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Found a 221 fireball at a pawn shop. Is there any use for this caliber.

It is a cz and I love their rifles but I have a 22 hornet and a 223 already.

Is it hard to load for?

Any thoughts would be appreciated

Not sure I want to spend the $$$$

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IMO, it's one of the most enjoyable 22 cal centerfire cartridges! In my CZ 527 with 40 grain poly-tip bullets it is devastating on ground burrowing rodents. And for fans of the CZ 527 rifles, it is one of the most desirable and rare chamberings. In my experience, it's very easy to load for and uses much less powder than the 17 Rem, 222 Rem, 223 Rem or 204 rounds.


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I say buy it. That is one of my next cartridges. I have a 22K Hornet and I bought it at a time where it was between it or a 221 Fireball. I decided on the KHNT for the novelty or rare factor. It’s a great rifle (Cooper)and I love it, but something tells me the Fireball would be better. I think it’s something about the bottle shaped brass and doesn’t need to be fire formed that’s attractive to me. I bought it with the idea of having a 22 cal capable of shooting the 40 grain 3000fps and something I can shoot a lot of since it’s cheap to shoot in the big picture. The fireball has all of those things.

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Great cartridge ! Very well balanced

Brass may be scarce from time to time

Really good selection of dies...

Lapua builds brass.....or they did

Only thing better with the same case is the 20 Vartarg (20-221)


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Another positive about it versus the Hornet is that it’s more comfortable to reload than it. The Hornet cases are microscopic enough as it is, and the Fireball is just a little easier to grasp.

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I love shooting my 700. It’s probably my most accurate sporter and is right on the heels of the 222. I use 40 grain bullets mostly with IMR 4227.


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I've always wanted one. Not sure what kind of shooting you do, but I do some high volume ground squirrel shooting some days... 100 shots in a day are not uncommon. I could save on a ton of powder with a 221.


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About 19g of Reloader 7 and a 40g Nosler BT with a CCI BR4. Sit back and enjoy the show. It's that easy.

I love model 700s and owned a couple of the 221 fb model 700s (an LVSF, and an LS) but the only 221 I'd consider is the 527.

Get the CZ, You won't regret it. And your hornet will start collecting dust.

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That's good advice. I have a LH 527 that I'm going to have rechambered or rebarreled to 221.


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Have one in a 10” contender barrel and love it. Easy to find a load, I use the 35gr. V-max over Lil’ gun in Lapua brass for right at 3000. It is accurate enough to let me know how I’m shooting that day. If I miss, it’s me. I’d snag the gun in a heartbeat.

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Originally Posted by MT_DD_FAN
IMO, it's one of the most enjoyable 22 cal centerfire cartridges! In my CZ 527 with 40 grain poly-tip bullets it is devastating on ground burrowing rodents. And for fans of the CZ 527 rifles, it is one of the most desirable and rare chamberings. In my experience, it's very easy to load for and uses much less powder than the 17 Rem, 222 Rem, 223 Rem or 204 rounds.
This

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Originally Posted by Ky221
About 19g of Reloader 7 and a 40g Nosler BT with a CCI BR4. Sit back and enjoy the show. It's that easy.

That just flat works.


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Like many here I like the .221 FB. Has a slower twist rate so you may wish to reload 55grain & less. Would not want to shoot this rifle if I had to buy factory ammo due to cost & availability.

Mind if I inquire on the asking price?

Last edited by Hunterapp; 11/06/22.

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Originally Posted by Skeet330
Found a 221 fireball at a pawn shop. Is there any use for this caliber.

It is a cz and I love their rifles but I have a 22 hornet and a 223 already.

Is it hard to load for?

Any thoughts would be appreciated

Not sure I want to spend the $$$$

Buy it. You will end up loving it and you will send your 22 Hornet down the road.

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Originally Posted by Fireball2
Originally Posted by Ky221
About 19g of Reloader 7 and a 40g Nosler BT with a CCI BR4. Sit back and enjoy the show. It's that easy.

That just flat works.

Roy,

do you make your own 221 FB brass out of 223 cases?

I necked down one last night in a 221 Body die and just need to trim the neck down...

I ask, because if so, I may look at doing that, to neck that down into the 17 Fireball case...


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Skeet330: BUY IT!
I love the 221 Remington Fireball cartridge - it IS "inherently accurate", very efficient, very easy on barrels.
And it does VERY well in the Colony Varmint and predator fields.
I have a pair of Varmint Rifles in 221 Remington Fireball and both shoot VERY well.
All of my friends that have bought and built Varmint type Rifles in caliber 221 Fireball over the decades easily obtained good accuracy.
I have even owned a few 221 Remington Fireball pistols.
Good luck with what ever you choose to do.
Hold into the wind
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The fireball is fun, have 2 of them

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Yeah. Buy it. I spent 2 summers with 700 LVSF in .221. It's basically a .22 Hornet on serious steroids or a properly downloaded .223. I shot 40 grain ballistic tips and 40 grain vmax for the most part, with RL7, IMR 4198, and AA1680. The easiest combination was possibly the least accurate, 1680+ 40 grain VMAX, but it was still solidly sub half inch which was .. y'know, "good enough." If I wanted to take the time to weigh charges of IMR 4198 and use the 40 grain ballistic tips, it wasn't merely a matter of shooting squirrels in the eye at 100 yards but choosing which part of the eyeball to hit. Scary accurate.

I was going to say that's one gun I wish I had back but the truth is the .17 Fireball was in the same game. Just amazing little cartridges. They perform well above their weight class .. accuracy often does that. smile

Tom


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221 fireballs are terrible. Where exactly is those you’ve found???

I’ve got a 700 classic in 221. LOVE that thing. Shoots tiny groups and you can shoot it a bunch before you have to let it cool down in a good dog town. I’ve been using 50BT’s and H322 in mine… not the fastest load but when it shoots in the .3-.5” range I don’t mind. Worked up a new load this spring right before we left for our pdog shoot using 40gr vmax and CFEBLK (I think) that shot just as well but considerably faster. I’ll try that load next time out. I always wanted to take it out calling coyotes but never got around to it.

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Benbo: Indeed the 221 Remington Fireball performs like "a champion" in the Colony Varmint fields!
I have done well with my 221 Fireball Rifles Hunting Ground Squirrels, Prairie Dogs and Rock Chucks.
My first 221 Remington Fireball Rifle was/is a Kimber of Oregon "Ultra-Varmint" with 24" heavy stainless factory barrel.
With Berger 40 grain H/P bullets it consistently shoots in the low 4's.
It has a Leupold straight 12 power A/O scope on it and from time to time I consider adding a lot more scope power to it just to see how well it could shoot.
Get after them Coyotes there are lots of them out there - I saw three yesterday driving along the freeway between Dillon, Montana and Melrose, Montana.
Long live the 221 Fireball.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

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