any 17 Remington experts?

[richalexander97]

Hi i had a couple questions about the rem and other 17s.
It's said that fouling can be extreme for some folks, I was wondering if this is mainly due to when 4000fps is achieved... like, would a 40grain VLD reduce this fouling due to lower speeds?

My other question was on stability because a quick internet browse shows that just about nobody has managed to stabilise bullets of 37grn or heavier. Problems such as keyholing and extreme twist rates.

Could this ever be solved....?
bear in mind the only commercial heavy bullets have been Bergers, and their design hasn't been great. I ask because. I ask because i was looking at a project with. 45grain bullets.
Thanks

 

[AckleymanII]

sounds like you are making your own bullets and bullet jackets!? Next issue is who makes barrels that will stabilize those long bullets? Next would be to find a gunsmith with a 17 caliber throater because your case will probably be full of slower burning powder to reduce the pressures.

 

[Oso]

Most 17's now top out at 25gr. The fouling is do to narrow/shallow lands. For this reason most shooters prefer barrels that have 3 groove, which are deeper then a 5 groove barrel.

If you are wanting the mid-30gr to low-40gr bullet weight you might consider a .20 cal, such as 20 Vartarg (based on .221 Fireball case), 20 Practical or 20 Tactical (based on 223 case), or any other derivatives off the 221, 222, or 223 case.

There is also the 19 Calhoun based on .30 Carbine case and .19 cal bullet.

These are all great answers that are available and widely used by varminters. If you feel like wildcatting a new bullet and machining a custom barrel then these guys are the experts on micro-calibers... they got me hooked. Check out Saubier http://saubier.com/forum.html

 

[Prairiedogger]

Years ago I shot the only bullet available. 25gr. Hand loading, I was 4800-4900fps. Deadly on anything you shoot. Love too have another one. Great fur rifle. I hear the 20 cal. is doing great. Just a choice.

 

[spencerhenry]

Black Hole Weaponry made a 1-9 17 barrel for me, shoots great with 25’s, so well that I haven’t bothered with loading any 30’s for my stash. I don’t think a 1-9 will stabilize a 40gr though.

 

[xswanted]

Fouling can happen quickly depending on how your shooting a 17. However with cleaner powders and better barrels it isn’t AS big of deal as Remingtons first few years of 17s

A 40 grain bullet in a 17 would most likely take a 6-7 twist to stabilize which I don’t know if anyone makes anymore. I know at one point you could get a 6.

What are you trying to achieve shooting a 40 grain bullet from a 17?

 

[Treerat-sniper]

I ran a factory .17 rem 700 for a while, I believe those were a 1:10 twist. Like others have stated, I could only use 20-25 grains with that. About 20 years ago I had JLC chamber me a .17 mk IV on a 700 action. IIRC that one ran a 1:9 twist Shilen barrel & I was able to run 30 gr. Burgers which were the heaviest available at the time (still have a pile of those 30 grainers somewhere).

 

[Tommie]

Where are these heavy .17 bullets coming from?

 

[Hal]

Years ago I shot the only bullet available. 25gr. Hand loading, I was 4800-4900fps. Deadly on anything you shoot. Love too have another one. Great fur rifle. I hear the 20 cal. is doing great. Just a choice.

That's moving right along.

Hal

 

[xswanted]

Years ago I shot the only bullet available. 25gr. Hand loading, I was 4800-4900fps. Deadly on anything you shoot. Love too have another one. Great fur rifle. I hear the 20 cal. is doing great. Just a choice.

Im assuming you mean 3800-3900?

Possibly you were shooting a 17-250

 

[xswanted]

I ran a factory .17 rem 700 for a while, I believe those were a 1:10 twist. Like others have stated, I could only use 20-25 grains with that. About 20 years ago I had JLC chamber me a .17 mk IV on a 700 action. IIRC that one ran a 1:9 twist Shilen barrel & I was able to run 30 gr. Burgers which were the heaviest available at the time (still have a pile of those 30 grainers somewhere).

Early models from Remington were 1:10 and they switched to 1:9 later on. I’m not sure what year but I have a factory 17 that is a 22” 9 twist and fluted. Neat rifle.

 

[Treerat-sniper]

Mine was a BDL classic, it must have been a 1:10, it liked 20-25 grainers. The Burgers wouldn't shoot groups. Come to think of it, I still have that barrel around here someplace, the milage was low... the action is a 1:9 .223 now.

 

[sscoyote]

Had a couple 17 Rem Model 7's for fur hunting and they were great running a 17 FB now XP-100 and it's my favorite fur gun. Used to shoot the 30 gr. Hammett and it was a great fur hunting bullet. A bunch of 30's were made in the heyday of the 17's. Todd Kindler used to make a 30 gr BTHP called the Gold--check out Dave Afflecks info pg. here for some info on them--supposed to be a great bullet for coyotes and good BC-- http://coyotestuff.com/30-golds-are-back/

 

[Hal]

SS
It doesn't sound like Montana is making bullets right now.
A couple guys say they sent him money and haven't heard back from him.

Hal

 

[boltfluter]

I shot a Remington 700 for a few years for coyotes. I used the 30 grain Berger bullet. Pure lightning out to about 250 yrds. Got some pristine hides as the bullet very rarely exited. Good times many moons ago.

Paul

 

[AckleymanII]

When the 17 Remington is built like other custom guns, accuracy is simply unbelievable.

Shilen, lilja, pac nor, Pence barrels
zero-.020 freebore reamer with proper fitting pilot bushing
.002-.003 neck clearance
Accuracy abounds with neck turned cases...in spades

We killed a lot of coyotes with 25g Berger target in the 17 Rem and 17 Mach 4. When we went to pick them up, they looked like someone shot in front of their nose and sucked the air out of their lungs!

 

[rogina]

When the 17 Remington is built like other custom guns, accuracy is simply unbelievable.

Shilen, lilja, pac nor, Pence barrels
zero-.020 freebore reamer with proper fitting pilot bushing
.002-.003 neck clearance
Accuracy abounds with neck turned cases...in spades

We killed a lot of coyotes with 25g Berger target in the 17 Rem and 17 Mach 4. When we went to pick them up, they looked like someone shot in front of their nose and sucked the air out of their lungs!

I shot p dogs with my 17rem with 25 grain Hornady bullets. The bullet would pencill in and explode, but not exit. The dog would ballon up like a football and if the wind was blowing it would keep rolling. Funniest thing I ever saw.

 

[rogina]

I shot p dogs with my 17rem with 25 grain Hornady bullets. The bullet would pencill in and explode, but not exit. The dog would ballon up like a football and if the wind was blowing it would keep rolling. Funniest thing I ever saw.

Sorry, the bullet was a 20 grain Vmax.

 

[AlNyhus]

When the 17 Remington is built like other custom guns, accuracy is simply unbelievable.

Shilen, lilja, pac nor, Pence barrels
zero-.020 freebore reamer with proper fitting pilot bushing
.002-.003 neck clearance
Accuracy abounds with neck turned cases...in spades

Lots of ways to mess up these big cased .17's. And very few ways to do them really right! Pressure is your friend with these big .17's! -Al

 

[yotehater]

Certainly no expert but I've been shooting a lot of IMR-4166 in my 17Rems with 30 grain Kindlers lately and there's just a little ash like fouling when cleaned. The copper fouling is gone from what I'm experiencing. I've killed a few feral hogs and coyotes with them. Blows a small hole in a song dog at 200 yards on exit. The hogs go right down with one into the neck. We do need more 30's but just can't see a need for anything heavier in the 17 caliber. Making barrels is still the problem.