Quote from: WarrenJ on July 02, 2013, 09:13:27 AM
The 300 Whisper/Blackout was formed from the 221 Fireball Cartridge, which is a shortened 222 Rem (or 223).   If you cut off 223's to make a Whisper/Blackout, you probably should anneal the neck area and you will probably have to inside neck ream the formed case as the case walls of the 223 that get formed into the neck of the shorter cartridge are thicker than the neck of the Blackout.  (hope that made sense)  In other words, the bullet won't go in the hole - the outside dimensions of the case will be right, but due to the thicker brass, the inside neck dimension will be too small for the bullet.  Certainly doable, but realize that there will be a couple extra steps.

^^What he said... but the part about the case wall thickness depends on the brass used.  Many of your "average" brass brands are reported to work fine.  Lake City brass is known to have walls that are too thick.

There are a number of videos on YouTube showing the process.

I use a Harbor Freight mini chop saw to lop off the neck and shoulder, then do a quick deburr, shape in the press, then trim.  After that, prime and load as normal.

Quote from: duc_fan on July 02, 2013, 06:20:26 PM
^^What he said... but the part about the case wall thickness depends on the brass used.  Many of your "average" brass brands are reported to work fine.  Lake City brass is known to have walls that are too thick.

There are a number of videos on YouTube showing the process.

I use a Harbor Freight mini chop saw to lop off the neck and shoulder, then do a quick deburr, shape in the press, then trim.  After that, prime and load as normal.

That sounds pretty simple

Mini chop saw?

How do you get it lined up accurately?

Quote from: ducatiz on July 02, 2013, 11:34:25 AM
22 is cheaper.  than anything.

.17 is a mostly useless round IMHO.  Yes you get flatter trajectories, etc blah blah with it, but 90% of people shooting can't shoot accurately enough to take advantage of that and most vermin kills are going to be short distances anyhow.

The 17 HMR is a specialized round and I like it for several uses.  On calm days, I have killed critters with it over 250 yards.  I really like it for removing vermin in built up areas where the total fragmentation of the bullet is necessary combined with the reduced noise over a centerfire.  It is also a fun gun for informally introducing new shooters, especially kids by blowing up pop cans, etc without the danger of bouncing bullets around.  I think it is probably a safer round to plink with than the 22lr, due to the rapid fragmentation of its bullet and the way the 17 rapidly dumps energy past 250 yards.  It is certainly more expensive than a 22 lr and the bullet does not have enough power to be effective on the larger varmints like coyotes.  It will kill them, but it will seldom ice them like a larger caliber or even a 22 magnum.  Within some narrow parameters, I find it pretty useful.

Quote from: WarrenJ on July 03, 2013, 05:57:05 AM
The 17 HMR is a specialized round and I like it for several uses.  On calm days, I have killed critters with it over 250 yards.  I really like it for removing vermin in built up areas where the total fragmentation of the bullet is necessary combined with the reduced noise over a centerfire.  It is also a fun gun for informally introducing new shooters, especially kids by blowing up pop cans, etc without the danger of bouncing bullets around.  I think it is probably a safer round to plink with than the 22lr, due to the rapid fragmentation of its bullet and the way the 17 rapidly dumps energy past 250 yards.  It is certainly more expensive than a 22 lr and the bullet does not have enough power to be effective on the larger varmints like coyotes.  It will kill them, but it will seldom ice them like a larger caliber or even a 22 magnum.  Within some narrow parameters, I find it pretty useful.

And you, sir, are not a typical varminter.  

Quote from: duc_fan on July 02, 2013, 06:20:26 PM
^^What he said... but the part about the case wall thickness depends on the brass used.  Many of your "average" brass brands are reported to work fine.  Lake City brass is known to have walls that are too thick.

There are a number of videos on YouTube showing the process.

I use a Harbor Freight mini chop saw to lop off the neck and shoulder, then do a quick deburr, shape in the press, then trim.  After that, prime and load as normal.

The .223 is not straight walled. How do you get the cut square to the base, or do you use the trim step square them up?

Not having to neck ream makes life a lot easier.  Good to know.

Quote from: The Bearded Duc on July 02, 2013, 01:45:32 AM
Sorry to jump off the current topic, I'm just wondering if anyone has any info regarding a "Delay Delivery" notice from the DOJ?

When I went in for the pick-up the salesman gave me a copy of the letter and said the DOJ would notify them, then they would let me know when I could come in to pick up the rifle. He also told me I could be proactive and call the number listed on the letter or I could just hang tight. I called periodically for the first two weeks then I called the dealer back to see if there was any update. The guy I spoke with on the phone gave me attitude (another story) and said I was the one responsible for getting a hold of the DOJ to find out what the issue was. So, I've been calling the number everyday, it's almost always busy and when I do get a ring no one answers. It's now been three weeks with no answer from either side and I'm without a decent sum of money and a rifle.

Has anyone here ever received a delay notice, and/or have any recommendations?

I talked to one dealer recently that said they were getting a few more delays.  I would put it on the dealer - tell him if he can't get it resolved within a set period of time, you want your money refunded.  Dealers don't like seeing cash going out of the till back across the counter, plus it is extra paperwork for them.  Might add some motivation.  Sucks when you are out the money and don't have the gun either.  Let us know how it shakes out.

Quote from: ducatiz on July 03, 2013, 07:34:49 AM
And you, sir, are not a typical varminter.  

I think its best use is when someone asks me to remove woodchucks from around outbuildings.  It will typically ice a woodchuck inside 100 yards and I don't have to worry about bouncing a bullet into things that don't need extra holes.   The 17 is certainly not a great all round cartridge, but it is great for very specific uses.  I just have an inexpensive Savage with a cheap Tasco parked on it, but it shoots very well.  I need to do some more experimenting with some FMJ ammo I found for it.  I shot a tomato with it 3 times and I just had 3 17 cal holes on each side - I was amazed it didn't blow it up just with the velocity. 

Quote from: WarrenJ on July 03, 2013, 11:39:23 AM
I shot a tomato with it 3 times and I just had 3 17 cal holes on each side - I was amazed it didn't blow it up just with the velocity. 

Well, it is the equivalent weight of a paperclip.

Quote from: WarrenJ on July 03, 2013, 11:39:23 AM
I think its best use is when someone asks me to remove woodchucks from around outbuildings.  It will typically ice a woodchuck inside 100 yards and I don't have to worry about bouncing a bullet into things that don't need extra holes.   The 17 is certainly not a great all round cartridge, but it is great for very specific uses.  I just have an inexpensive Savage with a cheap Tasco parked on it, but it shoots very well.  I need to do some more experimenting with some FMJ ammo I found for it.  I shot a tomato with it 3 times and I just had 3 17 cal holes on each side - I was amazed it didn't blow it up just with the velocity. 

Happiness is watching my 7 year old shoot a shaken bottle of Sprite with a  .17 hmr at 50 yards!

Quote from: rgramjet on July 03, 2013, 01:35:10 PM

Happiness is watching my 7 year old shoot a shaken bottle of Sprite with a  .17 hmr at 50 yards!

how far does the bullet ricochet?   

Quote from: ducpainter on July 03, 2013, 08:39:08 AM
The .223 is not straight walled. How do you get the cut square to the base, or do you use the trim step square them up?

Rough cut with this http://www.forsterproducts.com/catalog.asp?prodid=700292

Finish cut with this http://www.opticsplanet.com/rcbs-trim-pro-2-manual-case-trimmer-with-spring-load-shell-holder-90365r.html?gclid=CJeN7-HClLgCFRCe4Aod5gMAYw&ef_id=AO9QBHt6yHwAAFzi:20130703235348:s

Quote from: ducpainter on July 03, 2013, 08:39:08 AM
The .223 is not straight walled. How do you get the cut square to the base, or do you use the trim step square them up?

Yep, the trim step.

When you cut it off just below the shoulder, it's still too long, and due to the aforementioned tapered walls, the cut isn't square.

After giving it the new neck/shoulder with a run through the die, I use a Forster case trimmer to both cut the shaped case to length and square it up.

Some guys with power trimmers don't bother with cutting off the neck and shoulder of the .223 brass... they just buzz the whole thing down with the power trimmer.  Mine is a manual trimmer, so the chop saw speeds things up a bit.  I also have fewer shavings to clean up this way. 

Quote from: ducatiz on July 03, 2013, 02:02:06 PM
how far does the bullet ricochet?   

No ricochet.......just big soda explosion!