17 Remington, your thoughts?

[Gdbyrd]

I picked up a used Model 700 in .17 recently.  I like small centerfire cartridges, but I really dont' know a lot about the caliber.  Reading has told me that they tend to foul the barrel out really quickly, accuracy and even pressure becomes and issue then.  But then I started reading that new powders make this a problem of the past and people don't really worry about it anymore. 


Just wondering if you have any experience with it.  If it's a problem caliber I may think about rebarreling it or selling it, I got it for a good deal.

[tuck2]

I have had a Sako 17 Rem for a number of years. I dont use it for high volume shooting at prairie dogs. But how many shots are you go to get in a day hunting yotes, ground hogs, fox or other preditors ?  Its a good idea to clean a rifle after each days hunt.  Its a fun round to shoot, enjoy your rifle.

[Graybeard]

Don't have a .17 Remington but do have a Model Seven in .17 Fireball. I have used it on prairie dog shoots and haven't noticed it fouling any faster than a .223 or .22-250 used the same amount.

It's super accurate and I see no downside to it so far. I've not bothered to load for it as I bought a huge supply of factory ammo when I got the gun. I have all the stuff to load for it but doubt I will until I've used up the factory ammo. If I don't get to go to another PD shoot that might not happen.

[mauser98us]

I'd like one just to be really different. I'm looking at the CZ 527 right now.

[Catfish]

The bullet slection for the 17 cal. is far better than it is for 20 cal. STAY AWAY from Molly coating with this round especially, I fouled a barrel so bad with it I had to fire lap it to get it to shoot. Mine way a truck rifle and very seldom got cleaned. The only peoblem I ever had with it fouling was when I was useing Molly. Excellant round. I would not recomand the more explosive bullets, it pushes the bullets fast enough they leave fleash wounds, if they make it to the target.

[tuck2]

I like using my Remington 700 Limited Ed 17 Fireball for prairie dog shooting.   Its accurate with Rem ammo and my 25 Gr bullets reloads.. One half inch 100 yards groups a common . I live in prairie dog country and for me the Fireball17 is a better round for my shooting.

[roper]

Might want to try this site alot shooting the 17 cal
 
http://www.saubier.com/smallcaliber/

[Drilling Man]

  I had a 17 Rem. waaay back when...  I probably put a thousand rounds down the bbl...
 
  It was quite accurate and i liked it for shooting crows ect...  When i became an animal control officer i soon started looseing interest in it.  I was hired to clean out several dog packs, and the 17 just wasn't doing what i needed done once you got out to around 200 yards.  In fact, i really figured it was a 150 yard round on the bigger dogs and that was with good rib shots...
 
  After trying many different cartridges, i settled on my .243 Win., as it did the job at any angle/any range.
 
  I really didn't like that job, but i REALLY needed the $$, it did teach me a lot about bullets/cartridges and made me a MUCH better shot at running animals.
 
  DM

[eye shot]

I would at least shoot it and you may be surprised at the accuratcy. I've been feeding mine a diet of 25gr. Hornadys and IMR 3031 at 4000+fps since 1971. It's the old classic setup Rem. 700 BDL with a 3x9 Redfield Widfield mounted low and both work as new.