Finally got a set of dies for this caliber.

I am looking to rebarrel something for this caliber...haven't decided on a Rem 700 action or a Ruger or Model 70...

I wanted to try it out with a kind of a predator style set up first.. ( without the camo)

for those with any experience with the cartridge, what do you think?

options are a heavy magnum contour, but short barrel... between 18 to 22 inches in length

other thoughts are in a varmint contour, but 20 inches in length.. already have several stocks that would take that contour, but are sporter sized stocks.

if this works out well for me, I was then going to follow with a barrel for the Savage 12 BVSS in the standard Savage 26 inch varmint contour...

however I am thinking a sporter sized set up would probably be more practical...

thoughts?

cheers
seafire

i dunno but the little round seems to deserve a nice svelte rifle. something like on of the little kimbers, or micro a bolts or the like

Seafire,
See if I can put together a couple of thoughts.

I own 30 or so heavy barrelled rifles from 17 to 33 caliber along the lines of savage, sako, encore, winchester and browning hi-wall. They are both single shot and repeaters. I have employed scopes up to 40 power. I also now own some more svelte rifles along the lines of the kimber 84's and 8400's, ruger hawkeyes and remington lvsf's. Last 10 or so scopes I have purcahsed have been 9 power and under.
In the past, I was pretty much a stand hunter employing beanfield type rifles. I have gotten into "walking varminting" in a big way over the last three years and have purchased a couple of remington lvsf's (27 rem and 221 fireball). See if I can put together a couple of thoughts.
I love my heavy barrelled rifles. Years ago I would have said that they are more accurate than sporter weight barrells, but I have several sporters that shoot amazingly accurate groups.
If you could deal with the camo, the Remington 17 predator is a sweet rifle. I’m getting right at 4000 fps with 20 gr hornady and 18.3 gr reloader 10x. However, max velocity is not my holy grail.


I am really fond of the lvsf configuration. Although I have traditionally been a blue steel and wood guy, these dudes are basically impervious to the cactus, thorns, rocks and dust that are so prevalent in the texas hill country.
.

Another combo that I really like that I happened onto by sheer luck is a browning micro medallion. This rifle had been rebarrelled with a 22 inch heavy fluted stainless barrel. The barrell and action were then Teflon coated and put back in a bedded micro medallion stock. Trigger breaks a 1.5 lbs. It is a super sweet shooter. It is a little heavier that the lvsf or the 17 predator but it is handles and carries very easy.


If your not sitting at a bench in a pasture shooting 300 yds plus (and I would consider the 17 fireball a 300 yd or less round) I think a walking varminter is the way to go.
Good luck on which ever way you decide to go. Please post results of your choice when you can
GWB

Thanks GW...

I sure like your finished results above...

Right now I am looking at loading up some rounds and borrowing an Encore from a friend, to actually see how I am going to like the round.

Right now I am leaning toward a Ruger Stainless action, laminate stock... scope will probably be a 3 x 9... a 20 inch heavy magnum contour barrel seems to keep showing up in my mind....

I really was thinking about a 17 Ackley Hornet on the Ruger 77/22 H action... but it will be much cheaper for me to go this route instead..

I have several 77 Mk 2s, in stainless with laminate stocks, that are duplicated in the gun cabinet...

although at the range a year or two ago, I saw some big time benchrest guys, were out playing with several of their new varmint set ups...

one Guy had an ADL action, in a Hogue Rubber Stock.. 3 x 9 Leupold with Mil Dot reticle...

20 inch heavy magnum contour...

it was set up as a switch barrel rig...

he had barrels and 3 duplicate scopes.. one for each barrel...

chamberings..
17 Fireball,
20 Vartag
19/221 Calhoon.

nice aftermarket trigger, Pac Nor barrels..
single shot benchrest follower....

that sure floated my boat, as your rifles above do also...

Evidently the round is not selling well...

that is a disappointment...
supposedly the 204 is out selling it by a wide margin...

Geedubya how is the 17 on the fox hides ...

gumboot,

Im shooting 20 gr vmaxes over 18gr of reloader 10x at 3900 fps or so in my fireball. It still is a little hot for foxes at 30 to 50 yds. I think my little ackley hornet or a 17 hmr would be more fur friendly. I've now taken fox with 17 rem &25 gr hollow points, 22 hornet and 40 gr vmaxes in the 17 fireball. All seem to be too much at the close range I call from. Ive shot 8 fox this year and all have been under 40 yds when shot. I'm thinking about loading some rounds down to 3400 fps and trying them in the fireball.

I really like the little 17 fireball round. I have had a contender in 17 mach iv for over 10 years but I wanted a repeater. Last week I took my first crow at 120 yds with this round, it was lights out.
GWB

Perhaps in the not so distant future we will have some Blue dot reduced loads to ogle.

Thanks for the reply ..... I,m beginning to think a 22 mag optical sighted revolver is the thng to have along and immediatly available for calling fox .... maybe combined with a rifle like yours or a 223 for the 100 yard plus shots ... ????????????????

gumboot,

10/4 on that. I use a foxpro fx3 set out about 20 to 30 yds from me. Two of the fox that I have called in have come within 15 feet of me, but were so intent on the call they never even noticed me. I recently picked up a little kimber model 82 bolt action 22 lr. I am going to try it the next time I go calling.
GWB