Are the .17cals really All That?

Originally Posted By: DiYi Suppress a 17-204 for the ultimate in sweetness.
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proof right there... even an old dog ai'nt afraid to try something new
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Want to pass this info on.

Got a reply back today from John Gilbert, via email, stating that HG Firearms is not accepting new orders on .17 cal bullets at least until mid-April. John stated he is having issues filling current orders because of not being able to obtain the jackets needed & until he can get the jackets there will be no more bullets.

This seems to be the norm for all these guys who are making the .17 cal bullets. My question is this, is Berger the only people who produce the J4 jackets? Is this a copyright issue or what is the story? I'm just a little confused on why one company controls the market on these jackets.

Could someone please give me a better explanation about this?
 
Originally Posted By: Ricky BobbyWant to pass this info on.

Got a reply back today from John Gilbert, via email, stating that HG Firearms is not accepting new orders on .17 cal bullets at least until mid-April. John stated he is having issues filling current orders because of not being able to obtain the jackets needed & until he can get the jackets there will be no more bullets.

This seems to be the norm for all these guys who are making the .17 cal bullets. My question is this, is Berger the only people who produce the J4 jackets? Is this a copyright issue or what is the story? I'm just a little confused on why one company controls the market on these jackets.

Could someone please give me a better explanation about this?

He ordered 2 buckets of jackets to make 17 cal. bullets from and they sent him 1 bucket of 30 cal. jackets. It will be April before they replace the 30 cal. bucket.
 
I never really knew what was going on ... but that was before I became a proud owner of a .17 Remington rifle. I have a .204 that absolutely loves the 40gr Bergers & I think that I might just start shooting other manufactures bullets because of all this. Do you think their intentions are to weed out all the little guys? Unreal.
 
Originally Posted By: Ricky BobbyDo you think their intentions are to weed out all the little guys?


Sure kinda smells that way don't it.
 
The issue is Berger doesn't have any jackets to sell right now. They're too busy making 223 and 308 bullets to run the other machines. They will sell the .17 jackets but are requiring a 100,000 minimum order to start up the machines and pay overtime to the employees. When it's time for Berger to make more 17 stuff, jackets will be available again.
 
Originally Posted By: FurhunterOriginally Posted By: Ricky BobbyDo you think their intentions are to weed out all the little guys?


Sure kinda smells that way don't it.

Berger had a 110% price increase on j4 jackets since last year.So I'd say yes their trying to run the little guys off.
 
I don't think Berger is too concerned with a few garage bullet makers putting a dent in their business. I think it's another case of supply and demand, and rising costs. Everybody wants the j-4's because they are the most uniform jackets available.
 
Quote:I don't think Berger is too concerned with a few garage bullet makers putting a dent in their business.

That's pretty much how Walt Berger started. If he still owned the company I doubt if he would disregard the "garage bullet makers".
 
Hornady 25gr HP worked perfectly on my first 17 Rem coyote. 35 yards instantaneous death like lightning. No tail twitch, no pawing the air, not a thing. Right in the front "shoulder", you can barely see a single drop of blood. Hard to imagine Bergers or any other buller beating that?
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Funny thing about those Hornadys. For years before plastic tipped bullets were invented, I shot 25 Hornady and Remington HP's through a MIV. They're accurate and work very well. Killed a whole ton of varmints with them.
 

Today I struck pay dirt! I found a box (200 count) of the famed Berger 25 gr. Match Target bullets. I snatched them up even though I don't yet have a rifle to compliment them. But, that will be remedied down the road.

Question about powders for the .17s, is there a top two or three powders that stand out among all the others?

I also read somewhere that H414 is a good .17 powder, and good for larger calibers as well. Anyone ever try that powder in a .17, or in any other caliber for that matter? If so, what's your opinion about it?


 
From everything I've heard & read that Varget must be a good one. I also am a fan of Ramshot XTerminator & A2460 in my .204's and gotta believe they might perform well in my 17Rem. Of course, this is all just my speculation.

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IMR 4320 will work well in 99.9% of 17Rem's. Fairly clean, good velocity, but doesn't meter as well as some I've used. It shoots good enough to not be a deal breaker though.

WW760 = Accurate, kinda dirty, lacks velocity, meters well.

AA2700 = Pretty much the same as 760. Maybe a tich slower.

My all time fav, N140 = best accuracy, fast, clean, and meters like water. Only draw back is it's a little more expensive and you'll probably have to order it. Well worth it IMO though.

Sooo, my preferences in order.
1) N140
2) IMR4320
3) WW760
4) AA2700

Other powders are known to work, but these are the ones I've played with for 25+ yrs.

P.S.,,,, Good find on the Bergers. Problem is, about the time you get your loads worked up and start having fun you'll need more and there won't be any.
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Welcome to the 17cal world.
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