.221 fireball

[Lrreloader]

Just wanted to see what all handloads every one likes to use and farthest kill shots made with one?

Remington 700 SA blueprinted, 24" rock creek barrel 1-14" twist, Boyd's stock, sightron 2.5-17.5x56

Initial break in load: Remington brass, Remington #71/2 primer, 15 grain little gun powder, Hornady 40 grain v-max
3,500 fps

 

[Dean2]

Lil'Gun and a Vmax are my favourite loads for the 221 FB. Tried lots of other powder but the Lil'Gun gets far better velocity and excellent accuracy. The Horn 50 grain SPSX isn't as fast but it is very frangible so makes mist out of gophers and good on yotes.

 

[Cutback]

Rem. Model 7, 24" Stainless fluted Lilja, #5, 4-16x Baush&Lomb
Sage Rat killer to 385yds. Best use 335 and under...
40 Gr. Nos. BT, 3200fps, 18.6 gr. RL-7 shoots in the .3's
40 Gr. Nos. BT, 3100fps, 17.6 gr. IMR 4198 in the low .4's
50 Gr. V-Max, 2950fps, 18.1 gr. RL-7 in the high .2's
40 Gr. Bergers, 3440fps, 19.0 gr. RL-7 in the .3's
45 Gr. Berger Match, 3100fps, 18.0 gr. IMR4198 in the .3's
40 gr. NBT, 3690 fps, 17.0 gr. Hodg. Lil gun (not accurate/my gun)

 

[Lrreloader]

Thanks for the Info, just getting this gun up and going, I am glad I got talked into a fireball, was originally looking at making a custom .22 hornet.

 

[Dean2]

Cutback - Interesting that you are using 18 grains of Lil'Gun with a 40 grain bullet. My 221 hits max pressure at 16 using Rem brass, CCI 200 and a 40 grain Vmax. The accuracy node is anywhere between 14.3 and 15.8 grains. All of those loads will shoot one hole at 100 and under 1/2" at 200.

 

[Lrreloader]

Dean2 I was wondering about that myself I thought I only had about another grain before max load with little gun

 

[Dean2]

Dean2 I was wondering about that myself I thought I only had about another grain before max load with little gun

Every gun is different but mine shows significant pressure signs at 16 grains so I don't go over 15.8 just to be safe. Most loads are 15.5 just in case it is real hot out. I like speed but accuracy and safety count more and 15.5 isn't much slower in reality.

 

[Lrreloader]

I was surprised I was getting 3,500 with 15 grains and a single digits S.D.

 

[Cutback]

Cutback - Interesting that you are using 18 grains of Lil'Gun with a 40 grain bullet. My 221 hits max pressure at 16 using Rem brass, CCI 200 and a 40 grain Vmax. The accuracy node is anywhere between 14.3 and 15.8 grains. All of those loads will shoot one hole at 100 and under 1/2" at 200.

Doh! It's suppose to be 17.0 grains... Sorry about the typo!

This is a great example of, why we reduce loads and work up to max pressure signs!!!

My gun went 16.3 = 3601fps, 16.7 = 3628fps & 17.0=3689fps
40gr. NBT, COL 1.952, .002 off lands, Fed. Match primers.
**No accuracy in my gun. (.7's - .9's) but fast as hell.... Everything else in this gun has always shot in the .2's -.5's @ 2900 - 3400fps.

 

[flashhole]

Nice rig. My 700 Fireball started life as a Light Varmint Stainless Fluted (LVSF). Swapped out the tupperware stock for a Boyd's Thumbhole Laminate and put an older Redfield wide field of view scope on it. Very accurate little rig but not so light with the laminate stock. My longest kill shot was a crow at ~ 230 yards. Groundhogs always seem to be closer in but the property doesn't have really long shooting lanes.

I'm in Cutback's camp. I've tried lots of powders and bullets but far and away my favorite powder for the Fireball is Reloader #7. Very consistent and very accurate with Nosler 40 grain Ballistic Tips and Sierra equivalents. Never tried the Hornady bullets. H-110 and Lil'Gun are ok, 4198 is a step up from them. Do yourself a favor and try RL#7. Then try to stop smiling.

 

[Lrreloader]

Nice rig. My 700 Fireball started life as a Light Varmint Stainless Fluted (LVSF). Swapped out the tupperware stock for a Boyd's Thumbhole Laminate and put an older Redfield wide field of view scope on it. Very accurate little rig but not so light with the laminate stock. My longest kill shot was a crow at ~ 230 yards. Groundhogs always seem to be closer in but the property doesn't have really long shooting lanes.

I'm in Cutback's camp. I've tried lots of powders and bullets but far and away my favorite powder for the Fireball is Reloader #7. Very consistent and very accurate with Nosler 40 grain Ballistic Tips and Sierra equivalents. Never tried the Hornady bullets. H-110 and Lil'Gun are ok, 4198 is a step up from them. Do yourself a favor and try RL#7. Then try to stop smiling.

What amount of reloader #7 you running with 40 grain bullets?

 

[lewwetzel]

I have two "Furballs": Cooper M38 Phoenix, and Remington LVSF.
RL 7 & 40 gr. NBT; AA 1680 & 50 SBK, respectively.

 

[flashhole]

All my notes say 1.3 cc Lee Dipper Cup. From memory I think that is about 20.5 grains.

 

[flashhole]

I should add I also make my own 221 Fireball brass from military 223 brass. The process is pretty simple but somewhat labor intensive. On the plus side, I'm never without brass. On the minus side, it took a bit of my time to do it.

I do the same with 25-06 from military 30-06 brass. In both cases (no pun intended) I have to turn the case necks.