221 Fireball

[lpreddick]

I like small cases and wondered if this one is worth a build...I shoot paper and varmints. Pros and cons.

 

[NorCalMikie]

The .221 Fireball (my favorite round) is a natural bug hole maker. Might also consider the 20 VT but then you get involved in making brass. IMHO, the Fireball is better.

 

[Hal]

lp
Go over to the saubier.com and ask that question. They are a small caliber forum.

There is a cult like following of the .20 VT (Var-Targ), a .221 fireball necked down to .20 cal. Some of those guys have lots of rifles and they choose to shoot the .20VT.
The .20 Var-Targ is an over achiever.
Hal

 

[tonyb]

I shoot the VT and absolutely love it! Feel free to pm me with questions that I may be able to help with.

Tony.

 

[Bangs OH]

The .221 Fireball (my favorite round) is a natural bug hole maker. Might also consider the 20 VT but then you get involved in making brass. IMHO, the Fireball is better.

Agree 100%. Give it enough barrel and the right load, and near-.223 performance is possible. And with a lot less powder; Lil' Gun, AA 1680, and RL-7 work well, and good results are being claimed by some who have tried Hodgdon CFE BLK.
Just don't expect this little round to have a quiet report; although the Fireball is no "boomer" I keep a .22 Hornet around for hunting near built-up areas, but with a resulting loss of trajectory flatness and range compared to the Fireball. Deadly on groundhogs out to 250 yards, btw.
I own/have owned three rifles chambered in .221 (Cooper, Remington, and C-Z) and expect to keep a "Furball" around until I'm too old to shoot.

 

[th82457]

I own a 20 VT & a .221. You can't go wrong either way. Both have 1:12 twist barrels and both shoot fantastic. The VT has virtually no recoil when shooting the 32 gr. bullets. Once VT brass is formed, it will last a long time, particularly if you start with Lapua brass.

Good Luck,
Terry

 

[Toolbreaker]

I'm gathering parts for a Fireball build right now, myself. The only downsides I've read about are feeding and extraction with some actions, but either one seems to be a fairly straight-forward fix. Performance-wise, it looks top-notch with the lighter 35-45 grain projectiles. Personally, I think it'll make a heckuva plinker/varmint getter

 

[Wirelessguy2005]

The 221 fireball is a good cartridge, it's even better in an improved form such as 20SCC or 22SCC.

 

[DogBuster]

I have had & used them both.....currently using my Vartarg....p/dogs main targets

40 gr 20 cal boolits have a much higher BC than 22 cal from the Fireball.....

Set up my Vartarg in 2006....long before Lapua FB brass was available...my barrel has high

miles...12T Pac Nor......no taper tube on s/shot Salvage action...one of my favorite dog guns..

along with my 20-222 & 20 PT......40 V's are pushed by H322...32's really like H4198...

P/doggin' pic.....set up on a gooseneck hay trailer for added visual elevation....

G O V A R T A R G !!!!!!!

 

[JohnHenry]

The 221 is one of my favorites. Latest one is on a Stolle Atlas action, B&C stock from Kelblys, and a Shilen select match 1 in 14" barrel. Shoots in the high 0.2's with CFE BLK and 40 gr. Nosler BT. CFE BLK yields 3500 fps from the 221 with a 40gr. bullet.

 

[DogBuster]

Tried CFE BLK in my VT.......

so so .............

 

[Phil]

A .221 FB AI is on my short list of things to do.........

 

[lpreddick]

A .221 FB AI is on my short list of things to do.........

Would that be a 22 SCC?

 

[Phil]

Would that be a 22 SCC?

Kinda.........

Essentially the same thing, but i believe the SCC is based off of Norma brass, i prefer Lapua brass and spec. my reamers so they will accommodate it.

Phil.

 

[stacy]

SURE IS A FINE ROUND I LIKE THE 221 MINE SETS THE GROUND GRIZZLY PATCH ON FIRE WITH H-4227 AND 40GR BERGER HP'S AT JUST SHY OF 3500FPS

 

[grovey]

I load for two factory Rem 700LS rifles in 221, and they're both shooters. H4198 and Rl7 is all I've tried, and I can't see a reason to look further.

 

[Greyfox]

I've had a 20 VT on an XP 100 action for 5-6 years. JUst added the 221 Furball this year. Prefernce goes to the VT, but the Furball is a close 2nd.
Hard to beat either one in a dogtown.

Rick

 

[pacificman]

I have a CZ .221 firball. Like the 20VT ya don't need very much powder and ya get good accuracy
with the right load. You know you can never have enough guns!. With the fireball I shoot 40
grainers ...with the 20VT it's 32 grain only for me...each rifle has it's place in the rat fields.

 

[Mr Underbridge]

Im having a 20VT built on a CZ527. I dont see an issue with "case forming", get a no turn neck reamer and uses a 20VT sizing die and you will be set.
I use mine for paper punching at 100 yards. 20 cal bullets can be had stupid cheap.