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!