17 Rem/17-223/17-204??

W

wisconsinteacher

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What round is faster and if you were to get into the 17 game, what one would you go with?

I have no problem sizing and forming brass.
 
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I bought my first of three .17 Remingtons in 1979. I am a .17 nut without question.

But if I was starting all over today I would just go the .17/223 route. I mean, why not? Speeds are at least 95% of what you can get with the .17 Remington and brass is so much easier to find and much cheaper too when you do find it.

If not the .17/223 then the .17/204 would be next.
 
if all three were shooting the same sized bullet, the 17/204 would be the fastest. Love my 17/204 as a calling rig, using 30 gr. bullets.
 
Brass is becoming a big issue these days. When looking at wildcats, parent brass is my #1 consideration. This is the reason why I went with the 20 Practical when I wanted a 20 caliber. For the same reason, I'd go with a 17-223. If a little bit more $$ were not an issue, I'd have no issue with a 17-204 either.
 
17-204 is the fastest of those you mentioned. A 17-204 is at the top of my list for my next build.
223 brass is plentiful and cheap, but 204 brass is not hard to find nor terribly expensive.
 
When I was faced with the same question, I went with the .17-.223. .17 Remington brass is expensive when you can find it. .204 Ruger is more available, but not as available as .223. I did not need an even greater overbore round than the .17-.223. I also was going with the AR platform, and chasing expensive and/or hard to find brass is not my idea of a good time, so .17-.223 it is.
 
I went with a 17 Tac for the excellent brass - Lapua/Dakota. The tac is basically a 17-223 improved. They are all excellent choices. If I was to do it all over today I would go with the 17 Rem because of Nosler and Norma brass now available.
 
I am just going to stick with my 17 Remington. I have plenty of brass and don't shoot it that much to worry about it. You can also easily find 17 Rem brass that has been necked down from a Mil 5.56 round that is reasonably priced from High Plains Brass out of Illinois. Have bought some from them and they are very good to work with.
 
I have not had the 17 predator.

I have had a custom 17 Remington, they are unreal accurate with a 25g Berger.

Ever see clover leaf groups and smaller with a 17 caliber bullet? they are unreal small groups!
 
Originally Posted By: ackleymanI have not had the 17 predator.

I have had a custom 17 Remington, they are unreal accurate with a 25g Berger.

Ever see clover leaf groups and smaller with a 17 caliber bullet? they are unreal small groups!

They look similar to this....................
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Kimber17Targets.jpg




Quote:Don't do it, Jim ! Just say no ... cool

I keep trying to resist Tim, buttttttttt.......
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Originally Posted By: 6724223 brass is virtually free. 204 brass not so much.

difference between the 3 velocity wise is negligible.

17-204 will launch a 30gr. bullet at speeds the other two are trying to make with 25gr. bullets.
 
Anyone care to guess how many shots in this one?

17PLapBrassGroup.jpg



A guess is all that would be possible, it's more than you can count by the visible evidence.

That lone hole to the left, was the first shot from a cold clean bore. Landed out of the group, in this instance
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.

There is something else slightly unusual about that group, too. Which is, the whole group, was fired with the same, single piece of brass. Lapua Match .223 was brand new, had just barely become available. I'd been sent a sample for evaluation. I was loading a single piece over and over to see how long the primer pocket would last with my working load for the .17 Predator, launching 30 Gold's at just under 4,100 fps.

So... Eight shots. A seven and one group. Primer pocket was starting to get a bit loose - not terrible, but noticeably loosening. So I called it good rather than invite gas cutting the bolt face.

That first shot out of the group, isn't repeatable with that rifle. Usually doesn't happen. Most times, first shot from a cold clean bore lands right in the group with the rest of them. Not that time though!

- DAA
 
Not much shooting skill required for something like that. More like a really good riflesmith, good luck of the draw on a barrel, a decent bench setup and good shooting conditions. With all that going right, all I have to do is sit there and look proud.

- DAA
 
There are some that even though the equipment is the best could not shoot groups like that unless it was a railgun.
I must admit that my 6lb. 4oz. ready to hunt Kimber is easy to lug up mountains, but not so good off a bench.
 
Quote:Brass is becoming a big issue these days.

I used to think like that. Now that I realize how long 100 pieces of brass will last me, and how little I actually lose, I consider it a moot point.

I think I have run most of the 17's and the old 17 rem was the easiest to feed and function. Very accurate too, never had a bad shooting one. Right now I only own the 17 Rem in an AR15 using 25gr bullets, and a 17-204 in a bolt action for shooting 30gr bullets only. Both are very accurate.
 


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