Skiing with a 221 Fireball

[Roe]

Just something a little different. I guess this is a wilderness hunt, will try to find a Google Earth link later.

Rifle is a factory Rem700 SA light varmint 221 Fireball. Shoots ok, but not good. Leupold mk5 HD was a nice surprise, these birds are about the hardest spotting I do once the snow starts to drift a little.

 

[effendude]

Awesome video!

 

[B23]

Cool video!

It appears his gun has many of the feeding problems associated with the FB case.

 

[dolek]

Great video ,looks like a great way to stay in shape and get trigger time in the winter . Thanks for sharing.

 

[Roe]

Yes, it's fantastic. Normally one or two days are lost to weather, but this year I had a full week.

I haven't used the rifle enough, but suspect the action need some work in order to feed better. Would probably worked better in a smaller Sako Vixen, CZ, Howa or Cooper action, but the Rem 700 was what I could get my hands on at the time. It is also in for a rebarrel now, so kinda passed the point of no return in terms of expense.

 

[lb-ft]

Thomas Haugland, is this you?

My young son and I have been thoroughly enjoying your videos for over two years now. We eagerly await each new release! Your video 262 regarding optimal shooting with hunting rifles really helped my grip come together. Thank you for everything you've poured into our sport! Also, I must add that the videography is stunning. Always well put together and this might sound odd but it's great how you use verbal language sparingly. Lastly, not easy to find reliable, clean family-friendly shooting/hunting material. No coarse language or excessive ego. Thank you!

The 6.5 Grendel bolt gun you put together several years ago, did you end up doing much with it?

 

[akajun]

what kind of bird is that and how do they taste

 

[Roe]

@akajun: This is ptarmigan. Quite sweet and strong taste, very nice gamemeat.

@lb-ft: Yes, I am TH. Glad you found something useful, that's mission accomplished for me. Only drive I have for this is a sense of job satisfaction. Doing it alone on a shoestring budget inevitably means I have to put myself in front of the lense. I figured no/little talking would keep least possible attention on me and rather shift it to the technique or experience. Always nice to hear that someone had their own success using the tips, thanks!

The Grendel was built to be a lightweight bird/deer rifle and as such it was a failure. Wonderfully precise, but just as heavy as a normal weight rifle. Also missed the paragraph that makes it illegal to transport that rifle on a snowmobile. With 50% of intended use denied, I saw no point in keeping that much $ tied to that rifle - I don't need 2 deer rifles.
Shame. Absolutely loved the Grendel. But from next year, it's non-lead bullets for my deerstalking and low V0 is not compatible with that. Will go back to 6.5x284 or possibly 270//7x64 to shoot those bullets.

So that's also the background for my 221 Fireball which is max legal calibre on a scooter sled.

 

[Coleridge]

What type of moderator/suppressor on the end of barrel? Looks really short but sounds quiet for size. Are you shooting a reduced powder charge? Looks like it's not very hard on the birds...

Cool video

 

[Roe]

Suppressors are not legal here (but it is at home) so it's just a "snowcatcher" to keep the muzzle free of snow.
I'm at 17gr of Norma N200 and the 55gr FMJ is not more than 2450 fps. Very gentle on the meat, very little is spoiled.

You can see details of the snowcatcher in this film at time 2:30

 

[CaptainMal]

When hell freezes over... looks like it has.

Enjoy your many contributions to this forum. Enjoyed this one also. But here in sunny south Florida I just cannot relate that frigid ice box ordeal to hunting fun.

You sure do have clear camera work. Can't be cheap to do what you do. Thanks.

 

[sw282]

Yes, it's fantastic. Normally one or two days are lost to weather, but this year I had a full week.

I haven't used the rifle enough, but suspect the action need some work in order to feed better. Would probably worked better in a smaller Sako Vixen, CZ, Howa or Cooper action, but the Rem 700 was what I could get my hands on at the time. It is also in for a rebarrel now, so kinda passed the point of no return in terms of expense.

l have one of these very same Rem700 221FBs...Twas a real pain feeding those stubby little 221FB cases til
Jarrett Rifles in Jackson SC installed a single shot follower in my gun.... 'Feeding problems Solved'

 

[RegionRat]

Very nice camera work. Looks like you are solo hunting and filming yourself, which is very impressive. Well done.

 

[Roe]

@sw282 : I originally intended to do the rifle "on the cheap" as I didn't want to go the expensive route via a petite Sako Vixen and restock/rechamber that. Was offered this Remington at an ok price and took it. Things got out of hand. Now the rifle is in to be restocked with a Gunwerks Clymr and rebarreled with a Lothar Walther SS 1:12". I'm told it is possible to modify a HS Precision magazine to feed reliable, but with bottom metal they run for $800 here so that's a no-go. It appears the Sako Vixen wasn't that expensive afterall...

@CaptainMal : Thanks, really appreciate that. It is only recently I invested in a proper camera and took the time to learn some basic techniques. Seeing how rich the images with a proper lens and sensor, I regret not doing it sooner. I think if I was presented the $ bill today, I'd find another hobby (most likely dogs), but this gear has accumulated over more than 10 years. Well, 30 if you include the hunting.

@RegionRat: Thanks. Yes, I do it all myself. The "hunt" is usually up to 4 cameras setup so I can have enough material to show the angles and progress, but I tend to settle for 2 if the situation is a bit precarious. The "scenic" shots are mostly done on one camera.

 

[sw282]

Roe. Remington called my gun an 'LVSF'. lt still has the original Bell&Carlson ADL type stock w/blind floorplate. Other
caliber LVSF Remingtons of this caliber l have seen have no problem feeding. Remington put a spacer block in a SA
magazine box along with a shorter follower and spring to try and feed those FB cases. Jarrett removed the Stubby FB
box, replacing it with a standard SA ADL box w/follower/spring. On top of that went a short aluminum single shot type follower. These single shot followers are available in 3 different lengths for Remingtons. App $10 ea from Midway. Whole installation is reversible. l use these followers on all my bolt guns. On ADL type stocks the action has to be removed from the stock. On BDLs simply open the floorplate. lnsert the follower from the bottom, close the floor plate.
Just checked. They even make one for Tikkas.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1015300323

 

[Juppe12]

Similar to our black grouse/capercaillie winter hunt. Just great skiing and looking for birds Willow grouse is here protected althoug it does exist, in northern Finland you can hunt it.
This morning just shot first black grouse for this season, weather was just below freezing point, birds were gathering up to pines when sun did rise. It was just a enjoy to watch and choose right bird for dinner. Tikka T3 222rem Super Varmint is just lethal

 

[Roe]

I'm off for capercaille with spets this week.

Thanks for the tips @sw282 but I'm not converting to a single shot. It is common to carry 2-3 loaded magazines to avoid freezing the fingers and I really don't want more exposure by making it a single shot.

 

[AWS]

Love your video.

I'm a shotgun guy for birds but have spent a lot of time hunting fox, coyotes and deer on skis in WA , MN and WI. Whenever there is snow on the ground th3re is a set of XC skis in 5he truck. I have back scabbards to carry my rifles. I've even used my skis to jump shoot ducks late in winter when the snow is measured in feet and the ducks are congregated in the open water below beaver dams.

 

[Roe]

That is cery cool!
I hunted coyotes once in Wyoming and was instantly hooked. Definitively something I would do more if able.

I currently use Eberlestock, but the scabbard is used for the tripods. I have yet to find a backpack that will carry rifle & tripod where both have quick access.

How did you transport the deer when on skis?

 

[AWS]

Hung them in a tree and collect them with snow machine.