How’s your 17 Fireball group at 100yds?

[1911nut]

I’m thinking of a Shilen barrel in 17 Fireball for a Savage Target action. I have no experience with the cartridge but am interested.

How do they shoot?

 

[hogpatrol]

Good cartridge but procuring brass can be a problem.

 

[TAJ45]

Decently - is how they shoot.
You will have better bullet choices if you go 20 cal. That would be the Vartarg.....made w FB brass. But, you knew that.

 

[Yamess191]

I have a production Remy 700 SPS that I can get to group well under a half inch when I seat the bullets just off the lands, with nominal load of h4895, hornady 20 grain v max bullet, Remington 7.5 primer with nosler brass.

 

[B23]

For the little 17 cals Lilja and PacNor often tend to be the barrels of choice. I'm kind of a brass snob so I'd probably go 17-221 FB and neck down Lapua 221 FB brass. Lapua discontinued making it but it's still available from places like Midway and 2-300 pieces of Lapua brass will last you the life of a barrel or two.

I'm a bigger fan of 20's than I am 17's so I like the idea of a 20-221FB over a 17 version, too.

 

[Bill K]

Mine will hold 3/4 inch or less, with CFE BLK and the 15.5 Hornady NTX. Brass easy to obtain, by getting 221 FB or LC form and sold via a couple brass out fits. Nosler also has 221 FB brass, when available. Form your 17 FB from the 221FB or buy it already formed to 17 FB by the brass sellers.

 

[hogpatrol]

How do they shoot?

With a custom barrel and custom bullets, good platform and scope, no wind, in the .3s at 100 yards.

 

[JSH]

I’m thinking of a Shilen barrel in 17 Fireball for a Savage Target action. I have no experience with the cartridge but am interested.

How do they shoot?

The one I have, I purchased from a gent that shot it very little and stored it for a long time. No idea of barrel maker. I only run 20 grain bullets and I use it out to about 200-225.
4198 and AA2200 is what it thrives on. I honestly have not measured 100 yard groups, but they are boringly small, 1/2” and better when I do my part.
If I have wind issues or I am hitting short I switch to my 17 Remington or 204 Ruger and don’t look back.
As far as brass, I use both 17FB and 221 reformed. I just sort them into lots that way, use the same load of 4198 and 2200 in both. They do have a different POI by a small bit, it it doesn’t bother me in the field.
I am now giving H322 a try. Like to keep my options open.

You mention Shilen for a barrel. I used a Shilen select for my 17Remington and do not regret it. Cleans easy and is more accurate than I would have dreamed. There are other barrels out there that are mentioned more, twist and groove offerings may be better if that is what you choose.

I can’t point you toward a small 20 as I have no experience, YET. I will admit to looking and would lean towards a 20-222 just because of brass availability.

I won’t be without a 17 center fire though, just a fun caliber as well.

Maybe those of us that use the 221FB case should hit up Starline with and email. I will say I would be in for a thousand or two. That would keep me busy for a weekend, lol.

 

[varmintshooter]

I've been waiting years for someone to ask. My best 3 shot group with a Rem predator shooting 20 gr vmax @ 300 yds could be covered with a dime. I quit right there. On a normal day I think .75" to 1" @ 100 yds would be about it. It is a fun little cartridge. I started to form 17 fb brass from 223 just as I do for 20 vt.

 

[sawcarver]

My XP-100 will run about an inch at 200. Never shot it on paper at 100 to check.

 

[SShooterZ]

I have a Shilen on mine. Confirmed kill on a PD at almost 500 yards. Can shoot a lot before it heats up too.

 

[Prose]

My factory rem 700 with brass formed from LC 223 cases will shoot 1/2 MOA with H4198 and Rem 7 1/2. Very accurate. Very fast. Same brass formed for my vartarg and a shilen barrel shoots about 1/4 MOA.

 

[RussellJ]

I’m thinking of a Shilen barrel in 17 Fireball for a Savage Target action. I have no experience with the cartridge but am interested.

How do they shoot?

I have a Savage LRPV with a 17 Fireball chambered X-Caliber 9-twist 23" bull barrel. Shooting 20grn Varmageddon bullets with 20.0grn of IMR 8208XBR powder. Mounted on the rifle is a 6.5-20x Leupold target scope and with the scope on 20x I can see the bullet impact at 100-yards every time, witch adds to the FUN FACTOR. It shoots very well and with the 23" bull barrel the rifle isn't front heavy, it seems to be balanced sitting in the bags. Just an note: X-Caliber no longer offers the 17-caliber barrels. I use the RCBS 17 Fireball Gold Metal Bushing Full Length Resizing Die Set 16205. The window in the seating die works extremely well when loading the 17 caliber bullets.

 

[Wirelessguy2005]

the 17 Fireball is a great cartridge and one worth trying out. Building one a Savage Target Action works out good, i built a few that way and they performed well. As previously noted it can be a chore finding brass so you may have to buy some factory loaded ammo to get started. Once you are ready to reload make sure to give Ramshot Xterminator powder a try, always worked great for me.

 

[1911nut]

Thanks guys for your info and experience with the 17 Fireball

Something I need to decide on.

 

[sawcarver]

I have a Shilen on mine. Confirmed kill on a PD at almost 500 yards. Can shoot a lot before it heats up too.

That reminds me this summer in WY we were banging, well lightly taping, steel at 750 yards with my 17 fireball 20gr vmax hitting the steel with a whopping 50 ft/lbs of energy

 

[JSH]

When I mentioned my limit at 200-225, that is where the acrobatics seem to go away. No doubt it will shoot well further, I like my splat factor

 

[yotehater]

Best of all is you get to see the group form in your scope due to the low recoil.

 

[kaduflyer]

This was standard Remington 17 fireball 200 yards zero

 

[Marksman]

I too have a spare Savage and 100 rounds of 17 Fireball that make me think I should get a barrel and try it out. I see the Ebaco kits are around $259, which could be fun to try out.