.221 Fireball in Rifles: How Accurate?

[grovey]

I've shot some 3 shot groups in the .1's with a factory 700LS in 221 fireball. I played with it in a few factory sporter matches, and shot a .121 @100 in competition. All of this with cheap 12 cent each at the time 50gr zmax bullets with the puke green tips.

 

[Gabe22BR]

I sold mine above-
Have since had a barrel spun up w/ my reamer.. on a Bat SV . My oldest son owns it now -hand made stock100yd & 200yd loads he settled on..

 

[bobcat93]

Any one can shoot 2 shot groups..
Hahaha...holy smokes!...you got a shooter...
Never ever ever ever sell that gun..absolutely perfect...you will always regret selling a 221,20,or 17 fireball rifle.. Here is a movie quote from Unforgiven comes to mind-
( boy you dont ever want to know what that pain feels like, it'll follow you the rest of your days)
Hahaha seems fitting

 

[jwv2001]

Well, I have to throw my hat in the ring. I started out with an XP100. I was really impressed at the performance I was getting out of the little Fireball. I then ordered a Cooper M38, and I wasn't disappointed. It was everything I expected and more. Like Rick in Oregon said, "it shoots with boring regularity".
The only time I take it to the range is to see if I can still shoot. Here is a pic of the last group I shot with my rifle. 5 shot group.


Here is a pic of the rifle

 

[Rick in Oregon]

jwv, all I can say is "wow!"
Stunning wood, and superlative accuracy.
That is one fine looking and shooting rifle you've got there.

 

[Hal]

JWV
A thing of beauty , that shoots every bit a good as it looks .

Hal

 

[jwv2001]

jwv, all I can say is "wow!"
Stunning wood, and superlative accuracy.
That is one fine looking and shooting rifle you've got there.

Thanks, All I can say is, I had friends in high places.

 

[jwv2001]

I forgot to add that, my rifle all in weight with a 6.5-20x40 Leupold is only 6 1/4 pounds. It's like hunting with a Daisy Red Ryder. It handles fast when a coyote shows up where it wasn't expected.

 

[nockhunter]

Well, I have to throw my hat in the ring. I started out with an XP100. I was really impressed at the performance I was getting out of the little Fireball. I then ordered a Cooper M38, and I wasn't disappointed. It was everything I expected and more. Like Rick in Oregon said, "it shoots with boring regularity".
The only time I take it to the range is to see if I can still shoot. Here is a pic of the last group I shot with my rifle. 5 shot group.
View attachment 1632548

Here is a pic of the rifle

View attachment 1632549

Great looking rifle, nice kitty also

Mike

 

[bobcat93]

Well, I have to throw my hat in the ring. I started out with an XP100. I was really impressed at the performance I was getting out of the little Fireball. I then ordered a Cooper M38, and I wasn't disappointed. It was everything I expected and more. Like Rick in Oregon said, "it shoots with boring regularity".
The only time I take it to the range is to see if I can still shoot. Here is a pic of the last group I shot with my rifle. 5 shot group.
View attachment 1632548

Here is a pic of the rifle

View attachment 1632549

Ive actually had rifles like that..they were so easy to shoot it was literally boring.. a .20 practical in fact. Laser beam point the gun and it seem to the rest...crazy phenomenon

 

[bobcat93]

Well, I have to throw my hat in the ring. I started out with an XP100. I was really impressed at the performance I was getting out of the little Fireball. I then ordered a Cooper M38, and I wasn't disappointed. It was everything I expected and more. Like Rick in Oregon said, "it shoots with boring regularity".
The only time I take it to the range is to see if I can still shoot. Here is a pic of the last group I shot with my rifle. 5 shot group.
View attachment 1632548

Here is a pic of the rifle

View attachment 1632549

I just noticed the cat!...haha..perfect camouflage absolutely amazing animal..nice one!

 

[jwv2001]

Ive actually had rifles like that..they were so easy to shoot it was literally boring.. a .20 practical in fact. Laser beam point the gun and it seem to the rest...crazy phenomenon

I also have new-found respect for the twenty's. I have a Tactical 20, the only difference with yours is a slighter straighter case and a 30°shoulder. I like that when you shoot a ground squirrel, instead of "whump" you hear a snap. 32 gr. bullet at 4200 fps.

 

[17cal Fan]

I never found A2200 powder listed in print (which is usually a must see for me) for the 221 Fireball . Not a lot of BS in this forum which is what makes it great. So I decided to take a chance and give it a go. I had just bought 500 of the 40 grain factory seconds so I Loaded 3 rounds each at 19.0 19.5 and 20.0 and also loaded 3 rounds at 20.0 with Nosler Varmageddon seen on target "D".

This build was scoped with a Burris Eliminator gen 1 that I got on a trade and wanted to try it. While it is an amazing contraption the reticle leaves something to be desired for fine work. But the 2200 was looking good on target.



I decided to change out the scope to a 6.5-20x50 Japan made Simmons 44 Mag with target turrets that I snagged last fall. One of my 17 Hornets wears one of these puppies without the target turrets and it's an amazing scope in the PD fields.

After loading another 8 rounds of 2200 at 20.0 I headed down to my shooting bench. Shots 3,4 &5 piled up at .386 and I moved to a clean target for the final 3 shots.

 

[20 TAC]

I never found A2200 powder listed in print (which is usually a must see for me) for the 221 Fireball . Not a lot of BS in this forum which is what makes it great. So I decided to take a chance and give it a go. I had just bought 500 of the 40 grain factory seconds so I Loaded 3 rounds each at 19.0 19.5 and 20.0 and also loaded 3 rounds at 20.0 with Nosler Varmageddon seen on target "D".

This build was scoped with a Burris Eliminator gen 1 that I got on a trade and wanted to try it. While it is an amazing contraption the reticle leaves something to be desired for fine work. But the 2200 was looking good on target.

View attachment 1637765

I decided to change out the scope to a 6.5-20x50 Japan made Simmons 44 Mag with target turrets that I snagged last fall. One of my 17 Hornets wears one of these puppies without the target turrets and it's an amazing scope in the PD fields.

After loading another 8 rounds of 2200 at 20.0 I headed down to my shooting bench. Shots 3,4 &5 piled up at .386 and I moved to a clean target for the final 3 shots.


View attachment 1637756

Great information! Any chance you ran those loads across a chrony?

 

[17cal Fan]

Great information! Any chance you ran those loads across a chrony?

No but I should. If I get a chance tomorrow I'll run some across and report back here.

 

[17cal Fan]

Great information! Any chance you ran those loads across a chrony?

Ran 4 rounds across Pact model 1 this morning. 25 Inch barrel. Average 3223, ES 22, SD 10, AD 8

 

[20 TAC]

Ran 4 rounds across Pact model 1 this morning. 25 Inch barrel. Average 3223, ES 22, SD 10, AD 8

Thank you. Quite a step down in velocities vs similar charge weights of AA1680. Great accuracy though.

 

[ArtinNC]

Shot from my Savage #12 with a Brux 1:14 barrel

 

[ArtinNC]

Tried to find a newer target ,but no luck .