I am looking for any info and/or load data for a .17 Javelina. Mostly need to know which powders and starting load data.
Thanks, Rick
Some Info:
.17 Javelina
The .17 Javelina is based on the .222 case and has a case capacity between the Mach IV and the .17 Remington. The Javelina has never gained the popularity of the Mach IV or most of the other .17s due to the case forming expense and difficulty. The forming dies for this caliber are expensive. The Javelina case is formed by pushing the shoulder back about 0.150". This is normally done with a forming die set, made by RCBS, Redding, etc. It could also be roughly done with a 221FB full-length die, set higher in the press
than normal. Necking down to 17cal. is then done with subsequent dies. There is significant case trimming that must take place following the forming. I hope to own a Javelina some day and look forward to the challenge of case forming (not the expensive dies though). Kevin Gullette (technical staffer for SCN) is a big fan of this cartridge and has provided the case forming information for the Javelina.
IMO, I would sell that gun and gear, then get a 17 Rem. No case forming, and faster than the out-dated Javelina.
Designed by Paul Marquart of A&M Gunshop, Prescott, Arizona, in 1958, this was my second 17-caliber project, and came to fruition in 1964. Based on the Sako L-461 action, Ackley barrel with 1:10" twist, and a very unusual piece of Oregon myrtle wood for the "California" style stock. This rifle was the first of many that I made up in the 1960s and ’70s.
If you readers have not had a lot of experience with the making of wildcat cases, I would not recommend this one. In today’s world, case forming dies are very expensive and many steps are involved to make a single case. I still have my RCBS dies from 1966 and have enough knowledge of the 17 Javelina that I do not need to change to another similar round, but I might change my mind when the newly announced 17 Remington Fireball becomes available. A&M’s "pet load" was 18.6 grains of 3031, which launched the 25-grain Sisk bullet at 3,850 fps. Since the 1960s, ball powders and small-grain extruded powders, like H322, have changed the world of the subcalibers dramatically. With the introduction of the so-called high energy propellants, loading for the 17 caliber becomes more interesting.
When I started competitive bench rest shooting in 1975, the powder of choice was H322 in the PPC cases, and also in my 6x47 with 68-grain Remington match bullets. Since those days H322 and variations have been my choice for a number of varmint cartridges I load for, including: the 222 Remington, 223 Remington, 22 and 6mm PPC, 17 Ackley Bee, and 17 Javelina, as noted.
19 grains H322, 23.5-grain bullet, 3,760 fps
18.7 grains H322, 25-grain bullet, 3,680 fps
My last 17 Javelina rifle was built in 1997 using a Sako L-461 action, Douglas 1:10" twist stainless match barrel, Lee Six Shilen Pattern varmint stock, and a 6.5-20x Leupold scope. This rifle was stolen along with several others
Thanks for all the info. I had myself already found all that was posted on the internet. I was hoping maybe someone had used H4895 or maybe H380 and could give me a starting point. I guess I will have to buy Kindler's "Sensational Seventeens" to get the info I need.
.17 Javelina
