Remington introduced their .17 Remington Fireball in 2007 base on the short (1.420-inch) .221 Fireball case. Rimfire .17s such as the .17 HMR and .17 Winchester Super Magnum and milder centerfire .17s like the .17 Hornet created new interest in the .17 . Of course good old American wildcatters got to work as well; the .17 Fireball is similar to the wildcat .17 Mach IV. Remington's .17 Remington (1971) initiated interest in the .17-caliber back in 1971; but the .17 Remington, though faster than the .17 Remington Fireball, burns more propellant, generates more heat, and has long had a reputation for rapid fouling. Propelling a 20-grain bullet at 4037 feet per second the .17 Remington Fireball is still very fast, but with its smaller case and slightly less velocity it has achieved an excellent reputation for consistent accuracy.
