SmallCaliberCentral

I just ordered the new Remington Varmint SF in 17 Fireball. Please share your favorite loads with me. Since reloading supplies are very limited, I want to start with the best loads I can to get me going. It is ground squirrel (skippy) season and need to hit the fields quickly. Thanks!

SW: I've tried various combinations in my 17 Mach IV ten twist barrel, and this is what I finally settled on:
H322 @ 18.3 grs for fireforming, 18.6grs for field load
Berger 25gr WS2 coated .010" off the lands
Rem 7-1/2 BR primer
R-P 221FB cases formed and neck turned to fit chamber with .002" clearence
Annealed brass after forming
Field load is very, very accurate, fireforming load is accurate enough (under .5 MOA) for hunting Skippy.
Velocity of field load: 3,860 fps

The finished product:



I've also tried N133 in this caliber, and although good, it's harder to find and expensive when you do. I only use the 25gr bullet in mine, as no further speed is required that the 20gr bullet would give. I save the 20gr bullet (Berger & V-Max) for my 17 Ackley Hornet, and it launches that one out there at 3,810 fps. Skippy hates both.

Rick,
are the Mach 1V case dimms. exactly the same as the R fireball? thanks, KB.

Not exactly the same, but very, very close, almost identical.

Sorry Rick, i should have asked this at the same time.Are the two close enough that the same powder charge can be used in both cases? Thanks KB.

Ken: Yes, most others agree that the cases are enough alike that identical charges can be used in both/either. As you are a foxer like many here in our midwest are also, this seems to be about an ideal caliber for such use. I have a Navy friend stationed on Kodiac Island Alaska, and uses his Mach IV on artic fox with excellent results, very accurate, no pelt damage, and good ranging capabilities. He uses the load I posted above.

exellent and valued information once again Rick. Thanks very much KB.

Thanks for your 17 info Rick, useful as always. I hope to make it to Burns next month for some skippy time! I will be giving your bench a workout for the trip. Have you been out much?

Sidewinder: Have not been out at all yet, just now "field worthy" in relation to complete mending. My ranchers in Skippyville tell me when the sun shines they're out in low to fair numbers, but with all the snow, rain and wind, they've been down more than up. It's generally not worth the gas to go much earlier than mid-March to late March from past experience.

We've got our first serious multi-day trip planned for the first weekend of April, so you can just about bet on snow, rain, wind or all that on that date.

I've spent the down time wisely though by virtue of now having literally thousands of precision handloads ready for all my varmint rifles from my .17's to my 6mm's. Now it's just about time to start emptying cases!

Good luck on your trip. Remember......photos!

Rick, thanks for the heads up on the skippy count. I am actually working up a load for a new 6mmAI now. I was thinking of starting with some IMR 4064 or some IMR 4350. I have been looking for some VV N-160 but it is impossible for me to find now, and I work at a Sportsman's Warehouse! I have a 1:12 twist so I will be concentrating on the lighter bullets for yotes. What are your favorite powder / bullet combos?

Oh, if you need some help emptying all those cases, I can help you with that. I'll take pictures for you! Hope you get on the mend quickly.

Sidewinder: I can relate in terms of trying to find powder. My wife buys directly from Hodgdon, and even they don't have any of our most used powder for the small bores available. We're all calling it the "Nobama Factor". "Nobamanation" is more like it....

In the 6mm bore, I use both the .243 Ackley and .243 Win with the 70 or 80gr Ballistic Tip. I use Varget in both, always have. The Ackley is my bench gun, used mostly on Skippy, and my .243 Win is my coyote rifle. I tried H4350, and although okay, Varget just gave better performace in all regards in both rifles.

Our Sportsmans Warehouse here has bare shelves most of the time now in the powder, bullet and primer section. When powder comes in, it's snatched up right away, and bare shelves again greet the next guy in the door. It's a bad scene all around.

On the bright side though, once the sun comes out and it warms up a tad, I'm mended up, and ready to get out and burn some powder in Skippy's behalf! Oh the joy!



The above pic was taken with my digital camera held up to my 25X Lupy spotting scope...........smile Skippy, wait for flash!

Thanks for the info. I cannot get Varget. That is one of the favorite powders for the volume AR guys that compete. One of the managers at work gets it by the 8 pound jugs when they come in.