.17-221 Fireball

[baldtop]

This new .17-221 Fireball from Remington sounds interesting from the point of view it burns little powder, and one should be able to see hits/misses with the low recoil. It will be coyote-capable too.

 

[Ardent]

Called the .17 Mach IV, and it's been around since barely after the .221 was introduced. A great caliber, now legitimized as the .17 Fireball. Much more sensible than the .17 Rem.

 

[6mm Shooter]

I think that the 20 Vartag (.20cal Fireball) would have been a better choice for Remington.

 

[scott_r]

So what the difference between the .17 Rem and the .17 Fireball?? The .17 Rem is capable of pushing a bullet over 4000 fps what does the fireball have on it??

Cheers!!

 

[Chuck McCann]

My mach IV is quieter, burns less powder, the little cartridge is just plain cute and kills coyote as good as it's big brother. I can't speak to fouling because none of the three 17's I own have any fouling problems. I'm afraid that the factory offerings rem has announced (20gr Vmax) will be to explosive to give consistent results on coyotes the 20's should work on fox and cats though. To get the most out of the 17 Fireball you will need to handload the 25gr hp's for coyotes. All that being said the 17 Rem will do everything the FB will do and then some, despite that I haven't fired a round from my 17 rems in 2 years. My 17 Mach IV is just to much fun.

 

[Rotaxpower]

They will be making a 25grn load for it too.

 

[Rotaxpower]

Oh, and you can see your hits/misses with with a 17 Remington or 204 ruger too. But none the less the 17 fireball looks interesting!

 

[bisonhd]

Probably a wise marketing choice having there been all the popularity of the
17 rimfires in the las few years. Probably a lot more machines tooled up for making bullets, assuming the same bullets that are used in the HMR's are suitable for the HV centrefire.

Burns less powder therefore puts less hot gas down the bore than the 17 remington extending barrel life.

Mach IV dies are espensive and brass has to be formed. Hopefully now it will become less expensive.

The round will come in the standard SPS among others. I'm thinking even a standard hunting contour barrel with only a 17 hole is goinging to have plenty of metal for varmint shooting.

 

[Ardent]

So what the difference between the .17 Rem and the .17 Fireball?? The .17 Rem is capable of pushing a bullet over 4000 fps what does the fireball have on it??

Cheers!!

Actually the .17 Rem is only about 100fps faster than the Mach IV/.17 Fireball, but burns a lot more powder to do it. Blast and recoil are both lighter with the Mach IV.

 

[tootall]

Actually the .17 Rem is only about 100fps faster than the Mach IV/.17 Fireball, but burns a lot more powder to do it. Blast and recoil are both lighter with the Mach IV.

Yes, that just about covers it. I asked the advantage of the Fireball when I was at SHOT last week. Tim Tanker of Rem said that the reduced fouling and blast was the main points.