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17 Rem Fireball

GeriGeri Member Posts: 2,102 ✭✭✭
edited January 2007 in Ask the Experts
What is the difference between the 17 remington fireball, and the 17 mach IV? Thanks.
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Comments

  • nononsensenononsense Member Posts: 10,928 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Geri,

    Here is an article about this cartridge:

    http://www.predatorxtreme.com/articles.asp?ArticleID=68

    NEWS RELEASE:

    VARMINTING--Remington Plans 17-221 Fireball Factory Rifle: Remington has confirmed plans to release a factory varmint rifle chambered as a 17-221 Fireball. We have no firm dates for a product launch, but we expect the new rifles to be available in the first quarter of 2007. Currently, Remington offers just one 17-caliber chambering, the .17 Remington. That is available as a Model 700?,? BDL?,? or Model 700?,? LV SF. Given the efficiency of the Fireball case, we can expect a 17-221 to comfortably reach 4,000 fps with a 20-grainer, and Remington sources have hinted that a 4000-fps factory load will be offered. In 17 Mach IV wildcat form, shooters are reporting 3,850 fps with 25 grainers. From what we are told, the 17-221 will have a slightly longer neck than a 17 Mach IV. That means you won't be able to use Cooper Arms' loaded 17 Mach IV ammo. We haven't seen a blueprint of the new Remington brass yet, so we don't know if the shoulder is the same, with just a longer neck. Accordingly we're not sure whether the current 17 Mach IV full-length dies will work. But you should be able to neck-size the case with a Redding .221 Fireball Type-S die with smaller bushings. You'll find a lengthy discussion of the new 17-221 Fireball in this thread on Saubier.com.

    Best.
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  • GeriGeri Member Posts: 2,102 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thank you. I suppose This will mean a new set of reamers and guages. Thanks again.
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  • nononsensenononsense Member Posts: 10,928 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Geri,

    That would be my thought.

    I've been shooting the 17 Mach IV for quite a while and I have a sufficient amount of brass made up that will last a few more years but having factory for most folks will be a great boon. Loading those little bullets into a case neck is a pain so I made an inline seater with the window cut out similar to the competition seaters or the older Vega Machine Tool seater. Meacham Tool has taken over the manufacturing of this seater now:

    http://www.meachamrifles.com/

    This will be a nice addition to the varmint hunter's selection of firearms and will more than likely work its way into the single shot hand guns also.

    Best.
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