.17 Rem. load advisement

IndexFinger

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Been reloading for decades for many Cal's. but this .17 Rem is just a foreign animal to me . Looks like all I missing in my reload room is just a small enough Powder Funnel to start pressing on these midget bullets.

So this ---> .. Coyote Hunt buddy taking off for couple months with family time. So I dialing up a load up for him and this Rem, with 'Little Tiny Bullet' . Just freaks me out how small these things are .. LOL . . ( personally me ) I never owned or even fired a .17 Rem. and I never considered anything smaller for dogs than the 204, and I got a lot of respect for 204 small size/speed on the coyotes. but this .17 rem is just a real freakin oddity to me.
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What I looking for is here is just a good start 'load advisement' for respectable Speed Vel. , But I not looking to break top-end speed records . I setup with Chrony. so any advisement on a proper Vel./speed to keep 25 grain weight that I looking for ?.

OK .. What I got Here to work with is a ...
'all Factory', Rem 700, Stainless Varmint Barreled Action, set in a Manners Carbon Stock.
a, 200 ct. box, Berger 25 grn. Varmints
Hodgdon CFE 223
new Nosler .17 Rem Brass
Also.. he gave me H CFE 223 , but I got on hand in my reload room an assortment of other powders of my own. so I could switch to something different on propellant if I have some. But I did notice Hodgdon had a load in their website for using H-CFE 223 & 17 Rem .

....thanks
 
A window/port seating die is NICE for the 17. Don't use Rem #6 or CCI400's primers. I've used ImR4320 and W760/H414 in my 17's. If the Bergers are too splashy, tell him to watch for Hornady HP. BLC2 works with 20-25 gr bullets also.
 
Berger Varm's possibly splashy, I will keep that in mind.
Hodgdon site states . cfe 223, 24.5 low to 26.0 Max ..
But looking around, it seems that powder choice on 17 Rem loads are really all over the place, so that looks pretty good for the 17 Rem pretty tolerant not to picky for wide selection on choosing something that groups well .

Load choices on manufacture sites listed powders from, R15, Varget, H335, w760, imr 8208, and as fast as A2230/x-terminator with 18.5 grn low to 21 grn Max load, and, .. a whole Bunch of other powders listed to name from all the powder manufactures .
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I had one 17 Rem factory barrel that accuracy went south after 15-18 rds with W760. Shoot and clean, shoot and clean. So if you see groups opening up during load development, clean and confirm.
 
I had one 17 Rem factory barrel that accuracy went south after 15-18 rds with W760. Shoot and clean, shoot and clean. So if you see groups opening up during load development, clean and confirm.

That what I was thinking also on the 'factory' rem. barrel. that it probably little rough and will copper up faster than a upper-end hand lapped barrel .

What Average Velocity am I looking at on the Chrony to hoover around with using the 25 Grn weight . ( I guessing ? ) , from what I reading, it to be around 3800 fps ?
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An old hunting partner had a factory 700 barreled rifle in 17rem that he loved but was also plauged by the barrels fouling. It was good for 6-10 shots and would then start keyholing.
 
Check out the Satern 17rem aluminum powder funnel.
4320 was/is the standard powder for 17rem.
CFE 223 can produce some very high velocities. 4400 fps out of my Tikka Varmint.
H322 is 3900 fps.
7½ rem primers, rem brass, and 25gr Hornady hp.

Ok.. just order funnel , .. thanks
OK so, 3800 fps on the 25's is a good low-side starting Vel . . I going to use 450 SRP's . Did the High Vel. loads of the .17 be Hard on the primer Pockets ? , seems like if pushing 3900 to 4000+ the pockets would be toast in a couple Loads .
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I have no info on the brass life or performance of the bullet at that high velocity. Those loads were worked up for a trip that never happened. I don't think there is any reason to load them that fast. Personally 4000 fps is plenty. That extra speed may also cause quicker fouling. My Remington Model 7 fouls pretty fast and I think it Is only around 3450 fps with its short barrel. I have also heard it said that CFE 223 is temp sensitive, if that may be an issue for you.
 
I'm running 3950 out of a 25" Lilja barrel with 29 gr hp with my 17 rem. No primer pocket or pressure issues(about 1/2 gr under book max with H414). Rem ammo has available currently a 25 gr hp in 17 rem, advertising 4040 fps. 47$ for 20 so I won't be ordering. But an option for a non reloader looking to shoot their rifle.
 
You’re about 15 years too late to the game. At least for Coyotes with the .17 centerfires. Most of the good coyotes bullets have dried up and you’re left with very explosive prairie dog bullets. No Bueno!!!

I have a .17 Tactical with a 24” Shilen barrel which is very close to a .17 Remington and luckily I bought a bunch of the good Predator bullets back then. The Kindlers golds, Genco, and the old Berger match hollow points along with a few Hornady hollowpoints.

It is a true joy to shoot called coyotes with a hot .17 and good bullets. To watch coyotes just fold up at 200 yards is amazing to see.

Best powders I’ve used in mine have been RL-15 and Varget with the 30 grain Kindler golds at 4000 fps….
 
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