221 Fireball Load

Well, it's been 3 months since I got my 221 Fireball and finally got the time and some good weather to do some load testing. I settled on Sierra 40 gr BK, 18.8 gr of Reloader 7 and CCI BR-4 primers. Tried AA 1680 and I have to say it worked pretty good too. Burned really clean but the Reloader 7's groups were better. This load is so accurate it's scary. Shot several 5 shot groups that measured just under 0.400.

I can't wait to take it out for some groundhog hunting.

God, I love this little Fireball!!!!!!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
For me a 40-42gr bullet and is about the perfect weight in .221's. They've taken literally most every varmint from groundsquirrel size up to and including coyote. Powders that have worked well are Reloder 7, AA2200 and 2300. Undoubtedly there are others just as good, maybe even better in your gun. A 50 is much slower than 40's, but I used to know a guy who'd shoot 20,000-25,000 groundsquirrels each summer with a .221 and 50TNT's.....he swore by that combination.
 
I love TNTs. I think I am going to keep buying .224 caliber rifles untill I find one that shoots them well. LOL. Just kidding, but not really. I had a contender pistol that shot them really well, and I can't seem to get any of my other .224 rifles to shoot them as well. Every time I get a new .224 rifle that is the first bullet I try. TNTs are great bullets. Alot of T/C barrels seem to like them.
 
You can make 221 F B brass out of 223, it takes two form and trim dies, one to reduce it to 222 and then down to 221, you will need to turn the necks, all in all it is a real pain but a learning experience. I use RL7 and any 40 grain bullet, I prefer Nosler BTs. It is probably the most accurate rifle from shot one that I have worked with.
 
I have a 700 classic 221FB & it aint picky at all. I settled on Reloader 7 with 40 & 50gr pills. Very accurate & a joy to shoot.

Long Live the Fireball! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

HS
 
I have shot the 40 grain Sierra hollow points in my 700 Classic and they shoot accuratly but I think they are a little too hard for 221 velocities.
 
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