that Savage makes a Model 25 Lightweight Walking Varminter in 17 Hornet and CZ is has one in the works. Don't know of any others at this point.

 

[WyleWD]

I have a 17 Remington in 700BDL. I REALLY like the darned thing. I've shot with some 17 Mach IV's before and they are a killing machine too. So that being said, I'd trust johnmeyers' input above and not even hesitate to go with the 17 Fireball. I don't know how much ya want to spend, but while I like the CZ's pretty well, I've seen one or two lately that didn't shoot all that well. Maybe consider a Cooper or a Remington?? WD

 

[xswanted]

If you want to keep it as simple as possible I would get the .17 Fireball.

The .17 Rem would be my first choice but it seems less companies are chambering that cartridge and less stores are carrying boxed ammo for it. Which stinks because its one of my favorite guns!

 

[tuck2]

I have had a Sako 17 Rem rifle for some years . But after getting a Rem 700 17 Fireball it is the one I use for shooting prairie dogs. At times I have use the 17 Rem for going after coyots but the 204 Ruger is used more often.

 

[walker2713]

Being invested in the world of the .17, I'm no expert but am loading for and shooting a 17AH, a 17FB and a .17 Remington....and in a few days my smith will be finished with my "new" 17-204.

I expect Ruger will be out with a .17 HH before long......you might check with them.

I've got a Cooper 17 Fireball, and love it, but I reload, and it looks like Remington is walking away from their .17 cartridges.....so I think I'd avoid the FB.

We don't have no groundhogs down here in Louisiana, just the regular hogs, wild and otherwise, so I have no personal experience but from what I've read and heard, the ballistics on the 17HH might be a bit light for your "hogs" up north.

Personally, I find the reloading part of things gives me as much enjoyment as the shooting and hunting part. I'd strongly urge to begin your own loading.....it certainly opens up the options you have available.

IF you loaded your own, I'd lean towards the .17 Remington....if you aren't going to reload, I suggest a .204 Ruger. 8)

 

[Dogbone]

Again, thanks guys! Your help/opinions are most appreciated. They will be beneficial when it comes time to make a decision. Not there yet.

 

[Dimwit Flathead]

Get a CZ 527 Varmint in 17 Remington. Get it pillar bedded and don't look back.

 

[webfoot56]

Being invested in the world of the .17, I'm no expert but am loading for and shooting a 17AH, a 17FB and a .17 Remington....and in a few days my smith will be finished with my "new" 17-204.

I expect Ruger will be out with a .17 HH before long......you might check with them.

I've got a Cooper 17 Fireball, and love it, but I reload, and it looks like Remington is walking away from their .17 cartridges.....so I think I'd avoid the FB.

We don't have no groundhogs down here in Louisiana, just the regular hogs, wild and otherwise, so I have no personal experience but from what I've read and heard, the ballistics on the 17HH might be a bit light for your "hogs" up north.

Personally, I find the reloading part of things gives me as much enjoyment as the shooting and hunting part. I'd strongly urge to begin your own loading.....it certainly opens up the options you have available.

IF you loaded your own, I'd lean towards the .17 Remington....if you aren't going to reload, I suggest a .204 Ruger. 8)

this is good advise--If you are going to shoot a 17 you better get into reloading. I have a 204 ruger tho and I just love it!

 

[Dogbone]

I actually have a 204 and it shoots great. I also have a .17 HMR and it shoots awesome as well. Thinking the .17 HH would be in between and compliment them both as well as being fun to shoot for lots of reasons, the two best being low recoil and good distance. Still haven't found a rifle yet so I've actually put this on the back burner and have gone in the other direction buying a TC Venture in 243. Chose the Venture cause of how well my 223 shoots.

In the process of shooting factory ammo to see what the gun likes. Have gone through the first batch and have more shooting to do before I settle on anything. It's a fun process! Again, thanks for all the advise as it will come in handy when the time arrives to move forward with the .17 HH project.

 

[tcvpar]

i own 5 -17cal guns have had 4 others. bought the 17 rem when it came out. still have it. [1972]
a thought.. if you are a target type ,and not a hunter ,by a hi end gun. other wise the remington is always a reasonable choice.the 17 fire ball is a good choice. the case is factory ,and a little stronger .no special dies or fire forming like the 17 mk4. am goimg to fnd one for my self . for fun and ammo price the 17mk2 is it
in all they are fun guns the 17's