.221 Fireball

[Steve Ruchala]

Other than the T/C and the remington, Is any one offering rifles in this chambering?

[bigdaddytacp]

Other than the T/C and the remington, Is any one offering rifles in this chambering?

........Cooper was but I can't reccomend them..........

[gunnut69]

Not that I'm aware of.  The 221 is one of those rounds I've always wanted but never bought.  When they were available from Kimber I had my chance I suppsoe but missed out as usual.  The 221 could be put up in any of several small actions that are set up for the 222-223 family of cartridges.  The only problem as I see it is that most simply chamber to a 222 or a 223.  The performance is so close as to not really matter.. If a 77-22 Hornet type action could be produced It might sell as kind of a super Hornet..  Still the problem is simply put the 221 is a gun nuts cartridge.. Hey!!!  I've found my reason!!!  Actually in the Contender the 221 has it's best use.  It works quite well in the short pistol barrels...

[Steve Ruchala]

I have the 10 inch contender, but would like a rifle also.  In the pistol it is great.  Lite recoil, report like the hornet, but longer case life.

[tominboise]

I just bought a Remington Mountain Rifle in 221 FB.  So far it's been a very nice shooter, during load development.  I am curious as to why a Cooper would be a bad choice?

I havent' chrono'ed any loads yet, but I am loading to get around 32-3300 fps with a 40 gr vmax.  My varmint battery now consists of 221 w/ 40 gr at 3300, 223 w/ 50 gr at 3300, and 22-250 w/ 55 gr at 33-3400.  So, shoot one at close range, one at medium range and one at long range  :wink:

[mulerider]

CZ now offers the Fireball in their Mod 527, but since I already have two ( a converted Rem 788 and a 700 Classic), I may have to pass. The CZ should be a great package, as that action is scaled to the 223 family of cartridges, and that set trigger is sweet.
AA1680 and LilGun are both amazing in my Fireball, pushing 40gr pills to 3500fps with great accuracy. Just to have fun, also have shot Berger 30gr bullets to 4000fps with LilGun.
If you can save up the moola, Coopers are great. My Mod 21's in 223 Rem and 17 Mach IV shoot better than I can, and workmanship is topnotch.

[tominboise]

Please share your 40 gr loads using lilgun and AA1680.  Also, where did the data come from?

Thanks, always looking for more data..... :wink:

[mulerider]

Data for the Fireball is on both AA's and Hogdgon's sites. I use 16.5gr of LiLGun behind mollied 40VMax or Sierra 40hp, and they chrono about 3530fps.
With AA1680, I use 18.5gr, though I believe AA says you can use 19.0+.
My load chrono's about 3450fps.
All loads with Rem 7-1/2 primers.
The Berger 30 gr load I kinda "concocted" (extrapolated); I believe it was 18.0gr of LilGun.
RE7 and AA2200 are also good powders for the Fireball.

[Chuck White]

I have a .221 Fire Ball in a TC Encore with a 26 inch barrel!

I don't remember the velocities, but I know that it is quite a bit faster than my Rem M-7 in .223 Rem, both with 55 grain Hornady Spire Points!

I have some 40 grain, .223 diameter bullets that I will be checking out as soon as the weather lightens up a little around here!

[mulerider]

:eek: The velocities from a Fireball (w/40-45gr bullets) are hard for the skeptics to accept, and I can see why. It is an overachiever (efficient?) in general, made especially so by LiLGun and 1680 powders. The usual comparisons show that the 222 and 223's expand the margins with the heavier bullets, but that is true with most caliber/cartridge comparisons. I find it neat to do more with less, and the 221 does it. Easy on the ears, and usually reaches out as far I as can accurately shoot.
As powder capacities grow, I theorize it becomes harder to find a powder that stands out among the crowd. Too many other factors effect what's going on inside the case/barrel.
And I also shoot a 17 Mach IV, Hornet, 223, and 25-223, so I like variety!