By now, when you observe our social media channels, you will have heard in regards to the .17-5.56 KAK cartridge, created by KAK Business. This cartridge hit the market final 12 months and after spending months loading, testing and looking with it, I’m prepared to offer you my full overview and opinion of this distinctive small caliber cartridge. I’m positive lots of you should have preconceived beliefs about barrel life, fouling, comparisons with different “comparable” cartridges and plenty of different misnomers. I’ll reply all of those questions with actual life expertise and thorough testing to again up my solutions.
The .17-5.56 KAK Cartridge:
KAK Business was based in 2011 in a small store situated in California. The corporate has since expanded and now encompasses two giant manufacturing services in California and Missouri, which at present manufactures greater than 6.1 million firearms a 12 months, all Made within the USA. Due to the work they do with sure entities, they discovered that they’d entry to numerous once-fired navy 5.56 brass. After designing, tinkering and a few adjustments to the .17/.223 cartridge, they used the 5.56 brass to create the brand new .17-5.56 KAK centerfire rifle cartridge.
The KAK Business web site describes the .17-5.56 KAK as a 5.56 with re-sized neck to simply accept a .17 caliber projectile, works in generally used AR mags.
• Primarily based on the 17-223 cartridge with just a few modifications and enhancements
• 556 case physique to run extra reliably in opposed circumstances
• 556 case physique to be used with forming broadly out there navy 5.56 brass corresponding to Lake Metropolis
• 17-556 Chambering contains tweaks within the throat and neck for higher extraction, chambering, and bore fouling discount
Listed here are a few of my private execs of the .17-5.56 KAK cartridge:
The readily availability of brass at an affordable value ($0.35 per piece of once-fired, transformed brass).
The elevated energy of the 5.56×45 NATO guardian cartridge permits for greater pressures, which equates to elevated velocity within the .17-5.56 KAK cartridge.
Ease of case forming for a “wildcat” sort of cartridge (one-step resize within the .17-5.56 KAK Redding Reloading dies).
Out there barrels, and many others from KAK Business are cheap, however carry out very properly (correct).
Conversion of your .223/5.56 AR15 right into a .17-5.56 KAK is straightforward and requires only a few adjustments. Most of your rifle shall be cross-compatible.
Addressing Barrel Life, Fouling and Comparisons with Different Comparable Cartridges:
Barrel Life / Fouling: I’ve been taking pictures .17 caliber centerfires for the reason that early Nineties and have heard all of the rumors about these two issues being points for all the high-speed, small caliber cartridges. As with every small caliber chambered firearm, if you’re cautious to break-in your barrel correctly, don’t overheat it and clear at common intervals, you’ll not have any of those points. The problem of barrel life has additionally improved for the reason that introduction of higher barrel making procedures and supplies. Deal with your barrel and it’ll final rather a lot longer than you’re result in imagine.
Comparisons with Different Comparable Cartridges: I’ve expertise with virtually each .17 caliber centerfire manufacturing facility and wildcat cartridge. From the .17 Ackley Bee, .17 Hornet, .17 Fireball, to the .17 Remington, and many others. I’ve loaded and shot lots of them. The standout qualities of the .17-5.56 KAK will all the time be the accuracy, velocity and price of this cartridge. It can’t be beat.
L to R: .223 Rem, .17 Rem, .17 Fireball, .17 Hornet, .17-5.56 KAK
Case Availability and Forming:
As addressed above, the .17-5.56 KAK cartridge comes from KAK Business as able to shoot as every other manufactured brass out there at this time. Which means, you obtain your transformed brass, set your dies and resize with one pull of the deal with. After that, your .17-5.56 KAK brass is able to load! Circumstances can be found from KAK Business in cartons of #100 and #200, with a value of $35.00 and $70.00 respectively. Not solely that, however you possibly can create your individual brass by following the directions made out there by Cody from KAK Business (Hyperlink to YouTube Video).
Handloading for the .17-5.56 KAK Cartridge:
KAK Business states that you need to use the utmost guide masses for the .17 Remington as beginning masses within the .17-5.56 KAK cartridge.
We developed sub .5″ masses or higher with powder starting from 4198- Ramshot Tac in correlation to the burn vary information. Base masses might be labored up from 17-223 and 17 Remington load information for a base load. Whereas utilizing 20 gr bullets, and even sooner with 15.5 gr. Velocities from 4200-4600 (18″ model, TBD 21″ model) fps relying on cost and bullet weight is what we discovered to be optimum with this barrel.
Additionally they present load information for varied powders that they’ve examined. I’ve discovered this data to be helpful for individuals who are new to handloading for this .17 caliber centerfire. Usually, with every other “wildcat” cartridge, you’ll be testing and retesting till you discover a load that works in your cartridge. Since KAK Business developed and examined this in-house, they had been capable of collect their testing data and publish this information:
I personally used the load information for my .17 Remington as a place to begin and elevated my cost from there. IMR4198 (to not be confused with H4198) has been my go-to powder for my Remington Mannequin 700 chambered .17 Remington for 30 years. It really works so properly in that rifle, that I felt it could be good for the .17-5.56 KAK cartridge. Though I used to be not getting the acute velocities a number of the different powders provide, my masses are very correct and nonetheless VERY quick! I shot the Hornady 25 grain HPs (now discontinued) and the Hornady 15.5 grain NTX (lead free) projectiles. Berger just lately introduced that they’re producing the 25 grain HPs once more, so you possibly can add these wonderful projectiles to the combo, as properly. It’s going to be a really attention-grabbing fall-winter-spring for anybody taking pictures this cartridge.
Hornady 25 Grain HP Velocity
Hornady 15.5 Grain NTX Velocity
With any sort of handloading, take note of your brass and primers whereas working up masses. At all times put on listening to, eye and hand safety as properly. Relying on the cartridge being fired, AR15 rifles have a decrease most stress than a conventional bolt-action rifle, so preserve that in thoughts as properly. I bumped into no stress points on the masses I used to be testing and would really feel snug going greater on my fees, if I so select.
Closing Ideas on the .17-5.56 KAK Cartridge:
Though these is not going to technically be my “last” ideas, I wished to incorporate my ideas on the cartridge and its place within the small caliber world. In my life I’ve seen the discharge of so many small caliber cartridges, that it’s arduous to recollect all of them. Each one that has been launched has the standard advertising fanfare about how it’s the best cartridge to ever be launched (till the following one is launched). Nonetheless, I discover that almost all of those cartridges are redundant and don’t actually etch a a spot within the hierarchy of actually distinctive cartridges. That being mentioned, it all the time amazes me when a brand new small caliber cartridge is launched that addresses all the points we’ve with the massive releases. Properly thought out design. Correct, cheap and available barrels. Reloading dies from an organization that prides itself on getting it proper (on this case, Redding Reloading). Lastly, inexpensive reloading parts which might be out there on the day of launch! The .17-5.56 KAK from KAK Business checks all of these packing containers! Should you haven’t skilled an correct and quick .17 centerfire, now’s the time to take action. Even when you have already got a .17 centerfire, check out the .17-5.56 KAK. It has shortly turn into one among my favourite AR15 cartridges to hunt varmints and predators.
Nonetheless, I discover that almost all of those cartridges are redundant and don’t actually etch a a spot within the hierarchy of actually distinctive cartridges. That being mentioned, it all the time amazes me when a brand new small caliber cartridge is launched that addresses all the points we’ve with the massive releases.
Editor’s Be aware:
On account of YouTube restrictions, we’ve needed to break this Overview/Assessment into three segments. We can have a full overview of the KAK Business .17-5.56 KAK chambered full AR15 rifle, in addition to a hunt video utilizing this similar cartridge. That can characteristic the AGM World Varmint LRF Thermal Optic on a depredation Jack Rabbit hunt. These shall be printed in about one week.
Hey Everybody!My identify is Eric Mayer and I’m the Founder and Writer of Varminter Journal.I’m a critical, die-hard varmint hunter, who now resides in Idaho.I’ve been looking since age 13 and have hunted varmints in virtually each county in California, in addition to in Idaho, Nevada, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Montana, Utah and even components of Canada!I am right here to entertain and educate you on all of the facets of varmint looking.So, I hope you take pleasure in your time right here!
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