any 17 Remington experts?

[ben lurkin]

Im not really an expert in 17s, but I rather suspect the fouling issue is a function of the rough finish of the factory barrels based on my limited experience with them.

 

[STOMP442]

I am no expert in 17s either but I have owned one for a couple of years now. I am using 25gr Hornady Vmax and CFE 223. Fouling hasn't been much of an issue for me so far. When I was first getting into reloading for this caliber I had read that it fouls horribly and will need to be cleaned every 20-30 rounds. So far, I have been cleaning every 50 rounds but I am not sure it is even needed then, as accuracy is just as good at round 50 as it is in a clean barrel. I was surprised at how easy to tune it was and its deadly on Jacks and Coyotes for sure. My only complaint with the round is that its kind of a pain to reload with fat fingers. Them bullets are tiny!

 

[AckleymanII]

We shot 24g of imr 4320 with 25's for years, then went to Win 760, all velocities were 4100+. Then we found a load of approx. 21.5-22.5g of H322 with a 25 at 3850 where we could get 125 round shot strings on p. dogs, chucks, jack rabbits. With the coyotes we stayed with the load at 4100.

There maybe a lot to the new enduron powder in this cartridge.

Bullet jump and non turned necks are not your friend in the 17 Rem. Groups smaller than a pencil eraser abound when you turn necks and get a custom barrel with zero to .020 freebore...unbelievable.

 

[MagnumManiac]

I’ve had at least one 17 Rem in the safe since 1988.
My current is a Rem 700 VSSF II I re-barreled with a custom, 28” 1:10” twist.
The fouling is due to the pressure and heat of the powder on such a tiny bullet.
No avoiding that, unfortunately.
I run 760, seems to have less affect on fouling than stick type powder.
I still run the 25gr pills, mostly Hornady HP’s.
I can shoot 30+ pills before it needs cleaning.

Cheers.

 

[SSL]

I am no expert in 17s either but I have owned one for a couple of years now. I am using 25gr Hornady Vmax and CFE 223. Fouling hasn't been much of an issue for me so far. When I was first getting into reloading for this caliber I had read that it fouls horribly and will need to be cleaned every 20-30 rounds. So far, I have been cleaning every 50 rounds but I am not sure it is even needed then, as accuracy is just as good at round 50 as it is in a clean barrel. I was surprised at how easy to tune it was and its deadly on Jacks and Coyotes for sure. My only complaint with the round is that its kind of a pain to reload with fat fingers. Them bullets are tiny!

+1 on CFE223. For years I used AA2700 (same powder as W760 and H414) with very good results with both 20 and 25 grain VMax bullets in various .17 Remingtons. Accuracy was fine and cleaning wasn't a real issue. When CFE223 came out I decided to take a look at it. Now. I don't use anything else in both my .17 Remington (25 grain) and .22-250 (52-grain AMax). Cleaning in either barrel is quick and easy and I get quite a few shots in both before cleaning is needed. Never really counted, but I generally run a brush and dry patch through every 20 to 30 rounds and don't do a "deep" clean until accuracy starts to fade a bit.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

My first 17 rem was in the mid 80's. A new 700 bdl, that barrel was extremely accurate with W760, for about 15 shots. Remington recalled the rifle, due to "improperly hardened barrel". The new barrel ( a 10 twist) would easily make 40-50 shots before groups started to open, but wouldn't shoot a 30 gr worth snot. That barrel was replaced with a 26" Lilja 1/9, it is crazy accurate,very easy to clean. But I haven't shot any extended strings to see when accuracy drops off, and I won't as I want that barrel to last. It is a primary coyote fur rifle, using 29-30 gr bullets at 3900. I also have a Shilen(1/10) barreled AR I assembled it is very accurate with 25 gr hp(not so good with the 25 vmax). If I can scrape together funds for a thermal scope, I will probably put it on the AR. The 25 gr Berger target and Woodchuck den bullets are great fur bullets at 4000+.

 

[Carbide]

My experience with the Berger 37 g vld in 17 Rem, HS 6 twist barrel. New barrel picked up in a deal and thought I would experiment. First shot made it to target. Chronographed all loads. No trouble getting 3500-3700 velocitys with standard loads 30 g Bergers. None made it 50 yards.
Put thinking cap on and I go to slow powder (H4831) with the 30 g Bergers 2800-3150 velocitys, none made it 50 yards.
Switch to the 37 g Berger. Chronograph between 2500 and 3100 fps. Velocity's below 2775 are finally making it to target. But at that velocity why bother.
Get the bullet RPM calculator out for 6 twist and 2700 fps=324000 RPM. RPM=Vx720/T
Quick look at my cheat sheet says max Berger 300000.
Took barrel off and called it.
20 years later barrel still sitting around I say to self that would be awesome on a 17M2 rimfire. Sparrows go poof with that rotation speed. So the barrel did work out.
Carbide

 

[nawahine]

Thread jumping.....I don’t shoot .17’s but have a LNNB SAKO L461 in .1/.223 (H&R import) I have previous listed on AS.
Gotta lighten some...PM for photos...

 

[Big Mc]

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

Turned my 17Rem into a 12-223. It loves Berger 30,s. I am about to run out. Shame Berger droped them . The 25 gr. is just about as good. For kicks try some Nos. 20 gr. Just my two cents Tommy Mc

 

[sscoyote]

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

Jeez--figures Thks. Hal for the update. That was supposed to be THE high-bc 17 cal. bullet.

 

[jwcrabb]

I've been using the 30 Kindler Golds in my 17 Fireball for coyotes and it's like someone stated earlier, like struck by lightening! It's a 700 with the 9 twist. I tried them in my early 60s 700 BDL in 17 Remington and they wouldn't group, probably due to the slower twist. With it I use the 25g HP. I've shot thousands of rounds through my Fireball at Pdogs with the 25 VMAX with no fouling issues.