221 fire ball rifle build questions

[bobcat93]

I am going to build a 221 fire ball rifle and have a few questions.
I trying to find a 223 left hand Remington action. Does the 221 fire ball use the same size bolt head as the 223 rem. Also I want a 1-12 twist barrel, would a 18"-20" barrel perform better with the 221 fire ball cartridge then a 24" barrel? I see most rifles in this calibre are 24"
Thanks

 

[tenring]

Yes, bolt head diameters are the same.

Years ago, I wanted a light, accurate, low noise, walking woodchuck gun. I started with a Sako small A1 action. My gunsmith happened to have just the barrel I wanted: chrome moly, medium weight, 20 inch 14 twist .224. He had taken it in trade and the manufacturers ID was not on it. The price was right and I took it. I bought a semi finished birds eye maple stock from Fajen to complete the rig. With a 3-9 Leupold on top, it weighs about 9 lbs. Shoots extremely well with the 50 gr. speer TNT.

With most any bullet, your maximum effective range for a .221, will be about 200 yds. Because of this limited range, a shorter barrel will lose very little MV, and balance better.

Just my opinion. I love mine, and it shoots great.

 

[LHSmith]

The Remington bolt, however, has the ejector located differently for the .221 FB to ensure positive ejection of the shorter case. Feed rails might change a bit also.

 

[Dvldawg]

When did they change the location of the ejecter? I own a Rem. 700 LVSF that was originally a 221 FB and now is a 20 FB, but the ejecter seems to be in the same location as all the other .378 BF bolts.

 

[varmintshooter]

I am shooting 40 grain Vmax out of a 22 inch 14 twist barrel and killing groundhogs at 350 yards. I can't help you with the shorter barrels as I have no experience with.

 

[LHSmith]

When did they change the location of the ejecter? I own a Rem. 700 LVSF that was originally a 221 FB and now is a 20 FB, but the ejecter seems to be in the same location as all the other .378 BF bolts.

Perhaps around 2010. The difference is subtle. On the newer FB bolts if you view the bolt face as "in battery" the extractor is located @ 8 o'clock vs. the .223 which is @ 6:00. Also the relief next to the ejector is @ 12:00 on the FB vs. 11:00 as on the .223. Prior to this mod the cases would want to eject prematurely before the round reached the port causing them to deflect back into the magazine area - especially if the bolt was operated slowly.

 

[bobcat93]

I was thinking Remington because A) they make a left hand bolt , B) I can put a jewel trigger on it.
If there is a better action I should use please let me know..
I have a couple people who are interested in a trade for my 300 rum CDL left hand, i and I will get a 223 rem CDL left hand. Then I can send the gun off and have a new barrel installed chambered in 221 fireball. I can put my lonely jewel trigger on it , a spare scope , then get back to reloading that cool little cartridge.
But if the 223 rem. Short action won't work I won't make the trade? What should I do ?

 

[CatShooter]

If you build a 221 FurBall with a 223 bolt, you will be miserable... you will spend your time picking empties out of your receiver .

The problem is that the 221 case is so short, that when the case is extracted in a standard 223 bolt, the case flips into the right hand slot cut for the lugs to ride in - and the angle is enough that the short case is freed from the bolt face and drops down into the magazine area.

The new modified bolt has the extractor at a higher position so when the case is extracted, it does not slip into the lug slot, so when it clears the port, it goes out.

The problem was discovered in 2002 with the release of the 700 Classic in 221 FurBall - guns were being returned daily to Remington.

Remington changed the bolt and the problem was 95% solved.

I have one of the late production Classics in .221, and it a joy - I love the cartridge.

 

[bheadboy]

I have had three, a 40x. 700, and ruger #1, all were accurate and all gave the 50bk velocities in the 2950 range with reasonable powder charges and modest pressure. 7 1/2 primers.

the shortest bbl 20" was only slightly slower than the 22" maybe 25fps - I think this is because the powder used are generally the faster burning.

I tried an xp with the 10" bbl and hated the blast, never worked it up,

221 is a fun accurate round that works for me to 300 in modest wind -
Bob

 

[Bangs OH]

When did they change the location of the ejecter? I own a Rem. 700 LVSF that was originally a 221 FB and now is a 20 FB, but the ejecter seems to be in the same location as all the other .378 BF bolts.

Perhaps around 2010. The difference is subtle. On the newer FB bolts if you view the bolt face as "in battery" the extractor is located @ 8 o'clock vs. the .223 which is @ 6:00. Also the relief next to the ejector is @ 12:00 on the FB vs. 11:00 as on the .223. Prior to this mod the cases would want to eject prematurely before the round reached the port causing them to deflect back into the magazine area - especially if the bolt was operated slowly.

Interesting......I've been trying to figure out why my LVSF FB is ejecting cases in a way that's dinging-up the bottom of the scope tube.

To the OP: you might want to consider the increased muzzle blast from a shorter barrel. Believe it or not, for whatever reason this little round seems to be loud (at least to me) for its relative case size. I sold my sporter C-Z and bought Remington and Cooper .221s which seem a tad better with their heavier, longer barrels; but if you want a close-in centerfire rifle that might be called something resembling "quiet", the only option there would be the .22 Hornet (where an 18"-barreled .221 Fireball's velocity would probably fall, btw).

 

[bobcat93]

If you build a 221 FurBall with a 223 bolt, you will be miserable... you will spend your time picking empties out of your receiver .

The problem is that the 221 case is so short, that when the case is extracted in a standard 223 bolt, the case flips into the right hand slot cut for the lugs to ride in - and the angle is enough that the short case is freed from the bolt face and drops down into the magazine area.

The new modified bolt has the extractor at a higher position so when the case is extracted, it does not slip into the lug slot, so when it clears the port, it goes out.

The problem was discovered in 2002 with the release of the 700 Classic in 221 FurBall - guns were being returned daily to Remington.

Remington changed the bolt and the problem was 95% solved.

I have one of the late production Classics in .221, and it a joy - I love the cartridge.

So who sells an action for this cartridge , or can the 223 bolt be modified?

 

[LHSmith]

^^^^^ Ask the experts @ saubiersmallcaliber.com. They often have FB's in the classifieds as they seem to change small calibers as often as I change shorts.

 

[areaone]

Simplify life, go with a 222 rem.

 

[Gabe22BR]

I used a Rem LVFS fireball action to build mine.

 

[bobcat93]

Simplify life, go with a 222 rem.

No, damn it..

 

[bobcat93]

I used a Rem LVFS fireball action to build mine.

That looks like a great gun, good job..but I need the lefty bolt..

 

[bobcat93]

Here is another question. I want to take a Remington 223 rem and convert it to a drop box magazine feed 221 fire ball .
Who has done this ,and what mods did you have to do..
Thanks

 

[TominSWNY]

Currently using a Mark X mini mouser 22 inch barrel with a 16 twist and shooting 35 gr starkes with 20.7 gr of RL-7

 

[Gabe22BR]

Mine is a Krieger 1-14" twist, 243 neck, custom bull @ 22" long for swinging it out the jeep door. Also converted to single shot, McMillian edge stock.

I had a ADL mag box, spring, follower, sold it last week...well give it away. ;D

Since Hodgdon quit making H4227, I don't shoot 40grs. anymore, just 50's and H4198.

 

[Centex Bill]

I belief that CZ makes a CZ 527 in left handed. Try to get short action. Contact James Calhoon for more information.

Bill