.17 remington fireball vs. .20 vartarg

Rahkola

Rahkola

New member
Im thinking about bying a new varmint-rifle and i have some concerns about what rifle i should get.

I mostly call red fox back here in Sweden and I really like to keep to pelt in good condition.
Here´s my +/- list for the different calibers
.17 RF
+
Factory made brass.
Keeps the fur in good condition

-
Sensitive to wind? (I usually don´t call fox if the wind is around 10-15mph)
Bad shots results in injured running fox?

vartarg
+
Great accuracy
Not as wind sensitive?

-
Ruin fur sometimes
No factory brass
More complicate to reload, need of special reload tools?

Please let me know if I got it wrong or if you have anything to add!
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Here are my 2 cents on the subject...hope it helps out. I have a .17 fireball and a .204 ruger (i think it is close enough to the vartag to give my opinion for you to make some comparisons.) If I was only hunting fox I would definately not feel undergunned with my fireball and it would be the rifle I would grab first. I have shot hundreds of prairie dogs with the fireball and several rockchucks. It does not tear them up like my .204 ruger does. The .204 is definately a step up from the fireball. If i am hunting coyotes...would pick up my .204 long before the fireball.
 
I leaning towards the vartarg.
I´ve been looking in to a Cooper model 38, phoenix or montana varminter and it seems like a beauty!

Our red fox back here in Sweden can be pretty big, they can be up to 20-23 pounds.

Which do you think would be better on a 300-yard shot with sidewind around 15 mph? 17 FB or vartarg?
I think that the vartarg with 35-40 grain bullet beats 17 FB every time? Am I wrong?

Doesn´t .204 ruger wear out the barrel pretty quick compared to 17 FB and vartarg?
 
Buy the way, can someone recommend a firearms supplier that got export licens?
I´ve talked to Hendershots Sporting goods but they didn´t know when they would get there export licens.
 
In my opinion I like the VarTarg. It is going to handle the wind much better. With the right load you won't get appreciable increase in pelt damage (my opinion). There are no special tools to reload. You take remington brass 221 brass and run it though a 20 VarTarg die and your done. No more complicated that the fireball. Don't get me wrong I like the fireball I have one of those too and it is a great fox gun, but when the wind blows so does it. They can also be extremely accurate. I don't think you would go wrong either way. VarTarg would yeild a little more range and less wind drift +. Little more pelt damage -. Keep in mind that if you do the math the difference can be slight depending on you load. With the right load the 17 fireball come really close to the VT.
 
Originally Posted By: wyoman and a .204 ruger (i think it is close enough to the vartag to give my opinion for you to make some comparisons.)

I'd argue the comparison, but that's really irrelevant.

IMO,,, The FB is perfect for your needs.
Especially when you take your location into consideration.
Might be hard to get your hands on a VarTarg, but just about any importer/exporter should be able to get a FB to you.
Again,,, JMO,,, but I'd get my hands on a Model Seven CDL. Bed it, float it, adjust the trigger and go kill Fox.
I have a CZ that I re barreled in 17FB that I absolutely love, but I gotta say that my friends Model Seven that he did the above to shoots right with it, and what a handy, classy little rifle it is!

Here's a pic of what we fondly call "The Dueling Fireballs".
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DSCF6183.jpg

Killed this Coyote at about 70yrds.
noname040.jpg

That's not much of a comparison, but my point is that the 17FB should be plenty for Fox at your distances.
We don't have Fox in my area, but I have friends back east that kill bunches of them and they say the 17FB is at the very top end of the spectrum. Most have actually down sized to the 17Hornet.

Good luck with your choice.
Charlie
 
Is Cooper firearms 20 vartarg only avaliable in single shot?
I need a magazine fed rifle, what if I don´t hit the fox on the first shot.
I can´t find any pros with single shot rifle.
 
Yes,, single shot only.
I prefer a single shot when shooting colony varmints from a bench, but for a walk about hunting rig I agree 100% on the repeater.
Some prefer detachable magazines, but I have and like em all.
Detachable, floor plate, or blind magazine, doesn't matter to me as long as it's a repeater.
 
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