17 vha??

[Nor Cal Mikie]

Anybody try the 17 VHA in a Savage action? Thinking the only BIG problem would be the bolt head?
Maybe start with a .308 size bolt head and bush it down to fit the "little bitty" case? Exctactor too short to reach the rim?
Got brass for starters so I need to get the other things going. Tried asking PT&G about the bolt head but no response yet.
Barrels? No problem. Reamers available from PT&G.
Just trying to sort out any problems ahead of time. Opinions??
Thanks,Mike.

[Hotolds442]

PTG makes a 5.7x28 bolt for the Remington 700, they should be able to build you one for the Savage since they already have the specs. Feeding may be interesting.....
10 grains of powder for 3775fps.......amazing!!

[Nor Cal Mikie]

Feeding? No problem. I single feed so no mag problems and I don't have to chase brass either. No ejector rod so the brass stays on the bolt head till I pick it off.

[Hotolds442]

How's the availability of reloadable 5.7x28 brass? This sounds like a prairie dog nightmare!

[Nor Cal Mikie]

Brass doesn't seem to be a problem. I picked 100 ea. and they look like NEW. Figured I'd get brass and go from there.
One of the Guys on the Small Caliber Club forum seems to be the "Go To" man for brass. Pretty interesting little round. I think the 4.6X30MM is the same as the 5.7X28? Just neck it down to 17. OR, if you're feeling like trying something different, try going to 14 caliber.
Big jump in bullet size from 30 cal or 6MM to 20. Then, try going to 17? I thought handeling the 20s was a chore? The 17 should be a real challenge! Some of the Guys are pushing 20 grain bullets to 3800 + FPS with deadly accuracy.

[squirrel_slayer]

PTG makes (or at least used to) a 5.7 bolt face. I was going to run a similar wild cat called the .17 velociraptor based off the 5.7x28 brass but nearly identical case capacity. I missed the bus on the super cheap 20gr z-max's and back shelved the project. dies were made from 5.7x28 dies machined to take bushings. have close to two kegs of 1680 3-400 pieces of brass, 10k sr primers, so it would be super cheap to shoot.

[Nor Cal Mikie]

Even gone a far as sending a PM to Dave Kiff asking if they "still" make the smaller bolt head? No reply.
Just happened to see a write up in a back issue SCN and the Velociraptor was mentioned.
Can't do anything till I get a bolt head. Patience IS a virtue!