17 Remington or 17 Fireball?

[Dean2]

Is yours an ar with one if their barrels?

Was meaning to see if they let reamers out for bolt guns, then the parts went in the box and forgot about it.

Seems like with the way brass availability has been forn12 out of the last 16 years a 5.56 based 17 would make sense.

You can use 223 brass to make 17 FB or 221 FB. It is a little work but makes great brass and the base stock is unlimited.

The best gopher explosions, red mistifications, come from the 20 grain Sierra Blitz Kings and Jim Calhoons 17 calibre bullets. They are truly explosive at 4200 fps. The Bergers and Vmax are good too.

 

[Airedale56]

Whichever has the best brass availability is likely what factors first into your selection.

I have two .17 Remingtons, never had a .17 Fireball. I did see a Factory Remington Fireball in the used guns rack recently at a local store.

Both of the .17s will allow you to see your hits on PDs.

Coyotes swell up like a volleyball in your scope on chest impacts…

 

[lyotehunter]

l want a prairie dog gun l can point, shoot, and SEE the prairie dog BLOW UP. l have 221FB, 222REM, 223REM, and TAC20 varmint guns. None qualify for me. l think a 17REM or 17FB will.

I have been shooting my 17rem for years and it still is so fun to shoot. I shoot 25gr bergers at 4025fps. You can see the bullets hit because of almost zero recoil. I have killed 800 plus coyotes with it. It makes their insides disintegrate and rarely does fur damage. Rabbits and prairie dogs explode. SpongeBob SquarePants.I use my omega 300 silencer on it and it's very quiet. Just my 2cents.

 

[woodnut]

I've been prairie dog whackin for over ten years. The smaller cartridges are my go- to rounds as, yes you can see them blow up! MY fav out to 300+ yds is the 17 WSM. Not much for blow ups; but very deadly. Then there's my 20 PPC that throws a 39gr Sierra BK at over 3900fps very accurately! I can see red mists and blow ups with it! I also have an old Ruger #1 in 17/222mag. Yep, you read it right. That fires a 25gr. pill at 4000 fps and it too is darn accurate. I shot tow 3 shot groups at 200 under 1/2 inch! I don't shoot it a lot, too pretty. I also have a very sweet 19 Calhoon that I very much love to shoot! Mr. Calhoon builds a great rifle and KNOWS his cartridge building. He's got several cartridges he makes and I bet they all are super good, like the 19 Calhoon.
If I was in your position, I would think the 20 PPC would answer all your points. Accurate, very fast, no recoil, easy to load. Put it in a good action, good stock and very good glass mounted well with a bubble level and you will be in grin city!

 

[Varmiter71]

I have a 17AH, 17 fireball, and 2 17 Remingtons.
I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.
They are so much fun to shoot.
There is a lot of 17 fireball factory ammunition out there if that is a concern

 

[436]

l want a prairie dog gun l can point, shoot, and SEE the prairie dog BLOW UP. l have 221FB, 222REM, 223REM, and TAC20 varmint guns. None qualify for me. l think a 17REM or 17FB will.

I shot a Remington M700 .17 Rem for many years hunting Yotes. I have absolutely no complaints as to its effectiveness on Yotes out to 375 yards and change using a .25gr HP. I really loved that cartridge for 80% of the varmint hunting I did, especially around livestock that were dropping calves. As a pet hunter cartridge, it's just outstanding.
It wouldn't be my pick for prairie poodles, I think I'd stick with the .223 Rem for that type of hunting, long range with lots of shoots.
Just my 0.2 Cheers

 

[xunit13]

I've been shooting the .17 Rem for about forty years. It is my go to for groundhogs under 250 yards. My loads shoot flat at 1" out to 200 yds. you can see the hits because an explosion of dust when you hit it. Mine is a Rem. 700 w/ a boyds A T-1 stock. when you do the autopsy you find the entrance hole is a tiny little slit. There is no exit hole, but if you pick it up and shake it , it rattles. all the ribs are brolen and the inside is mush. My load is 23.0 gns of 4895, 25 gr. v-max. garmin shows 3900 fps. shoots .455 for me.

 

[Dean2]

Duplicate

 

[Dean2]

I've been shooting the .17 Rem for about forty years. It is my go to for groundhogs under 250 yards. My loads shoot flat at 1" out to 200 yds. you can see the hits because an explosion of dust when you hit it. Mine is a Rem. 700 w/ a boyds A T-1 stock. when you do the autopsy you find the entrance hole is a tiny little slit. There is no exit hole, but if you pick it up and shake it , it rattles. all the ribs are brolen and the inside is mush. My load is 23.0 gns of 4895, 25 gr. v-max. garmin shows 3900 fps. shoots .455 for me.

So are you downloading the speed for accuracy or for fur friendliness. Reason I ask is Benchmark or 8208 and a 25 grain Vmax or Berger and I can hit 3900 out of my factory Rem 26" barreled rifle with the much smaller cased Fireball

 

[Bud LaRoche]

Turn your scope power down and you will see your hits with all of those cartridges. My favorite "red mist" cartridges are 204 Ruger and 20 BR with 39 gr BlitzKings. 6mm and up are a problem seeing hits, I won't use them.

I named my 204 Ruger "The Red Mist Maker ".