[redjonson]

The 17 Rem has a reputation for copper fouling the barrel. I wonder why the 17 cal barrel should foul more than any other barrel...Is it because of the high velocity? Other calibers have as much or more velocity. Is it because the fit of the bullet to the barrel is somehow tighter than other calibers? Is it because the powder charge turns a certain amount of the copper jacket to a copper vapor (plasma) that is deposited further down the barrel as it cools? A lot of "over bore" cartridges generate the same or higher temperatures and pressures. Of the shooters of the 17 Rem that I know, there are only two types....They love it or they hate it...The particular 17 Rem 700 BDL that I have is an early production model and it is a shooter. It will shoot factory 25 gr loads accurately and will shoot 30 gr Berger handloads at 3725 FPS very accurately...I shoot 30 or 40 rounds before I clean it and the patches have very little blue...I'd be interested to hear the experiences of others shooting all types of Factory and custom rifles and barrels in 17 Rem. Things like accuracy, range, velocity, copper fouling, rounds fired per year and total rounds fired....Red