Hi,

Which would be easier for a newbie to reload: .17 Remington Fireball or .204 Ruger ?

I wouldn't recommend either one as your first foray into reloading. The smaller the bore and cartridge, the more specialized equipment is needed. The smaller bores are also less forgiving of mistakes in powder measuring and bullet seating depth that wouldn't faze a larger bore.

I like the 204. However you definitly need to be very familiar with your powder scale. 1/2 grain of powder too much with a top load and you just might pop a primer.

The .204 would be easier than the .17 Fireball partially because of the reasons onefunzr2 just listed. In addition, .17 Fireball cases are more difficult to find/buy right now, but they are slowly becoming more available.

Thanks for the replies.

Unfortunately it looks like the .17 Rem Fireball is the weapon of choice.

Great Choice, I collect and fire the 17 FB, You might look into the Model 7 predator. Its my choice out of all the models.

quote:

Originally posted by pisces:
Thanks for the replies.

Unfortunately it looks like the .17 Rem Fireball is the weapon of choice.

quote:

Originally posted by eurocentric:
Great Choice, I collect and fire the 17 FB, You might look into the Model 7 predator. Its my choice out of all the models.

The Model 7 Predator in camo is the model that's top of my wish list.

It sounds like reloading the RFB is not going to be that straight forward. Fortunately a local re-loader has volunteered to show me the basics.

Just one more nagging worry and that's barrel life. My local gun dealer told me that the .17Rem needs to be re-barreled at 1,000 rounds and that the RFB would probably only survive an additional 500. As I currently shoot about 2,000 rounds a year with my 17HMR if I use the RFB to the same extent then I'm only going to get about 9 months of use before having to rebarrel.

Surely, if the shooting is not rapid range stuff and the MV is restricted to about 3,700 fps I should get a more reasonable barrel life ?

In saubier.com I posted a ton of loads for the 17 FB. please check there. I have been reloading for it for about a year now, I havent noticed any issues. The fancy model 700 CDL has a larger action (and the cases all stretched to 4.15" or larger)than all the other models made by Remington. The Predator has a 9-5/8" twist and it can handle the 27-30 gr bullets very well and there's very little case stretching, I have reloaded 3x before I had to trim them for it. I use the redding dies and neck size.

quote:

Originally posted by eurocentric:
... The Predator has a 9-5/8" twist and it can handle the 27-30 gr bullets very well and there's very little case stretching, I have reloaded 3x before I had to trim them for it. I use the redding dies and neck size.

Thanks, I've just done a search but can't find "eurocentric" among the users.

If the range of the Remington Seven Predator is only bullets between 27 and 30 grain then would this would leave out my preferred choice of 20 grains ?

pisces, You can still try the 20gr bullets and your gun may shoot them well. Or it may shoot the heavier weights better. Remember that each gun has its own preference. Your preference of bullet weights plays second fiddle to your gun's preference

Here are some: and my predator prefers heavier bullets 27-32 gr.


CALIBER BULLET BRASS PRIMER POWDER LOAD COL NOTE

17 FIREBALL 20 gr Hornady Rem Rem 7-1/2 H-335 18.5 @ 3,704 1.830, 40,600 cup Start Load
17 FIREBALL 20 gr Hornady Rem Rem 7-1/2 H-335 20.5 @ 4,027 1.830, 50,000 cup Max Load

17 FIREBALL 20 gr Hornady Rem Rem 7-1/2 H-4198 16 @ 3,811 1.830, 39,200 cup Start Load
17 FIREBALL 20 gr Hornady Rem Rem 7-1/2 H-4198 17.3 @ 4,037 1.830, 47,800 cup Max Load

17 FIREBALL 20 gr Hornady Rem Rem 7-1/2 H-322 18 @ 3,652 1.830, 37,500 Start Load
17 FIREBALL 20 gr Hornady Rem Rem 7-1/2 H-322 19.5 @ 4,019 1.830, 49,200 Max Load (Com)

17 FIREBALL 25 gr Hornady Rem Rem 7-1/2 H-335 17.7 @ 3,510 1.830, 41,700 cup Start Load
17 FIREBALL 25 gr Hornady Rem Rem 7-1/2 H-335 9.4 @ 3,744 1.830, 50,400 cup Max Load

17 FIREBALL 25 gr Hornady Rem Rem 7-1/2 H-322 17 @ 3,504 1.830, 38,500 cup Start Load
17 FIREBALL 25 gr Hornady Rem Rem 7-1/2 H-322 18.3 @ 3,704 1.830, 48,900 cup Max Load

17 FIREBALL 25 gr Hornady Rem Rem 7-1/2 H-4198 15.4 @ 3,549 1.830, 40,500 cup Start Load
17 FIREBALL 25 gr Hornady Rem Rem 7-1/2 H-4198 17 @ 3,789 1.830, 49,900 cup Max Load

17 FIREBALL 20 gr Hornady Rem WSR H-322 18 @ 3,769
17 FIREBALL 20 gr Hornady Rem WSR H-322 19 @ 3,965
17 FIREBALL 20 gr Hornady Rem WSR H-322 19.5 @ 4,132

17 FIREBALL 20 gr Hornady Rem WSR H-4198 17 @ 4,100

17 FIREBALL 25 gr Hornady Rem WSR H-322 18 @ 3,641

17 FIREBALL 25 gr Hornady Rem WSR H-4198 16.5 @ 3,712

17 FIREBALL 25 gr Hornady Rem WSR RL-7 15.3 @ 3,475

17 FIREBALL 30 gr Gold Woodchuckden Rem CCI 450 RL-10x 18 @ 3,700
17 FIREBALL 27 gr Gold Woodchuckden Rem CCI 450 RL-10x 18 @ 3,800
17 FIREBALL 25 gr Gold Woodchuckden Rem CCI 450 RL-10x 18.5 @ 4,050

quote:

Originally posted by pisces:

quote:

Originally posted by eurocentric:
... The Predator has a 9-5/8" twist and it can handle the 27-30 gr bullets very well and there's very little case stretching, I have reloaded 3x before I had to trim them for it. I use the redding dies and neck size.

Thanks, I've just done a search but can't find "eurocentric" among the users.

If the range of the Remington Seven Predator is only bullets between 27 and 30 grain then would this would leave out my preferred choice of 20 grains ?

20 grs and 25 greats are fine too. Were I hunt there's lots of wind and most of my shots are over 75 yds so I prefer the heavier bullets.

quote:

Originally posted by pisces:

quote:

Originally posted by eurocentric:
... The Predator has a 9-5/8" twist and it can handle the 27-30 gr bullets very well and there's very little case stretching, I have reloaded 3x before I had to trim them for it. I use the redding dies and neck size.

Thanks, I've just done a search but can't find "eurocentric" among the users.

If the range of the Remington Seven Predator is only bullets between 27 and 30 grain then would this would leave out my preferred choice of 20 grains ?

Eurocentric

Many thanks for the data.