Anyone having good luck with reloads for the 17 Rem?
I havent used mine in 9 yrs and would like some curent info.
Thanks

Varmint,
I'm using Moly-caoted bullets in my .17 Remington. They really help keep the fouling to a minimum.
I'm using Starke 20 grainers, Starke 25 grainers, and Berger 25 & 30 grainers. I also use Federal 205M primers, and seat the bullets .020" off the lands.
For 20 grainers, 21.2 grains for VihtaVuori N-133 does a pretty good job, and 23.0 grains of Varget works pretty well, too.
For the 25 grainers, I like 23.0 grains of Varget, and 23.3 grains of VihtaVuori N140 work pretty well.
I got best accuracy with the 30 grain Bergers using 21.2 grains of N-140.
Regards, George.

Had real good luck with H-414 powder in a couple of 17 Rems. Moly coated bullets cut down on the 17 fliers, too. In match grade barrels the moly doesn't seem to make so much difference but in production barrels it cuts down on the fouling. Makes the Hornadys shoot almost as good as Bergers in my Sako.

Anyone using 4320 or the Hornady 25 gr HPs? Mine is shooting pretty crappy right now and I'm wondering if it's just the bullet, or if the powder is contributing also. I'll probably go to the Starke 25gr Moly, but should I also change powder?

Jethro,,I'm wondering what kind of rifle that you have? I'm assuming it is a 17 Rem.
But, besides that, it takes a certain attention to detail to be successful with a 17. The small size dictates that small changes make a great deal of difference. All that aside, however, my first change in your program would be to go to moly bullets. I've fooled around with 17's for over 10 years. Accuracy problems often come from fouling. The moly eliminates the worst of these problems. After that I would go to the Starke bullets or Bergers. 4320 usually works adequately in many rifles. After that try H-414. It is a ball powder. Sometimes I think that the reason it works so good for me in a couple of 17 Rem's is that it meters so well through the small drop tube. Read my above post. What kind of accuracy are you geting now? What kind do you expect?

It's an older 17 Rem that is completely stock. I'm not really interested in changing barrels, stock, etc. Just want it to shoot decently. I now know for a fact that the barrel is fouled badly. I always thought I was getting it clean, but not even close. I used Sweets on it just recently, which I thought did the job. Then I heard about Wipe Out and tried it. I've used it 5 times over the last couple of days and stuff is still coming out. I let it soak overnight and when I swab it the patch is completely blue.
I'll take it to the range after it is completely clean and see how well it shoots with the Hornady 25 gr HPs, but I still intend on switching to the Starke Molys. If anything, it will reduce the fouling. Before I started cleaning with wipe out, I was all over the target within a 8 in diameter circle. No groups at all. Hopefully, this helps. Should I also look into floating the barrel? Do you think it will help?

I have 2 17Rems. One a M700 Rem that is stock except for rebedding and a trigger job. In this gun I shoot the old 25gr. Rem. HP. moly coated and IMR 4895. This rifle does not shoot well this 4320. My other 17Rem. is an old L46 Sako single shot rebarreled with a Douglas stainless steel #4 barrel. So far this gun shoots best (in the 4s &5s) with a 20gr. moly coated Hornady Vmax and IMR4320. Scoped with a KT 15X Weaver ground squirrels and magpies don't stand much chance. Two things I like about the 17s are you can see the hits because of lack of recoil and out to 300yds. they shoot quite flat. I find both rifles shoot the best groups with the loads backed off the top about 100fps.
Also, don't shoot a group with a stick powder load and after shooting ball powder or the other way around without cleaning the barrel between the 2 kinds of powder. Both of my rifles start shooting in the 4-6in. group size. Pete

Here is a good load for your remington
Rem 7 1/2 primers
26.4 gr of ww760
25 gr bullet (hornaday)
seated between .010 & .020 from the lands.
This is a one hole load that has been used in several remingtons with GREAT results!!!!!

I also have a standard Rem. 700 BDL in .17 Rem. My favorite load is 23.0 gr. of AA2494 with the Rem. 25 gr. HP, Rem. brass, and Rem. 7-1/2 primer. Unfortunately Remington has quit selling this bullet for reloaders. My barrel does not foul badly with this load. One day I fired 25 rounds on prairie dogs, and the next day on the range without cleaning the barrel I put 5 shots in .65". I also think you are on the right track by thoroughly cleaning your barrel. I have seen several barrels that the owners thought were shot-out that started shooting well again when they were really clean.

Well, I think I have finally gotten the barrel clean. After 3 more days of Wipe Out applications, the patch is coming out clean. There were actually chunks of copper coming out on the patches! Next step is to use my existing load at the range again. Maybe this weekend if the weather holds out. Hopefully, this solves the problems. If not, a bullet change (and maybe powder) will be phase 2. I'll let you know.

Barrel quality is a big leveller with .17's. Mine is a Sako A1 which will shoot 20 gr V Max's into high 3's / low 4's all day. Doesn't like the 25gr Hornday, with the best 5 shot group around .8, but averages around 1.1 inch.
I would suggest you scrub the barrel with a bore cleaning paste rather than spending days with a solvent.
Everyone has different opinions on 17's and barrel fouling, however my Sako will shoot just as well after 50 rounds as the first 5. It is alos easy to get clean, which is a bit of a blessing wiith such a small bore.

Results from the range today using existing load (25gr hornady with 24.2gr 4320) and a perfectly clean barrel:

7 total rounds fired

6 formed a 3" group that went from lower right of target to upper left

1 round tumbled through the target. This was the very first round out of the clean barrel and the first time I've seen this happen.

Bad barrel or wrong bullets? This rifle should be able to stabilize a 25gr bullet, right? Any suggestions what I should do next?

I would suggest all of the usual checks - bedding screws all tight, scope mounts not moving & rings secured effectively. Is the barrel free floated? If not try a rim of cardboard between the barrel and stock - try at the forend, and then under the front action screw to see if this has any effect. Next step would be to buy three different bullet types and try these with a medium load. If any of these show promise, load 3 rounds with the medium charge weight, three more with say .2 or .3 gr increase etc. Shoot these until you find one/two which fit with your barrel harmonics. Next try seating depth.
Not sure why a .25gr bullet would tumble, unless you had a very slow twist. Are you sure it tumbled? Did any of the others look like they tumbled?
I would try the 20 gr Hornady V max next, then Berger.

I've had no trouble with my 17s and copper but with other cals. after checking bedding, scope, mounts, etc. it's almost always come back to a fouled (copper) barrel. Recently, I had a 338 that had really heavey copper 6ins. back from the muzzel. It drove me nuts. Didn't find it until I used a bore scope. Just cleaning with Sweets would show a little blue on the patch but wouldn't touch it. Finally used Sweets on a strip on scotch-bite wound around the cleaning rod. Groups went from 3ins. to under and inch. Too bad you can't get a bore scope in that 17 barrel.

Agree with the moly being virtually essential. Use a BR-2 primer, 24.8grs of Varget pushing a 20gr V-Max. Shoots around 1/2" moa in a Rem 700 Classic.

Well, the verdict is in. Had it borescoped this morning and found that the rifling is nearly gone. Explains the tumbling of the bullets. Anyway, being so close to Christmas, I'll probably have to wait a couple of months to rebarrel, unless I can pick up a good take off barrel. I'm not looking to turn this into a benchrest rifle, just a decent shooting one. Know of any 17 take offs available?

If you can't find a take off barrel I'd suggest getting a stain steel barrel from Douglas, Shilen, Pac Nor, etc. I know that with Shilen even their standard grade s.s. barrel they are hand lapped--less fouling. My Sako has a s.s. Douglas and shoots great and cleans easy. The next barrel in any cal. I buy is going to be from K&P out N.Mexico way, I've heard only good things about them.
One other thing, if you dont't already start shooting moly coated bullets in that 17. Pete