Do I want a rifle in 221 Fireball?

[varmintshooter]

I have 2 one is a Cooper classic and the other is a CZ. They are nice to carry and almost no recoil. I have killed Ghogs out to 380 yds with mine.

 

[Dolomite_supafly]

I built a 6mm Fireball and could not imagine liking 221 Fireball more than it.

Out of a 24” barrel I can push 55 grain bullets to 3,200 fps. Primers are not flattening out.



I also shoot 115g at 2,100 fps. It is very consistent with those.


Dies were easy to make. I bought standard RCBS 221 Fireball dies then used a $35 reamer to open the neck of the sizing die. Then called RCBS and got a 6mm expander. Cut 5.56 brass at 1.40” then size.

 

[Evan]

I have a 20 Vartarg, but the virtue of the 221 FB cases and any of the children, is the very low heat generated. I can shoot 50 in a row at a moderately fast pace and the barrel will only be warm to the touch. For reference, 5 shots from my 22BR generates more heat in the barrel! This is a huge benefit! Just keep shooting; there's no reason to wait for it to cool off.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Still running this around in my head, now looking at what I have on hand for it. I have 40gr Hornet and 52gr ELD's and 55gr Vmax bullets and for powders I have Accurate 1680, IMR4227, Win 296 and CFE BLK would those work ok.

 

[bobcat93]

Hahahaha..do I want a 221 fireball...hahaha what kind of question is that..
More like how have you Survived this long without one...get to the gun shop quickly!!

We may need back up on this one gentleman..stand by...
Next to the BR / PPC / there is the 221 Remington..
Those are my favorite sexy cases of all time..

I would like to see the 221 Remington AI ..
Not for larger case capacity..but for accuracy..has any one tried this..
lose the case taper and change the shoulder angle
The trifecta...221 rem. ,.20 vartarg , .17 fireball.
We could stick the 300 in there..but I dont believe I like that one..sorry..
I thought that the new Remington 700 pistol they have out would be perfect to build a 221 on..
It comes in 300 black out mag feed..bad ass..
Easley converted to 221..by the properly skilled of course..but perhaps the new pistol barrel changer out like an AR ..I would check it out..but that's me..and what I like..not for everyone..
I love magazine feed bolt guns..I'm not sure why..theres something in my head that says a bolt action rifle is as accurate as it will get..now add the ability to get them rounds out the barrel as quickly and accurately as possible...bong!!! I'm now turned on..

 

[Twicepop]

Of course you want a rifle chambered in .221 Fireball, end of discussion. Maybe more to the point, I want a rifle chambered in .221 Fireball, but other projects have priority right now.

 

[bobcat93]

6mm 221 rem. Man can you post pic of a loaded cartridge next to a 221..that sounds very interesting

 

[Evan]

Still running this around in my head, now looking at what I have on hand for it. I have 40gr Hornet and 52gr ELD's and 55gr Vmax bullets and for powders I have Accurate 1680, IMR4227, Win 296 and CFE BLK would those work ok.

I'm not certain. The 4198 powders are classic choices. I imagine yours could work. A2200, RL-7 or RL-10x are other choices. I can check my Hornady manual tonight and see how they all line up.

 

[DogBuster]

Only thing better than the 221 FB......is the 20 Vartarg....

 

[Rick in Oregon]

I'm not certain. The 4198 powders are classic choices. I imagine yours could work. A2200, RL-7 or RL-10x are other choices. I can check my Hornady manual tonight and see how they all line up.

Ditto on RL-7 and A2200. I believe 10X to be too slow for the little case. But CFE BLK seems to be another very good alternative when I look in the Hodgdon loading manual in terms of velocity.

 

[JohnHenry]

Ditto on RL-7 and A2200. I believe 10X to be too slow for the little case. But CFE BLK seems to be another very good alternative when I look in the Hodgdon loading manual in terms of velocity.

I have been getting excellent results with CFE BLK and 40gr. Nosler ballistic tips. Accuracy steadily improved as I worked my way up to Hodgdon's max load(20.8 gr.). Hodgdon's 40 gr bullet data shows 3543 fps and 45800 CUP pressure at their max load. I have been getting five shot 100 yd groups averaging in the high 0.2's with my Kelbly Atlas 221FB.

 

[Dolomite_supafly]

6mm 221 rem. Man can you post pic of a loaded cartridge next to a 221..that sounds very interesting

300 Blackout on the left, 223 Remington on the right. The one in the middle are 6-221 loaded with 55g, 75g, 95g and 115g from left to right. The 115g is AR magazine length.



PTG makes a reamer. I had JGS make mine. If you are interested I can open up a 221 die for you, just cover shipping both ways.

 

[McFred]

For the last year I've been wanting to polarize my .224 stuff. I've been entertaining a .22 PPC/Grendel to drive the 88ELDs around 2900fps for the local steel matches, and a .221 FB for blowing up pop cans and pdogs wihtout torching the throat on long shot strings. But somehow I haven't been able to justify it with the existing investment in .223 Remington I have. That said, I think if you have the opportunity, OP, you should go for it.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Well I did not get the rifle! It sold for more than I was willing to spend on it but this thread has made me even more curious about it so I ordered a new custom barrel in 221 Fireball for one of my Savage rifles. I know some have had issues feeding a Savage action but there is a mag modification that is suppose to cure that issue? Either way it wont matter as I mostly single feed my rifles anyway. Just ordered Lapua brass and a die set, should have powder and bullets on hand so now the wait for the barrel...

 

[bobcat93]

Thank god ..good work men ..that fire has been extinguished....for now...on to the next...hahaha..

 

[bobcat93]

Now back to the 6mm- 221...hmmmm..

 

[Evan]

Well I did not get the rifle! It sold for more than I was willing to spend on it but this thread has made me even more curious about it so I ordered a new custom barrel in 221 Fireball for one of my Savage rifles. I know some have had issues feeding a Savage action but there is a mag modification that is suppose to cure that issue? Either way it wont matter as I mostly single feed my rifles anyway. Just ordered Lapua brass and a die set, should have powder and bullets on hand so now the wait for the barrel...

My Vartarg required almost no load development to shoot in the teens. I think you'll be pleased with how easy going and inherently accurate the Fireball cases are.

 

[LitLBoy]

CFE BLACK!
LitLBoy

 

[Lefty Trigger]

CFE BLACK!
LitLBoy

I have that powder on hand... any recommended loads using it?

 

[Oso]

Now back to the 6mm- 221...hmmmm..

6mm-.222 Remington would give you a longer neck for handling longer bullets without having to seat as much in the case, and a little more case capacity. Just a thought!!!

I have a 17-222 and 222... sure would be nice if someone ordered up a reamer for a 6-222.