Anyone shooting a .221 Fireball???

[shaneg]

Hi,
I recently purchased a Remington model Seven, factory chambered in .221 Rem. Fireball with a, 18" pipe. It seems like it will be an awesome walking varmiter or a good calling rifle. I was fortunate in that it came with a large supply of factory ammo, brass and dies. Was just wondering if anyone is shooting them and if they'd be willing to share their pet load. I've heard unbelievable things about their accuracy and that the caliber is a favorite among the staff at Nosler.
I can't wait to get her out shooting to see what it can do. I've gotta burn through some of the factory ammo to get some more fire formed brass to start loading.
Any info would be greatly appreciated!!

[gopher]

I have a fireball nice little cartridge I can’t comment on my load as it is at home. Accuracy can be outstanding with them you should not have a problem with it. Fills the gap nicely between hornet and 223 not to load either but I still use muffs in the field. It is an efficient little round with devastating effects on varmints.

Enjoy

[shaneg]

Thanks gopher....no one else shooting this little beuty of a caliber??

[JJ-65]

I use Reloader 7 and LIL'GUN with 40gr bullets in mine.

[Dean2]

Great round. I use the 50 grain Hornady SPSX with Lil'Gun out of a 22" tube, it is doing about 3200 FPs. Bullets are cheap, 17/100 and devastating on gophers. Nice quiet round with no recoil. Out of an 18" bartrel I would still use Li'Gun but swtch to 40 grain Vmax or Blitzkings if I couldn't get enough velocity out of the SPSXs. The good thing about Lil"Gun is it is a very fast powder and will work well with the short tube.

[shaneg]

Thanks guys

[Robmcleod82]

I dont think you will like that rifle at all, so send it to me and I will deal with it for you.

[shaneg]

OK Rob, send me your address and I'll get it right out. I'm sure I'll hate it!!!
Oh, but don't forget to send me a blank cheque....I'll be sure to fill it out with a fair number haha

[shaneg]

Oh, and thanks for all the info guys. Now I've just gotta find some time to get out!

[daerhldgs2]

I have a k98 action cut down 5/8 in. with a solid floor plate and a McGowan 18in. heavy barrel in 221 Fireball. 5 shots into 1/2 in at 100 all day. Use hornady 55gr. sx bullets and 12x scope devastated gophers at 200 yds. Need to renew my cartridge cases , can't find a source in Canada. Any one know who sells brass in this caliber?

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by daerhldgs2

I have a k98 action cut down 5/8 in. with a solid floor plate and a McGowan 18in. heavy barrel in 221 Fireball. 5 shots into 1/2 in at 100 all day. Use hornady 55gr. sx bullets and 12x scope devastated gophers at 200 yds. Need to renew my cartridge cases , can't find a source in Canada. Any one know who sells brass in this caliber?

Lapua makes cases that are superior to Remington, and Prophet River and Hirsch Precision usually have it in stock.

[fps plus]

I have shot probably close to 5,000rounds of 221 and have decided on 40 grain bullets and 1680 powder after many powders and bullets

[Albertacoyotecaller]

I shot my CZ 527 on gophers this weekend. Used a 46 gr Win bullet with H322. That Hollow point is huge and made a mess of those gophers. Nice rifle for walking around and cool on the barrel. Want a heavy barrel now.

[southernman]

I have a CZ 427,.221 bought it with the thoughts of turning it into a 20 Vartarg, have shot it a bit, it's nothing special on accuracy (about an inch) only tried H4198 and N120 and 40 v-max and 50 soft point Speer,
Am a bit dissapointed in this CZ, likely needs bedding and work to get it to feed smoother, as binds out of the mag every 4-5 round,
Pretty much decided to turn it into a Vartarg. Or another 17 fireball.

[rembo]

In 2008 I bought a new CZ 527 221 Fireball from Doug Rayner at the Edmonton Gun Show. It was a great little gopher killer. Zero recoil and you could almost run the action with one thumb. I shot 40 gr VMax's over LilGun. After I acquired a Sako AI in 17 Rem the CZ was sold. Kinda miss it now that the Sako has also been sold.
I'd get another Fireball. It's a great little round.
Actually I have a reamer and gauges for the 221FB and about 10 years ago, before I bought the CZ I chambered one on a 700 action with a 26-1/2" x 12" twist King barrel and it pushed the 40 gr VMax to 3600+. The 223 action didn't work that well for the little FB case, extraction and ejection were problematic, so I rechambered that barrel to 223 and bought the CZ Fireball. I still have that 223 also.
I really should do another Fireball someday. It's miserly on powder and a good performer.

[Albertacoyotecaller]

Rembo,

Do you still have that King Barrel?

[rembo]

Yes, it's been in a 700 action bedded into a factory VLS stock for about 10 years now. Shoots well also, although it hasn't popped a gopher in 4 or 5 years.