.17cal Question

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calvin5673

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Just wondering if anyone here is reloading for either .17rem or .17rem Fireball and is making their own brass, as it seems unobtainable at this point? I'd be interested in building a rifle chambered in one or the other and getting the materials together, I would just like some info on process and results.

I'd be thinking on shooting the Hornady 25gr HP's. Something that can dual purpose fox and coyote. The 17 hornet just doesn't seem to have the energy I would like for clean kills at little further out.

17-223 would be an option if there was a spot to get a barrel done up. Had some experience with a 17-204, seems rough on the barrels, so would like to try a different route.

PM if you would rather.


Thanks,

Calvin
 
I just geared up for .17 Rem a month or two ago, picked up ammo, Nosler brass and dies at Wholesale Sports Calgary. I haven't been there in a couple of weeks but they had all of the above my last visit.
 
I load for the 17 Fireball, and I make cases by necking down 221 Fireball cases, which are easier to find, and are available in higher quality cases. I neck the cases down in two steps, first in my 20 vartarg die, and then in the 17 Fireball die. I have seen Nosler 17 Remington cases in Wholesale Sports.
 
The only trick to necking down 221 FB brass is you need to turn the neck to thin it out or it will be too thick to fit into the chamber. Which means necking one down unturned to find out finished neck thickness. Then turn a 221 neck down by a guesstimated amount and then neck down to find out the finished neck thickness. A bit of trial and error but not too difficult.
 
Years ago I had a 17 Mach IV built for me that I still shoot regularly. I purchased a set of Form Dies and made all my brass from 221 Fireball then fire formed it. Given that the 17 Mach IV and the 17 Fireball are for all intents and purposes the same I'm sure you could use the form dies to make 17 Fireball Brass. The biggest difference between the Mach IV and Fireball is that the Fireball is chambered to SAMMI standards while the Mach IV is a wildcat so individual chambers varied slightly.
 
Suputin said:
The only trick to necking down 221 FB brass is you need to turn the neck to thin it out or it will be too thick to fit into the chamber. Which means necking one down unturned to find out finished neck thickness. Then turn a 221 neck down by a guesstimated amount and then neck down to find out the finished neck thickness. A bit of trial and error but not too difficult.
Click to expand...

It isn't an issue in my rifle using Nosler cases, but Lapua cases have thicker necks.
 
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