Best platform for 221 fireball rifle?

Status
Not open for further replies.

adcoch1

Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2015
Messages
3,797
Location
Centralia Washington
Been thinking a lot for the last few years about a 221 fireball rifle, something light and easy to carry for a stalking varmint gun and a general plinking rifle. The question is, what platform? A contender carbine comes to mind, and Remington made one on a 700 you can still find. CZ made one on the 527 action, although these are rather rare, and i have seen a few xp 100s converted to rifles.

Anyway, what would be the best platform for a 221 fireball as a ligh rifle? Anything I'm not aware of out there?
 
That is my first pick but the like new one on gb is $1500. A little excessive for a rifle that was $600 new... I may contact cz custom shop and see what it would cost to put one together...
 
That is my first pick but the like new one on gb is $1500. A little excessive for a rifle that was $600 new... I may contact cz custom shop and see what it would cost to put one together...
if u can find a action and rebarrel it. Richards micro fists makes nice stocks for the 527 im walnut maple or a laminate. there were some zastava minis made in 221.. there are still some 222 rem cz fs carbines out there for 6 ish i would like to get one before there gone. only if cz made the fs in 6.5 grendel.
 
Check out E R Shaw. They build rifles on Savage actions. I think they chamber for the fireball. Haven't looked at their site in a while. My 250 Savage they built is pretty nice for the monet.
 
Yes, and it would be nearly as good as a .222.
The 222 is quite the sweet shooter and I'd love to have one, but the reason for wanting the fireball is for that spot between the 222 and 223, and a 22lr. A 22 hornet or k hornet would work too, but the fireball just grabs my attention and looks like perfection for velocity vs powder use.
 
The 222 is quite the sweet shooter and I'd love to have one, but the reason for wanting the fireball is for that spot between the 222 and 223, and a 22lr. A 22 hornet or k hornet would work too, but the fireball just grabs my attention and looks like perfection for velocity vs powder use.

If you do get a contender also consider the 218 bee, or 218 mashburn bee
 
If you do get a contender also consider the 218 bee, or 218 mashburn bee
I had a bee for about a year and never could find ammo or brass. Traded it away and the very next week found ammo, brass, and dies available. Should have held out another week I guess, this was ten years or so ago...
 
I have a Remington 700 and a T/C Contender with a 22" Bullberry barrel, both chambered in 221 Remington FB. The Contender is handier than the Remington due to the action difference and a bit shorter barrel but both shoot well.

I generally load 40 to 50 grain bullets.

It has always been easier to get my Contender to shoot about any bullet well. The Remington 700 got better after I replaced the trigger and free floated the barrel.

About 10 years ago, it looked like 221 cases were going to become hard to find so I bought a set of forming dies for the case. So, at least I am set if cases disappear from the market.

A bolt action shorter than a 223 Remington length bolt action would make a dandy 221 Remington FB rifle.
 
Sako Vixen. Rebarrel, or have the rear of a 222 or 223 barrel cut back and rechambered.
I'm in full agreement with Mr. cheygriz about the Sako Vixen action being ideal for building a .221 FB. Though I would be reluctant to convert a good one in .222, I picked up this vintage Marlin 322, (Which were built on the sweet little Sako actions back in the '50's) at a gun show. The .222 barrel was pitted so I had it rebarreled to .17 FB. Which was a perfect fit, as would be the same in .221 FB. DSC_0090.JPG DSC_0086.JPG
 
I've got a contender carbine chambered in 22 Hornet with a 2 x 7 x 32 scope on it. Great carrying around rifle. Short and light. Very accurate also. Being a single shot with no magazine to restrict overall cartridge length allows me to load to .002 off the lands. Also squeeze in more powder. She'll routinely put 5 rounds into 3/4" at 100 yards.
I'd be hard pressed to pick a bolt action over this platform 20180822_170949.jpg
 
I've got a contender carbine chambered in 22 Hornet with a 2 x 7 x 32 scope on it. Great carrying around rifle. Short and light. Very accurate also. Being a single shot with no magazine to restrict overall cartridge length allows me to load to .002 off the lands. Also squeeze in more powder. She'll routinely put 5 rounds into 3/4" at 100 yards.
I'd be hard pressed to pick a bolt action over this platform View attachment 811234
That's a good looking setup...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top