Read yesterday that the 17 Fireball is the commercialized version of 17 Mach IV. T or F?

The .17 Remington Fireball was created in 2007 by Remington Arms Company as a response to the popular wildcat round, the .17 Mach IV. Factory loads drive a 20 grain (1.3 g) bullet around 4,000 ft/s (1,219 m/s). Velocity is close to the .17 Remington but with significantly less powder, and therefore less heat and fouling.

quote:

Originally posted by CoyoteKiller82:
The .17 Remington Fireball was created in 2007 by Remington Arms Company as a response to the popular wildcat round, the .17 Mach IV. Factory loads drive a 20 grain (1.3 g) bullet around 4,000 ft/s (1,219 m/s). Velocity is close to the .17 Remington but with significantly less powder, and therefore less heat and fouling.

I should add that the parent case of the .17 Remington Fireball is the .221 Remington Fireball.

The 17 Fireball is so close to the 17MIV that the several dimensional differences/tolerances virtually overlap, creating confusion as to whether dies and/or ammo is interchangeable.
Load data is certainly comparable, but chamber dimensions call for rifle-to-rifle decision regarding dies/cases.
I thought my 17MIV's were 17cal utopia...then I got a 17 Ackley Hornet; even more fun/efficient!

Greg

Wouldn't be a bit surprized if more varmint hunters went to smaller diameter, higher speed bullets to realize better reloading economy, the 17's and the 20's are great fun plus the 'fur really flies.........r in s.

I really warmed up to this round and it's concept...

I had a chance to load a whole batch of ammo for powder testing and developing loads for a friend who had the caliber...

It takes some attention, compared to 22 caliber varmint rounds at the reload bench...

I worked up some tack driver loads as we tested 15 powders with the 20 grain V Max bullets..

IMR 4895, RL 7 and H 322 turned in the best accuracy, with little 22 caliber sized holes at 100 yds for 5 shots...

this was with a T/C with a 24 inch barrel...

problem is, when we tested those loads again just to final zero the scope, the wind kicked up and accuracy flew out the window.. the wind opening up the groups significantly...

second problem, I don't know of many varmint shooting areas for prairie dogs and sage rats, that are windless...

that was my reason for canceling the barrel I had ordered and changed it to another caliber..

as Mule Rider says tho, I can see a rifle such as the Ruger 77/22 Hornet being rebarreled to a 17 Ackley Hornet as being one fun little round..

even that rifle, in a single shot, heavy barrel platform in either the 17 Ackley Hornet or the 17 Fireball would be a fun rifle tho.. especially on a windless day...

Concur with you on the wind factor, which can REALLY ruin groups, John

It's a very popular round out here for shooting over a spotlight at night, but as that is not my go, I won't be building one.

I don't know about you guys, but I love being able to pick up the phone and order a bag of factory brass. Guess I'm getting old
GWB