Load for .221 Rem Fireball

[tenring]

I have not shot this rifle in a while. It is a custom Sako heavy barrel. I have been shooting 17.5 grs. H322 under a 50 gr. Speer TNT. It shoots fair, am looking for other good loads. Thinking of trying mag primers. Any thoughts?

 

[rrwildlife]

I have had good luck with Re-7 and Nosler 52 gr. C.C. H-4198 is also shoots well with this bullet. I'm shooting these out of a Sako 461 with a Broughton barrel in the factory target contour. I was pushing the bullet at 3125 fps with a 24" barrel, I cut it to 20" and now the velocity is 2950 fps. Both loads will shoot in the .380-.420 range consistantly, on occasion it will shoot in the high .2's low .3's

I tried loading H-322 and basically filled up the case, I think like 20.3 gr. it shot OK but I never got great accuracy untill the Re-7 and the H4198. I had sucess with a Cooper 221 loading 21.5 gr of H-335 and the 52 gr. Noslers.

Work up to these velocitys carefully as I'm over max on both loads.

Hope this helps


Ryan

 

[areaone]

15 gr of lil gun 50 gr hornmady v max. Shoots great in my factory rem 700 lvss

 

[tunered]

This load shoots in the 3s in my 700 lv, 18.0 H4198, br4 primer 53gr hornady hp match, Mag primers wont help. ed

 

[LHSmith]

700 lvsf : 17.6gr/ AA-1680, 40 Nosler Ballistic tips, RP 7-1/2, .060 jump

 

[bheadboy]

i find imr4198, 17.5gr 7 1/2, rpbrass, with Sierra 50gr bk shoots in the .2-.3" from mine rem 40x 22" and

also imr 4227 15.7gr witrh same bullet case primer shoot the same.

Bob

 

[SmokinJoe]

Try about 16 grs Lil'Gun w/ 40 v-mx or whatever & Rem 7.5. That load gives around 3600 in my rifles & appears to be quite safe, good accuracy. I would recommend starting at 15 grs & working up, though. This is in my Cooper 38 Phoenix and accuracy was running about .4" @ 100 for a 10-shot group. I just got some of the new Alliant Power Pro 300MP that I want to try in 221, 218 Bee & 22 K-Hornet. Will report any wothwhile results.

 

[BobLeeSwagger223]

I have a Cooper Varmint. I load 18.7gr of RL 7 in a Rem case with Fed 205M primers. It shoots sub 1/2" at 100. Fun shooting round, I like the low recoil and barrel heat!

 

[tonyb]

I load for a .221 that belongs to me, and I also load for a buddy, both guns LOVE AA-1680 and 40gr. v-maxes.

Tony.

 

[RJinTexas]

My vote goes to H4227 with 40gr NBT's, for bigger varmints such as yotes try the same powder with a 60gr Nosler Partition.

RJ

 

[Geronimo Jim]

15 grain of lil'l gun and 40 V-Max will do 1/4 inch in my Cooper. About 3,400 fps. Any more powder and the primer pockets get loose!

 

[SpiritNugent]

This is my favorite cartridge to shoot. Economical, accurate and alot of fun.

I have several rifles chambered in .221 fireball. I have played with all of it's siblings as well, but love the .221 fireball the most ;D

I have been playing with one of my rifles primarily for 3 years now... a Remington Model 700 Classic.

Over the course of the last 3 years, I have 900 rounds out the barrel, the majority of those "tinkering" with loads.

I have used Lil' Gun, AA1680, H4198, 4227, Reloader 7 and some others.

I have tried every primer I could find.

I tried several bullet weights and makes in the 40-50 grain range.

I even tried different dies... started with RCBS FL dies, and I am now using Redding Competition dies.

I have found after extensive testing my my rifle that Reloader 7 is the most accurate and consistent of all the powders I have tried. It is a perfect match for the .221 fireball.

I settled on 18.5 grains of Reloader 7, a Federal 205 match primer, a 50 grain Nosler Ballistic tip and I am using Remington brass. I considered making brass from .222 Lapua but I am getting great results with Remington after it is weight sorted and prepped to the max with flashole, primer pocket, neck prep, etc.

I have found my rifle likes to be seated anywhere from .005" off the lands to .020" off. It will shoot good anywhere in that range, but it prefers it a little closer.

I have played around with the Redding Competition neck sizing die, and tried sizing the whole neck, 1/2 neck and 2/3 neck. I have found in my sistuation sizing half the neck is best. I am using a .246" bushing. The Redding dies are a quality product. From the bushing neck sizing die to the competition seaters, to their bump dies.

It's a consistent bughole shooter with this load. Little bugholes are always our goal ;D

I love the fireball ;D