Page 2 of 2
Re: 17 Fireball
Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:41 am
by trevort
Hotshot wrote:Waldo,
Your idea is wonderfull, but I have to live within a budget that will only allow one for now. I just need input to help make the best choice. I did buy a 17HMR last summer and I really love it in low wind 150 yards or less gopher shooting. My 204's do most of the other work out to 500 plus. 22-250, 220 Swift and 6mm-06 hardly see day light since I discovered the 204. I think my 223 barrel is probably rusted shut, since I never use it. I will re-barrel that rifle for one of the fireball family in preparation for spring shooting. The rifle is a Remington, if it was a Savage I could just buy a couple barrels and put them on myself. I'm leaning toward the 17 Fireball, but the experiences of the forum members will influence the decision.
Cos i have a 204, I opted for 17mach fireball insted of 20Vt, should pick up the barreled action next week to take to the stock maker to get that bit underway. Cant wait!
Grafs list the 17fb brass for sale, hope its in stock, I made 300 from 221 FB but am about to apply for an import permit to see if the factory stuff does better!
Re: 17 Fireball
Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:42 am
by Odawgpw/204
I hauled one home 12/24 without even knowing about the particulars.
it was a screaming deal on a nine hundred dollar gun. I couldn't pass it up no matter what caliber
Everything you see
gun,scope,mount,80rnds, $750 out the door
Re: 17 Fireball
Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 4:10 pm
by trevort
well i was either dreaming or Grafs had it listed by mistake, gone next time I looked!
Re: 17 Fireball
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 12:49 pm
by burge
Cool! One more wont hurt. Does any other manufacturer currently chamber the .17 fireball or is it just a remington thing lately?
Re: 17 Fireball
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 12:53 pm
by WrzWaldo
Cooper in the "Model 38"
Re: 17 Fireball
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:18 pm
by blackblue
Im building a savage in 17rem. Eabco offers a 17fireball barrel.
Re: 17 Fireball
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 6:28 pm
by Rick in Oregon
With all the popularitly of the .17 Mach IV for all these years (since 1965), you can bet that this year, and every year thereafter, all the makers will jump onto the 17FB bandwagon.
Ask any barrel maker that makes .17 caliber barrels, and they'll tell you a large amount over the years have been for the 17M4. Now that it's been commercialized, brass is available along with loaded ammo, it's a no-brainer that it will catch on with the varmint shooting crowd (us!).
Of course, any barrel maker (that makes 17 caliber barrels) will gladly supply you with a 17FB barrel for any action you happen to have....right now.
Re: 17 Fireball
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 5:14 pm
by trevort
Rick and others, just picked up my barreled action, now for a stock. In the meantime, what powders have you found best? I intend to shoot 25s mostly.
How much lower do you go with a fireforming load (brass formed from 221 fireball)?
It was suggested a particular powder had 13.6gns as min load and I should load 13gns and jam the projie into the lands for fireforming.
My intention would e to fireform some a the range and hopefully to get a load accurate enough to shoot rabbits at hmr ranges while fireforming. I formed 300 cases and am not keen on just blasting 300 rounds at nothing in particular to get the cases right!
Re: 17 Fireball
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:51 pm
by WrzWaldo
When I necked down my 221 brass I just loaded them like I would have loaded factory brass.
Re: 17 Fireball
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:04 pm
by trevort
my gunsmith told me the case were 3thou (from memory) too short, apparently this was normal. He recommended a lighter load with pill in the lands to fireform them before going to full loads
Re: 17 Fireball
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:13 pm
by WrzWaldo
Where are they short? In the neck? What is the length of your brass (end to end)?
The max case length per revision 2 of the blueprint is 1.41
My brass lengths are...
Once fired factory brass 1.405
Unfired necked down 221 brass 1.391 (I shoot this just like the factory brass)
Once fired necked down 221 brass 1.3985
The shortness in my 221 brass is in the neck.
Re: 17 Fireball
Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:43 am
by trevort
I finished mine off in a fl die. When he said my case were too short (30 thou actually
) and I had to fireform them as if forming a wildcat I just thought that was part of the process, but no, I set the FL die too tight.
Re: 17 Fireball
Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:04 am
by sniper model 12
WOW !
I have learned a good bit from ya'll ! Thanks for the input! I think I'll wait a while to see if Savage picks up the 17fb. I had my share of guns. . . but savage rifles are my favorite so far.
Thanks again!
Re: 17 Fireball
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 1:23 pm
by WrzWaldo
I see Midway has 17 Fireball brass listed.
Product #: 749632
Manufacturer #: 23067 (100)
Our Price: $36.99
Status: Coming Soon
Date Expected In-Stock: 2/18/2008