What would you build?

[nakneker]

I'm wanting to build something small and reloadable. I checked out the woodchuck den, a great source for the 20cal & 17cal fans. I'd rather reload than buy rimfire. I live in the country and have a couple neighbors, they don't mind gunshots but the quieter the better. I have a field full of prairies dogs out my front door, I pick them off once and awhile but not too much, they are gentle enough that 20 yard to 400 yard shots are possible. Lots of ground squirrels in the wood pile, I pick them off every chance I get. I was looking at the 20 squirrel, 20 mink, 17 squirrel & mink. You can get the dies and brass from Tood at the woodchuck den, big plus. I have no idea what action to use for those calibers. I imagine feeding is a nightmare. I already have several capable varmint rigs, the idea behind this is small, reloadable, quiet & most importantly fun. Ideas and opinions welcome.

 

[swd]

I've owned a slug of small caliber varmint rifles and found the 17 Mach 4 to be about the best ballanced of all of them. Easy to load, accurate and not too loud.

 

[hogpatrol]

For your mission, I'd pick the .20 Vartarg.

 

[Phil]

Something on the Fireball case.....

.221, .20-221AI, or .17 Fireball

 

[nakneker]

I've owned a slug of small caliber varmint rifles and found the 17 Mach 4 to be about the best ballanced of all of them. Easy to load, accurate and not too loud.

I just checked out an article on Saubier on the 17 Mach IV, interesting. pretty close to the 17 fireball?

 

[nakneker]

For your mission, I'd pick the .20 Vartarg.

I have one, love it. Along with a 20 beggs and some 222s. I'd agree that it's a great caliber. Looking for smaller, real quiet. Thanks for the input.

 

[Skunce]

For your mission, I'd pick the .20 Vartarg.

I would go with the 20 Vartarg also. It's one of the most accurate and fun rifles that I own. I haven't owned a small seventeen, but I think you would have much better bullet selection with a twenty.

 

[hogpatrol]

I just checked out an article on Saubier on the 17 Mach IV, interesting. pretty close to the 17 fireball?

I have two .17 FBs and whacked groundhogs at 400 yards with them but the wind can play tricks on the lighter bullets.The Mach IV is similar to the fireball but be advised, brass can be tough to find for the FB.
As far as bullets, the Kindler gold 30s have done the best for me in all conditions.

 

[nakneker]

Something on the Fireball case.....

.221, .20-221AI, or .17 Fireball

Have

I have two .17 FBs and whacked groundhogs at 400 yards with them but the wind can play tricks on the lighter bullets.The Mach IV is similar to the fireball but be advised, brass can be tough to find for the FB.
As far as bullets, the Kindler gold 30s have done the best for me in all conditions.

I did a quick search for 221 fireball brass. Theres quite a bit of it on Gunbroker. One listing had 60 plus lots of Lapua brass 100CTs available. Thought I might post that in case anyone may be looking for it. I'm not seeing a lot of excitement for the really small stuff. See what comes up in the next few days - 17 fireball might be it.

 

[DLH_]

Why not have a 223? It's not that much louder, very easy to reload for and component are readily available. If you fancy something more exotic then the Vartarg is a good option!

 

[rickiesrevenge]

Of the list in your original post I'd pick the 17 Mink. I don't have one but I'd really like to build one. Got a couple 17 Ackley Hornets that I really love. Killed lots of prairie dogs with them, a few yotes, and a bobcat.

Aaron

 

[swd]

I just checked out an article on Saubier on the 17 Mach IV, interesting. pretty close to the 17 fireball?

It's pretty much the predecessor to the 17 Fireball. Either both are excellent cartridges. I shoot 20gr V Max's at 4250.

The Vartarg is a nice cartridge too and ballisticly very similar. I think the 17's are slightly quieter in the same case, but heavy on the slightly..

 

[dedogs]

I have one, love it. Along with a 20 beggs and some 222s. I'd agree that it's a great caliber. Looking for smaller, real quiet. Thanks for the input.

nakneker, If you want "smaller, real quiet" you are going to have a real hard time making it to 400yds. If you just want quieter and can live with reduced yardage I would recommend the 17 Hornet built on a CZ Varminter and use light bullets. dedogs

 

[dedogs]

I have one, love it. Along with a 20 beggs and some 222s. I'd agree that it's a great caliber. Looking for smaller, real quiet. Thanks for the input.

Or get a suppressor. dedogs

 

[gunner8305]

I run a 22 suppressor on my 17 Ackley Hornet Contender carbine barrel. I'd say it's not much louder than a 22 mag fun as hell for shooting p-dog out the window of the pickup. Suppressor is a Huntertown arms

 

[nakneker]

nakneker, If you want "smaller, real quiet" you are going to have a real hard time making it to 400yds. If you just want quieter and can live with reduced yardage I would recommend the 17 Hornet built on a CZ Varminter and use light bullets. dedogs

I should get more realistic with the yard and say 200-250 - theres other rifles that can handle the 400 plus shots. I like your idea of a suppressor just never have warmed up to the idea of the paperwork. I should form a trust among friends and do it, I hear a suppressor owned by a trust if the way to go. Who did your contender barrel?

I have a 20Vartarg, just wanting another toy and thought it would be fun to go smaller, reloadable. I wonder what the noise difference between a 17 hornet and a 17fireball is with the same barrel length, close?

 

[Tommie]

Getting a Squirrel or Mink to feed in a repeater would be a major project (to say the least). Unless you can be satisfied with loading single shot, I'd agree that a 17 Hornet with a supressor might be the ticket.

 

[nakneker]

Getting a Squirrel or Mink to feed in a repeater would be a major project (to say the least). Unless you can be satisfied with loading single shot, I'd agree that a 17 Hornet with a supressor might be the ticket.

I'm not opposed to a single shot.

 

[Tommie]

I'm not opposed to a single shot.

That being the case, you might check into buying a CZ Hornet action and going from there. But really any of the Hornet actions would work for you.

 

[nakneker]

I made a mistake and looked at Kevin Weavers reamer list, sheesh, the man loves wildcats and has a bunch of 17 & 20 reamers.