I hope you like the 17 caliber rifles. I never did like them. Had a 17 rem for awhile and lost to much game from bad bullet performance. I think if the Hornady VMax's, and Nosler BTips were here then I would have had no issues. But for know my 22 KHornet, and 223 rem's do all I need doing with no pelt damage and have all the range I need to take any Varmint......... at any range I feel comfortable shooting them.
My favorite is still my Ruger 77/22Hornet I reamed to KHornet. It don't give me any great "warp" speeds as do the hotter centerfire 22's, but it hits hard inside 200 yards with the 40gr Sierra HP's zipping along at 2870FPS average muzzle velocity, has a petite appetite for powder, and brass is available.

Crackshot wrote:

it hits hard inside 200 yards

Being a caller rather than a stalker, I rarely take shots over 100 yds. It was a real toss up between the 22 hornet and 17 furball but I liked the idea of flatter trajectory so that I can precisely lay that bullet where it needs to be without compensation. I've talked to alot of predator hunters who swear by the .17 but caution that you can not shoot at the shoulder or you will just cripple the animal. Only two places to hit them, in the chest coming straight on or behind the shoulder when broadside, avoiding that hard shoulder and leg bone.

I'll keep you guys posted once I have it set up and shoot a few animals with it.

To be continued.

Can't get a bite or even a nibble on the Vartarg !!!
I think you'll be happy with the .17 Fireball



broadside/lungs only way to go...........regardless what your shooting!!!

chambered221 wrote:

Can't get a bite or even a nibble on the Vartarg !!!

I'm ignoring it.

Well guys, I got the Model 7 in .17 Fireball. Mounted a 6x Simmons scope on it that I had laying around. Went out to the range yesterday to break it in. Shot once, cleaned, shot once, cleaned.....

After about the 10th shot I started shooting to put my scope in the vicinity. Still shooting once and cleaning, I got two 0.8" groups at 100. All three shots on both groups came from a clean barrel

So, I ran out of daylight without sighting in the gun for effect. Planned to do that today at lunch but had a 5 -8 mph variable wind so decided to wait. The range near work is on TOP of a mountain . Any wind anywhere will be right there.

I don't work tomorrow so will go down to the range near my house (which is protected in a small valley and by woods) and will get er sighted in. I'll let you guys know how she does.

One thing I noticed yesterday however is that the cheap scope crosshairs are pretty dog gone thick so I am sure the gun will be more capable than the scope.

Look Chambered, I'm already making excuses

Thick crosshairs....number 103 in Tim's List of Shooting Excuses.

I prefer a sight-in style target with thick cross hairs and/or low power scopes!!!
Make your own by sizing it at the actual range so that you have a little daylight between your cross hairs and the target lines. Use a bold color to easily see the relationship to the target. I also use a level when tacking my target up to aid in keeping the gun level when shooting. It’s easy to tilt the gun and not know it with low-power scopes. If you size your target correctly you’ll add some consistency to the process.


Personally though........I'd put a 6-18 Loopy w/fine crosshair on it !!!

chambered221 wrote:

Personally though........I'd put a 6-18 Loopy w/fine crosshair on it !!!

I would too! That's the reason I was wondering if you had one laying around you weren't using. I'll return it just as SOOON as I get my gun sighted in.

As long as you return it with gun still attached !!! (and a couple boxes of ammo)

As promised I got out to the range this morning. Very nice day here in west Arkansas. The range had a 2-3 mph breeze coming straight in behind the bullet so all was good.

I started out trying to dial in my scope. The first group was low and left so I adjusted and fired for groups. I have to say...I am IMPRESSED with the little Model 7. With Remington UMC ammo, loaded with 25 gr Hornady Hollow Points, I consistently got .5"-.7" groups with an overall average of .6". Here's a photo of the typical group:



The UMC ammo is about 1/2 the cost of regular ammo for the .17 Fireball so you would think they would save the money in quality control. Looking at the above group, I think not.

However, I did get flyers every once in a while.

The flyers, which were not included in the above average, were anywhere from 1.2" to 1.7" and showed up about every 1 in 12 shots. Needless to say, I am satisfied.

Now off to see what it will do with some of the local coyotes.

Thanks Chambered for steering me in this direction.

Good shooting TCKnight! Now get the goodies to reload that little bugger and let us know what you got then.

tcknight wrote:

Thanks Chambered for steering me in this direction.

I like spending other peoples money !!! Your welcome !!!



More scope and some hand loads will probably shrink that avg.!!!

[/quote]More scope and some hand loads will probably shrink that avg.!!! [/quote]

No doubt.

But handloading is not in the cards.

I will be shopping for a scope sometime next year.

tcknight wrote:

But handloading is not in the cards.

that sucks !!!



Me got .......you send me gun........ I work up load.......... get it shooting real good and sighted in.
Then try out on some varmints..........send gun back to ya with ammo..........all at your expense of course !!!
(2,000 rounds should do it!!!)