SmallCaliberCentral

Hi everyone, i noticed that one or two people have posted about 17 calibres and wondered if anyone has any experience of wether the standard factory barrels will stablize all the different bullet weights available. In England where i live Midway can supply 20...25...and 30grain bullets. Does anyone have views on wether there is a suitabte bullet weight/ design to reliably get inside of a fox.Any help much appreciated. Regards KenB. PS my rile is a remy. model 7 CDL 20" barrel.

Kenbro: I shoot a .17 Mach IV, the ballistic twin to the 17FB. My rifle was ordered with a Shilen 10 twist barrel, and it shoots the 20's and 25 grainers perfectly. My standard bullet is either the 25gr V-Max or Berger.

From experience though, if you want to also shoot the 30gr Gold, you may want a 9 twist barrel. I'm almost certain that the factory Remmy's have something close to a 10 twist, so if factory stock, it should shoot both the 20's and 25's quite well.

The guys over on Saubier all agree that for shooting the 30's well, a nine twist gets the nod, but that would mean a custom barrel. If you're content to shoot 20's & 25's, the factory tube should work just dandy.

These are some WS2 coated 25gr Berger's loaded in freshly fireformed, annealed and neck turned cases for my Sako Vixen 17M4:

HI Rick, thanks for quick reply and great pics.as usual....Remingtons catolog shows two fireballs with 9 twist and two with 12 twist.. can't believe any as they already said they had typos in the brochure.Would you like to pass comment on wether there is a 17 bullet to smoke a fox or not, we're talking 200 yds. absolute max. thank you KB. PS. had splashes with 17 remington in past but never lost a fox.

Kenbro: I do not have fox here in my particular area of Oregon, so can't comment on experience in regard to what bullet is best. However I've corresponded with a fellow in the midwest who has lots of fox experience with the 17M4, and he used Berger 25's for most of his foxing with very good results from the photos he emailed me. I know this bullet works quite well on our coyotes here, and they are a larger critter.

Another Navy buddy stationed in Adak Alaska said the same thing. He shoots arctic fox with his M4 with about the same results; quick kills with minimal damage. Both are shooting the fox through the lungs with the Bergers, most of the time no exit wound, just lung mush and a dead fox. I'd give the 25gr V-Max a toss too, they are less expensive, and usually easier to find lately.

I know what you mean about catalogs. I think they have office nannys proof read them with zero knowledge of firearms, let alone twist rates.