Best Pet Loads for 221 Fireball

[Frankm]

+1 to AA1680 and 40 gr bullets. 19.0 grains with a 40 gr bullet gives me 3400 fps and 3/8 to 1/2 moa. Shoots so good didn’t venture out for more velocity.

19.0 grs of CFE BLK with a 50 was nearly as accurate at 3200 fps.

 

[JohnHenry]

+1 to AA1680 and 40 gr bullets. 19.0 grains with a 40 gr bullet gives me 3400 fps and 3/8 to 1/2 moa. Shoots so good didn’t venture out for more velocity.

19.0 grs of CFE BLK with a 50 was nearly as accurate at 3200 fps.

My experience with CFE BLK and 40gr Nosler BT was that accuracy improved as I worked up towards the max load. Still room in the case to go a little beyond max if one chooses and Hodgdon data indicates that pressures are relatively low at the max load with a velocity over 3500 fps. I stopped at the max load.

 

[lb-ft]

2400 powder, 40 gr VMax is a great pairing.

 

[stacy]

So I've always wanted a 221 Fireball and finally got one. Beautiful Cooper Model 21 Classic with the Schnable forend. It's the perfect walk around varmint rifle. Anyone have any pet loads they really like. I have 40 and 50 grain bullets on hands. Will most likely stick to the 40's unless the gun doesn't like them at all. Let me know what you are shooting and typical results. Thanks!

H-4227 for me and 40gr hp Bergers with fed 205 to light it up

 

[Frankm]

JohnHenry, +1 on pressure. Mine shot sub moa (3/4 ish) at 18 grs of powder and had big ES ( like 100 fps). Worked up 2 tenths a gr at a time and ES kept improving and accuracy got better and better. I stopped at 19 grs as I was very happy with the results

 

[sbranden]

I tried Reloder 7 with 40NBT's and CCI BR4's but it just wasn't as tight as I wanted. 15.0 of Lil'Gun, seated 1.825 was a ragged hole with my Rem 700 LVSF. I still have a lot more playing around I want to do with this great little rifle, but who knows when I will get to that. Price of components these days, and for no more hunting than I have time for - I might just keep it going with Lil'Gun and these 40's for the foreseeable future.

 

[CT10ring]

So I've always wanted a 221 Fireball and finally got one. Beautiful Cooper Model 21 Classic with the Schnable forend. It's the perfect walk around varmint rifle. Anyone have any pet loads they really like. I have 40 and 50 grain bullets on hands. Will most likely stick to the 40's unless the gun doesn't like them at all. Let me know what you are shooting and typical results. Thanks!

That's a cool little round!
2 .221's. Sold one, kept one.
Both shot well with Hornady V-max 40g and 14.8g Lil gun. 3/8" - 1/2" at 100 yds. I did whack some crows
far out and it was a black feather explosion.
Surprisingly (or not) , the Rem factory ammo I used once- also shot 1/2" or better.
Enjoy your rifle!!

 

[Ackman]

Happily both of mine are very nicely accurate with the same loads, so it's all interchangeable. One is an old Apex 14tw with countless rounds through it, the other is an essentially new Hart 14tw. AA2200 with 40BT, 2230 with 40's and 50's, and for grins 33gr VMax with 2200.

 

[sw282]

My little 700LVSF in 221Furball loves 35gr Bergers(disc.) and 4198