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adcoch1
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I have seen a few with 1to12 rifling but that may be too slow, although i plan on 55 grn being the heaviest bullets I'll ever shoot in it
Best platform for 221 fireball rifle?
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ER Shaw makes GOOD barrels.
I've found 50 grain bullets are about as heavy as you want to use with 221 Rem FB. It is difficult to get the velocity of 55 grain bullets up enough to get effective expansion of the bullets. Unless of course you are looking for no expansion.
When I ordered my Bullberry barrel for the Contender, I selected a 1-12 twist as I planned on using lighter weight bullets. A 1-9 twist would probably work fine for the 221 Rem FB if you are planning on trying 55 gr bullets.
I have a 10" Contender barrel with a 1-14 twist as it is a 22 Hornet barrel re-chambered for 221 Rem FB. It likes 40 grain bullets.
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adcoch1
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thanks for the info, from what I can figure a 45-50 grn should be just fine for the uses I have in mind, and occasionally a 55 grn for goofing off. I just sent an email to the CZ custom shop to see about a 527 FS in the fireball, and they used to offer them in 1 in 12" twist. so we will see what the cost is. I may just order one from them, if not I might just build a howa mini... kinda want a repeater...
CZ makes great rifles. If they do not come up with an acceptable option, you could get a 223 Rem length Savage action and a barrel chambered for 221 Rem FB. It is just another option to consider.
I need to add that to my bucket list.
I do like 221 Rem FB.
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adcoch1
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savage rebarrels are always an option, but for a dimunitive cartridge like the 221 fireball I think the rifles are oversized, and I prefer a mini action of some kind. like the CZ or the howa mini, its nice to have the cartridge match the rifle so to speak...
Gordon
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Back in 1972 I had an XP 100 in .221 Fireball with which I used to patrol a large ranch in Big Sur California, having been discharged from active duty in 1971 and going into local reserves in 1972 after a short stint at Warrant Officers school . I soon tired of no ammo for the .221 except the Lee Loader I had while having unlimited .223 ammo available to me at Fort Hunter Liggett on the other side of the mountain I found an old German gunsmith in Monterey who agreed to chamber the .221 to .223 if I paid for the reamer and $40 Remington advised us it was "unsafe" ! Anyway the M193 55 grain ball shot well in the 10" barrel - who would guess I used that pistol with it's then hi tech 2.3 Bushnell Phantom scope alot around that ranch to stave off the predators. The ranch owner was good friends with Clint Eastwood and one day down at the fish pond they came walking up to me with the XP-100 slung around my neck as usual and Clint remarked " wow ! I thought Dirty Harry had a big pistol ! " that "Made MY day " any way the 55 grain ball shot great in the 1-12" twist that the .221 50 grain bullet used ! As I remember I tried to load some 70 grain Speer semi spitzer soft points that worked in the First Mini 14 180 series that came out and I eagerly bought (as I hated the AR15 format) which had 1-10" twist. The were great deer and smaller pig killers in the MIni 14 but tumbled in the XP100 1-12" . I sold the XP 100 right after I got the Ruger in 1974 . I never bought into the AR stuff until mid 80s , and was not convinced until late 90s .
when they were "perfected" IMHO
I would much rather have a .222 than a .221, and today IMHO the .223 is the obvious best .
I found an old German gunsmith in Monterey who agreed to chamber the .221 to .223 if I paid for the reamer and $40 Remington advised us it was "unsafe" ! Anyway the M193 55 grain ball shot well in the 10" barrel - who would guess I used that pistol with it's then hi tech 2.3 Bushnell Phantom scope alot around that ranch to stave off the predators. The ranch owner was good friends with Clint Eastwood and one day down at the fish pond they came walking up to me with the XP-100 slung around my neck as usual and Clint remarked " wow ! I thought Dirty Harry had a big pistol ! " that "Made MY day " any way the 55 grain ball shot great in the 1-12" twist that the .221 50 grain bullet used ! As I remember I tried to load some 70 grain Speer semi spitzer soft points that worked in the First Mini 14 180 series that came out and I eagerly bought (as I hated the AR15 format) which had 1-10" twist. The were great deer and smaller pig killers in the MIni 14 but tumbled in the XP100 1-12" . I sold the XP 100 right after I got the Ruger in 1974 . I never bought into the AR stuff until mid 80s , and was not convinced until late 90s .when they were "perfected" IMHO
I would much rather have a .222 than a .221, and today IMHO the .223 is the obvious best .
someguy2800
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Might be out of the budget but if I could have anything in this chambering I would do this.
https://www.eabco.com/Brown97DRifle.htm
https://www.eabco.com/Brown97DRifle.htm
Offfhand
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I'm with Mr. Gordon here. As noted in earlier comments on this thread (#20) converting a good .222 to .221 would be a big step in the wrong direction. The Marlin/Sako .222 I rebarreled had a pitted bore, and I already had three excellent ..222's anyway.
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adcoch1
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That is sweet but $1695 plus rebarreling is too much! What a neat little rifle though!
I inherited a really nice XP100 in .221 from my deceased brother. I would love to have a rifle that shot .221 as well but the demand is high and so is the price. Finding brass is difficult as well. All of the brass I have is 40 years old and reloaded at least once, some twice.
kwg
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adcoch1
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So cz custom sent me to a reputable gunsmith for rebarreling instead of doing it during the build process. So a $700 rifle plus a few hundred more? No thanks. The howa mini is looking better all the time...
Charliefrank
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I've had it now for around 30 years and it's still one of my favorites. Coyotes put the .223 barrel on. Deer put the 7-30 Waters barrel on
That's so odd that I would love to have one.
I might look for a Remington M7, if you could find one in a .223 or .222 configuration. Remington is making them in .243, .260, 7-08 and .308.
They used to make them in smaller calibers, I have handled a .222 M7 years ago that was a tack driver
They used to make them in smaller calibers, I have handled a .222 M7 years ago that was a tack driver
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adcoch1
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Like a modern 722, pretty little rifle!
I bought a Remington 700 Light Varmint Stainless Fluted (LVSF) in 221 Fireball. Stock was too flimsy so I changed it out for a Boyds Thumbhole Laminate. Excellent combo, a really accurate gun. I make Fireball brass from military 223 Rem brass. It's not difficult and I'm never short on brass. My Fireball shines with Nosler 40 grain Ballistic Tip bullets and Reloader #7 powder. You might be able to find an LVSF somewhere if you look.
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