.17 mach IV, 17rem or .221 fireball contender barrel

[norm]

Thinking about a new barrel, 16" blue bull. But cant decide on the caliber. I already have a 6" .221, But have been thinking about a .17.
Everything I read on the .17 says you have to clean the barrel after 6 or so shots. Is that true? I have a hard time cleaning after a couple of hundred rounds. I am sure I have 22 lr barrels that have never been cleaned!  Im not lazy, just like shootin better than cleaning!!! Anyway any help on deciding would be greatly aprieciated. Thanks norm

[handcanon]

Try a .223 rem. I have one in a 14" and my son has a 18" and we love them great for deer on down

[bigbore442001]

Of all the three that you mentioned, I would go with the 221 Fireball. The 17 Rem. is LOUD. Also, the caliber needs regular and careful cleaning. The small bore is easily fouled and the cartridge is load sensitive. Also, the 17 Mach 4 is a wildcat. I will not own a wildcat. I was in a situation where I  needed to buy ammo locally. Good thing it was a common caliber and not a wildcat. The .221 Fireball is more rare than other centerfires but the reloading components are more common,

If it were me, I'd go with either a .223 or a .22 Hornet. The .22 Hornet is as common as rocksalt and you can load the thing right up there in the 16" barrel. I have some 40 gr loads at 2800 with the long tube(16") I would seriously look into that caliber. I am assuming you're going to shoot rockchucks and ground squirrels in your state. I think the 22 Hornet will serve you well.

[norm]

Thanks guys guess I should have mentioned I already have a hornet and some .223's. just kind of want something smaller. Anyone shoot a .218 bee? Thanks norm :-D

[Ravenwolf]

Norm, I've been shooting a 15" EABCO 17 Rem barrel for my Contender for about 10 years.  All the problems you hear about the 17 cals are from older firearms and old style 17 cal bullets.  I clean my 17 barrel just like any of my other barrels.  The key is to properly break in the barrel and do not let it get extremely hot.  I also have a 221 Fireball and to be honest I can't say one is louder than the other.  What I do get is a cartridge that will propel a 25 grain bullet around 3500 fps (in my 15" barrel), has low richochet potential and neglieable recoil.  I use Berger moly coated MEF bullets, but Hornady bullets also work well.  My longest shot on a woodchuck has been a lazered 310 yards and good bullet performance.  Shots closer than 200 yards usually will not exit and leave a mess inside a fox/woodchuck/yote, but remember these high velocity 17s usually won't make it through any brush or grass.  It is a great cartridge and in todays guns with todays bullets won't need any more additional care than any other high velocity round....Good Shooting...RW

[handcanon]

I have always wanted a .17 rem myself becouse I have a 45-70 and I would like to have the full reach of a Contender you know from bigest to littlest but now I see VVA have some in a .14 now that has me thinking how cool would that be, but being a big man I don't know how I would reload it. I have trouble loading a .223

[hicard]

I have a contender in 17 Mach 4 and it is like a laser.  The squirrels just drop over dead and never move at even long range.  Great shooter, beautiful looking shell, cheap to load and shoot.

[tlyne]

The 221 gets my vote. I have 221, 218 bee ,22 K hornet, 17 mach IV, 17 HMR, and 223. The 221 is the best of the lot. Just my opinion. The hornet brass is weak, Need high cost dies for 17 mach IV. 17 teen's barrels get durty. Some people just like what they have. Best of luck with your choices, Twyman