17 Remington vs 17 Remington Fireball vs...?

J

Jim Phillips

New member
Hello.
Having mostly recovered from a torn rotator cuff (Right arm) I have been interested in low recoils rifles primarily for target shooting. I bought a 204 Ruger and love it. I will shoot 50 plus rounds in an afternoon at my range punching paper and making steel targets ring. Since one rifle is never enough I began looking for another 204 Ruger but posts on 17 Remington/17 Remington Fireball caught my eye and I started thinking about a different caliber for the second :varmint/target" rifle. My range is about 325 yards long and there are other areas on my farm where I could shoot further if I wanted to try. Other than targets I would love to pop a crow on occasion and have even begun to think about varmint hunting (Coyotes). Any thoughts or recommendations? I am, at tis pint, only interested in factory loads.
 
Just curious why you would buy another 204 when you have one already? I know they are fun, but the best thing is the no recoil. I've been in the same boat as you on these 17 calibers. But I just can't see it yet. The 204 does everything a little better it seems, and still has no recoil and allows you to view your hits in the scope. Since you are only interested in factory loads for the 17 calibers, that might restrict your fun to make it not worth it. Seems reloading is what makes the 17 calibers worth it. If anything, a lightweight 17 caliber rifle would be a lot of fun.
 
Oh, I guess because I like the 204 so much having a second one seemed like a good idea... LOL!
But, it did make me wonder about a different caliber that would be accurate with low recoil and have available factory ammunition. Why? Just to have to shoot. Maybe a synthetic stock instead of the nice walnut stock on my 204. You know, no real justifiable reason just something I might want to have. Does that make any sense?
 
There's a CZ for sale in the classifieds. I betcha it's a shooter. I think it's (with all due respect) a bit overpriced, but it's a good one.
 
Originally Posted By: Jim PhillipsOh, I guess because I like the 204 so much having a second one seemed like a good idea... LOL!
But, it did make me wonder about a different caliber that would be accurate with low recoil and have available factory ammunition. Why? Just to have to shoot. Maybe a synthetic stock instead of the nice walnut stock on my 204. You know, no real justifiable reason just something I might want to have. Does that make any sense?



Of course it makes sense to buy a new gun! I was just trying to see if your excuse would work for me too. I've been thinking on a 17 centerfire for a while now. Just been happy with my 204. I actually was looking at another 204 with a 20" barrel after I saw the speeds weren't that far off a 24" barrel. And a thinner profile for a lighter carry gun.
 
For what you are shooting you should look into the 17 Hornady Hornet. 3600fps with a 20gr V max will do a number on crows, varmints, etc. Zero recoil and a good supply of factory ammo. And it would be different than your 204. No need to buy another 204. Variety is the spice of life, right? If you decide to shoot coyotes just use your 204 for that.
 
I have been owning and shooting .17 Remingtons for over 35 years now and cannot ever see doing without one. Taken a lot a ground squirrels and prairie dogs with mine. I also have a .204 that I enjoy a whole lot. It is quite a bit better for prairie dogs than the .17 is but for ground squirrels I like the .17 a bit more.

And because the .17 Hornet is not exactly setting records in gun sales I'm afraid that if you bought one of those that one day in the not too distant future ammo might be hard to find. No matter how cool a new round is if it dont sell they dont keep making them. Just the way it is.

So my thoughts are to just get you a .17 Remington. Been making them for a long time now and ammo should be around for a long time too. Plus if you ever do any reloading you can make you some reduced loads that mimics the .17 Hornet performance if you want to. I do it all the time. Dont need 4400 FPS to kill a critter than weighs only a few ounces after all.
 
Thanks very much Rustydust. I love your quote at the bottom of the page. I was with some liberal friends not long ago and one of them asked "Why do you NEED so many guns?". I replied,

"It's not the Bill of Needs, it's the Bill of Rights!"
 
distances you mention speak loudly to 17 rem IMHO. Not reloading speaks even louder to the 17 Hornet IMHO.

Personally I would compromise and go with the 17 hornet. Then take up reloading and the 17 Rem and you can extend your range from 250 yards to 400 ish with the 17 rem and a better bullet in respect to BC like 25 grain v-max or 30 grain golds.

In either case you are giving up a lot if you don't reload. Not much variety available in factory options. Reloading offers great therapy for many of us.
 
I have a .17 fireball and I love the gun.
Brass is hard to come by though!
I found about 100 rds of ammo at a LGS and bought it all up and I already had 50 rds that came with the gun. I don't plan on shooting it a ton so I figured it would last me a great while especially since I reload.

17 Rem brass is easier to find as Nosler makes it. Pricey but it's out there. Also, I see .17 rem factory loads on the shelf a [beeep] of a lot more then FB

I still wonder if I should have bought a .17 rem but I just love the little FB.

That gives me an excuse to buy a .17rem down the road!

Good luck on your decision, .17's are fun!
 
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I like the 17 fb idea. However, you dont load yet, a 204 makes more sense with ammo always available. Why not get another 204? Do I need 2 300 weatherby magnums, a 300 win, 2 308s, and 3 270s, 5 1911 45s. YES I DO.
 


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