.17 Remington or a .17 Remington Fireball?

T

Trexster Steve

New member
I am a newbie and I don't have time to go back through all the former post, because I know this question has probably been asked to death, but why or why not on these two calibers?
I was just going to get a .17HMR, but thought a centerfire
would be more fun because it would also mean "reloading" on
those cold snowy nights! The rifle would be used primarily
on coyotes, and I thought the .17 caliber would help eliminate
richocet, since I like my neighbors and their livestock,etc.
Any info. would be helpful and greatly appreciated.
 
You don't have time to do a quick search and read the old posts,,, but you do have time to read the posts answering you're redundant question???

Pretty weak IMO...

Any thing else we can do for ya???
 
Originally Posted By: TA17remLMAO;;

If you must know the 17 Rem. wouldbe the better choice for coyotes.

That's not fair....given your screen name and all....(grin)
 
In my opinion i would get the fireball, I have owned one for a year and it has always killed the coyore DRT no questions asked, my dad owns a .17 and it works just as good as my fireball but mine has less pelt damage. This is just my 2 cents but i would get the fireball, it is very accurate for me i have shot out past 200 with it and it still hits just fine.
 
You are going to find a lot of .17 aficionados in this group, Steve! Because you are going to reload, I will suggest going with the now 40 year old .17 Remington. It will do everything the .17 FB will do and a bit more. I load my .17 Remmy down to the Furball level most of the time and get longer brass life and excellent accuracy as a result as well. With the nifty little 20 grain Vmax, I have taken prairie dogs out past 300 yards with it with one memorable shot at an even 400 yards. Nosir, this is not a 400 yard prairie dog outfit, but it killed him dead on the mound he was perched on. I was impressed.

Anyway, I got my first .17 Rem 30 years ago and they are better now than they ever were back then. MUCH more bullet selection, better barrels, even better scopes. Hey! Like you got a reason NOT to get one?
smile.gif
 
Quote:In my opinion i would get the fireball, I have owned one for a year and it has always killed the coyore DRT no questions asked,

How many coyotes have you killed in that one year with the 17 f.b.?

The 17 f.b. is a good var. cartridge but i feel a hunter is realing pushing it to its limits... Yes it can kill coyotes but for hunting just coyotes i feel it lacks enough steam for an all around coyote cartridge...If the guy had mostly fox he was after and a once in awhile coyote then yes use the 17 F.B., but if its strictly for coyotes then i would go to the 17 rem with a 25 gr. Berger or 30 gr. gold..
 
Originally Posted By: TA17rem Quote:In my opinion i would get the fireball, I have owned one for a year and it has always killed the coyore DRT no questions asked,

How many coyotes have you killed in that one year with the 17 f.b.?

The 17 f.b. is a good var. cartridge but i feel a hunter is realing pushing it to its limits... Yes it can kill coyotes but for hunting just coyotes i feel it lacks enough steam for an all around coyote cartridge...If the guy had mostly fox he was after and a once in awhile coyote then yes use the 17 F.B., but if its strictly for coyotes then i would go to the 17 rem with a 25 gr. Berger or 30 gr. gold..

Excellent advice, TA17rem.....

There is a definite difference between the two cartridges, especially when it comes to shooting heavier 17 caliber bullets more suitable for coyotes.

JMO -BCB
 
I would go with the 17 Remington. Afterall, you don't have to run it full throttle in which case you essentially have both cartridges in one.

Landrum
 
I have to agree with TA, and you have no idea how much that pains me.
smile.gif


The 17 FB will work very well for an experienced hunter/caller. The 17 Rem works a bit better, IMO. I really don't recommend either for beginners anymore. They both work very well, but aren't as forgiving with poor shot placement as say, land cannons like a 22-250 or 243 and such.
 
In 2007 I used a 17FB for a few of my calling set ups. Although I shot 53 coyotes in 07 with the 17FB I found that my buddies 17-223AI would do the same job and just that much better!
I started out using 30 grain HP's but found I had less runner's/spinners when I switched to the 25 gr Bergers at an increased velocity of 300 fps over the 30's. I would have needed to push the 30 grain HP's at velocities that could be achieved by 17 Rem. or similar 17 cals.
I still use the Fireball for coyotes but I am more selective on my shoots compared to using my Tac. 20 or 22-250 Rem.
 
Last edited:
Ta17rem I have no problem with the .17 rem but like I said but you must not have read that far the fireball is a better gun for fur but if you just want to kill the animal and blow it up then I would go with a .223. But I also think you ought to choose what gun YOU want.
 
JTM : If a shooter is useing those 20 gr. V-max's in a 17 rem then they might get some damage to the fur like surface splashes.. Also with a 17 rem it canbe a hit and miss as far as fur damage goes on critters like red fox.. But as far as coyotes go and the 17 rem. i have had very little problems as far as fur damage goes... I've been hunting redfox since the 70's and coyotes since the mid 80's and i use mostly 17 rem. set up with different bullet weights or brands and use them accordingly to what i'm hunting and the ground conditions or terr.... I've always hunted redfox and coyotes for the fur and the last thing i want is a hole larger than a dime.. I also own and use a 17 mach-4 and 221 f.b. and use them on fox and once in awhile coyote but i won't go out on purpose and hunt coyotes with either one..Anyone can use the 17 f.b. on coyotes if they wish but just remember i told you so that they are not enough to be consistant killers...
 
Just one more question, what does your .17 rem weigh? My fireball weighs in at like 6 pounds and I can dang near freehand a coyote at 100 yards with it. And I still will have very little pelt damage, and for an all around fox coyote bobcat and whatever else you are going to kill I believe that the fireball .17 kicks the .17 rems but. But like I said it is both our opinions on what to shoot. My dad has shot his .17 rem for probaly 15 years an. It has worked amazingly well for him for coyotes, but even he said that it is overkill for fox and for bobcat.
 
The weight of a rifle does'nt kill coyotes any deader, just makes it easier for the guy carrying it..
My 17 mach-4 weighs in at 5 lbs. with a scope mounted and my 17 rem.s weigh anywhere from 6-12 pounds and maybe one or two a little heavier. Never weighed any except for my Bobcat rifle..
Youre dad is right about one thing it canbe over kill for fox thats why i reload for mine and use a combo that is less destructive on fox.. As for cats and coyotes they tend to have more meat on them and can absorb the bullet from a 17 rem..

Here are a few fox and coyotes shot with a 17 rem. or 17 Pred. You tell me which ones are blown up or have damaged fur..LOL
 
Last edited:
Tim, that 4th picture down, the coyote with the black legs.

I don't have any idea why you would, but I have to ask anyway. Did you cut the head off another coyote and set it on the coyote in the picture? There is something that looks weird about that picture. It just doesn't look like the head fits the coyote like it should.
grin.gif
 
I have always wanted a HMR or a Mach-4 for FOX but you do have some nice furs there, btw just wondering what kind of gun did you use on the 3rd picture down? That coyote kinda looked like it got kind of torn up but that's just me thinking outloud.
 
Back
Top