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  #1  
Old 05-02-2018, 04:25 PM
snert snert is offline
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Default 17 FB Pet load request

I searched back 18 pages and found sporadic threads, but nothing specifically on this so...

I am seeking pet loads for 17FB

Application: Contender carbine MGM 24 inch, for GROUNDHOGS and PD's, limiting to 20 and 25 grain bullets please.

Brass I have is Remington factory new and LC reformed

Primers I have are CCI 450 and FGM

Powders I have are: H322, H335, Benchmark, Xterminator, IMR 4198, IMR 4227, Varget, 8208, 2520?? and maybe some others that I am forgetting.

I am willing to buy Vmax, dogtown, Nitemare types, in plastic tipped or HP. Bergers are going to be a bit spendy for this application, but am open if a pattern presents itself in responses. No moly.

Please tell me your experience, firearm, OAL as this may help. Not interested in lighter or heavier bullets, thanks.

I will reduce start 15% and will increase in small doses, as per normal cautions with 17's. I will compare online responses to my limited manuals...

If you know your neck thickness that may help too, and if you anneal??

Appreciate it in advance guys...
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  #2  
Old 05-02-2018, 06:44 PM
Tim Anderson Tim Anderson is offline
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H-322 for light bullets and H-335 for the heavier (52-55 gr.). Oh! My bad was thinking about the 221 f.b.. LOL

H-335 is my go to powder for the 17 Mach-4 and 17 F.B. with 25 gr. H.P. bullets. (Hornady)

Last edited by Tim Anderson; 05-02-2018 at 10:00 PM.
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  #3  
Old 05-02-2018, 06:53 PM
moorepower moorepower is offline
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I am betting you will have 2 loads depending upon brass used. Also I think that the 25 hp would be the best choice if you are shooting groundhogs also. Is the MGM 1-9 or 1-10? I am trying out 8208 on this Friday, because it produces the highest velocity book load, very temperature insensitive, meters well, and my .204 LOVES it. I am trying to reduce the number of powders I keep, and I know it will work well in a .222 and .223 also. You have several powders that work. I use 7 1/2's but I think both of your in stock primers will work as well or better. Sorry no magic loads.. yet.
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  #4  
Old 05-03-2018, 05:18 AM
dedogs dedogs is offline
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Snert, I shoot rockchucks here in Montana for money. They are about the same as woodchucks back East, maybe a little smaller. My biggest so far has been 12 pounds 4oz. I use a trued up Rem. 700 set up as a single shot with a PacNor barrel and Weaver 6x24 Classic with fine cross hair. Shots are taken anywhere fro 50' to 300yds. Mostly around buildings and livestock so I can't miss. My load for the past 6 years has been 18.5g of H322, 20g Z-Max, rem brass, 205 Federal primer. Bullets are .020 off the lands. Velocity is right around 3750. You can go faster but there has been no need for me. Rifle holds a consistent .5 @ 100yds. off a bi-pod. Head shots are easy and spectacular. At 300 yds. I will go for a body shot most of the time. They just tip over. Can't say that about .221 Fireball with 40's. Bullet passes through and usually get a crawl-off. .17 Fireball =DRT.
I agree with Moorepower-- if you go with Lapua brass you will probably have to fiddle with the load some as I don't think Rem. and Lapua are the same measurement. The necks on my Rem. brass are .015 on average. Hope this helps. Good shooting, dedogs PS I only anneal after about 5 firings. My brass has at least 20 loadings. I have only had to trim twice and full length size once. Another reason I don't max out the load. Neck size works for many loadings
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Last edited by dedogs; 05-03-2018 at 05:25 AM. Reason: mis-spelled name
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  #5  
Old 05-05-2018, 03:41 PM
moorepower moorepower is offline
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In “my” rifle 8208/25 Vmax didn’t work so well. No keyholes but some charge weights were really bad. Best of 1 1/2” for 5. Same rifle shoots factory 20 grain at 3/4”. 1-9 twist. Going to try Benchmark and Xterminator an 25hp and 20 Vmax
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  #6  
Old 05-05-2018, 09:20 PM
kenbro kenbro is offline
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2013 was last time i played with 17 FB.
Bullets were Berger Target x 25 grain.
18 grains XBR8208 shot into 1/2”
18.2 was 7/8”
And 18.4 went into 1/4”. 19.2 grains also shot into 1/4”. All at 100yds.

16.5 grains of H4198 also shot 1/4” groups @100 yds. Same bullets.
I can’t find my chrono figures, but, do remember that 8208 was considerably less fps than H4198.
Rifle was a Rem. M7 with Pac-Nor 8 twist barrel, pillar bedded by a good ‘smith.
Ken.
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  #7  
Old 05-07-2018, 12:48 AM
moorepower moorepower is offline
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Possibly mine does not like the vmax. I tried 18.4 up to 19.2 in .2 increments
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  #8  
Old 07-07-2018, 03:32 PM
bbassi bbassi is offline
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Default have you tried TAC?

You didn't mention it but I had some TAC I wanted to try. Originally this was a fireform load as i had a bunch of 20gr vmax I wouldn't use on coyotes, but they shoot so well I just kept inching it up. I've only shot two chucks with it. one @ 50 and one @ about 150. In both cases it was like just unplugging them. couldn't find the entrance and no exit, but they fell over stone dead. Remington 700, 24" sporter weight factory barrel. This load is safe in MY gun. YMMV

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  #9  
Old 07-13-2018, 04:26 AM
snert snert is offline
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Well, after several weeks of testing, I have learned a few things.

First, this is a rechamber of a 17VHA and I have concluded that it is a bit on the short side in the throat. That's ok though.

Second, I switched to CCI 400 from the Fed GM. I was getting nippling on every primer, no matter what I did. The CCI stopped that...till I blew two. Never had a pierced primer in 42 years of loading, till now.

So I switched over to H335, and went below minimum to 17.5 grains and a 25 grain Vmax. The "nippling" went away and the group shrank to 3/4 inch. I have decided that most of the loads I have tried from the manuals (including Sensational Seventeens) are just too hot for this barrel.

I am testing some 20 grain Vmax on Saturday.

In other news, i discovered that the Bullberry forarm, despite the hanger, was hard agaist the barrel on one side, just down under where you can see. I relieved it, and the forearm actually twisted...I had to kep relieving it and waiting overnight till the grain in the wood stopped changing. I finally just hogged it out and put a new finish on it. I also lightened the inch pounds of screw tightness, and it helped.

All this work has caused my only 30 Rem 17 FB cases to be a bit worn...now I have to decide if I wait till more show up or start all over with LC formed brass! Gonna need 500-800 eventually.

Finally, a comment:
It is fun, and cool and I like it, this little cartridge. I can see building or buying a bolt gun for it. But gosh, I just spent ten whole bullets developing a new 50 grain TNT and Benchmark load for my Duece...that was easy! And it shot 1/3 inch with no effort.

Thanks for the help, and I will hang on to this for when I build a bolt action..
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  #10  
Old 07-13-2018, 03:17 PM
Hog Patrol Hog Patrol is offline
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There were posts here and on accurateshooter.com notifying of .17 Fireball brass being available from Cabela's and another vendor. Don't know if it's still in stock but if not, you probably won't see it again for another five years.
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