Which 17 for ease and performance?

[Leveraction35]

17 fireball… 17 Remington… 17–556 (17-223?)

Throw 17Hornet and 17 Mach 4 in the mix too

I’m considering a bolt action build. Which of these would feed most reliably? I assume the 17–556 is easiest to convert since I would just have to do a barrel swap from a factory 556 rifle. Also easiest to find brass. I doubt there’s any notable performance differences between the 3, correct me if I’m wrong.

My use will be coyotes and bobcats under 200 yards. Majority from 50-125.

My alternative to the 17s would be a 20Practical

 

[B23]

Slickest feeding I'd have to say it's the one you forget to mention that being a 17-222 but of those that you listed a 17-223 would be the winner for me mostly because top notch brass is easily attainable.

Others may disagree and that's ok but I've never been much of a 17cal fan for coyotes so for me I'd opt up to the a 204 or 20-223.

 

[Leveraction35]

Slickest feeding I'd have to say it's the one you forget to mention that being a 17-222 but of those that you listed a 17-223 would be the winner for me mostly because top notch brass is easily attainable.

Others may disagree and that's ok but I've never been much of a 17cal fan for coyotes so for me I'd opt up to the a 204 or 20-223.

How about a 20 practical?

 

[AckleymanII]

I have killed several trucks full of coyotes with custom and Factory 17 Rems and more than a few with a Mach4, 25g Berger Match was the bullet.

Coyotes can take a lot of killing, perfect hits are not always possible, and one of the first things you learn is that you make shots with coyotes walking, trotting, and running. Imperfect hits are a reality; get used to the idea. You need to knock them down, where you hit them again.

Bullet weight does matter, especially as the distance approaches 200 yards and further.

I really detest flipping and flopping coyotes after they have been hit.

A 204 ruger, 20/223, and 20 Tactical, with 40g V max slay coyotes, but in instances past 250 yards, even they may have run-offs on low hits or hits behind the diaphragm. A friend gave up on his 20 Dasher due to run offs at 350 yards. He went with a BIG 6mm with 55g Nosler Ballistic tip at 4300 to stop them cold.

In the 17 Caliber, the 30g Gold is the very, very best bullet, second by the 25g Berger Match. The Hornady 25g HP just fills my Shilen barrels full of copper, QUICK. The 17 Ackley Hornet loaded at 3550 with 20g Berger MEFs was a dismal failure on several close-range coyotes, one I found and the other never found, solid broadside hits at 15-25 yards.

I have a print# on a 17 Remington that shot groups so small that they were all but impossible to measure with Berger 25g HP loaded with around 22g of H322, Rem 71/2 primers with a MV of 3850. Basically, the reamer did away with all but .020 freebore, and was a turn neck. Neck tension on the 17s is critical, more so than any other round I have ever fired, attempting to shoot bug hole groups.

I bypassed the 17 and 20s, opting for a 22-204 ruger where I shoot the 53g V max at 3700 fps with 29.2g of IMR XBR 8208 with a CCI BR-4, sub 3/8" groups at 200 does not suck. Redding 204 S dies and reamed out Forster 204 Ruger seater sleeve. Of course, this cartridge feeds like a charm, by-passing a lot of feeding issues that some actions have. The 22-204 is an idiot proof case.

The cost of 17 Reamers is astronomical...look before you leap.

 

[Hal]

When comparing reamer prices through Manson .17 Remington reamer are no more than other calibers $170 -$220.
If their web site is current.

For saving fur nothing beats the .17 with the right bullets. A tiny hole in and nothing out.
Bobcats are worth some money, coyotes , sadly not so much.

The .17 Remington is a great choice. Everything else you have to make sure it feeds or requires more work making cases.

Good luck and take pictures.




Hal

 

[Tommie]

Ease and performance in 17 caliber.
17 Remington
Or did I miss something?

 

[JSH]

Coyotes, gotta say the 20P would be the way to go or 20-222

 

[17VLD]

How about a 20 practical?

Isn't the 20 P in essence the 20-223 which B23 did mention

 

[17VLD]

I have used many different 17s on coyotes and they are very effective when you place your shots well and at your distances im sure you can. Bobcats can bring good money and definitely understand your idea of using a 17 caliber to save the fur. Coyotes aren't worth much these days and for them I grab my 20AR(20 Tac Imp). If I was sticking to your criteria I'd definitely use a 17Rem with a 20 or 25 VMax and if the brass concerns you I'd build a 17-222 or 17-223 and stock up on some good brass, but the die prices might be prohibitive. There still is a good reason for 17s today, unfortunately 20s are kind of taking over their share of the marketplace. I always thought a 30 grain 17 caliber VMax would be a gamechanger for the bigger 17s, but in today's market the bean counters win.
Matt

 

[B23]

Isn't the 20 P in essence the 20-223 which B23 did mention

Yes, the 20-223 aka 20P aka 20 Practical are all one and the same.

As AckleymanII eluded to coyotes are resilient and I don't think it's so much it takes a lot of bullet and horsepower behind them to kill coyotes but they have a will to live IMO similar to a pissed off bull elk. Watched my dad flat stone one at 248yds with 17HH and 20gr Vmax. It literally dropped so fast and was in some tall grass I actually thought he missed it until I walked out and retrieved it. He spined him and it was instant death. On the flip side I shot one up elk hunting with a 300 Wby at about 25yds and watched the blood and internals blowout through the scope and was in complete amazement when it bolted like an Olympic sprinter out of the starting blocks for about 15yds then pilled up. When I walked up to it the whole off side was opened up.

I've never been a hide hunter so the bigger and gaping open the hole the better but I don't imagine that would be so good if bobcats were my intended target and for those I'd probably look for something a bit smaller as to not blow them all apart.

If the OP predominantly shoots bobcats with the occasional coyote I could see where a 17 cal would be the better choice but if it's even a 50/50 deal I'd go 20 or even 22 cal. Lots of good choices out there that is for sure. I don't really need one but a 22 ARC in an AR build for a thermal setup has been whispering to me and those whispers keep getting louder and louder....

 

[Leveraction35]

Isn't the 20 P in essence the 20-223 which B23 did mention

It’s exactly that

 

[rickiesrevenge]

17rem or 17-223 will feed better from any 223 based actions. 17hornet's are perfect for saving fur on thin skinned critters like bobcat, lynx, and fox.

 

[Leveraction35]

If the OP predominantly shoots bobcats with the occasional coyote I could see where a 17 cal would be the better choice but if it's even a 50/50 deal I'd go 20 or even 22 cal. Lots of good choices out there that is for sure. I don't really need one but a 22 ARC in an AR build for a thermal setup has been whispering to me and those whispers keep getting louder and louder....

I get 1 bobcat tag a year in Pennsylvania, although I do expect to kill one every year, I live in great Cat Country so they are of notable consideration. But, coyotes are the primary focus. I can always use my 17wsm for cats if I had to

 

[longbow]

I still love my 17 MK-4 Have owned them all ( 17's) almost. The 204 is A tough one to beat anymore for being simple and ready for long range.....

 

[Leveraction35]

I still love my 17 MK-4 Have owned them all ( 17's) almost. The 204 is A tough one to beat anymore for being simple and ready for long range.....

Valid point there… 204 or 20P are likely my top picks now after hearing some feedback on the 17s

 

[RegionRat]

I don't really need one but a 22 ARC in an AR build for a thermal setup has been whispering to me and those whispers keep getting louder and louder....

Sometimes this isn't about needs... but life can be too short... build your 22 ARC and have fun while you still can. Carpe Diem!

 

[RegionRat]

Valid point there… 204 or 20P are likely my top picks now after hearing some feedback on the 17s

These things are an addiction, so be careful what you ask for....

Adopting the 17 centerfires requires some planning and patients. Gathering the dies, components, cleaning tools, etc., isn't as easy as it used to be.

The 204 stuff is a little easier, but you still have to have patients and gather up the tooling and cleaning stuff.

All I will say is either way 17 or 20, don't sit on the sidelines, jump in and you will look back and wish you had done it sooner.

 

[spencerhenry]

I have 17 Ackley Hornet, perfect little round for ground squirrels. I have killed a couple coyotes with it too, 1 shot kills. I have a 17 MIV, that I have not killed anything with yet. I have a 17-223 that I put together because my fur buyer was complaining about 22 caliber entrance holes. I killed quite a few coyotes with the 17-223, around 50 would be my guess, before the prices dropped out. It is a great shooter, regularly shooting about 1/2 minute, sometimes less. I shot coyotes from 30 yards to 350 yards with it, never lost a single one. Most dropped instantly, a couple I shot a 2nd time, I didn't mind shooting a 2nd round with the 17. With a 223 I really tried to avoid a second shot, a spinning coyote often gets hit somewhere that ruins the hide.
Never shot a 20 caliber, never saw the need. If saving fur, the 17's are the ticket. If no saving fur 22-250 with 55gr vmax puts them down hard.

17-223 25gr Hornady still blows up gray fox, never shot a bobcat with it. For fox I think the 17 hornet would be about ideal.

 

[Leveraction35]

I I have a 17-223 that I put together because my fur buyer was complaining about 22 caliber entrance holes. I killed quite a few coyotes with the 17-223, around 50 would be my guess…I shot coyotes from 30 yards to 350 yards with it, never lost a single one. Most dropped instantly, a couple I shot a 2nd time,

That's a good sample size. Do regular 223 mags feeds well?

 

[ohlongarmisle]

17 fireball… 17 Remington… 17–556 (17-223?)

Throw 17Hornet and 17 Mach 4 in the mix too

I’m considering a bolt action build. Which of these would feed most reliably? I assume the 17–556 is easiest to convert since I would just have to do a barrel swap from a factory 556 rifle. Also easiest to find brass. I doubt there’s any notable performance differences between the 3, correct me if I’m wrong.

My use will be coyotes and bobcats under 200 yards. Majority from 50-125.

My alternative to the 17s would be a 20Practical

With those distances , the 17 Hornet makes the most sense, and in a skilled shooters hands with good optics 250 yards is easily done.