.17 Fireball - tell me all there is to know!

[njc110381]

Thanks guys, good to hear the generally positive comments although I also take on board what a couple of you have said about the Vartarg.

Part of the reason I want a Fireball is bullet cost and availability. There's a company here that has said to me in the past that "we have so many .17 bullets, we'll probably never sell them all". Besides that, they're 1/5 the price of regular Hornady/Berger offerings. I'll try them in my rifle and if they shoot, I'll probably buy enough to last the life of the barrel.

[Gary in Illinois]

Good enough reason!

[Johnly]

If you're set on a 17, the Fireball is an excellent choice. My KoO 17 Mk4 pushes the 20 gr. Vmax bullet at over 4000 fps with outstanding accuracy using some old pre-IMR 8208. My 17 Ackley Hornet is about 250fps slower, but the brass quality is lacking compared to the 17 Fireball brass.

As commented earlier, positioning the bullets for seating with a standard seating die is cumbersome. However that can be overcome by using an inline seating die.

[Bill K]

I am 83, with RA, but not anywhere near the point that I still can't handle the 17 bullet, place it in line with the case and die and seat the bullet.
can't say that, a few times, I have kind of pinched my finger, but by slowly raising the ram to seat, nothing bad enough to do any harm or pain.

[TinMan]

That is why I like the Hornady dies with the little sliding sleeve to help align the bullet, especially the 20gr 17's. I also wear a size 15 glove, so big paws don't make it any easier...

[Bill K]

Originally Posted by TinMan

That is why I like the Hornady dies with the little sliding sleeve to help align the bullet, especially the 20gr 17's. I also wear a size 15 glove, so big paws don't make it any easier...

Same with me and my Hornady dies, even easy with the 15.5 NTX bullet that I use for game, with my commie state requiring lead free on game and non-game to be legal.
You know we must save the Condor's even tho there is not one in most of the state, except a small area down south central portion of the state.

[TinMan]

And even though I load most things on my Dillon 550B, including varmint ammo, I don't try to make it into a speed contest. Usually only load maybe 200 rounds of small caliber rifle rounds before taking a break. For easy pistol rounds like 9mm, I might do 300 rounds before a break.

[moorepower]

I just ordered a Wilson seater for my .17H. They make them all easy to load. FYI the .17's really like a good inside chamfer.

[BoomDeBoom]

With the Vickerman seating dies I can load .224 .204 and .172 bullets with out getting my fingers mashed! The window lets you see the bullet being seated and it can be had with a micrometer adjustment. I have not checked the run out, but the sleeve keeps the bullet straight entering the brass. Need to get a run out gauge to compare Redding seater with the Vickerman.

[FastPPC]

njc110381, If your wanting a little 17 fireball I'd say buy it! i bought one a couple years ago and it's been a lot of fun as has been described in this thread. BUT, as has been noted, loading for the little 17 is a finger pincher!!! I didn't get one because I said, with a 20 VT, 20 SCC and 204 Ruger why do I need a 17 cal. Well now I'm shooting a 17 FB and a 17 Remington. go figure. If you buy one I'd bet you like it.