.17 HMR Versa Pack

[PHATINJUN]

As far as anyone here knows and the only one to be reported so far is my 17HMR Versa Pack bbl. It has sat on the back burner since I aquired it and today I was taking a close look at it and trying to figure out what configuration I wanted to go with as far as stocks and such.Any way I was also maybe considering a rechamber for it. So I was taking a close look at the chamber .I have yet to shoot it but what I discovered has me puzzled. It appears to be the start of a rechamber already as you can see in the pictures the rim appears to be right at .378 which is .17 remington also the same as 223. Anybody got a clue as to what is up with this? This is the only Versa Pack bbl I have so I have nothing else to compare to but are the bbls all pinned? Also why would it look like it is bored then plugged then the chamber cut? I have not done a chamber cast but can feel where the shoulder is and it is where it would be for a 17 HMR not any 17 centerfire shoulder. But you can see in the photo what looks like the plug lines? The 22 versa packs are not like this are they? Kurt 

[quickdtoo]

Larry has mentioned the construction of the Versa Pack barrels before, maybe he can elaborate on it for us.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,134117.msg1098509423.html#msg1098509423

[wreckhog]

.22 VP looks exactly like that

[PHATINJUN]

The same type of recess? Kurt

[wreckhog]

Yup. .372 on mine. Inset diameter about .650. As you said, it seems to fit a .223 rim.

[djw]

... I was also maybe considering a rechamber for it...

Kurt,

You might want to rethink that, unless you're just saying the chamber needs to be cleaned up.  With the bore offset for using the rimfire barrel on a centerfire frame, you could only use it for another rimfire, and 17HMR is already the biggest one available.

IF, however, you were thinking of a .17 centerfire, then use a Sportster barrel; the bore would be centered with the firing pin.  This would also assume that the metallurgy question has been answered to your satisfaction.

Don

[PHATINJUN]

djw yes I know what ya mean and I am not so sure that the versa pack bbl's would work with any centerfire with the offset as you can see by the top picture one of those marks (indentation)next to the recess is the punch left from a rimefire pin . I guess I just don't understand what the .370 something recess is for with the rimefire versa packs. I know the regular 17HMR sportsters don't have it?? I am going to do a centerfire conversion on my 17HMR bull and cut it down some not sure yet what flavor but am leaning to the 17 Hornet. Kurt

[djw]

I guess I just don't understand what the .370 something recess is for with the rimefire versa packs. I know the regular 17HMR sportsters don't have it??

Now that I think about it...it provides clearance to make sure that the centerfire/shotgun firing pin doesn't catch the edge of the recess, thereby ensuring unobstructed contact with the rim of the cartridge and no damage to the firing pin.

I am going to do a centerfire conversion on my 17HMR bull and cut it down some not sure yet what flavor but am leaning to the 17 Hornet. Kurt

Excellent.

[PHATINJUN]

I don't know why I didn't look at this before but all the rimfires seem to have the recess on them I looked at my 17HMR and my 17MII they both have it my 22LR is at the nefhews house so I could not check it . They just are not as noticable since they are not off center I think. Kurt