.221 Fireball ?

Str8 Shooter

Str8 Shooter

New member
I found a smokin' deal on a new .221 Fireball in the Remington VLSF. I'm just wondering what experiences people have had with the round on coyotes. I'm hoping to come up w/ a handload that will give me flat shooting out to 250 yds, not much more but again I don't have any experience with the round. The plan is to give it to the kid when he's old enough to carry... 2 short years away /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
I don't have experience with the fireball, other than being outshot by one. My friends fireball can shoot tiny bugholes at the range.

He swears by them on furbearers. His favorite bobcat load uses a 40 grain V-max. He says it goes in "just enough, but not too much".

Maybe someday I will stumble upon a good deal like you did, Hopefully.
 
I curently have 2 221 fireball rifles, and through out the years have had a few different fireball rifles and pistols. Typicaly they are quite accurate, quiet, low recoil, efficient, and will put down about anything. I think not only will you be happy, you might be buying another fireball in two years.
 
I took a nice yote with my 221 Furball several weeks ago. Used the 40 grain Vmax with 15 grains of Lill Gun in it. I have used the same load to take hundreds of ground squirrels and it pretty good on praire dogs out to 250 yards or so. To be honest, I think that it is a bit too light of construction for a good coyote bullet, but hey, it worked for me.

And FAT CHANCE you are ever going to give it to your boy after shooting it for while! You going to make him get his own because you aint going to want to part with yours! Mine aint for sale and that's a fact! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
I have the exact gun but I replaced the synthetic stock with a Boyd's Thumbhole/Target Laminate. Keep in mind the gun has a slow twist so you will be limited to bullets 55 grains and lighter. My favorite bullets are Nosler 40 grain Ballistic Tips and Sierra 40 grain BlitzKings, giving the accuracy edge to the Sierra. The two powders I use are Hodgdon Lil'Gun and RE#7, the velocity edge goes to Lil'Gun. Primers make a big difference in accuracy and you may find benchrest primers give the best performance. I've settled on CCI BR4 primers.

250 yards is pushing the limit with 40 grain bullets on coyote size animals. I also like the 50 grain BlitzKing but drop becomes noticible out past 200 yards. You just have to practice and learn how the gun/load performs. The comments others have made about not wanting to give up the gun are spot on. You will really enjoy the Fireball.
 
I have the .221 Fireball in the Limited Edition Remington 700 Classic and have accurately taken coyotes at 300 yards with little to no adjustment just the correct sight in at the range! It's a Great little round, you will enjoy it and not regret it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Just for a comparison, the Fireball is on the left, 218 Bee in the center, and 22 Hornet on the right. The Fireball case is very robust and easy to load. Brass is kind of hard to find so put in a good stock. Most of mine is factory reloads.

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I have a 700 and a rebarreled (A&B )Savage in 221. I find the 221 much easier to load for accuracy wise than the 22H. Try the Berger 30 gr. There well suited to the 221.
 
I shot a bobcat last night with my .221FB. My best load so far is 20gr of AA1680 with the 40gr Sierra BK @ 3500fps.The cat was sitting facing me at 60yds bullet hit center of chest no exit.Mine is a CZ but I am sure you will be happy with yours.
 


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