what do you consider the most efficient 17 caliber centerfire

[foxhunter]

what criteria would you apply to back your choice? i personally have owned a bunch of 17 calibers, so it's easier to list the ones i have not owned than owned. i have not owned a 17 tcm, 17 heebee, 17/222, 17 javelin, 17 204 .
my vote goes to the 17 heebee.

 

[Ingwe]

I'm a .17 Rem fan. Had some issues with feeding .17 Fireball. The Rem. can be loaded down to FB or Hornet velocities to loaded up to 4K. Most versatile IMHO but I must admit to liking the .17 Hornet a bunch....

 

[rickiesrevenge]

I wish bee brass was cheaper and available. I could see an argument for an improved bee case. But I haven't owned one. Probably the most efficient 17 case I've owned was a 17 jet from bullberry. It was and improved 22 jet necked down. Very similar if not the same as Saunders 17-32 jet. 20s would easily do 4200fps from that case. I never found the upper limit!

Another case that gets decent speed with small charges is the 17 Ackley Hornet.

 

[Bullseye69]

Ive had efficient results with my 17 K Hornet. Just wish the case was stronger. When you get them up around 4100 they don't last long.
But keep them around 3800 and they seem to do fine.

 

[KevinG]

what criteria would you apply to back your choice? i personally have owned a bunch of 17 calibers, so it's easier to list the ones i have not owned than owned. i have not owned a 17 tcm, 17 heebee, 17/222, 17 javelin, 17 204 .
my vote goes to the 17 heebee.

Had always heard that, on balance, the 17MachIV is the most efficient through a wide range of bullet weights.
I'm unaware of any factual testing, though.

Here's a semi-custom H&R/Shilen in 17MachIV......that I bought from Todd Kindler, over 35 years ago. .

Kevin

 

[Bullseye69]

That's a beauty!!

 

[KevinG]

I forgot to mention another 17.......said to also be quite efficient.
The 17 Javelina.......
Here's an O'Brien Hultgren Grade.......with ivory inlay in relief.

Kevin

The inlay.....

 

[Ingwe]

I forgot to mention another 17.......said to also be quite efficient.
The 17 Javelina.......
Here's an O'Brien Hultgren Grade.......with ivory inlay in relief.

Kevin

The inlay.....

Jeepers! My .17 Rem looks pretty "pedestrian" compared to some of the rifles you guys are posting!

 

[Bullseye69]

These guys do have some beautiful rifles.
Only good wood guns I've got are my shotguns.

 

[DamDave]

17 Fireball is current 17 favorite

 

[EMC_Custom]

I'm a .17 Rem fan. Had some issues with feeding .17 Fireball. The Rem. can be loaded down to FB or Hornet velocities to loaded up to 4K. Most versatile IMHO but I must admit to liking the .17 Hornet a bunch....

I loaded my 17 Remington Contender down to 17 Mach IV/ Fireball levels for years. It shot tiny groups, and a pound of IMR 4895 lasted a long time that way

 

[TheCZKid]

I find my 17 Hornet hard to beat, when it comes to velocity and powder usage. I'm getting 3675 fps with 20 Vmax and 12.6 grains of CFE BLK. Love my CZ 527, stock everything, but shoots in the twos.