221 Fireball vs the .222

Bloodhound

Bloodhound

New member
I have been reading and looking at charts and....the 221 FB looks a lot like the .222 on paper...I know the case is a little smaller and it uses less powder...but in real life is there much difference?

I have had a .222 and its younger brother the .222Mag...Liked the .222 did not care for the mag version.

Curious minds want to know from practical real world experience....
 
All I can say is, I love my fireball... I've only owned one 222 in a browning a bolt, it was a nice rifle and a good shooter. But I still prefer my fireball because after your brass is bought and paid for it is cheap to load for and has a certain mystique to it. Not to mention its a blast to shoot. Just one mans opinion.. No slight at all to the triple deuce..
 
I own a fireball, and also 4 222's. really not much difference in the field. Just always wanted a fireball in a rifle. my truck gun for a lot of years was a 600 Remington. that rifle left nothing to be desired, and has killed a load of stuff, now on its second barrel, not worn out, but pitted from living in my truck for so long. So I am with you, not a lot of difference.
Barry
 
I have owned a few 222s over the year, I presently own a CZ 527 and couldn't be more happy with it, I really got hooked on it when I could watch the hits on groundhogs with a 50gr SX...but a couple years ago I just happened to be glancing around a local shop and seen a interesting rifle on the shelf(I could tell it was a 700LVSF) but I was shocked when the guy said it was a Fireball, I looked it over for a couple minutes but it was hopeless I had to have it, not really any difference in the two but the 221 was just so sexy.
 
I adore my CZ 527 .221 American. Hundreds of ground squirrels and prairie dogs and even a hapless coyote have fallen to the adorable cartridge. 16 grains of Li'l Gun with a 40 grain Vmax is like 3600 FPS of fun and games. Just blows me away how efficient the little round is.

A couple of years back I decided that I wanted a full sized Furball so I bought an Adams and Bennett barrel from Midway ($100 on sale) and screwed it into a Savage M12 action, dropped it all in a stock I bought used and presto! All done and such a blast to shoot.

Hard to find someone that has a .221 and is not just absolutely smitten by it. I know for a fact that I do love mine.
 
Hey rusty, you ever experience any primer pocket issues with little gun? I started seeing some loosening up so I changed up to AA 1680 at max 20.5 and presto.. No pocket issues and great accuracy as well. Never chronoed it so I don't know what speed I'm getting. Mine also seems to prefer the 40 grain noslers as well. I'm shooting a Remington 700 lvsf.
 
Originally Posted By: ICU22-250Hey rusty, you ever experience any primer pocket issues with little gun? I started seeing some loosening up so I changed up to AA 1680 at max 20.5 and presto.. No pocket issues and great accuracy as well.

Well, I can tell you that I am still using some of the same brass that I bought years ago. I can also say that on occasion I do get one where the cap went in a bit easier than I like and when that happens I mark the case with a black marker and toss it after firing.

About a year ago I dropped my load from 16 grain of Li'l Gun to 15.5 grains. A bit of a drop of pressure and very little difference in overall poop. If I need more steam I will use my .223 or larger.

So no, I have not tried the 1680 powder but would if I had some. But when I get 5 in a dime 100 yard groups with my Li'l Gun, BR primers and 40 grain Vmax combo I am not in much of a hurry to try something else.
 
Great point, that's the kind of accuracy I'm getting with 1680, just thought I'd ask if you had played with any. I too love my fireball and my 223's. Thanks rusty
 
sorry every time 222 is in a post it seems to take over. I think its because I made so much money buying and selling the same Sako vixen 222 3 times. Paid 300$ brand new in early 70's sold for $600 and bought back 6 months later for $300 sold again for $600 got back for a bear cub mount that I did as a paid seminar and finally sold to some guy from Montana for$600 again.I just loved that gun except for as pretty as it was it didn't shoot tight enough groups no matter what I tried.
 
Originally Posted By: ICU22-250Hey rusty, you ever experience any primer pocket issues with little gun? I started seeing some loosening up so I changed up to AA 1680 at max 20.5 and presto.. No pocket issues and great accuracy as well. Never chronoed it so I don't know what speed I'm getting. Mine also seems to prefer the 40 grain noslers as well. I'm shooting a Remington 700 lvsf.

I experienced this too, and that was my resolution.
 
Originally Posted By: J.Markone thing ive never experimented with is different primers.Just how much difference does it make?

It makes a big difference in my Furball. I can only get those neato half inch groups when I use CCI BR primers. I wish that was not the case as they cost a bit more but I did manage to find them on sale last week so I got some more then.

My .17 Remington will shoot cluster leafs groups when I use them too. But only them. So that is all either gun gets anymore. Fine with me.
 


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