Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Calling all 221 Fireball shooters.

I have the CZ in .221. 18.5 grains of RL-7 or 17 grains of 2400 with a Sierra Blitz. Almost too easy to hit crows and groundhogs with it.

I've got a factory CZ 527 Fireball, it's one of my favorite rifles. I use RL-7 and 50gr. whatevers, it just shoots great.

My rifle does NOT like 7.5 primers, as long as I stick with 205Ms, I can scratch out little bitty .3" groups, if I switch to 7.5s, group sizes go up 2.5X. Good primers are a must. I've used it out to 300 yards with no problems at all.

It also loves the 50gr. Blitzes and SPSX bullets, which is nice, because they're $3 or so less per 100 than the pricier plastic-tipped bullets.

It would probably work a little better with 40gr. bullets, but I've stuck with 50s, for logistical reasons.

If you can, try the Remington 6.5....

I also have the Remington 700 LVSF, shooting the 45 Grain, Hornady HORNET bullets (for fox/coyotes) and chronied 3200 FPS with 16.0 Grains Lil' Gun and CCI BR-4 Primers. It's topped with a Burris 4.5X14 AO and sits ini a H-S Precision LTR take-off stock. Great little FUN GUN to shoot and a little more "umph" tha a .22 Hornet.

40v-max/Lil Gun, 24" Hart, 3600 fps. My favorite gun inside of 300 yards. I think I'll invite 7-08 Fan out for a squirrel shoot. I like that rig.

Hey Guyz..I just read someplace here that the LVSF in .221 is a 1 in 14 twist...is dat true??

Ive got a new Take-off LVSF barrel sitting here and you dopes are giving me ideas..... again.....

Sako Vixen, custom painted textured stock, Hako 1.5-5 lighted reticle scope, hair trigger, 1" @ 200 yards, lots of dead animals to 400 yards. Shoots like a big boys 22 at long ranges, making it reminiscent of shooting at way too far as a 10 year old with a .22, trajectory seems "natural" to me. Has stood the test of time.

From this thread:

Groundhogs with the 221 Fireball

Rem 700 with 36 gr Barnes Varmint Grenades.
http://s165.photobucket.com/albums/...view&current=BrowningAbolt338005.jpg

Yes, it's true, but given the quality of some lots of .221 brass, I think I'd go with a .222, because Remington's brass quality is all over the place. Most everyone makes good .222 brass, but with only one supplier of Fireball cases, the odds of getting a good batch are kinda iffy. I bought one sack (100ct.) and so far, I've had 25/45 split necks on NEW cases. Not a happy thing at all.
If you get a good batch, it's a heckuva rifle, if not..... It wouldn't be so bad, but .221 cases are "relatively" expensive, at $40+/100
I love the rifle, and the way it shoots with good cases, but the batch of bad cases has sorta soured me on it overall.

I have plenty of 6.5s for my Hornet, but I can't use them in my CZ, I really need to get the FP hole bushed, it's a little oversized, and using 6.5s would guarantee blanking or worse.

Ratsmacker, your chamber is huge on your 221 if you are splitting brass....

While the 6.5's are great for the Hornet, I'd have to agree with ratsmacker. You will have a lot of pierced primers when using them in the Fireball.....



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The load was from Nosler No. 4 using a 6.5, and I've never had a pierced 6.5 to date in the FireBall,.....have you?

On .221 brass, I'll just note that a batch of 500 purchased maybe a a year and a half ago from Midway are now on their third firing and doing great.

I screwed together a Fireball out of a recycled barrel and a Stevens 200. Sharp Shooter cut and chambered it, plus the trigger. Although I will grump just a bit about only having Rem brass available, the bottom line is I should have done it sooner. With 15.5 of LG and 40s, it's nifty.

Congratulations!

Dang! A 221 Fireball-- I've never had one! Trouble-makers!

Yep.....When I initially worked up my load with Lil'Gun I used 6.5's because I had a bunch laying around. I started piercing primers at 15 grs. @3300fps. I switched to BR-4's and worked on up to 16.5grs @3475fps (too hot) with no additional problems then reduced it back to 16grs @3400.


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I have also used BR-4's in my rifle with superb results--and in the .22 Hornet.