.17 Rem Fireball or .204 Ruger

scott_r

scott_r

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Behind a .204 Ruger
Im looking for a gun for this winters yote hunt and can't decide if I should go with the .17 or .204. The new .17 Rem Fireball sounds cool but Im not sure if you can find dies or brass yet and if it will even survive. The .204 has developed a following and has a nice selection of rifles, dies bras ect...
I would also consider a .17 Rem if a nice rifle came my way??
So what would you buy :confused:?? Im not at all intersted in a .223, 22-250, 220 Swift, .243 either, just these 2.

Cheers!!
 
I LOVE my .204. Traded my .223 away because I find I'm shooting the .204 a lot more. Very enjoyable round, minimal recoil and damn fast.

Never shot a .17 Rem, so I cant comment.
 
i bought a 204 when they first came out, I liked it alote, then I found myself a beautiful little 17 Remington. My 204 hasnt been shot in a couple years now. I just love the little 17. I use them for coyote hunting, and cant tell the diffrence between the two in the field. But you have to reload to get the best out of the 17. If you dont, the 204 would be better.
 
I got a fireball last March and put about 750 rounds through it, love the caliber. That being said I just ordered a 204 for a calling/varmint gun. I dont think the fireball can deliver enough energy for consistant killing past 150-200yds. Just my opinion.
 
I only have a .204 and a 17hmr so I cant speak to the 17 fireball but I know that a .204 drops coyotes no problem with very lil noise. The 17hmr seems more like a toy and a 22/250 wakes up the hillbillies.
 
Given good shot placement the 17 FB should work well out to 200y on yotes. The 204 definitely isnt as much as a finess gun, but it is no 22-250.

I'd buy both :)
 
I believe Tod said it right, the .17's have significantly less energy and are great guns to use if you call your yotes in to less than 200yards. The big .22's are great for longer shots, seen kills out to 500yards. And the 204 is like a happy medium. Personally I bought a 204 and love it, and am not afraid of shooting at yotes out to 400+.

And of course, shot placment is key!
 
If you call in close--then there is little to choose. Longer shots--204--if you go way out then .22-250 or up. But--if you only go for 'yotes once in a while and mostly shoot crows/gophers/etc. then a .17 is a lot of fun. The .17 fireball does not seem to foul barrels as quickly as any of my .17 Rems did so I find it more practical.

Most of my varmint shooting is under 200 yards and I find the .221 and .17 Fireballs to be just the ticket. I don't often hunt 'yotes but look forward to trying out the .17 Fireball on a few this winter.

fwiw, 44Bore
 
mackillan said:
Hi Todd Could you explain the advantages/differences of the
.204 ruger
17hmr
17 fireball
?
Click to expand...

17HMR is a rimfire, good for gophers to 150-200y in calm winds. 17 Fireball is a centerfire, good on gophers to 300-400y in calm winds, or coyotes to 200ishy with proper placement. 204 ruger is a bigger case, pushes a heavier bullet than the 17, better in the winds than the 17 due to a higher BC bullet
 
When you hit a gopher with a .204 in close they jump up and do a lil jig:dancingbanana:It also seems to do well at the range but it is a heavy barrel ruger with a tripod so is cumbersome although good to plug coyotes off the deck:sniper:
todbartell said:
17HMR is a rimfire, good for gophers to 150-200y in calm winds. 17 Fireball is a centerfire, good on gophers to 300-400y in calm winds, or coyotes to 200ishy with proper placement. 204 ruger is a bigger case, pushes a heavier bullet than the 17, better in the winds than the 17 due to a higher BC bullet
Click to expand...
 
my friend has both he skins so he shoots 17 fireball has not shot the 204 in two years feels if you need more than 17 for dogs shoot 22-250 and his 204 is a beautyful gun that is not used
 
The 17 Rem FB has been around for a long time, it was known as the 17 Mach IV before they decided to rename it from what I've read. Dies and brass are supposed to be easy to come by now. I'm thinking of buying one myself.
 
the 22-250 is a whole different ballgame. To shoot 30 or 40 gophers in an early summer day is to bring in the militia. The .204 is a nice gentle crack that gets them farther out than a 17hmr and rather than a 22-250 I would use a 243 and get some real practice. I do know that a 257 wby mag does a nice job on gophers
disker said:
my friend has both he skins so he shoots 17 fireball has not shot the 204 in two years feels if you need more than 17 for dogs shoot 22-250 and his 204 is a beautyful gun that is not used
Click to expand...
 
Well I picked up a Remington Model 700 LVSF in .204 Ruger for only $795 no tax, amazing price seeing most places sell them for around $950-1000. Anyone interested I can give a name/ number and website.
Only downfall I see with this rifle is its blind mag which Im going to have a BDL floorplate installed.

www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire_rifles/model_700/model_700_LV_SF_specs.asp

For yotes this winter I think Its going to wear either a Fixed 6x Leupold or a 3-9x40 Zeiss Conquest.....not sure but can't wait till I get to shoot her :D

Cheers!!
 
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