Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints 221 Fireball pet loads fur friendly or not?

Hello:
I am looking at getting a 221 Fireball and would appreciate any info folks would be willing to share.
So far my research is indicating that the 40grain V-max pushed by 15 .5 grains of LilGun give or take a half-grain has worked well for most.
I know that this has been a sleeper round due to our obsession with speed. So if those few who have worked with this round would be willing to share your insight with us. I would greatly appreciate your views and experience with this cute little round.
Seems to me that one may even wish to down load this, little cartridge when shooting for a fur friendly load.

Thanks,

Deleted due to duplication.

I've had two Fireballs, and I've found it to be a useful little cartridge.

First rifle was a Sako 461, and the Fireball was perfect match for this small action. Sold it in a fit of silliness. The second rifle was a Rem LVSF, and the round just didn't work for me in this action. I had all sorts of feed issues, and eventually gave up and had the rifle rechambered to a 222 Rem Mag.

I don't have access to Lil Gun, but it was simple enough to come up with loads using ADI (Hodgdens equiv) powders that pushed a 40 gr bullet at 3400 fps. Using small loads of fast powders, it was also easy to work up loads that made very little noise, and emulated a 22mag.

I only used Vmax bullets, and they aren't fur friendly in anything. Using a 50 gr bullet at about 2800 fps might give you what you're after.

I don't know what a "pet load" is but I like RL-7 and a 40 Vmax. I have no interest in 'downloading' or I would have just bought a Hornet.

Try LilGun or RL-7. Some rifles seem to like extruded powders and some like spherical. Yours will like one (or maybe both) of these.

Standard-force primers only. My little Contender carbine doesn't like to be pushed to warp speeds, but it does shine with 40-grain bullets.

I also load up a few dozen "Hornet/Bee" duplication loads for those up-close prairie dogs that show only half a head and an eyeball. Inside 25 yards, I hold the crosshairs right at the top of the hair and the 37 Calhoon Double Hollowpoint hits a half-inch low. Pop. Try 12.0 of BlueDot and a pistol primer.

Thanks for the input all. If anyone else has anything additional to add I am still open for more ideas. Don't expect the rifle to show till late this week.
This rifle is a Remington 700 LS, which really looks nice. Although If I run into feeding issues like jb0767 mentions with his Rem LVSF, and am not able to remedy such issues she will most likely get traded off for a CZ527. We will see shortly how the feeding goes.

I have had such good experience with my other 527�s that I nearly went that rout this time as well. Though I just had to give the Remington a try. Hope I am not disappointed with the Remington action feeding their little fireball.

Mine was 50 gr Serria bullet and 2400 powder, with a Winchester primer. Shot lights out at 2950 FPS.

I'm going to try the same thing as you in a CZ 527 action. If I dont get what I want as far as Fur friendly, I will get a .17Fireball barrel for it to take advantage of the new factory brass when available.

Looks like Ill be waiting until next season, to give the Fireball a go on Coyotes. So far I have had no luck with finding a load to prevent the exit wound. Accuracy has been good; only problem is all loads I Have tried, fully penetrate 5� of wet phone book media.
The 204 Ruger seems to be looking very promising for this task based on the wet phone book test. Now it is time to get out and try the real thing <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Benchmark and RL7 works equally well with almost the same FPS and pressure. Targets look the same too.

Hunterapp;

The only way to test penetration of loads on critters, is on critters.

It'd be real damned hard to get a 50 gr. V-max to exit on coyotes, as it's rare to get an exit on groundhogs at anything over 75 yards.

Last time I checked, a 'yote was a good bit larger than a groundhog.

Plunk a V-max in the ribs, if you're worried about fur, and it'll do fine.

With the Fireball, though, you'd better be selective on shots if loading do "fur friendly" loads.

Personally, I'll take a 53 gr. TSX in the Fireball and leave the hide to the crows.

Suppose you are right about testing for critters on critters. I really have been looking to work up a load for Bobcat & was hoping to test on Coyote first. I do not want to leave a blown-up bobcat pelt, for the Magpies & crows.