Wanted: 17 FB pet loads, 20 and 25 grain bullets

[snert]

Application: Contender carbine for groundhogs and PD's

24 inch MGM barrel, brass available is Remington factory and LC reformed.

I have H322, H335, IMR 4198, Benchmark, Xterminator, 8208, varget, IMR 4227, 2520?? and maybe more just can't think of it...

CCI 450 and Fed GM primers

Non-moly.

Looking for loads that work for you, within these limits. Not going out to buy more powder, but am open to buying 20, 25 grain vmax, dogtown, HP, even a few Berger...but they are a bit spendy for what I want...

Had some good input from a couple 17FB shooters, but looking for a broad spectrum to see if any patterns show up.

I will be decreasing by 15% just to be safe to start, know to increase in very small increments and will try to compare to my limited manuals.

Not looking for the fastest unless it is the most accurate, and that would be cool!

appreciate the advice in advance guys.

Snert

 

[snert]

Oh, and a OAL for your application might be helpful...maybe or not...if you tell me what you are shooting it in..

 

[Wirelessguy2005]

Highly recommend xterminator in the 17 fireball, great accuracy and velocity. I recommend using the load data in the Lyman #49 manual.

 

[swd]

I have a Cooper in Mach lV. Factory 17FB head space perfect in it. 20.1gr of H335 with the 20VMax with a Rem 7.5. 4250 fps in my rifle, yee haw!

 

[snert]

Highly recommend xterminator in the 17 fireball, great accuracy and velocity. I recommend using the load data in the Lyman #49 manual.

of course I don't have THAT one! But I have two pounds of Exterminator...

 

[snert]

I have a Cooper in Mach lV. Factory 17FB head space perfect in it. 20.1gr of H335 with the 20VMax with a Rem 7.5. 4250 fps in my rifle, yee haw!

Umm, that is ssshhmokin fast. I will be happy with 3900 in a TC

 

[yotehater]

Snert, H322 has been my most accurate powder with the 15 to 20's.

 

[roband]

17 MIV Worked up to 19.3gr of H335 found magic.20 V-Max,205's RP brass good to gh yeah 3875ish.Have up to 7 reloads on this brass.

 

[Prose]

17.5 H4198 Rem Brass Rem 7.5 .030 off lands Factory chamber gets me about 4,100 with the 20 ZMax

 

[snert]

Ok, i am seeing a pattern I am liking...

Keep em coming boys...

 

[msinc]

I had one of them fur balls once....my pet load was 14.5 grains of IMR4198 with a 7 1/2 or Winchester small rifle primer. The thing I found with the 17 Fireball, especially with 4198 because it don't like to meter too well, was that I had to be real careful with my charges. If you think about, for example, the 30-06 AI, if you are off a few tenths of a grain you didn't really miss by much and the effect is minimal...180 grain bullet, 62.0 grains of powder, etc. Now miss by a few tenths with a Fireball and percentage wise you changed some. A few tenths out of 14 grains and a 25 grain bullet can make a difference in groups at 100. It did for me.
I always trickled and used an electronic scale and got the charges dead on. Also, my rifle, a 700 CDL Limited, had a very poorly cut muzzle crown. Correcting that issue had a great effect on the rifle. First time I shot it, I was ready to send it back...2 inch groups all over the paper was just not going to get it. Then I did a little checking and found that and fixed it and I could cover my groups with a dime. Factory ammo never did shoot good. Bottom line, I believe, based on my own experience that the 17 Fireball can be a very nice and accurate rifle, but little things mean a lot to it and can have a big effect.

 

[hogpatrol]

Out of your inventory, I'd go with Xterminator and the Fed primers. Would NOT use magnum primers.

 

[snowpro440]

25gr Berger FB , 17.2gr of H4198, and a cci 400, just touching the lands

 

[snert]

Out of your inventory, I'd go with Xterminator and the Fed primers. Would NOT use magnum primers.

dare you suggest a load? Even one from the manual on this one. I do not have anything on xterminator...

 

[hogpatrol]

dare you suggest a load? Even one from the manual on this one. I do not have anything on xterminator...

17.3 for 20s and 15.7 for 25s. These are starting loads out of the Hornady book.

 

[MrMajestic]

Check your email and let me know if you can view the pdf's

 

[snert]

Thanks guys...got PDFs and a flurry of confirming data. Off to the basement for some 335 and benchmark experiments, first, since I do not use that powder in anything else! Then Xterminator...

 

[65WSM]

I purchased a used .17 Fireball in Remington 700 with a fluted bull barrel, still in its short plastic stock, over the winter. I purchased factory Remington ammo to get cases. The good news is that X-terminator, benchmark and H322 are excellent with 20 gr V-Max or Varmagedon HP bullets. However, I shot LT-32 this year at ground squirrels. I have tried every .17 bullet I can find in my .17 Remington. A couple of warnings. The Berger 25grs shed jacket from my barrel on the way to the target. Other shooters at the range spotted the problem. Something still reaches the target at 100 yards but the holes are ragged. I have not tried them past 100 yards. I have many Bergers if you want to buy them from me. I believe that the tipped bullets are poorly made in .17. The tip to jacket mating is too difficult to get smooth and the plastic point centered. I like the Nosler Varmagedon HP in 20gr for my handloads.