Can finally get into a .17 cal centerfire

[Wolfdog91 6,272]

So my .223 Wylde varmint rig is basically done and working pretty decent 

So now off to my next project.  Been wanting a .17 cal centerfire for a while now but there pretty expensive and hard to find . .17 rem/fireball/hornet ect are just a pain in the ass to find brass for and your looking at $40 per 20rd for custom loaded ammo. No to mention parent cases are just has hard to get to form brass for so whatever. But you can find barrel for all these pretty easy

Now 17-223 was a semi wildcat that was popular a few years back. Just took a .223 case and necked it down to .17cal , wanted that because I can get .223 brass dirt cheap or free at the range but it's fallen out of popularity and can't find anyone who even offers it as a custom deal, and with .17rem barrels being an extra charge and usually being like $450-$500.....yeah no. What's just goin to say screw it and go with the .17hornet because I reload .22 hornet and Hornady make there model #25 walking Varminter in .17 hornet for only $600 , till I saw this.

So KAK makes a lot of odd ball stuff for the AR platform form , .243, .358 Winchester, 300wsm but apparently a few months ago they starting making .17-5.56!  Same idea as 17-223 but the tweaked the design abit and use 5.56 NATO brass which as a little stronger, still dirt cheap to free though 

Heck they even have dies pre formed brass and complete uppers

And with a barrel being the only special thing I need ( 5.56 parent cases and bolt head so I can just use the one from my .223 Wylde) it's a hell of a deal imo. Probably be less then $450 before optics for the new upper and I can just slap it on my current lower

Love it when companies make stuff like this !

[elf847 1]

Looks like a great setup. I've got a WOA 18" stainless spr profile barrel in .223 wylde that shoots incredibly well. Only problem I have is cartridges getting stuck in the chamber.

[KimE 487]

I think its to much volume in a 223r case .17 are better paired with a hornet or fireball case.

[paulus 26]

When the .17hmr came out here. There were problems with the neck of the case splitting. This round was formed from a ,22wmr case, Are there the same issues with the .17 centrefire as well.

[Born Again 1]

It looks interesting, would the largish case compared to the small bore make it liable to eroding the barrel quickly ?  4600fps is useful.

[Wolfdog91 6,272]

On 26/12/2023 at 02:49, KimE said:

I think its to much volume in a 223r case .17 are better paired with a hornet or fireball case.

Been working well int the .17 rem for decades 

Case capacity in the rem and .223/5.56 are about the same

 

[Wolfdog91 6,272]

On 29/12/2023 at 16:01, Born Again said:

It looks interesting, would the largish case compared to the small bore make it liable to eroding the barrel quickly ?  4600fps is useful.

Their saying they tweaked the reamer design to help alleviate some common problems other .17 cals have and still have . Apparently their test barrel is up to 400+ rounds with now closing whatsoever and they can't see much in the way of extra fouling and the like.

That being said barrels are consumables and for $200 a pop, it's not too bad I guess , especially when the average guys isn't shooting more then what ? 300rd a year .

Anyhow hot an email today with a coupon code and said screw it and got a barrel

[Meece 1,957]

I would have loved to have a 1.7 cf rifle ,,,, and I had a slot on my cert to get one but at the end of the day I couldn't justify getting one because I already had a 222 and a 223.  Along with a ton of other guns.  I just couldn't shoot that much.  The problem here in the UK is that basically you can have what you want ; IF; you can justify the reason for having it.  You cant just say "well I fancy having one"  You have to have a sensible ,valid reason.  Now,, pressure parts such as barrels are controlled items; SO you can't just order up a barrel and convert something.  Shooting is difficult here because of a load of reasons.  Small farms are getting less and less and unless you own a farm people just don't want random people out on their land shooting.  the general public don't want random people shooting on land anywhere near their homes and families.  IF I were to create a custom weapon it would never be on an automatic action.  It would be on a bolt action because there is no comparison accuracy wise in using an auto.  This again comes back to the difference between ( Generally) American and European shooting ideas.  American seems to be Boom & Splash whereas UK / European is Quiet/Accuracy.  It's like US made .22 rimfire target ammunition.  It is so powerful (HV)that it isn't accurate.  I bought a thousand supposedly STD velocity Remington target and they were so variable velocity that a ten shot group was about 4 inches whereas something like Eley club or match would produce ten shot one hole groups out of the same gun shooter combination. it's all in the gun /shooting culture.  (Generally) here in the UK NO ONE wanders around carrying a gun.  It isn't something that is done because NO ONE goes round shooting at others.  The control of guns makes sure that Nutters don't get hold of guns and ammunition.

[Wolfdog91 6,272]

1 hour ago, Meece said:

I would have loved to have a 1.7 cf rifle ,,,, and I had a slot on my cert to get one but at the end of the day I couldn't justify getting one because I already had a 222 and a 223.  Along with a ton of other guns.  I just couldn't shoot that much.  The problem here in the UK is that basically you can have what you want ; IF; you can justify the reason for having it.  You cant just say "well I fancy having one"  You have to have a sensible ,valid reason.  Now,, pressure parts such as barrels are controlled items; SO you can't just order up a barrel and convert something.  Shooting is difficult here because of a load of reasons.  Small farms are getting less and less and unless you own a farm people just don't want random people out on their land shooting.  the general public don't want random people shooting on land anywhere near their homes and families.  IF I were to create a custom weapon it would never be on an automatic action.  It would be on a bolt action because there is no comparison accuracy wise in using an auto.  This again comes back to the difference between ( Generally) American and European shooting ideas.  American seems to be Boom & Splash whereas UK / European is Quiet/Accuracy.  It's like US made .22 rimfire target ammunition.  It is so powerful (HV)that it isn't accurate.  I bought a thousand supposedly STD velocity Remington target and they were so variable velocity that a ten shot group was about 4 inches whereas something like Eley club or match would produce ten shot one hole groups out of the same gun shooter combination. it's all in the gun /shooting culture.  (Generally) here in the UK NO ONE wanders around carrying a gun.  It isn't something that is done because NO ONE goes round shooting at others.  The control of guns makes sure that Nutters don't get hold of guns and ammunition.

Idk my bolt action 5.56 and .223 Wylde SPR build are running neck and neck. The bolt gun is just easier to shoot.  The AR will show you all your shitty fundamentals

[Wolfdog91 6,272]

So got may parts from the GF's place this evening. Everything is NBS ( non brand specific) or was on sale or just cheap. With the barrel only have about $350 into this upper. Will say though a 17" handgaurd on a 18" barrel is a bit goofy looking but they where out if the other on I wanted and the next one up was going to be like $75 so I said screw it I got a hack saw and spray paint it I really want I shorter lol. But yeah all and all it went together pretty easy 20min max and most of that was me looking for my Allen key set lol, their never where I leave them.  Since .17-5.56 uses 5.56 brass I can just use my .223 wylds bolt carrier group and all that takes is me taking it out of that upper and sliding it in this one when I swap lowers. Uses the same mags to so yeah pretty cost effective

Now I'm just waiting on dies and bullets .