17 Remington load development

[204 RUGER]

As mentioned in another thread ive had a semi custom 17 Rem made by Neil M. I managed to get out for a few hours yesterday in the heavy winds!!!!. Tested the loads on the Chrony first(with safety glasses on!!!!). Results as follows:

 

Remmy brass trimmed to 1.790", CCI BR4 primers, 25g Vmax bullets, OAL 2.249" (10 thou off lands),

 

 

 

21g N133: 3787ft/sec, 3794 ft/sec, 3780 ft/sec. Average: 3787 ft/sec

21.5g N133: 3941ft/sec, 3953ft/sec, 3959 ft/sec. Average: 3951 ft/sec

21.7g N133( stated as max load), 3958 ft/sec, 3987 ft/sec, 3974 ft/sec.Average: 3973 ft/sec

22g N133 3994 ft/sec, 3989 ft/sec, 3968 ft/sec. Average: 3983 ft/sec

22.2g N133: 4032 ft/sec, 4016 ft/sec, 4026 ft/sc. Average: 4024 ft/sec

22.5g N133: 4041 ft/sec, 4046 ft/sec, 4061 ft/sec. Average: 4049 ft/sec

22.8g N133: 4122 ft/sec, 4104 ft/sec, 4112 ft/sec. Average: 4113 ft/sec

23g N133: 4142 ft/sec, 4222 ft/sec, 4187 ft/sec. Average: 4184 ft/sec.......HOT HOT HOT

 

I realise I've pushed the limits here so please don't try this unless you have taken precautions like I did. I never had any pressure signs what so ever, I've even taken out all of the primers and checked inside for stress, again no issues. I'll check hem again IF the weather gets warmer but recon ill stop at 23g . The HOT HOT HOT loads grouped really well(5 shots inside 1cm with 3 of them in one elongated hole) considering the wind was blowing the hell out of me but I ran out of them to check at 200 yards. I did however have more of the 21.5 grain loads so shot them at 200 and got sub 1 inch which I was happy with considering the wind. I'll test it properly on a better day and recon it will be very tight at 200 yards.

[kent]

As mentioned in another thread ive had a semi custom 17 Rem made by Neil M. I managed to get out for a few hours yesterday in the heavy winds!!!!. Tested the loads on the Chrony first(with safety glasses on!!!!). Results as follows:

 

Remmy brass trimmed to 1.790", CCI BR4 primers, 25g Vmax bullets, OAL 2.249" (10 thou off lands),

 

 

 

21g N133: 3787ft/sec, 3794 ft/sec, 3780 ft/sec. Average: 3787 ft/sec

21.5g N133: 3941ft/sec, 3953ft/sec, 3959 ft/sec. Average: 3951 ft/sec

21.7g N133( stated as max load), 3958 ft/sec, 3987 ft/sec, 3974 ft/sec.Average: 3973 ft/sec

22g N133 3994 ft/sec, 3989 ft/sec, 3968 ft/sec. Average: 3983 ft/sec

22.2g N133: 4032 ft/sec, 4016 ft/sec, 4026 ft/sc. Average: 4024 ft/sec

22.5g N133: 4041 ft/sec, 4046 ft/sec, 4061 ft/sec. Average: 4049 ft/sec

22.8g N133: 4122 ft/sec, 4104 ft/sec, 4112 ft/sec. Average: 4113 ft/sec

23g N133: 4142 ft/sec, 4222 ft/sec, 4187 ft/sec. Average: 4184 ft/sec.......HOT HOT HOT

 

I realise I've pushed the limits here so please don't try this unless you have taken precautions like I did. I never had any pressure signs what so ever, I've even taken out all of the primers and checked inside for stress, again no issues. I'll check hem again IF the weather gets warmer but recon ill stop at 23g . The HOT HOT HOT loads grouped really well(5 shots inside 1cm with 3 of them in one elongated hole) considering the wind was blowing the hell out of me but I ran out of them to check at 200 yards. I did however have more of the 21.5 grain loads so shot them at 200 and got sub 1 inch which I was happy with considering the wind. I'll test it properly on a better day and recon it will be very tight at 200 yards.

There are prices to pay running that fast in terms of accelerated wear, its good to know but personally if I were you I should search for a lower node regardless of pressure sign but its your barrel at the end of the day

[204 RUGER]

There are prices to pay running that fast in terms of accelerated wear, its good to know but personally if I were you I should search for a lower node regardless of pressure sign but its your barrel at the end of the day

Agree but I had a 17 Rem made because I wanted a 17 cal round as fast as I could get. I won't be shooting it at the range so I should last me for years before any wear is noticeable. Whether I shoot rounds a 4k ft/sec or 4180 ft/sec it's gunna wear it, drop is obviously negligible between a round flying at 4k or 4200. I'm more concerned about potential pressure spikes on the max load so if the groups are good on a slightly lower load (maybe 22.5g) then ill go with that. I know I have some comfort zone if the loads do warm up....

[fourfingersofdeath]

Try the Australian made Hodgson / ADI powders, they are designed to not show any effect from temperatures up to 100 degrees Celcius.

[The_Dogge]

Where did you get the Viht load data for 17Rem?

 

I was about to start load dev for mine with N135 which is listed in the Lee manual, but Viht's own data doesn't list 17Rem.

[kent]

Try the Australian made Hodgson / ADI powders, they are designed to not show any effect from temperatures up to 100 degrees Celcius.

 

Not an issue in Blighty, cold has created more difficulties for me in past

[gbal]

Agree but I had a 17 Rem made because I wanted a 17 cal round as fast as I could get. I won't be shooting it at the range so I should last me for years before any wear is noticeable. Whether I shoot rounds a 4k ft/sec or 4180 ft/sec it's gunna wear it, drop is obviously negligible between a round flying at 4k or 4200. I'm more concerned about potential pressure spikes on the max load so if the groups are good on a slightly lower load (maybe 22.5g) then ill go with that. I know I have some comfort zone if the loads do warm up....

As you wish,of course,but your issue will be far more wind drift than a fraction of an inch more/less in drop for a trade off couple of hundred fps.....like all the hot sub calibres,and 223 etc,you end up in the ball park of 6 inches at 200 and 12 inches at 300,plus or minus an inch or so. (10 mph wind)They are quite flat-with a 200 zero,you'll be about 4 inches low at 300-again give/take a fraction.

Just curious as to the reason for max velocity,as it won't much help your drift,especially under field conditions especially with such a low BC bullet.I like my 17rem,but it has a very clearly defined limit of use,and not a lot extends it;offhand,I don't know the differential barrel wear,but that probably isn't any concern.But for small vermin and rabbits to 300y,I doubt that 200fps will be noticed-I'd put accuracy a higher priority,but you may well get both.Enjoy.

Gbal

[Andrew]

As you wish,of course,but your issue will be far more wind drift than a fraction of an inch more/less in drop for a trade off couple of hundred fps.....like all the hot sub calibres,and 223 etc,you end up in the ball park of 6 inches at 200 and 12 inches at 300,plus or minus an inch or so. (10 mph wind)They are quite flat-with a 200 zero,you'll be about 4 inches low at 300-again give/take a fraction.

Just curious as to the reason for max velocity,as it won't much help your drift,especially under field conditions especially with such a low BC bullet.I like my 17rem,but it has a very clearly defined limit of use,and not a lot extends it;offhand,I don't know the differential barrel wear,but that probably isn't any concern.But for small vermin and rabbits to 300y,I doubt that 200fps will be noticed-I'd put accuracy a higher priority,but you may well get both.Enjoy.

Gbal

I'll second this. Additionally, pressure signs many times aren't evident. When you don't have a pressure gun to verify the pressures you're just flying on a hope and a prayer. Since pressures are never linear, the pressure difference bewteen 22 and 23 grains could be huge, and not worth the leg quivver of having that extra 200 fps. In my shooting circles, a reloader who acknowledges that he runs HOT, HOT, HOT loads is considered a little off in his reloading practices and/or, at the very least, has little respect for a good, accurate rifle.

 

But it's your rifle! Beware of warmer temps.~Andrew

[garyw]

Where did you get the Viht load data for 17Rem?

 

I was about to start load dev for mine with N135 which is listed in the Lee manual, but Viht's own data doesn't list 17Rem.

VIHT-NI35 -in my opinion is THE POWDER for the 17 rem i load a -20 v max with 24.3gns-135 remmy primers with a slight jump

over the chrono im getting 4200 fps avg this load will give me plenty of barrel life,

if you use this load start at 21-22 gns and watch for pressure .

[204 RUGER]

Agree with all of the comments above and I actually settled on a 4000 fps load that I managed to get as accurate as the very accurate 4200 fps load.in respect to whether the 4200 fps load was actually HOT HOT HOT I based that comment on the fact that most people don't load the 25g to fly past 4k fps, at the time I had very little load info so wanted to work up slowly to the max I could active without any pressure signs. I had no issues at 4200 fps but came to my own conclusion that the extra 200 fps made very little difference once I fond a load/OAL that gave me the same one hole group that the 4200 fps load gave me.