Talk amongst yourselves

[Hogpatrol]

This is precision. 17 Fireball This is mortar fire: .505 Gibbs

 

[crs]

Opposite ends of the spectrum.
+ opposite ends of normal distribution curve

=========== minimal interest , application, and sales.

 

[Ray B]

Where's the Earsplitenloudkabooma when you need it?

 

[Bullthrower338]

The 17 Rem is one of my favorite cartridges, was my go to varmint rifle in Montana where shots were relatively short and wind was seldom an issue. When I moved to NM where a normal day held winds that required a guy to hold coyote lengths into the wind to make a hit, I started Shooting a 6mm Rem more frequently. Still I always loaded the 17 into the truck.
The 505 Gibbs, I fear not the darkest corner of the world or what roams it because you damn well showed up with enough gun!

 

[BeeMaa]

I haven't shot anything bigger than 375H&H or smaller (center fire) than 6.5x55SE.
However I would love the opportunity to hunt chipmunks with the 505G.
17FB just seems like overkill for Buffalo.

 

[nztimb]

I looked at the 17 when the 17Mk1v was on the go and the 17Rem came out not long after but it was the reputed fouling of the rem and the wind drift that stopped me wanting one so step forward a lot of years and the 20/221 fireball or 20 VarTarg has well and truly filled that long looked for niche
I would go with the 500 Jeffery to make a big and small comparison.

 

[fourfive8]

Actually the 17 Fireball is a very nice, well behaved fur getter. Works a wonder out to about 200 yds and a bit farther if conditions allow. It has the fur preservation qualities of the 17 without the fouling, throat burning attributes of the Remington version. In a lot of ways it is similar to the 222, or it’s parent the 221, but has the 17 cal advantage of less fur damage if that’s also an objective.

 

[Bullthrower338]

I have gotten great barrel life out of both the 17 Remington and the 220 Swift, both loathed for their barrel burning reputations. Anything that is pushed at max velocity and pressure will cause premature throat erosion. I run mine several hundred FPS below and haven’t made anything less dead than when pushing over the 4K mark.
I have found that my 17 seems to like going fast though. My load using H-335 is Shooting right over 3900 FPS and produces just under 1/2” groups. When run at 4200 they shoot a ragged hole. I concur with @fourfive8 that the 17 is best within a few hundred yards as a prairie dog fart can send a 20 grain Berger off course. Also on the benefits of the 17 regarding pelt preservation. This was another reason I slowed my bullets down. At 4200 I was cutting Kit fox in half. Unfortunately I never shot another Kit to test my theory so I don’t really know if 400 FPS really would have solved the problem. But on Coyote I never had a passthrough unless Shooting FMJ bullets.
I guess in the end though Women were made to love, Whisky was made to drink and barrels are replaceable for a reason.

 

[nztimb]

Actually the 17 Fireball is a very nice, well behaved fur getter. Works a wonder out to about 200 yds and a bit farther if conditions allow. It has the fur preservation qualities of the 17 without the fouling, throat burning attributes of the Remington version. In a lot of ways it is similar to the 222, or it’s parent the 221, but has the 17 cal advantage of less fur damage if that’s also an objective.

My best with the 20Vt was a 358yd cold barrel kill on a rabbit with the 35gn Berger bullet at 3700fps

Accuracy was good to excellent

 

[fourfive8]

I really don’t know the vel range for no exit on relatively small critters like foxes with one of the 17 cal frangibles? I do know a full sized coyote will stop 17 frangibles if shot lengthwise and almost all shot crosswise. The lengthwise 17 cal inflation-deflation phenomenon is noteworthy

For called foxes, a 22 Hornet works well and usually the exit hole is acceptable for fur damage. I’m sure a 17 Hornet would work very well for foxes but have only shot P-dogs with the K version of the 17 Hornet.

 

[perttime]

This is precision. 17 Fireball This is mortar fire: .505 Gibbs

View attachment 320940 View attachment 320941

You have to crank the .505 above 45 degrees, to hit what you're aiming at?

 

[ActionBob]

Shooting 525 grain bullets at 2350 fps I'm not afraid to take a 200 yard shot on something like a kudu if it was required. And I've played with it at 300 yards on big paper targets, just to know what it would do if needed on a long follow up shot if ever needed. Love the caliber, especially with 525 grain bullets. TSX's are devastating

600 grain bullets are mortar shells

 

[perttime]

...
600 grain bullets are mortar shells

Ha!

 

[Bullthrower338]

I really don’t know the vel range for no exit on relatively small critters like foxes with one of the 17 cal frangibles? I do know a full sized coyote will stop 17 frangibles if shot lengthwise and almost all shot crosswise. The lengthwise 17 cal inflation-deflation phenomenon is noteworthy

For called foxes, a 22 Hornet works well and usually the exit hole is acceptable for fur damage. I’m sure a 17 Hornet would work very well for foxes but have only shot P-dogs with the K version of the 17 Hornet.

I’ve been looking at that 17 Hornet and wondering. I actually started shooting fox with a 17 HMR. Perfect for them, less than impressive on a coyote though. I might have to make a trip out to NM with the 17 Rem just for science sake! I will shoot one with the 17 and one with the Gibbs. I bet a 600 grainer directly in front of a fox would kill him with flying rocks resulting in no pelt damage. Lol

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

The 17 Rem is one of my favorite cartridges, was my go to varmint rifle in Montana where shots were relatively short and wind was seldom an issue. When I moved to NM where a normal day held winds that required a guy to hold coyote lengths into the wind to make a hit, I started Shooting a 6mm Rem more frequently. Still I always loaded the 17 into the truck.
The 505 Gibbs, I fear not the darkest corner of the world or what roams it because you damn well showed up with enough gun!

Bullthrower
If you want to remove all fear from those darkest corners Google or YouTube the 750 A square or the 900 I forget what brand but if you could carry them you would be the meanest SOB in those corners mate.
Cheers Bob.

 

[Chago]

Both are great on cape buffalo? Lol

 

[WebleyGreene455]

.17 Fireball: Procompsognathus triassicus.

.505 Gibbs: Tyrannosaurus rex.