.17 Fireball, shot down in flames

Introduction

The new Twenty calibres such as the .204 Ruger and 20 Tactical are good illustrations that even after all these years just by tweaking a few dimensions you can still create something new. Remington offer the .17 Remington round a favourite still of mine but now there is the newer .17 Fireball based on a .221 Fireball case.

The parent .221 Fireball case has a small overall length of 1.40 inches and case capacity of just over 23 grains full. Its size and low recoil and noise make it suitable for vermin control in Britain but range is limited to 250 yardish. This fact was not lost on a firm from Las Vegas called Vern O’ Brien rifle company introduced a necked down version of the .221 Fireball case and this was called the .17 Mach IV in the mid sixties.

It’s taken some fifty years for a firm like Remington to realise its true potential and like so many wildcat calibres have legitimised it. To me though it will always be Vern`s old 17 Mach IV round, sorry Remington.

Ballistically the 17 Fireball is efficient and 4000fps with a 20 grain V-Max bullet can be achieved whilst the .17 Remington case can manage 4200 fps. At these speeds the extra velocity is pretty academic really and the Fireballs rationale is that there will be less barrel fouling, less barrel/throat erosion, noise and recoil whilst using less powder consumption.

I had two Fireball rifles both Remington`s, an SPS and a Predator so testing would be interesting and I still remember the days when I shot a .17 Mach IV Contender carbine for hooded crows in Scotland.

Reload choice

I tested bullets from 20 grains up to 30 grains with both hollow point and polymer tip varieties being the preferred choice.

Being a small case with a useable powder capacity when bullet`s seated of just 18-19 grains you can instantly see just how efficient this case is to launch a 20 grain bullet at over 4000 fps! Rather like the .14 Walker Hornet, that only takes 12.5 grains for a 15gr bullet at over 4000fps.

Powders of choice would be on the faster burning side so powders such as IMR 4198, RL 7, RL10X, H4227 or Vit N133 should work.

A special .17 calibre powder funnel helps guide the powder smoothly into the case and I used a precision Harrell powder dispenser that precisely delivers exact powder throws time and again although some may want to weigh each individual charge for accuracy.

Primer wise, I used as a preference Federal Match small primers although CCI were also very consistent.

No real attention to the cases is needed before reloading other than the usual deburring of the neck, cleaning of primer pocket and inside of neck area. Although an internal flash hole deburring is beneficial to consistent ignition and squaring the primer pocket is worth while also.

Bullet Choice

The 20 grain V-Max bullet is perfectly matched to this calibre and remains probably the best .17 bullet design to date in my view.

SPS data and Predator data

Bullet	Weight	Reload data	SPS data		Predator data
			Velocity fps	Energy ft/lbs	Velocity fps	Energy ft/lbs
Hornady V-Max	20gr	15.0gr of IMR 4198 powder	3673 fps	599 ft/lbs	n/a
		15.5gr	3784 fps	636 ft/lbs	3733 fps	619 ft/lbs
		16.0gr	3891fps	673 ft/lbs	3856 fps	661 ft/lbs
		16.25gr	3952 fps	694 ft/lbs	3900 fps	676 ft/lbs
		16.5gr	4003 fps	712 ft/lbs	3911 fps	680 ft/lbs
Hornady V-Max	20gr	14.5gr of Vit N133 powder	3455 fps	524 ft/lbs	n/a
		15.0gr	3550 fps	560 ft/lbs	n/a
		15.5gr	3666 fps	809 ft/lbs	n/a
		16.0gr	3801 fps	642 ft/lbs	3879fps	668ft/lbs
Hornady V-Max	20gr	15.0gr of RL7 powder	3702 fps	609 ft/lbs	n/a
		15.5gr	3836 fps	654 ft/lbs	n/a
		16.0gr	3920 fps	683 ft/lbs	n/a
Hornady V-Max	20gr	15.0gr of H4227 powder	3953 fps	694 ft/lbs	3911 fps	680 ft/lbs
		16.0gr	4044 fps	727 ft/lbs	3987 fps	706 ft/lbs
Hornady V-Max	20gr	17.0gr of Vit N120	4216 fps CAUTION HOT LOAD	790 ft/lbs	4107 fps CAUTION HOT LOAD	749ft/lbs
Berger	25gr	15.0gr of RL 10X	3620 fps	727 ft/lbs	n/a
		15.5gr	3711 fps	765 ft/lbs	3644 fps	737 ft/lbs
		16.0gr	3831 fps	815 ft/lbs	3786 fps	796 ft/lbs
		16.5gr	3934 FPS	859 ft/lbs Hot load	3877 fps	835 ft/lbs
Hornady V-Max	25gr	15.0gr of IMR 4198 powder	3771 fps	790 ft/lbs	3724 fps	770ft/lbs
		16.0gr	3896 fps	843 ft/lbs	3949 fps	866 ft/lbs
Berger	30gr	14.5gr of Vit N130 powder	3469 fps	801 ft/lbs	3488 fps	811 ft/lbs
		15.0gr	3576 fps	852 ft/lbs	3591 fps	859 ft/lbs
		15.25gr	3618 fps	872 ft/lbs	3648 fps	887 ft/lbs

Field use

Look at those results, you would think that some were reversed with the longer 26 inch barrel being the higher velocity producer but that 22 incher really performed well, this just goes to show until you shoot a rifle its own idiosyncrasies can only then be found. Tight barrel losses chamber who knows but results are results.

SPS:- The Remington SPS up first, I had on test was a Varmint model with 26 inch barrel. With factory 20grain bullet loads I had 4060fps velocity and 732ft/lbs energy, I was expecting more.

The SPS showed good accuracy with the 16.0 grains of Vit N133 producing 3801fps and 642ft/lbs and 0.85 inch three shots at 100 yard with the 20 gr V-Max.

I switched to 16.5 grains of IMR 4198 powder and now I had 4003 fps and 712 ft/lbs but accuracy was hovering at 1.0 inch.

Now 16.0 grains of RL 7 powder was a consistent load with 0.65-0.75 inch groups at 100 yards with 3920 fps and 683 ft/lbs whilst 15.0gr of H4227 with the 20gr V-Max gave a healthy 3953 fps for 694 ft/lbs and good 0.65 inch groups. I could eke 4044 fps with 16.0gr H4227 but accuracy went to 1.25 inch, interesting.

25 grain Berger`s shot very well with 15.5 gr RL 10X powder, not a top load but nice 0.5 inch groups. Whilst Hornadies 25 grain V-Max bullet sped along at 3896 fps for 843 ft/lbs with payload of 16.0gr of IMR 4198.

30 grain Berger bullets are really a bit large in this case size and velocities reflected this and also I have noticed that Berger’s are a bit tougher than the V-Maxes so penetrate better but do not expand as violently so choice for vermin or fox species will dictate your proper use here.

Predator: - As stated for a short barrel the Predator really shot well it uses a Remington Model Seven action and this design is a blend between the older model M600 and the newer M700 actions that also forms the basis of the solid receiver XR100 action. 

 

With only a 22 inch barrel the factory ammunition was shooting, 4105, 4163, 4150 and 4109 fps for an average of 4147fps and 764ft/lbs energy. Firstly that’s superb velocity from that short barrel in fact better than a 26 inch barrel from the above SPS. Accuracy too was just great, all shots consistently falling between 0.5 -0.75 inches with often three shots less than 0.5 inches. Interestingly enough after five boxes of factory ammunition and cleaning the barrel every second box the velocities actually dropped and stayed lower indicating to me the barrel was running its self in, another important lesson to learn. Figures for the factory ammunition now ran at 3987, 3951, 3981 and 3974fps for an average of 3973 fps and 701 ft/lbs energy, still very impressive.

Reload wise the 20 grain Hornady V-Max bullets and several faster burning powders such as 16.5grains of IMR 4198 producing 3911 fps delivered easily 0.5 inch groups all day, superb.

A very accurate load with shots almost touching at 100 yards was using16.0gr of Vit N133 producing 3879fps and 668ft/lbs and 20gr V-Max bullets.With the 25 grains V-Max bullet a load of 15.0 grains IMR 4198 produces 3724 fps and 770ft/lbs or try 16.5gr of Reloder 10X powder with the Berger for 3877 fps and 835 ft/lbs, again with nice 0.75 inch groups at 100 yards.

But I wanted that elusive 4000fps velocity which I finally achieved with a load of 17.0 grains Vit N120 powder and the 20 grain V-Max to achieve 4107 fps and 749ft/lbs energy with sub 0.5 inch accuracy but it was a hot load so work up to this. I ran this data through the excellent Quickload and QuickTARGET ballistics program. That translates into a trajectory when zeroed at 100 yards of only a drop of -0.9 inches at 200 yards with 378ft/lbs energy remaining and at 300 yards there is drop of -6.0 inches and remaining energy is 262ft/lbs energy so to me that’s its absolute maximum range ideally.

Conclusion

I love the calibre, even when it was called the Mach IV, doh! And I love the fast handling instinctive pointing and lightweight nature of the Predator and also the good accuracy, but the magazine feed needs to be looked at to be utterly reliable. In a rifle like the Predator the all over camouflage coating means there is no fussing with blooded or dirty hands rusting your nice blued barrel. It’s a rifle/calibre combination that will appeal to full time pest controllers and keepers alike. However the .17 Fireball on paper looks just as good as .17 Rem and better than the new .17 Hornet it would seem here in Britain we have not taken it to our hearts as sales have been very slow and I see that Remington supply ammo but not a rifle in that calibre any more, shame.

So really the .17 Fireball would still make a superb vermin calibre for a small light weight custom rifle say built on a small action Tikka or lovely old Sako Vixen or even a full custom Nesika, Stiller or BAT action.

Contact

Tel JMS Arms 01444 400126 / 07771 962121

Email JMSarmsuk@gmail.com

www.jmsarms.com

www.MAEmoderators.co.uk

Quickload and QuickTARGET

www.quickload.co.uk

www.gamestransporter.co.uk

22 Satan Long Range Accuracy

The .20 Satan continues to amaze me with its long range accuracy and lethality on crows despite the inevitable throat erosion due to the high intensity loading.

Introduction

The .20 Satan continues to amaze me with its long range accuracy and lethality on crows despite the inevitable throat erosion due to the high intensity loading.

So the next step was to slow things down a little and achieve the same or better down range ballistics but achieve it with higher and heavier BC bullets, not sheer speed. This would hopefully mean less barrel wear and so I upgraded .20 Satan route by expanding the case to accept .224 bullets.

Originally I went the fast twist heaviest bullets possible such as Sierras and Berger`s 90 grainers but having used the .22 Satan over the years I have also found great results with lighter bullets for small deer use.

Case spec

I originally used the 6x47 Swiss Match (SM) brass for the .20 Satan and now the .22 Satan but Lapua later produced their new 6.5x47 case which is not the same dimensionally as the SM, the Lapua has a shorter neck but longer body. However the Lapua does have a small rifle primer pocket whereas the SM brass has a large primer pocket. Wishing to utilise both brass types for testing I had Steve Bowers make me a forming die that would form either brass type straight down to .22x47 Satan dimensions, this only really involved a neck swage for the SM cases but a shoulder bump and neck reduction for the Lapua brass. Having run through the form die I trimmed to 1.8435 length which was 25 thou shorter than the chamber dimensions of 1.8460 inch, a little short but safe. Water capacity is then 46.5 grains for the SM case and 46.12 grains for the Lapua brass, the Lapua brass is heavier and has slightly thicker walls. After deburring inside and out with a Wilson deburrer the SM brass was ready to take bullet heads, the Lapua still needed a slight neck reduction to provide adequate neck tension. This was utilised with a custom Wilson die that Steve made with the chamber reamer and utilising differing neck bushes. To resize, the SM cases using a 0.250 neck bush and the Lapua a 0.252 bush to give adequate neck tension and clearance with the neck chamber dimensions of 0.254 inches.

To fire form the brass. I used a load of 34 grains RL19 under a 69 gr Hornady Match bullet that I had plenty spare of all ignited with a Federal 210 large or 205 small rifle primer dependent on case used. 

 

Gun spec

My test rifle, an RPA Quadlite has a switch barrel system utilising a Ken Farrell barrel vise from Sinclair’s and an RPA rear entry action wrench. This system made changing barrels and thus testing new wildcat calibres a chinch. 

 

I wanted as long as practical barrel length so settled on a Pac-Nor stainless match grade 28 inch tube overall with a 5/8 inch thread cut and 11 degree crown. Rifling twist was a little more difficult, to stabilise 75 – 80 grain projectiles a 1 in 8 twist would be fine but bullets with the 90 grain weight are long bullets and 1 in 7 or 1 in 6.5 are better. I stuck to 1 in 8 inch as I did not want pressure issues and crossed my fingers.

I designed the case/reamer on QuickLOAD ballistics program and Dave Kiff from Pacific Tool and Gauge made the reamer to have a short throat for a 75 grain grain A-Max bullet but when the heavier 90 grain Sierras and Berger`s are loaded they would not encroach too much into the powder case capacity and as the throat wore I could chase it up the barrel!!! 

 

Load up

Powder choice of RL 17, 19 and H4831SC would seem logical and Quick Load confirmed this also. 

 

I started with the H4831SC and RL19 powders and when a bullet choice with these powders was established I would look see with a few alternative loads with the faster RL17 for tasters.

Powder	Powder Weight grains	Bullet Weight	Velocity fps	Energy Ft/lbs
H4831SC	35.0	80gr A-Max	2783	1376
	36.0		2908	1502
	37.0		2945	1541
	37.5		3003	1602
	39.0		3142	1754
	40.0		3190	1808
	41.0		3327	1967
	41.5		3340	1902
H4831SC	36.0	90 gr Sierra Match king	2870	1647
	36.5		2924	1709
	37.0		2957	1748
	38.0		3037	1844
	39.0		3055	1866

Finer Tickle up  

Powder	Powder Weight	Case	Bullet Weight	Velocity fps	Energy ft/lbs	100 Yard Group
H4831SC	40.5	Swiss Match (SM)	80gr Sierra Match King	3370	2018	0.35
		Lapua		3369	2017	0.55
RL19	38.0	SM	80 gr Sierra M.King	3346	1989	0.5
	39.25	SM		3414	2071	0.45
	36.75 Mild load	SM		3040	1642	0.35
RL19	35.5	SM	90gr Sierra Match King	3040	1847	0.25
H4831SC	36.5	SM	90gr Berger VLD	3046	1855	0.25-0.35

Lighter Deer legal bullets

Powder	Powder weight	Bullet	Case	Velocity	Energy ft/lbs	Accuracy
H4831SC	43.5gr	60gr Nosler Partition	SM	3618	1744	0.30
	41.5gr	75 gr Swift Scirocco	SM	3336	1853	0.45
	42.0gr	Barnes 70gr TSX	Lapua	3467	1868	0.55
RL19	42.0gr	75 gr Swift Scirocco	SM	3493	2032	0.40
	42.5gr	Sierra 65gr Game King	SM	3631	1903	0.35
RL17	42.0gr	Hornady 60gr V-Max	Lapua	3785	1908	0.55

Field Results

The 80-grain A-Maxes and a load of 40 grain H4831SC with a Federal 210 primer with a SM case and an OAL of 2.5635 which shot consistent 0.35 100 yard groups at a velocity of 3190fps. Switching to the 80 grain Sierra Match Kings these preferred an OAL of 2.6045 with a 40.5 grain H4831SC powder charge and yielded cloverleaf 0.35 or less groups. 

 

I had two choices of 90 grain bullets, the VLD Berger`s and the venerable Sierra Match kings. Both these bullets exhibit high BC values, the Berger`s at 0.517 and the Sierras at 0.504. 

 

Using a load 36.5 grains of H4831SC, SM cases, Federal 210 Primers and an overall length of 2.6240, 90gr Berger the accuracy was good at 0.25-0.35 inches at 100 yards. 

 

Because the Sierras are easily available I switched to the RL19 powder, with a load of 35.5 grain RL19 SM cases and an OAL of 2.5850 I achieved really consistent 10 –12 fps variation in velocities at the 3040 fps level. Accuracy was great 0.35-inch groups were the norm with the occasional bug hole, no need to mess around with that load.

Out of interest as stated earlier, I wanted to see the difference in using SM cases and reformed Lapua brass and their differing primer sizes. The reality was there was little detectable difference.

Likewise if you want to make your life really easy and avoid a few forming steps as with the Satan brass dimensions then Dave Kiff has reamers for the .22-47 Lapua version (Satan Mk2) which will only need a neck reduction and all the data from the .22 Satan will be relevant. I have reamers for both but elected to stay with the original Mark 1 Satan version.

If speed was your aim then the 75-grain A-Maxes would not disappoint with velocities reaching over 3400 fps and for those of you who want a game bullet then the 60-grain Partitions were a real surprise. 

 

Those little Partitions shot out of that 28 inch tube at over 3618fps and generated 1744ft/lbs energy, but best of all the accuracy from those flat base bullets consistently shot one hole groups, superb.

Equally the 75 grain Swift Scirocco bullets with either H4831SC or RL19 powder gave great velocities and solid accuracy for deer sized game.

The Sierra 65 gr Game King I have used a lot in .222 and .223 for deer legal Scottish Roe or Muntjac and in the .22 Satan it shot very well, best powder was RL19 again a good powder with 3631 fps for 1903 ft/lbs with 42.5 grs of this powder. Hornadie`s light weight zipper of a 60gr V-Max and shot best with the fastest RL17 powder a charge of 42.0gr gave 3785 fps , a nice fox load this one.

Trajectory

With a zero of 0.5 inch high at 100 yards the high BC 90 grain Sierras at 3045 fps only dropped –2.1 at 200 yds, -9.4 at 300 yards, -22.2 at 400 yards, -40.1 at 500 yards and –67.8 at 600 yards. At 500 yards you only have 16.1 inches wind drift in a 10-mph wind, which is all very usable and why the heavier .22 bullets were chosen, correcting for elevation is straight forward, it’s the wind that gets you all the time. Stretching things a bit further and at 1000 yards you have a 26.3 MOA adjustment and only 77 inch wind drift in a 10 mph wind. Those Swift Sirocco 75 grainers shot very well and I would zero at 200 yards so at 100 yds you are +0.7 inch up and only -4.5 inch down at 300 yards and -13.7 inches low at 400 yards. Which matches up nicely with my older Swarovski TDS reticule scope.

Conclusion

I am pleased with the .22 Satan round, the 90-gr bullet travelling at 3050 fps has good trajectory characteristics and hopefully good barrel life. The real surprise were those 60 gr Nosler Partition bullets that shot the tight groups and for deer use, where legal, the Swift Scirocco 75 grain bullets makes the .22 Satan a dual role vermin and deer calibre where legal.

Whether the .22 Satan is any better than a fast twist .22-250 is academic really, it is just nice some times to own something a little different. Dave Kiff has all the reamers for the Satan range and the newer versions on the slightly longer 6.5x47 Lapua case, so if you want a very efficient no nonsense long ranger varmint or small species deer round then give him a call.

Contact

Tel JMS Arms 01444 400126 / 07771 962121

Email JMSarmsuk@gmail.com

www.jmsarms.com

www.MAEmoderators.co.uk

Quickload and QuickTARGET

www.quickload.co.uk

www.gamestransporter.co.uk

.17 HMR cartridge profile and field tests

Since its introduction some four years ago no other cartridge has courted such admirers and detractors alike. Originally designed as a flat shooting varmint round to compensate for the .22 rimfires failings in terms of rainbow trajectory and ricochet problems. The .17 HMR never was really intended for quarry species up to fox size yet after all the dust has settled and now there is a greater choice of bullet types...

The New MAE Compact sound moderators

MAE are the New Zealand firm of suppressor manufacturers that have dominated the British market place for nearly 15 years now. Why? British shooters demand a well built, long lasting and above all “silent “silencer!

MAE are distributed by JMS Arms headed by Julian Savory and as Julian is a serious shooter himself he knows what the real hunter wants from a suppressor.

The new MAE 38mm Compact T series sound moderator is a combination of years of development to provide an “over barrel” design but with the shortest length and hence weight saving yet still deliver excellent noise reduction qualities.

The new 38mm Compact is just that, compact. The standard 38mm diameter is maintained for a slim line look and importantly every part is made of stainless steel. This makes the MAE one of the best longest lasting moderators available today. Overall length has been shaved to just over 200mm and adding just over 100mm to the length of your rifle. Which results in an overall weight of only 490grams.

The new Compacts are a Bushless system, this means the rear section that sleeves over the muzzle has no rear synthetic bush. This now allows accumulated heat of the barrel from shooting to escape and alignment is maintained from a strengthened and lengthened inner thread section.

The rear of the moderator has been designed to not reflect light from a lamp if used.

Noise reduction recommendations are for up to .308 Win calibre as a proportion of the hot expanding gases on firing are diverted rearward into the sleeved section whilst the remainder is directed down the forward section. This incorporates a substantial blast baffle and then a series of stainless steel baffles to further cool the hot powder combustion gases. This retardation of movement in and around the MAE Compacts efficient baffle design gives a very good noise reduction overall.

The new MAE Compact sound moderator is for those hunters who want good sound reduction in a small compact design whilst still maintaining a short overall length for a better handling rifle in the field.

Thread sizes available are ½x20unf, M14x1, M18x1 and 5/8x18

Price is £280.00 for the brushed stainless steel finish, please add £10 for the blacked finish. 

Contact

Tel JMS Arms 01444 400126 / 07771 962121

Email JMSarmsuk@gmail.com

www.jmsarms.com

www.MAEmoderators.co.uk

Quickload and QuickTARGET

www.quickload.co.uk

www.gamestransporter.co.uk

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I assembled a wide selection of moderators for testing...

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