SmallCaliberCentral

HOW HARD IS IT TO LOAD FOR A 17 REMINGTION. AND WHAT IS THE BEST POWDER TO USE. THINKING ABOUT GETTING ONE. THANKS HORNET

22 HORNET wrote:HOW HARD IS IT TO LOAD FOR A 17 REMINGTION. AND WHAT IS THE BEST POWDER TO USE. THINKING ABOUT GETTING ONE. THANKS HORNET

I've owned them since 1971 and have loaded for them for 30yrs. They are easy with the right equipment. A Forster Benchrest seater die is almost a must. If nothing else it keeps you from pinching your fingers. A good 17 caliber aluminum funnel should be at the top of your list along with a VLD Chamfer tool. The best ones I've used came from CRT who is a sponsor on here. Standard small rifle primers are not a good thing, you need a small rifle benchrest primer like Rem. 7 1/2 (what I use) , BR4's, or CCI 450's .
Powder? THE "Go To" powder for the 25gr. bullets has always been IMR4320. It still works great. Next was always W760. IMR8208XBR works really well in them and so does H322. I'm sure others will be along a point out newer powders, but those mentioned are what I still use.
I will warn you that 17 calibers are very, very addictive, and just plain work very efficiently on saving fur. The 19's and some of the 20 calibers do on Coyote size critters, but when Fox and/or Bobcats may be on the menu, nothing works better consistently than a 17 Rem. But like other calibers, bullet choice is critical for saving fur. If Varmint critters are being targeted, then hey, go with the plastic bullets and have a ball.

I can not help you with the 17 Rem, But I have shot a 17-223 and til I got into the 20VT and 204R it was a favorite. I used H380 and H4895 and it worked for that 17. I would check some of the manuals and/or Hodgdon's data site and follow that path to locate loads that work in your 17 Rem. And as the previous post showed what worked for him. Bill K

lets hear some more about the 17 I know where a v model is for sale. HORNET

As this site is dedicated to the 204 (and the .20's), I'd suggest you pop over to where lots of 17 Rem fans hang out, either over at "go-go-varmint-go", or at "saubier"....LOTS of .17 Remmy users on both sites.

Not sure why you'd want a .17 Rem, as the 204 will do everything the 17 will do, and do it better.

RICK, Now thats what i want to know. Is the 204 better than a 17 thanks.

The .204 has a greater number of bullets avalible, factory ammo is readily available, as is other components. The bullets have a greater BC, greater choise of rifles, not as harsh on barrel wear, does not foul the barrel as much, the .204 also has a flatter trajectory, is far better in the wind due to the higher BC bullets.

The .204 is far more superior ,

Get a .204 mate, you know it makes sense .

22 HORNET wrote:RICK, Now thats what i want to know. Is the 204 better than a 17 thanks.

That is why I said my 20VT or 204R are now my favorites.. I enjoy/ed the 17-223, but those terrible 20's will do better and really get in your blood.. Bill K

22 HORNET wrote:RICK, Now thats what i want to know. Is the 204 better than a 17 thanks.

Now that would completely depend on what you are using it for. As an all around fur friendly caliber on game such as Fox and Bobcat, no, the 17 is superior. For Coyotes it seems to work pretty good.
Like Rick said, if you want to learn more about 17's and do a comparison to 20's, then go to those forums he mentioned.

If you want a 17, I would go the 17 Fireball over the 17 Remington as it is a more efficient round and will not have to be cleaned as frequently as the 17 Remington. I prefer the 20 VarTarg over the 17 Fireball, but will give the Fireball a good workout on sage rats this summer. The 204 is better for long range shooting but the 17s will still perform pretty well on small targets out there a ways.

I have shot a Remington 700 BDL in 17 Remington for about 15 years. I am in the east so we don't have much opportunity to shoot many rounds at varmints per trip; so barrel fouling has never been a problem for me. I just clean whenever I get home.
I have had very good luck with IMR 4320, Reloader 15, and VV135. I have tried Win 760 but could never get the velocity expected before experiencing pressure problems. It was accurate however and meters great. I have always shot Berger 25 gr varmint bullets. When you make a solid hit on a groundhog it is difficult to find the entrance and no exit. I just purchased some of the 27gr Gold bullets so we will see how they work with their more streamlime shape and higher BC.
The biggest drawback for me with the 17 Remington is the lack of brass choices. When I first started using the round the readily available bullet choices were limited to 25 grain bullets from Hornady, Remington, and Berger, but now there are several others making quality 17 caliber bullets in various weights.
If I went to another 17 it would not be something with less range and energy but possibly a wildcat such as the 17 Tactical.

Hornet,

I would have to agree with a previous post, if you want a 17 I would go with the 17 fireball. The 17 Fireball case is more efficient versus the 17 rem. I don't necessarily agree 100% with a previous statement about the 204 offering a flatter trajectory, a 17 caliber with the proper bullets is almost as flat shooting as a 204 ruger in my experience. I have shot both cartridges side by side in Colorado on a prairie dog shoot and my 17 fireball was right there with my 204 ruger. Just my 2 cents.

Brad

Most all of my shooting is at prairie dogs and over the years have used rifles chambered for various cartridges . Im more likley to use the 17 HMR, 17 Fireball, and 204 Ruger rifles than the 17 HM2, 22 RFs , 22 Hornet, 221 Fireball, 222 Rem, 223 Rem, 22-250 Rem, 220 Swift, and 243 Win rifles which I have also used. The 17 Rem produces a bit more velocity than the 17 Fireball but my Fireball shots smaller groups than the 17 Rem rifle. But thats just comparing my two 17 centerfire rifles. I think that the 17 Rem is a better cartridge for shooting bigger varmints than the Fireball rifle. A prairie dog weighs about three pounds while a yote will be 30 plus pounds. But if I could have only one rifle for varmint hunting it would be the 204 Ruger rifle. I reload ammo for my rifles but what I have found that every rifle is a bit different so what is the most accurate brass, powder, bullet, primer, and free bore in my rifles most likely will not be in yours.