I am looking to purchase my first Cooper rifle, it will be the Cooper Classic, a light and handy rifle at an advertised 6.25 lbs. I am torn between the 221 Fireball and 20 Var Targ. This rifle will be a light walking varminter. Targets will be out to 250, with the ocasional shot of 300 possible. Targets will be of the following, ground squirels, rockchucks, crows, racoons, badgers,coytes, and turkeys where legal.
221 Fireball or 20 Var Targ?
- Thread starter GlennGTR1
- Start date
Ackman
Gold $$ Contributor
Wouldn't matter very much. The vartarg seems like a good cartridge but I've never had one. I have shot the 221 a whole bunch and it works real well for what you're planning. Mine always goes along and is used with 40's on groundsquirrels, pd's and rockchucks. To me the 221 is just right with 40gr bullets, however I used to know a guy who shot about 20,000 rds/year on groundsquirrels and swore the FB/50TNT combination was perfect.
Ackman said:
I am just the opposite since I have never had or shot a fireball. I do love the 20 vartarg on ground squirrels! This is my third year for the twenty with close to 3k rounds shot and out to 250 its ideal in my opinion on ground squirrels. My last trip out last week I shot 200. It was a good day. I like it so much I have another 20 barrel in the safe ready to go on when the current barrel is gone.
Brian
I use a 17 Fireball, 204 Ruger, and 221 Fireball for prairie dog shooting. Take a look at reloading books and drop tables to see which one best fits the shooting you will be doing. I like the 20 Caliber round but have not tryed out a Var Tag round but it would be a bit slower the the 204 Ruger and flatter shooting than the 221 Fireball.
I bought a Rem 700 SS CDL in 17 Fireball a few years ago, pulled the factory bbl. and replaced it with a Bartlein I chamered in 20 VarTarg. Before selling the factory bbl., I sent it to Bartlein so they could duplicate the contour, as I really liked the factory CDL stock. The first group I shot with Hornady 32gr VMaxes was outstanding, but I've never been able to duplicate it.
I've not spent a lot of time working with this rifle - I'm an active NRA HP shooter, and just haven't had the time to work with the VarTarg. Another complication is that I sent the stock to a friend to duplicate, and haven't gotten it back yet. But, it was so pleasant to shoot - neglible recoil & mild report - that I'm really looking forward to playing with it when I get it together again. Personally, I think the 20s are more practical than any of the 17s, if for no other reason than bullet selection.
OTOH, I re-barreled a nice little L461 Sako for the 221 FB for a friend who'd purchased the rifle from one of the online gun auction sites a year or so ago. The OEM bbl. was pitted, and the action rattled around in the stock. A nice Krieger bbl. & Devcon bedding later, and the owner is extremely pleased with his 221 FB. He's called me several times to express his satisfaction with how well the 221 shoots. Bottom line - I think you'll be happy with either cartridge.
I've not spent a lot of time working with this rifle - I'm an active NRA HP shooter, and just haven't had the time to work with the VarTarg. Another complication is that I sent the stock to a friend to duplicate, and haven't gotten it back yet. But, it was so pleasant to shoot - neglible recoil & mild report - that I'm really looking forward to playing with it when I get it together again. Personally, I think the 20s are more practical than any of the 17s, if for no other reason than bullet selection.
OTOH, I re-barreled a nice little L461 Sako for the 221 FB for a friend who'd purchased the rifle from one of the online gun auction sites a year or so ago. The OEM bbl. was pitted, and the action rattled around in the stock. A nice Krieger bbl. & Devcon bedding later, and the owner is extremely pleased with his 221 FB. He's called me several times to express his satisfaction with how well the 221 shoots. Bottom line - I think you'll be happy with either cartridge.
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