.17 Centerfire Choices

[Mike6158]

Old thread, time to update it. If you were building a .17 centerfire today which one would you build? What dies would you use because those aren't exactly on every shelf?

.17 Remington
.17 Hornet
.17 Fireball
.17 Mach IV

Not commercially available according to AI formerly known as a "search engine"

Wildcat (custom-made)

• .17 Javelina: A custom cartridge that is part of the wildcat offerings.
• .17-222: Another custom cartridge, based on the .222 Remington case.
• .17 PPC: A custom cartridge with a custom design.
• .17 Ackley Bee: A custom cartridge developed by P.O. Ackley.
• .17 Jet: A custom cartridge with a specific design.
• .17 Squirrel: A custom cartridge with a custom name.
• .17 Tactical: A custom cartridge that has been developed.

 

[Mark M.]

17 Ackley Hornet

 

[dbingen]

Ditto on the 17AH. I built one on a CZ527 with a 3-groove, 1:9 twist PacNor barrel. The load for this uses 11 grains of IMR 4227. I bought 8 pounds of powder initially. It’s almost all gone and it’s still a 1/2 moa shooter. That’s about 5,000 rounds.

 

[1mil]

Having owned most all of the 17 CF,'s I'm most in love with the sweet 17 Hornet (the Hornady version). And the factory chambered rifle maybe not yet mentioned here is the Anschutz 1771. Just a brilliant combination. Enjoy your choice.

 

[SD guy]

17 Hornet if you do not reload. if you do reload the 17 fireball may be a top consideration in my book.

 

[searcher]

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.

I've got a .17 Hornady Hornet, the HMR, .20 Practical, .223's, .243, etc. and have shot them all quite a bit. Unless you load heavier varmint bullets in your .243 (like 80-87 grain), the BC on a lot of the lighter varmint bullets (other than perhaps the Hornady ELD-VT bullet line) will leave you with no more performance than your .204. I find that I use my .20 Practicals and .223's more than anything for ground squirrels, though the .17 Hornet is a great little rifle that is a bridge between the .17 HMR and the .20 Practical. If you are shooting within around 300 yards, the Hornet is all one would need, though you will notice the wind when using it. I shoot the 20-25 grain V-Max bullets at squirrels and the 30 grain Bergers at coyotes. I haven't had a .17 Fireball - but that sounds like a great round. I think the .17 Remington is a bit overbore, though a nice cartridge.

 

[tstowater]

I've got 17's in HM2, HMR, WSM and 17 Rem. Rarely use any much other than the Anschutz in the HMR as a shorter range Pdog gun. Can you even get any factory 17 center-fire ammo for a reasonable price? I reload and have a good supply of components so that is not an issue for me. Frankly have gravitated to 20 caliber for better performance and easier to reload.

I've debated getting a 17 hornet but find loading the 22 hornet enough of a pita so can only imagine what the 17 hornet would be like.

 

[L.Sherm]

Just about got everything together for a 17 Javelina had Redding FL die made into Bushing die and got a Wilson inline seater die Mike Bryant has the reamer that will work with the dies , loaded for one and got bite by the bug. Ive got 300 cases that I made already from IMI 223 brass. Just got to get a barrel ordered tomorrow gonna try a Preferred barrel.
I have 3 17 Badgers now.

 

[ohlongarmisle]

Groundhogs.

Only one choice then,17 hornet a solid 250 yard gh slayer.All below drt 125 to 265 yards.

 

[longbow]

I've about owned them all in over 40 years+ the 17 MK-4 best all around,can down load to hornet if you want. Perfect for 25 gr bullets.
17 Rem best with 30 gr Gergers
17 Saunders Jet my all time favorite except you need a single shot like A TC for the 22 Jet..AKA 357 Mag case necked down to 17 cal blown out to 40 degree shoulder.a bombproof case you will never wear them out. Have sold them all off except my Sako A1 in 17MK-4 in a first edition Brown Precision stock...a Classic !

 

[danny]

I've about owned them all in over 40 years+ the 17 MK-4 best all around,can down load to hornet if you want. Perfect for 25 gr bullets.
17 Rem best with 30 gr Gergers
17 Saunders Jet my all time favorite except you need a single shot like A TC for the 22 Jet..AKA 357 Mag case necked down to 17 cal blown out to 40 degree shoulder.a bombproof case you will never wear them out. Have sold them all off except my Sako A1 in 17MK-4 in a first edition Brown Precision stock...a Classic !

What kind of projectile speeds can you get with the Jet as compared to something like the 17 Ackley Bee, 17 HeBee, 17 Killer Bee?

Danny

 

[longbow]

Dick Saunders smoked em out to 3739 H335 25 grain bullet. I think i stayed around 3600 max. You used to be able to buy 25 gr Remington in 500 bulk. Dick said it was still one of the best bullets out there.I have 20-30 grain hand swaged Bergers from way back. I did prefer the 25 Rems for coyotes,etc. I did kill a 250lb + black bear in Alaska at 35 yds in the ear and down he went.My largest Blacktail buck at same distance up there i called in and shot under the chin and down he went. It looked like An orange sized ball of hamburger and bone when I skinned him out. these were both close range shots no hurried shooting here. 17 Rem on those two.I picked up the gun in 1980? They outlawed shooting seals and the guy had got the Rem 17 for head shots close up while out salmon fishing.
A Ruger #1 would be the cats meow for the Jet ! I almost built one. Disk really liked the Ruger #1 and #three
The Ruger 77 in 22 hornet became my 17 Hornet , lilja Barrel, very sweet package. Hope that helps.
I actually had Dick stop by and talk to Fred Bulberry at the Shotshow that year,so Fred could build my TC barrels and have it to spec. with Dicks reamer

 

[rickiesrevenge]

I had a bullberry 17 jet for an encore around 2009 or 2010. It was fun. 20vmax at 4200fps! Really smoked bunnies! I've had a few different 17s. 17HMR, 17CCM, 17 Squirrel, 17 TCM Improved, 17 AH, 17 Fireball, and 17BR. Working on putting together a 17 Javelina.

The 17AH is probably my favorite, but honestly I love them all.

 

[longbow]

Always wanted a 17 Squirrel !!!!

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I have a couple 17 rem chambered rifles. If wanting a 17 centerfire, I would go 17/223. Simple neck down of cheap, easy to find brass, with the option to use match grade brass. 1 in 9 twist barrel, allows for using the Hornady 25 vmax and any 30's you may run across for sale. The best terminal effects on critters need velocity with 17 cal bullets. For coyote I run 29-30 gr bullets at 3950 fps muzzle, 25 1/2" barrel.

 

[L.Sherm]

Ain't no fun in simple lol

 

[7315br]

Always wanted a 17 Squirrel !!!!

Talk to rayh (he's on this forum occasionally). I've been with him numerous times when he's shot (5-600) rds of .17 Squirrel in a day on "Sage Rats". He knows everything about the .17 Squirrel!!

 

[danny]

I really like the 17 caliber Wildcats based on the 218 Bee case, but the relative unavailability of brass has been a real downer.

I suppose, but don't know for sure, that .357 based Wildcats might be about the next best thing, AND, I do like the Ruger No. 1.

Danny

 

[17VLD]

As much as I like all my 17s I may need a 17 Mink to add to the group just for fun.

 

[TRSR8]

Dick Saunders smoked em out to 3739 H335 25 grain bullet. I think i stayed around 3600 max. You used to be able to buy 25 gr Remington in 500 bulk. Dick said it was still one of the best bullets out there.I have 20-30 grain hand swaged Bergers from way back. I did prefer the 25 Rems for coyotes,etc. I did kill a 250lb + black bear in Alaska at 35 yds in the ear and down he went.My largest Blacktail buck at same distance up there i called in and shot under the chin and down he went. It looked like An orange sized ball of hamburger and bone when I skinned him out. these were both close range shots no hurried shooting here. 17 Rem on those two.I picked up the gun in 1980? They outlawed shooting seals and the guy had got the Rem 17 for head shots close up while out salmon fishing.
A Ruger #1 would be the cats meow for the Jet ! I almost built one. Disk really liked the Ruger #1 and #three
The Ruger 77 in 22 hornet became my 17 Hornet , lilja Barrel, very sweet package. Hope that helps.
I actually had Dick stop by and talk to Fred Bulberry at the Shotshow that year,so Fred could build my TC barrels and have it to spec. with Dicks reamer

I used to talk to Dick on a semi regular basis back when I got one of the first MK IV’s offered, Kimber 84. He was a wild SOB blowing up a fair number of guns pushing 17’s to 5000 fps. Still have a bunch of those Rem 25 hppl slugs.
Alas, only 17’s I still have HMR & 17CCM. Truth be told, these days, 20’s do everything better plus being easier to work up, although I do have a Cooper in .14 mostly for “show and tell and it’s outright rarity.
Shame when we lost Tom Thomas@ Outdoorsman, he drove a ton of factory sub caliber chamberings. Nobody to take his place.