Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints Would Tikka make a 17 fireball ?

Now that would be kick butt.

If I get to the factory this year, I'm going to ask....

Or maybe I'll just make one myself (REBARREL)

I would be tickled pink if someone would make some brass.

Man I keep waiting for someone to make a cool one. Gag me with a Remington.

Spotshooter: I bought my Remington 700 VSF in 17 Remington Fireball back in early March of 2,007.
I put a Nikon 6.5x20 variable scope on it and took it to the range to "break the barrel in" with Remington factory ammo.
The first three groups (5 shots at 100 yards!) measured as follows: .533", ,586" and .579"!
Then I got to handloading for it and using Berger 25 grain bullets it still shoots right at/under 1/2" groups CONSISTENTLY!
The last sight-in verification group I shot with this Rifle measured .470" (again 5 shots at 100 yards).
I have been EXTREMELY pleased with this Remington 700 in 17 Remington Fireball.
I quit "re-barreling" Rifles several years ago as I found factory guns to be nearly the equal in accuracy and the return on investment with re-barreled Rifles is just not worth it to me anymore.
In other words I recommend you look for a used Remington 700 in a model that suits your desires instead of re-barreling.
Either way the 17 Remington Fireball is an excellent cartridge and along with the inherent accuracy its efficient and I predict will be easy on barrels.
Best of luck to you what ever you decide on.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I was hoping that 2017 would be the year of a CZ 527 in 17 fireball.

2015 they did a limited release 221 fireball
2016 they did a limited release of 17 remington

why not 2017 -- the love child of both?

And I agree with VarmintGuy, accuracy in factory offerings of remington (either 700 or seven) have yet to disappoint me.

You will likely have to pay a premium for one these days. A "cheap" one would be $800, most are asking and getting above $1k

If Tikka were to make a 17 fireball, I'd buy 4 or 5. Making sure that my kids and their future kids have one.

I like the caliber that much!

Also hoping wishing and dreaming that more brass will be produced. Remington made a run of factory ammo this past fall.

Remington barely supports their own children, especially those mentioned. I wouldn't count on Tikka to build rifles that Remington won't support with ammo.

I had to ask John (Mule deer) what would be as good if not better than than my 204 Rugers - when he said the fireball I had to look into it, then realized - OH [bleep]... I need one of these !!!

the 17 Remington is a bit too hot for what I want (longer barrel life). But the 17 Fireball is all good.

All my varmint guns are Tikka's - if they sold the 17 FB, and 204 Ruger... then I'd just use my A7's for the longer reach stuff and be sitting pretty.

Right now I'm considering taking a 223 Tikka and having it rebarrelled to 17 fireball -

Varmintguy - I use a very exclusive Benchrest smith that normally gets my new krieger barrels to group between .1 - .35" ... other than that I normally just buy Tikka's that normally shot under .5" anyway.

My pref. Is definitely buying a factory Tikka...

Spotshooter: My experience with Tikka is rather limited - I only have one (Tikka T-3 in 338 Federal) and its been a dandy for me.
Back in July of 1995 I had a custom Rifle built for myself on a Remington 700 action.
It is in caliber 17 MachIV (there was no 17 Remington Fireball back then) - this 17 MachIV "wildcat" cartridge is the "twin" of the 17 Remington Fireball.
The Rifle has a 26 1/2" heavy stainless Shilen barrel on it and a Jewell trigger.
I mounted a big ol Leupold variable scope on it and went to town.
It shoots sensationally!
This rig weighs 11 pounds 4 ounces!
Recoil is non-existent and its amazing to watch the terminal effects of the 25 grain Bergers on all manner of Varmints.
In four different past years I sight-in verified it using my handloads with 25 grain Berger bullets - the groups (5 shots at 100 yards) measured .262", .322", .339 and the last sight in group measured .264"!
If I miss a Colony Varmint with this Rifle it's simply MY fault!
So when Remington came out with the twin cartridge (17 Remington Fireball) I was ecstatic.
And I immediately purchased that higher end Remington 700 VSF Varminter in 17 Fireball.
Like another poster here mentioned if I had known Remington was going to abandon (quit making!) Rifles in 17 Remington Fireball "I" would have bought a couple more back when I could have!
Sad the Remington folks recent (last 20 years!) lack of foresight and their poor decision making.
I highly recommend the 17 Remington Fireball cartridge.
By the way I have killed a number of Coyotes with my 17 MachIV and my 17 Remington Fireball.
Again best of luck to you.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

You'll have to make your own if you want cool.....




PS.....I'm not a Tikka hater but I can't imagine a worse match up than Tikka's 2' long action and a 17FB case....

I'd choose the small Sako action to match my .221. Perfection.

I've thought about getting a small sako 85 BUT, the amount of play in the action (bolt) is typically a bit more than the Tikka.

So my Tikka's typically out shoot my 85's by 1/4" ... (yes nit picky).

However, if you get the 85 bolts sleeved, and put Krieger barrels on them by a darn good smith they are one hold wonders.

So Tikka's are fine unless I'm going head first... I have never seen a small action sako 85 either.

I'm thinking Vixen.

I'm thinking Kimber.

However, I have a Remington Model 7 Predator in 17FB.

It is around .5" with factory Premier ammo. I have never loaded for it yet. I'm too cheap to rebarrel a Kimber when the Remington is this good. It is my last Remington rifle, and unless I win the lottery, (I would rebarrel a Kimber), I'm keeping it!

I don't use it much, but it has accounted for coyote and fox.

No, they would not.

I don't know AB, they made the 204 Ruger early on...

Tikka folks are sharp

my fingers are too fat for 17 cal boolits........

a 20 Fireball (Vartarg) makes much more sense......

the vartarg is redundant with the 204 ruger.


I asked the firearms manager at Scheels to consider talking with Tikka about making a run of 17 fireball exclusively for them and then Scheels selling them just like they did that special import of 204 Ruger, and then cabelas and EuroOptic followed suite.

You can be sure that if they do it, I'll get a couple just like I did with 204 Ruger.

not really.......the 204R is redundant with the 20 Practical

the Vartarg has its place in the varmint world for sure...