Help me decide, pros and cons. Which caliber is better and why? The 17 is a factory chambering which is nice, the 19-223 looks to be a good flat shooter that would still preserve hides. I can get 17 cal bullets from hornady ect... Are the 19's avaliable through anyone but calhoun?? What happens if calhoun goes belly up?? Thanks in advance for the info.

Mr. Calhoon is a really nice man. He knows his stuff. Do not call him unless you are going to buy a 19 cal because you will. He will try to find one or two guys in your area to fire one of his guns if you can not get to his shop. 17 Rem or a Tact20 would be my choice only becuase of bullets. If there was one or two more companies making 19cal bullets I would be having a 19Calhoon or a 19FBI (Fireball improved). I have heard no complaints about his bullets, work or calibers. Everyone sings high praises. Gun rags and private people. Starke also made some of the best bullets on the planet and now they are gone. That sealed the deal no 19s for now. So a 17 Ack Hornet and a 20 Vartag are next on the gun list.

I'm a twenty caliber guy, so really can't compare the two you mention. But the 'belly up' concern really should not be an issue. When a shooter is dealing with a true wildcat, the cost of bullets should always be figured in. In other words, find out what bullet shoots best, and buy a couple thousand or enough to last for at least one barrel. When its time for another barrel, you can decide at that point if you want to stay with that caliber if bullets are still being made, or try something else. Either way, you should not have run out of bullets.

Having said all that, there are enough .19 rifles out there now that someone else would step up to fill a void if it was ever needed.

Mike Johnston

yep that's my thought, that's why I order a Calhoon last week. James is a super guy to deal with, very helpful...

I had a 19-223 by Cooper that was pretty temper-mental. Dan Clements has had a number of 19's and liked them all and were great yote guns.

I don't think he will mind me giving you his email address. Just take the spaces out of the address

hig hxj @ bresnan . net

Stan

I actually own two of James Calhoon's .19 cal. rifles (both CZ's). I started off with the .19-223 and was just floored with the accuracy. Starts to give a fellow the "jitters" when the first four go in the same hole! Happy to say that number five snuggled in there with his brethren. This was with his 32g Dbl HP's and AA-2520, right at 4025 fps. Not a fluke, in that it's been repeated by myself, and two others. Problem was that now I had to have one of his .19 Calhoons (.22 Hornet necked down). Well let me say the .19 Calhoon is just as accurate!