.221 Fireball Barrel Length opinions...

redhaven

New member
I have a custom CZ 527 .221 Fireball that currently wears a heavy 24" barrel. The original owner built it for prairie dogs.

I love the rifle and the Fireball cartridge. My main use for the rifle will be coyotes and vermin here in MO, with most shots well under 300yds. I am considering shortening the barrel to 16"-18". It will be handier for my calling setups and since the Fireball was originally developed as a pistol cartridge, I don't feel like I'll be giving up much in performance. It might actually work out better for less pelt damage.

I do have other rifles for longer range work...not that I use the Fireball for long range...so that won't be an issue. What do you think about performance from a shorter barrel?
 
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Since you want a short barrel, you may want to consider selling the rifle, buying a new one in what you want.

Heavy barrel is still going to be a heavy barrel, how heavy???

Otherwise, 50g Sierra Blitz lead tip with LT30, rem 7 1/2 will pole ax coyotes, never a surface blow up at 221 speeds....lots of powders will work for you, R#7 is another great powder.

I shot coyotes with my 221 with 45g Sierra spt with a max load of aa2015, compressed load, printed 1/2" at 200 in calm winds, velocity around 3200...thumped coyotes hard.

the 50g Sierra lead tip blitz makes a very audible LOUD WHOOP sound when the bullet hits the coyote, my velocity was around 3000. I stood on the loads with the Shilen 14T barrel, with aa1680, R#7, and aa2015.
 
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I have the same gun and cut it to 20 inches because I shoot suppressed. I have taken coyotes out to 200 yards with it. Here is some of my speed data gathered with my Lab radar to give you an idea.

50 gr NBT 18.5 Reloader 7
Stats - Average 3075.25 fps
Stats - Highest 3109.98 fps
Stats - Lowest 3043.54 fps
Stats - Ext. Spread 66.44 fps
Stats - Std. Dev 28.13 fps

40 gr NBT 18.5 1680 1.951
Stats - Average 3366.79 fps
Stats - Highest 3522.06 fps
Stats - Lowest 3093.03 fps
Stats - Ext. Spread 429.04 fps
Stats - Std. Dev 237.8 fps

Shot ID V0
1 3485
2 3522
3 3093 (This is an error)

I usually hunt with cheap hornady SP or SPSX bullets and have found them to be effective and not bad on fur.
 
Thanks for sharing those velocities RJH. Seems like you're still getting good performance from the 20" barrel.

I shoot 40gr V-Max's and 50gr Sierra HP out of my other Fireball with good success. Just wasnt sure what kind of performance I'd get from a shorter barrel. Seems like it would still do the trick on critters.
 
Originally Posted By: pyscodogIt will be shorter but doubt it will be a bunch lighter.

+1

My seem lighter because it is shorter.


YOu may want to sell it and buy what you want
 
Weight is not the issue. I don't mind the current weight, just want it more compact for tight setups. Love the rifle, so not planning on parting with it...just giving it a trim job.

I was just wondering how the Fireball would perform with a short barrel. My other Fireballs have been 22" barrels.
 
I hunted coyotes for a lot of years with a 30" 870, 32" Ithaca Auto Mag, 22/250 Rem varmint. I don't recall missing shots due to barrel length.

a lot of this hobby is liking what you like. Today's trend is short barrels. Marketing today is short and light. You may find that your small fireball gets real loud at 16"-18"....but as you loose your hearing, this will become less and less of an issue.

Life is a learning curve. You may want to cut it to 20" and see what difference that makes, and it WILL be louder....at least mine was.

another alternative would be to have the barrel re contoured and keep it the same length.
 
I had my 22-250 chopped from 24 down to 18, even shooting it suppressed, it's fairly loud-ish, but I love the convenience of the shorter length and with the suppressor screwed on the end, it's basically the same length as it was before. Haven't shot it without the suppressor since its been shortened up but I'd imagine it's pretty loud without the can on.
 
I see nothing at all wrong with chopping the tube down on your Furball. It is a very efficient round and 20" should give you plenty of burn time.

I too have a custom 24" .221 heavy barrel on my CZ 527. But I shoot colony varmints where longer tubes are more of plus than a minus. Of all my .224 bore centerfires the Furball is my favorite for ground squirrels and have killed the critters out to 400 yards with mine. Sure a big fan you bet.
 
Originally Posted By: B23I had my 22-250 chopped from 24 down to 18, even shooting it suppressed, it's fairly loud-ish https://madcowboy.com/wp-admin/, but I love the convenience of the shorter length and with the suppressor screwed on the end, it's basically the same length as it was before. Haven't shot it without the suppressor since its been shortened up but I'd imagine it's pretty loud without the can on.

why would you get it down from 24 to 18??
 
Originally Posted By: HustiougOriginally Posted By: B23I had my 22-250 chopped from 24 down to 18, even shooting it suppressed, it's fairly loud-ish, but I love the convenience of the shorter length and with the suppressor screwed on the end, it's basically the same length as it was before. Haven't shot it without the suppressor since its been shortened up but I'd imagine it's pretty loud without the can on.

why would you get it down from 24 to 18??

With a can, 18 is much more convenient to wield.
 
Mine will be 20" barrel, then add the suppressor. Hopefully done by the end of the month. My smith has a bird hunting trip already planned. Would of been done except couldn't get a 221 reamer from his normal source with the Covid 19. He has one now. Rudy
 
If it's a 6" suppressor, that really does add up the inches pretty quick. I run one on my 16" deer gun then put it on my 18" that I try to shoot coyotes with. 2" changes things!
 
I love my 527 American in .221 FB.

I think you are picking nits...don't [beeep] that nice gun. Just live with it. That's my opinion.
 
Originally Posted By: KATTRAKERI love my 527 American in .221 FB.



You and everyone else that has one! What a fun little cartridge it is.
 
I have 2 Howa Mini's that are 20" barrels and I have the same suppressor on both of them. Very accurate. (204 & 223 ) I wanted to keep length consistent. The 221 Furball will be tested this fall on coyotes. Using 52 gr. Speer FBHP at around 2800 FPS. It should knock the snot out them.

Rudy
 
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