17 rem or 17 fireball

swwyocoyote

swwyocoyote

Member
hi all, I am looking at getting a 17 cal but not sure which would be the better choice to go with, the 17 Rem or the 17 fireball? I would like some imput on the good and bad of each or why you prefer one over the other or if you have a better suggestion. Thank you to all in advance for the help, Ty
 
I would consider your application. Are you going to use it on colony varmints or predator hunting? You will get longer strings of shots with the fireball before barrel heating becomes an issue. The 17 Rem. is capable of higher velocities extending the range with a bit more down range energy given the same bullet weight. You will be happy with either, as they are not all that far apart in performance.

Aaron
 
.17 FB all the way. I went through the same debate and with the right powder/bullet combo, you can push those FireBalls FAST.

Easy to stay on target too with a Fireball and watch the hits.

Brass is becoming a bit scarce though.
 
I would definitely go with the fireball. Considerably less powder fouling, very accurate and will probably do just about anything you would use a 17 cal rifle for.
 
Oh boy, looks like I'm odd man out.
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17 Rem. all the way unless your just colony rat hunting. You can load a 17 Rem. down to Fireball velocities, but you can't load a Fireball up to 17 Rem. velocities. You can extend the range a bit farther with the 17 Rem. and push 30gr. bullets pretty darn quick also. 30gr. bullets will extend your range substantially when hunting Coyotes. Powder fouling, in 30 plus years of owning a 17 Rem. I've never had that problem.
In my ultra light weight 17 Rem. I don't loose my sight picture at all.

I do like the Fireball, but I prefer the 17 Rem. Then theres the 17-204, 17tac, 17Predator..............what is not to love about the 17's.
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Originally Posted By: K22Oh boy, looks like I'm odd man out.
grin.gif
17 Rem. all the way unless your just colony rat hunting. You can load a 17 Rem. down to Fireball velocities, but you can't load a Fireball up to 17 Rem. velocities. You can extend the range a bit farther with the 17 Rem. and push 30gr. bullets pretty darn quick also. 30gr. bullets will extend your range substantially when hunting Coyotes. Powder fouling, in 30 plus years of owning a 17 Rem. I've never had that problem. In my ultra light weight 17 Rem. I don't loose my sight picture at all.


You aint alone here. To me, it the .17 Furball is the .17 Remington that still has pimples on its face. It aint all grown up yet.

And when you load the .17 Remmy down just a little bit, you still got .17 FB steam but you got it with lower pressures. Thus brass last longer and with the price of that stuff nowdays, this is a Good Thing.

Just a few months ago my little .17 Rem was making me giggle like a ticklish school girl as I was tagging prairie dogs out past 400 yards with mine using the nifty little 20 grain Vmax. Took one poor pooch at 451 yards that was just neato. Nosir, you don't get the toss like you will with a .220 Swift or a .243, but dead is dead and watching those hits time after time never gets old.

Things are way better for the .17 calibers now than they were in 1979 when I got my first one. So much so that if mine ever gets sold it will be my widow that is selling it.
 
I have both and have killed quite a few coyotes with both and I have to say I would also go with the 17 Remington but my 17 FB pushes 25gr bullets at 3700fps while the 17 Remington is about 4050fps so not a drastic drop-off going 17 FB. I would speculate that the 17 Remington is a 400 yard round vs the 17FB at about a 300-350 yard round. Funny thing is my two longest running coyote kills were with the 17 FB using the old 22gr Berger bullets both about 320 yards.
 
I have both, no preference, I would suggest finding a rifle you really like and take which one it is available in. I would add that there is about four grains difference in powder charge using benchmark, not much difference in price. I believe brass and ammo availability is going to be about equal.
 
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Originally Posted By: Matt N.For some reason I think I need both, but I ended up with 2 .17 remingtons and don't load them to max speeds.

In fact both of my .17 remingtons shoot most accurately when loaded to about 3850 with 25 grain bullets.
 
I appologize i didnt give all my info. I prefer to reload and my primary use will be for coyotes and bobcats. Thank you all for your imput and suggestions, I made my mind up but cant find a remington or savage factory rifle available in either caliber. Guess its time to call the gun smith and see what he can do or hope someone decides to part with theirs. Thanks again,
Ty
 
have owned both sort of. Had a 17 Javelina (basicly a 17 fireball prior to 17 fireball, both built on 221 fireball case.) I would personaly go with a 22 cal. 222 qnd 223 come to mind. Option of heaveier bullets and better kills at longer ranges, specificaly with yotes. If your a caller and keep ranges under 250 the Remington will do, Having owned both I would opt for the Remington if you reload larger selection of applicable powders. Both will need to be cleaned often the 17 fowls quickly.

Persoally my go to coyote is the 22-250 with Hornady v-max ,SX, Sierra Blitz or Blitz King. One hole to sew. Never exit on a good chest hit. The pack all day rifle is a sporter 223 shooting 40gr Vmax.

You will be happier in the long run with the 22cal. unless you like to tinker a lot 17s are fast but.......
 
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Good luck in finding one. They are out there. CZ still makes one and there's been several for sale on gunbroker.
Keep us posted on how it all works out for you. IMR4320 and IMR8208XBR are very good powder choices for the 17 Rem. Rem. 7 1/2 primers were developed for the 17 Rem.
 
A while back there were 2 well priced custom 17rem's in the classifieds here. One was a Remington model 7 and I think the other was a Sako.
 
K22, Thank you for suggesting gun broker.

Well
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i found a new in box Remington 700 lvsf 17 Rem. on gun broker and purchased it, now the LONG wait to recieve it and breaking the news to the wife
unsure.gif
. Thanks everyone again for all your help and suggestions. I will update on how it does and probably ask for help with some secret receipes
 
Wyocaddis,
Thanks for the suggestion, i do have a .223 and 22-250. What bullet you shooting in the 22-250? I have had destruction issues it.
 
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Originally Posted By: swwyocoyoteK22, Thank you for suggesting gun broker.

Well
thumbup.gif
i found a new in box Remington 700 lvsf 17 Rem. on gun broker and purchased it, now the LONG wait to recieve it and breaking the news to the wife
unsure.gif
. Thanks everyone again for all your help and suggestions. I will update on how it does and probably ask for help with some secret receipes

Good find swwyocoyote. The LVSF's are well worth their price. I'll be happy to help on some loads. I will give you a hint.....Chan Nagels T-000 bullets in either 25gr. or 30gr. are very well made accurate bullets and the performance is outstanding. I ended up switching from Berger and Genco's to Nagels.
 
i moly coat my 17.bullets so my groups are tight much longer and the barrel is easier to clean.i shoot 40gr bergers in my 223 helps cut down on damage.and i shoot 52.gr match bullets in my 22-250 either bergers,sierras,or hornadys.they have worked the best for me over the years.bergers being my no.1 choice.when i started we only had sierra and hornady,no bergers.
 
Originally Posted By: RustydustOriginally Posted By: K22Oh boy, looks like I'm odd man out.
grin.gif
17 Rem. all the way unless your just colony rat hunting. You can load a 17 Rem. down to Fireball velocities, but you can't load a Fireball up to 17 Rem. velocities. You can extend the range a bit farther with the 17 Rem. and push 30gr. bullets pretty darn quick also. 30gr. bullets will extend your range substantially when hunting Coyotes. Powder fouling, in 30 plus years of owning a 17 Rem. I've never had that problem. In my ultra light weight 17 Rem. I don't loose my sight picture at all.


You aint alone here. To me, it the .17 Furball is the .17 Remington that still has pimples on its face. It aint all grown up yet.

And when you load the .17 Remmy down just a little bit, you still got .17 FB steam but you got it with lower pressures. Thus brass last longer and with the price of that stuff nowdays, this is a Good Thing.

Just a few months ago my little .17 Rem was making me giggle like a ticklish school girl as I was tagging prairie dogs out past 400 yards with mine using the nifty little 20 grain Vmax. Took one poor pooch at 451 yards that was just neato. Nosir, you don't get the toss like you will with a .220 Swift or a .243, but dead is dead and watching those hits time after time never gets old.

Things are way better for the .17 calibers now than they were in 1979 when I got my first one. So much so that if mine ever gets sold it will be my widow that is selling it. to funny. your widow selling it. so what your realy saying is you like it.
 
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