221 Fireball loading

[drewh]

I just got a new to me Remington 700 in 221 fireball, and it has been 15 or 20 years since I last loaded for a rifle with a magazine. For those with Rem 700's what is your COL with the plastic tipped bullets (I am using 40 gr v-max) and how close is that getting you to the lands? It seems like there is a fair amount of jump between my dummy round for jam length and suggested COl to fit the magazine.

 

[Bocephus]

One of the most important lessons I learned from a Fireball and 40gr pills is to seat them deep enough to maintain consistent neck tension. I’ve tried chasing the lands and for my setups it was pretty much a waste of time and components.
Was checking and cleaning a few weeks back, decided to check a Contender w/15” Fox Ridge barrel w/Burris 7X that had not been shot since the yotes decimated our chuck population a LONG time ago. This was shot w/40gr Ballistic tips over a dose of RL7, a cold clean barrel at 100yds. Conventional wisdom says I’m jumping them too far. But, I’ll probably just keep on doing what works best for me.

 

[WayneShaw]

I have always had better groups with 50 grain Ballistic tips bullets in the 14 twist. Even 52 grain match bullets work better for me. H4198 has done well for me and consistent.

 

[drewh]

Thanks for the input, will try with more bullet in the case and experiment. I do have a box of 52 gr bullets as well as some 30 gr barnes. Planning on starting with CFE BLK since I have an 8lb, but also LT30 and RL 7. Lots to try.

 

[tominboise]

I have a 700 VLS I bought new. My load is 18.4gr RL7, Winchester SRP, Hornaday 40gr Vmax, OAL = 1.940". That is about a 0.018" jump in my rifle. This load shoots great, about .5" and has been the demise of many ground squirrels.

 

[ArtinNC]

Tested some loads in my Savage 112-- 221 fireBall today . Second time to the range with this Brux 1:14 Barrel. Shot at 100 Yds . I'm .010 into the lands.

 

[drewh]

I have a 700 VLS I bought new. My load is 18.4gr RL7, Winchester SRP, Hornaday 40gr Vmax, OAL = 1.940". That is about a 0.018" jump in my rifle. This load shoots great, about .5" and has been the demise of many ground squirrels.

Tom,
Does that work ok out of the magazine, or are you single loading?

 

[tominboise]

Tom,
Does that work ok out of the magazine, or are you single loading?

They feed out of the mag at that length, but it's about the limit to do so.

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

ARTinNC: how are you measuring your groups?

Frank

 

[ArtinNC]

Ok the bottom group masured .262 and a hole in the paper in the sighter group was .193 . so .262 - .193 = .069 Is that how you do it ? And this is only 3 shot groups because I had 6 different loads .

 

[philip brousseau]

Reloader 7, federal 205s with sierra 52 to 55 gr. bullets. 010 off the lands shot extremely well in the two 700s I've had.

 

[stacy]

My 221 fireball loves H-4227 and 40 gr hp Bergers with 205 primers it prints nice bugholes Rem 700 Classic rifle

 

[ArtinNC]

Shot this in a match 11/19/22 and come in last place , shooting for score . Pretty happy with the target but shooting against 6mm and 30 calibers .

 

[Rick in Oregon]

I don't shoot much paper, but this is representative of what both my Furballs will do....one a Cooper M38 VR, the other a CZ 527 American. Both shoot like this with either A2200 or RL-7 and Nosler VG's or BT's, with the same powders I use in my 20VT.



The Cooper Furball with some rock chucks that do not approve of either caliber....



My stable of 223's don't see much use any more, and for years they were the mainstay of my rat rifle battery. Love that smaller case for what I do!