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Author Topic: .17 Remington Fireball  (Read 4048 times)

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Offline Sourdough

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.17 Remington Fireball
« on: July 27, 2008, 08:29:02 PM »
Anyone shoot a .17 Remington Fireball?  How is it on coyotes and foxes.  Also thinking how would it be for wolves, they are the size of a southern Whitetail.
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Online Graybeard

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Re: .17 Remington Fireball
« Reply #1 on: July 28, 2008, 10:05:53 AM »
Yes I have a Remington Model Seven Predator chambered to the .17 Fireball and love it but sure don't use it on game the size of wolves. So far I've shot lots of praririe dogs, rabbits and some trash birds with it. It is not quite the equal of the .17 Remington which the fellows who call them selves the coyote gods claim is the best coyote killer ever made. I think they mostly like it cuz they sell the pelts and it never exits so doesn't mess up the offside of the hide.

I do suspect it would do OK on wolves but only with head shots or really well placed heart/lung shots. If the angle is not broadside I'd be very concerned it would blow up without reaching the vitals. In fact if it hit a rib on a wolf I doubt it would make it thru to the lungs but the pieces of bone and bullet might get the job done. If all you want to do is kill the wolf and are not concerned about recovering it then it should be OK but if you really want to recover them to sell the hides I'd personally chose more gun. I love mine but not for game that size it's for much smaller stuff and I'd never even consider using it on anything larger than a coyote and on them I don't keep hides so really could care less if I recover it or not.

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Bill aka the Graybeard
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I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

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Offline basdjs

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Re: .17 Remington Fireball
« Reply #2 on: July 28, 2008, 05:01:25 PM »
I've been shooting a Remington 700 .17 Fireball with 20gr. accutips all summer for groundhogs out to 250 yds. and it absolutely anchors them. It's tremendous to shoot because there is virtually no recoil, no loud crack in spite of its 4000 fps velocity, and it's extremely accurate. You do have to pay attention to wind drift though at medium or longer range.  I think you'll be fine up to coyote size critters but I would go to at least a .223 for anything bigger. 
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Offline trotterlg

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Re: .17 Remington Fireball
« Reply #3 on: August 11, 2008, 06:27:42 PM »
I have both of them and they are kind of different animals.  The 17 Remington I have is on a Savage 10 action, it will launch a 30gr bullet about the same speed as the 17 FB will launch a 20gr one.  My FB is a tiny little gun, Youth stock on a Handi rifle with an 18 1/2 inch barrel, but it is very accurate and fun to shoot.  Unless the wolf was going to eat me I would not shoot one with it, and I don't think it would do the job on a Coyote past about 75 yards.  The 17 Remington is a different story, it carries some energy past 200 yards with the 30gr BT's and is extremely consistant.  FB = P.D.'s 17 Remington = Coyotes and Wolves I would say.  The FB would be a great Fox gun, and Yes, the 17 Remington is the king of the Coyote rifles no matter what the 204 ruger guys say.  ;)  Larry
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Offline saltydog

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Re: .17 Remington Fireball
« Reply #4 on: August 28, 2008, 04:25:29 AM »
I don't know what loco weed is being passed around but the 17 Fireball is within a couple hundred fps of the 17 REM in performence - neither are as satisfactory on larger predators as the 204 Ruger or better yet 22-250 REM.  Both 17's produce velocities over 3700 fps while the Fireball burns less powder. Both of the 17's suffer from bore fouling and degraded accuracy if doing alot of shooting such as in a pd town. Available rifles are similar with the new Remington's Predator 17FB being a great rifle for small game. IMO the 17 REM or Fireball could be used for larger game but the shot placement would need to be perfect. While I really enjoy my 204 Ruger, IMO the 224 cals or 6 mm's are the way to go for larger predators.
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Online Graybeard

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Re: .17 Remington Fireball
« Reply #5 on: August 28, 2008, 12:42:09 PM »
Quote from: saltydog on August 28, 2008, 04:25:29 AM
I don't know what loco weed is being passed around but the 17 Fireball is within a couple hundred fps of the 17 REM in performence - neither are as satisfactory on larger predators as the 204 Ruger or better yet 22-250 REM.  Both 17's produce velocities over 3700 fps while the Fireball burns less powder. Both of the 17's suffer from bore fouling and degraded accuracy if doing alot of shooting such as in a pd town. Available rifles are similar with the new Remington's Predator 17FB being a great rifle for small game. IMO the 17 REM or Fireball could be used for larger game but the shot placement would need to be perfect. While I really enjoy my 204 Ruger, IMO the 224 cals or 6 mm's are the way to go for larger predators.

How much experience do you have backing up that post?

I have the Predator in both .204 Ruger and .17 Fireball. I used my .17 Fireball extensively at the last PD shoot and didn't clean it the whole time and it shot fine with no loss of accuracy the entire trip. I read a report in a magazine of an R700 in the same chambering used on a PD shoot where they fired 400-500 rounds without cleaning and lost at most 1/4" of accuracy from first group to last.

So far the new Remington barrels for it do not seem to be fouling much at all I know mine sure isn't.

I do agree it's just not enough for larger critters but then I didn't buy it for larger game only for PDs really.
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Bill aka the Graybeard
President, Graybeard Outdoor Enterprises
256-435-1125

I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life anyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life!

Offline Catfish

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Re: .17 Remington Fireball
« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2008, 07:48:59 AM »
While I have never played with the .17 Fireball, I do have a .17 Re. a .17-223 and a .17 AH. The .17 Fireball should have no problem with a coyote, with a good bullet, a  25 or 30 gn. Berger and not the MEF`s. Calhoon bullets also a real tough, if your gun will shoot them. I shoot the 19 gn. Calhoons in my .17 AH and believe they would be a good coyote round to 150 yrds. or so.
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