.17 cal wildcat questions ???

Leadbelly

Leadbelly

New member
The past year I've been shooting the .17 Remington, and I've really taken a liking to her. Seems to be as near to perfect as a fur gun can get. This past weekend the rain was bad and I left her at the house. Took my ar instead, I really don't mind getting it wet, I've put the gun through heck and back the past five or six years I've had it, without a glitch. I was walking along my property late in the morning checking trail cam videos. I got to one that a bobcat had been hanging around, and sure enough it was there not a hour and a half before. I really wanted to set up and start calling then and there, but I got to thinking about sewing up a nicely furred cat, and I decided to go back to the house and eat lunch instead.
That got me thinking purtty hard about just rebarreling or getting a custom upper built. I started looking around and googling the subject. I ended up with more question then answers. I really don't want to go with another .17remington the brass is just to expensive to be chucking around the country side. I'm down to either a .17 tactical or .17 practical/.17-223.
What's the pros and cons to any of y'all using a these? I know one just needs a pass thru the sizing die and the tac needs to be fire formed. Both either exceed or will shoot as flat as the Remington. How's the case life, barrel life? Do primers crater bad on most ar's?What's the best upper with a 1/9 twist?

Ps, should've put this in the ar section, but I felt some .17 aficionados might not visit that forum as much and wanted as much feedback as possible.
 
Do you shoot so much at furbearers that a Semi auto is the only thing that will do the job? Or are you shooting other critters that need a heavier round? In My mind, why switch? Besides you will find yourself in the same scenario if you have a .17 upper built and come across an animal that requires more lead/fire power? Just my thoughts.
 
I would do the 17 Practical, and just buy 223 Rem bushing dies and use the correct bushing for neck size with a intermediate bushing for necking down the brass. You can always find a deal somewhere on once fired 223 or even new 223 brass. LC brass works well also. I am going to do a 20 Practical AR sometime this year, and will use the same dies. Nelson
 
I know what you are saying but I've never actually heard of a 17 practical. Only the .17-223. Sounds like fun either way! I don't know if it's even an issue but the violent loading seems like it could possibly move the tiny neck and bullet around a bit?
 
I have a 17-223. Esy to make with bushings or Hornady standard dies. Mine is 1:9. Very fast. Brass life is fine if you don't go crazy. Ritch build mine with a 24" Black Hole barrel. I am astounded at the speed of the 35's. I also shoot 20 Tactical and Practical AR's. You don't getting quite the activity down ranges from on a PD but they are deadly.

Greg
 
Originally Posted By: LeadbellyFur bearers are about the only use I have for that ar. Anything the .17 's are to small for, I'd reach for a 45/70
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Well then it's settled.. Build an AR in a .17 Tac..or Pract.. and sell me the bolt rifle!
grin.gif
 
I run a 17-223 with a 22" BHW barrel. They are a 1x10 twist and that's all they have for 17 cals.

I have pushed 25gr hornady hp to over 4000fps with benchmark and I think I have a bit of room for more if its wanted but for me its plenty fast.

You will want an adjustable gas block to get all you can out of the round. ive not cratered any primers yet but with a standard gas block I was getting swipes even with moderate charges.

As far as going to a 17 tac or 17 predator, I think that will defeat the purpose of what you are wanting to do. With those cases, you will have more time and energy in them and prob wont want to loose brass after you put the time in to form them. Even though the 17-223 is cheap brass, I go through enough work sizing down the necks and removing crimps from the brass that I don't like loosing them so I use a brass catcher and that works well for me.
 
Originally Posted By: Winny Fan
Dan Clemens from Cheyenne, Wyoming actually designed the original wildcat cartridge, but it is indeed a good one if you want a big 17.

I'm sure Dan Clements will be surprised to hear about the Clemens fellow
grin.gif
. Mine was the 2nd one built, with Dan's reamer, but I had no part in designing the case.

For an AR I'd probably just to a straight .17-223.

- DAA
 
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Originally Posted By: DAAOriginally Posted By: Winny Fan
Dan Clemens from Cheyenne, Wyoming actually designed the original wildcat cartridge, but it is indeed a good one if you want a big 17.

I'm sure Dan Clements will be surprised to hear about the Clemens fellow
grin.gif
. Mine was the 2nd one built, with Dan's reamer, but I had no part in designing the case.

For an AR I'd probably just to a straight .17-223.

- DAA

My bad and Your good. I missed the "T"....
 
Originally Posted By: DAAOriginally Posted By: Winny Fan
Dan Clemens from Cheyenne, Wyoming actually designed the original wildcat cartridge, but it is indeed a good one if you want a big 17.

I'm sure Dan Clements will be surprised to hear about the Clemens fellow
grin.gif
. Mine was the 2nd one built, with Dan's reamer, but I had no part in designing the case.

For an AR I'd probably just to a straight .17-223.

- DAA

Well heck Dave. I tried my best to give you credit for it.
smile.gif


I just remember one of your videos from several years ago where you were just dusting way out there rock chucks with yours. Most impressive. If I was starting over today with a .17 centerfire that would likely be the way that I went.
 
Originally Posted By: Orneryolfart357Originally Posted By: LeadbellyFur bearers are about the only use I have for that ar. Anything the .17 's are to small for, I'd reach for a 45/70
smile.gif


Well then it's settled.. Build an AR in a .17 Tac..or Pract.. and sell me the bolt rifle!
grin.gif


Guess we misunderstood each other, I'm keeping the bolt gun, just want a rainy day .17
crazy.gif
 
Originally Posted By: midwestpredatorI run a 17-223 with a 22" BHW barrel. They are a 1x10 twist and that's all they have for 17 cals.

I have pushed 25gr hornady hp to over 4000fps with benchmark and I think I have a bit of room for more if its wanted but for me its plenty fast.

You will want an adjustable gas block to get all you can out of the round. ive not cratered any primers yet but with a standard gas block I was getting swipes even with moderate charges.

As far as going to a 17 tac or 17 predator, I think that will defeat the purpose of what you are wanting to do. With those cases, you will have more time and energy in them and prob wont want to loose brass after you put the time in to form them. Even though the 17-223 is cheap brass, I go through enough work sizing down the necks and removing crimps from the brass that I don't like loosing them so I use a brass catcher and that works well for me.





I was leaning .17-223 at the beginning, guess I needed peer acceptance
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Originally Posted By: RustydustHey Dustin- have you thought about a .17 Predator? Dave Affleck (DAA here on the forum) designed this one and it is a real screamer. It looks cool too. Here is more on it:


http://www.rmvh.com/The%2017%20Predator%20cartridge.htm

I really like what I hear about the predator and the .17 pos, I'd just prefer those In a bolt gun. My biggest concern, at this point is just finding a 9 twist upper in .17-223
smile.gif
 
Originally Posted By: RustydustWell heck Dave. I tried my best to give you credit for it.
smile.gif




No worries
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. Seems to be a common misconception, I've seen it in print and read it on the internet many times. Not at all sure how it got started though, I've certainly never tried to take the credit and since first seeing it wrongly applied to me, have gone out of my way to try and set the record straight.

- DAA
 


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