221 fireball twist rate

[bobcat93]

Happy holidays forum members,
I just picked up a new 14" barrel for my TC Contender. It's chambered in .221 fireball with a 1in 12 twist.. Can some one share with me the optimal bullet weight for this combo. Also a few of those special reloading recipes sure would be nice.thanks guys.
Marry Christmas to all

 

[Rick in Oregon]

I'm sure you'll get lots of input to that question, and for my two Furballs (Cooper VR & CZ527 American), both 12-twist rifles, I stick to the 40gr bullets to keep the speed up with the flattened trajectory it offers. Plus the 'splat-factor' is much more enjoyable using the lighter bullets. I only use Rem 7-1/2's for the 221FB.

For powders, I've found that RL-7 and A2200 will be your friends. Also try H4198. Charge range will be in the 18gr range, a bit higher with A2200. My go-to-load for both rifles uses RL-7 with the 40gr NBT or NVG.....both rifles will shoot those bullets less than .5 MOA, usually around .2 for the Cooper, and a solid .35" with the CZ and it's light barrel. 18.5 grs of RL-7 seems to be the magical formula for me in both rifles.

What a fun caliber the Furball is! Enjoy yours, and Merry Christmas to you and all the forum members!

 

[bheadboy]

on rifles and XP's I found the best powders were 4227, 1680 and 4198, the faster powder with the lighter bullet and the slower with the 50's - always 7 1/2 and jump of about .020

the most accurate one I had was a 40x hart using old imr4227, and 50gr bk, it would consistently go .200 and once in a while high .100.s - don't know it current powder will be the same.

Bob

 

[bobcat93]

Thank you for the replies. I was thinking with a 14" barrel mybe I should use a fast powder..but I'm not sure if it works like that..
With a slower burning powder do you need a longer barrel so pressure can build, and with a short barrel do I want a fast powder so pressure builds quicker..
Or does burn rate refer more to bullet weight then barrel length

 

[Gabe22BR]

H4227, and H4198 are the most used...one of which is discontinued. I have a 221 in a rifle but not in a 14" contender, so my load would be off.....

 

[bheadboy]

in my first 10" xp100 the 50 Sierras were great with Sierra's load of 4198, in the end though the best was imr 4227 for that short bbl

Bob

 

[17VLD]

Lots of good 40 poly tipped bullets out there for varmints.I would definitely try the 53 V-Max since you have a 12 twist they do start out slower but you might be pleased with the energy down range,the bc is .290-.295.I guess it depends on the distance and
target you will be engaging.
Matt

 

[RonS]

Happy holidays to all....I use a Nosler CC 52gr just touching the lands with RL7 and CCI 400 works great for my 24" Savage. Hoping to get some Lapua brass soon....

 

[ARW]

+1 on the 53gr. V-Max. I shoot them out of my 12 twist 221 with IMR4198. Very good combination and shoots extremely well.

Alan

 

[bobcat93]

Thanks for the replies,
I loaded up some Sierra 50gr. Spitzer with reloader #7 and some honady 40gr. V-max with reloader #7. I have never tried this powder in the fireball..
I'm trying a .005 jump will see what I get
And will repost when I get home..
I love the fireball .17, and .221.. Lots of fun, powered gos a long way I have all lapua brass , and I'm using rem. 7 1/2 BR primers they seem to work the best from other testing..my groups opened up when using CCI BR-4..
Mathematicly the V-max would use a 1-10 twist , and the sierras bullets a 1-11 twist..

 

[Phil]

+1 on the 53gr. V-Max. I shoot them out of my 12 twist 221 with IMR4198. Very good combination and shoots extremely well.

Alan

Alan,

What kind of velocities are you seeing with the 53 amax in your .221???

Phil.

 

[ARW]

Alan,

What kind of velocities are you seeing with the 53 amax in your .221???

Phil.

Phil,

I just recently took 3 shots thru the chronograph.

They were 2943-2947-2945 fps., in that order, with 17.5gr. of IMR4198 out of a 23in. Krieger barrel.

Alan

 

[bobcat93]

Back from the range..let me say in my defense I had 4 cups of coffee when I gut up this a.m. before I decide to run out to the range.. All my shots were from a gun rest on a bench @100yrds.
I have a Thompson Center Contender with an MGM 14" bull barrel 1in12 twist I recently put a Burris fullfield 6.5-20 ×50 rifle scope on the Contender. It looks funny with such a big scope on it..but man is it nice
I have notice my barrel groups much better after 10 shots with out cleaning.
When its clean it seems to shoot all over, after it gets dirty and warm it settels down nicely. I was shooting 10 shot groups
I had to dial it in a bit and I was using 6" targets.
First 10 shots were 55gr. Sierra spitzer #1345, with a .005 jump
Reloader #7 @ 17.5 gr. , rem 7 1/2 BR primers , lapua brass ,crony reading 2510- 2555 fps.


I cleaned the barrel took some more shots and then shot this .
Again I used the Sierra 55 gr. Spitzer # 1345 , AA 2015 @ 19.2 gr. , rem. 7 1/2 BR. Primer
Crony read 2460-2580



It appears both powders show potential.. Not sure what to try next.
Move up and down with powder charge, or bullet seating
Any comments, pointers welcome