17 Fireball... anyone play ???

Magnum Wheel Man · March 6, 2012, 07:30 PM

Green Mountain had a deal through Browells for 17 caliber Chrome Moly barrel blanks... & my retired machinist buddy asked if I'd pick him up one ( he called them, & they said it was fine for the center fire cartridges, but that they were made up as a deal for rim fire cartridges ) my cost... just over $50.00 each... ( I had to buy myself one at that price ) the base is too small to screw into something like a Remington 700, but my buddy has been machining Contender base blocks, that the barrel threads into, & these would work nicely in those ( of course I collect Contenders, so he go my interest, when he said he'd make me a barrel, if I'd buy the blanks, & the reamer )

My father in law was heavy into 17 Remington, & I now have those guns... but I'm not a big fan of the 223 based cartridge... but I have been thinking about having him build me up a 17 Fireball since Remington standardized the cartridge, & brass is now available "pre-formed"

anyone shooting this hot little number ??? thoughts pro or con ???

Coyote_Buster700 · March 6, 2012, 07:51 PM

I've never met anyone that does. I don't see the real positive in it. I would like to see a .22-250 necked down to a .17 though.

I have no need to shoot the .17 fireball when my .22-250 already shoots at 4000 (supposedly) with the .45 gr I shoot now. The .17 Rem is a cool little cartridge too, as you mentioned.

mdd · March 6, 2012, 10:37 PM

My old man has one. He enjoys it for what it is. Loves to shoot crows with it because it has basically no recoil and he says he never loses sight picture.

Coyote buster, there is a lot of info out there about making a 20-250. 22-250 brass necked down to 204 caliber. That's a screaming little round.

cornbush · March 7, 2012, 12:18 AM

Don't have one, never shot one, but I want one bad.......

Don't really know why but I want one, my 223 does all I need, but the 17 Fireball just blows my knickers up

trg42wraglefragle · March 7, 2012, 07:41 AM

Seems like similar ballistics as a 204 Ruger but with lighter bullets and more wind drift. I'd prefer a 204 I reckon.

Magnum Wheel Man · March 7, 2012, 08:10 AM

yep... FIL liked those screaming over bore rounds he also shot alot of 22-250, & was thinking of getting a 220 Swift before he died... in the early days, he had loads that the bullet disintegrated, before it hit the target... I assume the bullets are better today ( 25 years later ) however, I always thought the 223 was enough... I already shoot 17 K Hornet in a Contender barrel, though not very often, as it's a pain to form cases... Fireball would already be already formed, & no fire forming needed...

I'm more of a heavy bullet guy, but I have been enjoying the custom 17 Mach 2 my buddy & I put together... it really does a number on the local red pine squirrels, with low report, & little ricochet chances

taylorce1 · March 7, 2012, 10:26 AM

MWM I think you are in luck with your Hornet now that Hornady is bringing it out. There might be a small difference in chambers but you sbouldn't have to move the brass as much. I'm not a big fan of .17 calibers because I don't like the tiny bullets while reloading. I think the .204 is a big enough pain on the bench.

March 6, 2012, 07:30 PM	#1
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	17 Fireball... anyone play ??? Green Mountain had a deal through Browells for 17 caliber Chrome Moly barrel blanks... & my retired machinist buddy asked if I'd pick him up one ( he called them, & they said it was fine for the center fire cartridges, but that they were made up as a deal for rim fire cartridges ) my cost... just over $50.00 each... ( I had to buy myself one at that price ) the base is too small to screw into something like a Remington 700, but my buddy has been machining Contender base blocks, that the barrel threads into, & these would work nicely in those ( of course I collect Contenders, so he go my interest, when he said he'd make me a barrel, if I'd buy the blanks, & the reamer ) My father in law was heavy into 17 Remington, & I now have those guns... but I'm not a big fan of the 223 based cartridge... but I have been thinking about having him build me up a 17 Fireball since Remington standardized the cartridge, & brass is now available "pre-formed" anyone shooting this hot little number ??? thoughts pro or con ???

March 7, 2012, 12:18 AM	#4
cornbush Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: The retarded place below Idaho Posts: 1,408	Don't have one, never shot one, but I want one bad....... Don't really know why but I want one, my 223 does all I need, but the 17 Fireball just blows my knickers up __________________ The best shot I ever made was an accident

March 7, 2012, 10:26 AM	#7
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,498	MWM I think you are in luck with your Hornet now that Hornady is bringing it out. There might be a small difference in chambers but you sbouldn't have to move the brass as much. I'm not a big fan of .17 calibers because I don't like the tiny bullets while reloading. I think the .204 is a big enough pain on the bench. __________________ NRA Life Member

March 6, 2012, 07:51 PM	#2
Coyote_Buster700 Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2012 Location: Kentucky Posts: 261	I've never met anyone that does. I don't see the real positive in it. I would like to see a .22-250 necked down to a .17 though. I have no need to shoot the .17 fireball when my .22-250 already shoots at 4000 (supposedly) with the .45 gr I shoot now. The .17 Rem is a cool little cartridge too, as you mentioned.

March 6, 2012, 10:37 PM	#3
mdd Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Posts: 626	My old man has one. He enjoys it for what it is. Loves to shoot crows with it because it has basically no recoil and he says he never loses sight picture. Coyote buster, there is a lot of info out there about making a 20-250. 22-250 brass necked down to 204 caliber. That's a screaming little round.

March 7, 2012, 07:41 AM	#5
trg42wraglefragle Senior Member Join Date: April 21, 2008 Location: new zealand Posts: 856	Seems like similar ballistics as a 204 Ruger but with lighter bullets and more wind drift. I'd prefer a 204 I reckon.

March 7, 2012, 08:10 AM	#6
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	yep... FIL liked those screaming over bore rounds he also shot alot of 22-250, & was thinking of getting a 220 Swift before he died... in the early days, he had loads that the bullet disintegrated, before it hit the target... I assume the bullets are better today ( 25 years later ) however, I always thought the 223 was enough... I already shoot 17 K Hornet in a Contender barrel, though not very often, as it's a pain to form cases... Fireball would already be already formed, & no fire forming needed... I'm more of a heavy bullet guy, but I have been enjoying the custom 17 Mach 2 my buddy & I put together... it really does a number on the local red pine squirrels, with low report, & little ricochet chances