.221 Fireball in XP-100, looking for suggestions and info

[Kenny474]

I picked up an original XP-100 in .221 FB yesterday, which I plan to use for coyote and woodchucks at shorter ranges, along with some paper punching as well.

I have RE7, IMR 8208XBR, Accur 1680 and H-4227, as well as 250 each 40 and 50 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips and 100-36gr Barnes Varmint Grenades for load development. I started today with IMR 8208XBR and the 50gr BT's, and found a load that shows promise, actually it was better than I had hoped for. I plan to try other combinations as time allows.

My question is how long should I limit my shots to? I know the pistol won't have the velocity that a rifle will, and the fireball isn't the fastest round to start with. I was thinking a practical max for coyote would be around 150-175yds, and woodchucks around 200-250 tops. Am I on the right track with this?

I am also not all that thrilled with the Leupold pistol scope which the pistol came with, and have been thinking of just swapping it for a regular rifle scope. I have seen others do this, and I am just wondering how practical it is for field use. I will be shooting from either a bipod or a shooting stick. I just don't get the field of view I want from the pistol scope, though it is a nice scope with good, clear glass. It held zero well this morning, and I was able to make out targets at 150yds without issue.

Should I try the rifle scope, or just stick with the Leupold?

I am also open to any other load suggestions or other info as well.

Sorry, I posted this in the wrong area.

 

[bheadboy]

i have a lot of experience with the xp-100/221,

the recoil will make you very unhappy with a rifle scope short eye relief - Leupold has a 2.5-8x pistol scope and a 4x both with good light and relief

221 with 4227/1680/rl 7 is a good combo depending on your guns preferance, depending on your abilities with a pistol they should shoot < 1" easily off a bench with a 4x or 8x scope

4198/h322 are too slo for the short bbl. and have more muzzle blast

get an attachemnt to give a 2" flat foreend vs the plastic stock narrow bottom
or restock with a mcmillan that is flat on the forend

the 221 in my experience shoots very well about 3% velocity below your max load - not at max, mine all prefer to jump 10-20/1000

i keep my 221 rifle (2950fps) a max 300 yd on pd and 200 on heavier varmine

Bob

 

[Kenny474]

Thanks Bob. My XP-100 already wears a very nice mid-grip Fajen stock with a rather flat fore-end about 2.5" wide. If you have ever seen the Fajen stocks, it's the thumbhole that only has a trigger cut-out on the right hand side. It fits my hand very well, and even has good support and balance for off-hand shooting. It rides the front bag very well with just a flat bag under the butt. With very little load development, I was able to get a few 3 shot groups around .75" @100yds. With a bit more load work, and a bed job on the stock, I hope to get it to do that consistently for 5 shots, maybe a bit better. Figuring out how to hold it so it will shoot consistently is going to take some work as well.

As for recoil, it barely moves when fired. It's rather heavy for a pistol, and the .221 doesn't have much recoil anyway. If I can find a good rifle scope with 3.5-4" of eye relief, I think it will work rather well. And if I don't like it, i can always swap it out for a high power pistol scope.

I do still have the plastic stock that it originally wore, and plan to keep it just for the ability to put it back to original configuration.

I don't know why, but I just have this strange desire to swap out the .221 barrel for a longer and heavier barrel chambered in 6BR (maybe even a Dasher ;D) and have a Kiff bolt timed to the action.

 

[bheadboy]

kenny,

i have rebbld to 222 and the br group, the short bbl hurts the larger calibers more than the smaller cases,'

the 223 is the best and the bolt face is fine, a 15" Hart is what i used, bot the bbl 30" blank, had it cut 1/2 and chambered to 222 and the other could be anything wanted, 22br, 221, etc.

Shillian will sell you 1/2 bbl i think, the stock you have is great, i added a Bond 7oz trigger, you may want to goto a rifle basix or Sinclare

Bob