.17 Remington Fireball?

[BK]

Anybody have one? If so, how does it shoot? Is it finicky? Does it need to be kept spotlessly clean like the standard .17 Remington? Any loading idiosyncrasies, other than sausage fingers trying to guide tiny little bullets?

 

[muleman]

I recently loaded 800 17 Hornet rounds and didn't mash one finger! I give complete cedit to the Hornady new dimension die. The seater die has a sleeve that slides out and guides the bullet straight long before you reach the pinch zone. I'd like to try the fireball myself someday. I don't think I'd load it hot - 3800 out of a 20gr would be fine with me. I think better bullets, powder and barrel steel would make this round sing again. I'd like to try CFE in it.
Scott

 

[BK]

Thanks, Scott.

800 rounds of .17 cal... my eyes and fingers hurt just thinking about it.

 

[wildgene]

...one small idiosyncrasy that you should be aware of when loading for the .17 Rem. Fireball/ Mach IV is you need to really watch your powder charges. In that small case/ tight bore a 1/2gr. variance in a powder charge of around 20grs. is a lot bigger difference than a 1/2gr. in a .30 cal that runs 75grs. is. That, & some of the older Remingtons had relatively tight throats that required outside turning a hair off the necks so there was enough room to seat a bullet after sizing...

 

[SJB358]

I can't imagine loading 17 caliber bullets. I have enough trouble with 22 and 243 bullets!

It sounds like a cool round. I'd like to try one of these little 17's though. It would be a great vaporizer of small animals!

 

[BK]

That's what kids are for... Stuff we can't do because of big hands or don't want to do like mowing the lawn...

 

[wildgene]

I can't imagine loading 17 caliber bullets. I have enough trouble with 22 and 243 bullets!

It sounds like a cool round. I'd like to try one of these little 17's though. It would be a great vaporizer of small animals!

...funny thing, Scotty, the light, fast bullets, like the 40gr. V-Max from the .223 or the 75gr. from the .25 are already heading out the backdoor before they've really had a chance to expand so they tend to just turn pdawgs inside out. The heavier frangibles that are moving a little slower, like the 55gr. TNT/ .223 or .25/ 85gr. BT's, 87gr. TNT, or 90gr. BlitzKings tend to make "parts & mist"... :shock: :roll: :twisted: :lol: :mrgreen:

 

[SJB358]

I'm in, either way. Sounds like a bunch of fun!

Gene, I saw that Browning Ti went for a decent price. I'm keeping my eye on any others.

 

[wildgene]

I'm in, either way. Sounds like a bunch of fun!

Gene, I saw that Browning Ti went for a decent price. I'm keeping my eye on any others.

...like everything, Scotty, the right one will come along @ the right time, just got to keep yer eyes & mind open...