221 FB and Reloader 7

[Lucky Shooter]

I tried RL7 in a new FB barrel and got mixed results.

Accuracy was good enough but carbon fouling was terrible. This powder
seems to be the favorite for quite a few shooters but I've tried it and would
like to move on to another powder.

Would appreciate other recommendations for powder with 40 gr to 50 gr
bullets----primarily for casual shooting at 100 yds.

I'm not a speed freak----just want good accuracy and easy cleaning.

Will appreciate finding out about other good accuracy loads.

A. Weldy

 

[alintx]

Try Lil gun. Mine loves it and shoots 40gr vmax and 52 Sierra's in the same hole. I'm at 14.8, and that's hot in Remington brass. Think I could go higher with lapua. Your milage may vary. Start lower and work up!

 

[CT10ring]

Try Lil gun. Mine loves it and shoots 40gr vmax and 52 Sierra's in the same hole. I'm at 14.8, and that's hot in Remington brass. Think I could go higher with lapua. Your milage may vary. Start lower and work up!

ditto. 40g vmax.

 

[Evan]

IMR 4198 (start 16ish gns) or 4227 (start 14ish gns) will burn clean and do nicely!

 

[sw282]

l used 4227 in my 221FB Remington 700 LVSF last year on a Prairie Dog shoot near Clayton NM... 4227 gave those 35gr Berger JHP bullets good speed and accuracy.. Sad to say, Berger stopped making that little bullet

 

[Lucky Shooter]

Thanks for the replies.

I realize it's a bit unusual to place such a high priority on easy cleaning but
I've been shooting rifles a long time and just don't want to work so hard
cleaning these days.

The FB is such a joy to shoot on the range and I've burned thousands of rounds
in the dog towns.

The Lapua brass seems to be good stuff.

Boyd Allen put me on a good 222 powder with N133-----very good shooter and also
very easy to clean. Maybe I'll get that lucky with the FB.

And then I'll chase the same deal with the 220 Beggs.

A. Weldy

 

[SmokinJoe]

With 40 grain bullets, try AA1680 or Hodgdon CFE BLK starting at about 18.5 grs and on up. I get great speed & accuracy, and cleaning seems quite ordinary. My loads are quite a bit above 18.5, BTW.

 

[germanlongbow]

Hard to beat VV N133

 

[Zero333]

I think CFE-BLK might be worth a try.
Hodgdon has data for it.

 

[WayneShaw]

Mine does well with H4198. Burns clean.

 

[bocash3]

A few short years ago, I had a CZ 527 in .221 FB print two 5/16th inch groups in one afternoon with the following two loads:

40 H.Vmax 15.8 H.Lil Gun 3,514 fps es: 33' 5/16”
50 Spr. TNT 19.5 H335 2,685 fps es: 64’ 5/16”

Was shocked as I do not consider myself to be a benchrest shooter and the CZ has
such a small diameter barrel!!

I was using 18X and the single-set trigger.

Additionally, I almost cannot MAKE this little rifle shoot over an inch!! I have had a lot of groups that were around 1/2 to 3/4 inch and only a couple over an inch.

The sister rifle is a .22 Hornet and averages a hair over an inch, but that is a Hornet for you.

I LOVE the .221 Fireball and added a Remington 700 Laminated stock. It does well, but not quite like the CZ.

Hope this helps, Bo in western NC