17 TAC

[caninehunter]

Thinking about building a 17 TAC for coyotes but I also see a lot of talk about the 17-223, 17-204. Please chime in w advantages of one vs the other, differences, pros/cons. Thanks in advance.

 

[TAJ45]

Dont have any of those but: for volume of shooting, consider straight 17-223 for ease of forming and least expense. Put the die $ into another chambering that has caught your eye that you may find fun.

 

[DanS]

I have several 17's. I had a 17-204 built for coyotes, using a 30gr bullet. It will shoot 30's as fast as a 17 Rem will shoot 25's. It will do what the 17 Predator does but I don't have to step on the gas as hard. plus no fire forming, just neck down, load and shoot. Barrel life is expected 1500 maybe.

I had a 17-223 in an AR15, because of the cheap brass. It worked well on coyotes, about equal to the 17 Rem. Barrel lie should be a little better than the 17-204.

I love the 17 Fireball. Having one done up now. More efficient, probably the most efficient. Though the 17-222 would be the more practical one IMO, as ease with feeding issues if wanting a repeater.

The 17-223 is hard to beat. Cheap brass, and feeds good.

 

[B23]

I don't have any of the above either, but if I was in the market for a 17 cal of some sort, I'd take the easy route and go with something that was a straight neckdown like a 17-222 or 17-223. Dies would be easy peasy using bushing dies from the parent case.

 

[caninehunter]

Are the 17 Tac and 17-223 basically the same, or are there major differences?

 

[GAnderson]

Are the 17 Tac and 17-223 basically the same, or are there major differences?

Very little difference...the Tac versions do ever so slightly change the shoulder angle and body taper. A lot of people get hung up on claiming of having to "fireform" the Tacs...you will not see any difference. I load the same load in the first time fired as I do in fired brass...the change is so minuscule I don't even consider it to be fireforming...certainly nowhere near like an Ackley cartridge. Redding makes a form die that is a simple one pass of running 223 brass in it and it is ready to load and shoot...period.

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]

I have a 17 and 20 TAC. I love both cartridges. Gene is right the TAC cases are probably 95-98 % formed out of the Redding dies and change shape very little once fired. You cant go wrong with either cartridge in my opinion for a coyote rifle!

 

[500yards]

I bought my first of three .17 Remington's in 1979. I am a .17 nut without question.

But if I was starting all over today I would just go the .17/223 route. I mean, why not? Speeds are at least 95% of what you can get with the .17 Remington and brass is so much easier to find and much cheaper too when you do find it. If not the .17/223 then the .17/204 would be next.

 

[platapus]

I started out with a with a .223 40° Improved and have the Redding type s bushing dies. Lake City brass is cheap and everywhere.

I then built a .20-223 Improved bolt gun that shoots really well. Being A bolt gun, I went with Lapua brass

Latest is a .17-223 Improved AR that is showing promise fireforming brass and one run at load development with a 30 gr Chan Nagel @ 3725fps. Pushed it to just over 3900 without pressure but the accuracy is at the lower speed. Once again, being an AR I went with Lake City brass.

Standard .17-223 is 23° shoulder,
.17 Tactical is a 30° shoulder
.17-223 Improved is a 40° shoulder

You'll gain a little more capacity as you step up the shoulder.

Fireforming is pretty easy and with the Improved, you'll never have to trim brass.