Another mystery ammo question, with pictures.

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Mountain Doctor	Another mystery ammo question, with pictures.	Lead	[-]
Posts: 2004 (11/12/07 12:12 PM) Forum Site Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Tags : None I was cleaning out the gun room last night. It's been a multi-day project. Once a year I clean, inspect, oil my whole collection. All the units, bayonets, spare parts, reloading equipment, etc. In the process I came across what looks like an ordinary 5.56 NATO round but necked down to .17 with a FMJ bullet and military headstamp and crimped primer. What is this?
Dennis Jenkins1		#1	[-]
Posts: 1798 (11/13/07 03:59 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Once upon a time about 30 years ago they made a centerfire 17 caliber. I've never heard of one of those in FMJ though. Dennis Jenkins
GOEX FFF		#2	[-]
Posts: 2381 (11/13/07 04:48 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	It kinda looks like the .22/30 Homologous 5.56x51... one of those military Experimental 5.56 cartridges.. ------------------ Join us at - milsurpshooter.net
Mountain Doctor		#3	[-]
Posts: 2019 (11/13/07 12:15 PM) Forum Site Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	It's definitely a .17, US military, and it's defiantly a 5.56 case necked down, all the same dimensions. I should have mentioned that the other cartridge in the photo is 5.56 NATO for comparison.
JTB1967		#4	[-]
Posts: 508 (11/13/07 03:24 PM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I'm guessing it's a 5.56 necked down by someone other than the military. As far as the crimped primer, they could have pulled the bullet, dumped the powder and reused the primed case. It appears that the bullet doesn't have a cannure and the case isn't crimped into the bullet. The overall case length is also longer than the 5.56 beside it. The 17 Remington that first came out in the 1970's was a .223 necked down to 17 caliber. I'd say someone used surplus 5.56 for making up 17 Remington rounds. Last Edited By: JTB1967 11/13/07 03:26 PM. Edited 1 times.
Mountain Doctor		#5	[-]
Posts: 2021 (11/13/07 04:34 PM) Forum Site Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I thought about that possibility but thought most people would not resize brass, trim to proper case length, fill with powder, and insert a bullet with a live primer in place.
John Moses		#6	[-]
Posts: 30 (11/13/07 08:36 PM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	JTB has it right. A buddy of mine bought a 17 Remington that included a bunch of cases made from military 223 rounds. The result looks just like the picture. You don't have to worry about trimming ... it's way too short compared to a real 17 Rem.
Mountain Doctor		#7	[-]
Posts: 2025 (11/13/07 09:22 PM) Forum Site Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	OK, that leaves me with two questions. 1. How did I wind up with it and... 2. What is up with JTB's Avatar. Boy that's an upsetting image :-)
Czubek		#8	[-]
Posts: 979 (11/13/07 09:41 PM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Didn't the Army experiment with the .17 a while back? Brian
rumbum		#9	[-]
Posts: 96 (11/13/07 09:58 PM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	There is a wildcat cartridge called the .17-223. It has the same dimensions as the 5.56 NATO with the exception of the bore size. It is similar but not identical to the .17 Rem. Someone could have pulled the bullets and necked down the primed military cases for his wildcat rifle. I haven't been able to find info on any .17 caliber experimental rounds tested by the military. BTW, JTB1967's avatar is too disturbing before my first cup of coffee in the morning.
beanstrung		#10	[-]
Posts: 3864 (11/13/07 11:21 PM) Forum Site Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Mountain Doctor wrote: 2. What is up with JTB's Avatar. Boy that's an upsetting image :-) Is that Blues Artist, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown? --------------------------------------------------------------------------- What part of "shall not be infringed" don't you understand? Joel 3:9-10