Considering a .221 Fireball

Craig S

New member
I purchased a .22 Hornet for its mild report when hunting in semi-developed areas, but its accuracy is not very consistent, so I'm considering a fireball. I've read many great things about its accuracy, but what about report? I have the Hornet and a .222 for comparison purposes. Is the fireball's report noticeably quieter than the .222? I would love to have the .222's consistent accuracy in a quiter package.
 
The 221 is about as loud as the Hornet but more accurate and easier to load for. If you want quieter just use the Blue Dot loads.

I am building one with a Lilja barrel for colony varmint shooting because it has about twice the barrel life of the 223. Roughly 16,000 vs 8,000 for the 223. If you don't shoot a lot either will last a lifetime. In season, I shoot as much as 1000 rounds a week so barrel life is important to me.

Jack
 
T/C Encore rifle. I've tried 4 different factory loads. All of which will shoot great, some a little better than others, for a few shots, then all of a sudden flyers all around the clock. I've even let others try to make sure it wasn't me, but same results.
 
Quote:
I purchased a .22 Hornet for its mild report when hunting in semi-developed areas, but its accuracy is not very consistent, so I'm considering a fireball. I've read many great things about its accuracy, but what about report? I have the Hornet and a .222 for comparison purposes. Is the fireball's report noticeably quieter than the .222? I would love to have the .222's consistent accuracy in a quiter package.



I shoot all three (.22 Hornet, .221 FireBall, and .222) and the report from the .221 FB is closer to the .222 in loudness.

The Hornet is capable of good accuracy - what gun, bullets, and loads are you using.

Also... if you really can't get accuracy out of your Hornet, you can load the .221 down to Hornet levels, with the same sound levels, and barrels will last forever.

.
 
Hi,
I've been doing some research on the 19 Calhoon and 19 Badger from www.jamescalhoon.com I'm thinking of a 19 calhoon 'cause its as quiet as a Hornet, 1/2 MOA accuracy and has the trajectory of a 223 to 300yds. Just something to think about.
 
Unless your mind set is .22 center fire only, why not try the new Remington 17 Fireball. Its the 17 Mach IV wildcat , tamed so to speak. Should be some good factory ammo out when it arrives and will do a lot more than the 221 or hornet and even the 222 in the thumping part. 25 gr at 3800 to 3900 fps??

Later
DF2
 
I considered waiting for it and in a way still am. I just have a bad taste in my mouth about the .17 since I bought and threw away my .17HMR. The .17 Fireball should have a little more thump than the HMR though. I just get caught up in the new cartridge hype, then let down when I get it. I told myself that I would not do that again, but I'm probably lying to myself.
 
Are set up to handload for the Hornet? If so, get a lb. of Hogdon Lilgun powder and some small pistol primers, load them up on Lee Collet dies and try again. This combo seems to work great in most Hornets.

My accuracy load is 11.7gr Lilgun under a 52gr Sierra HPBTM and it will shoot pennies at 100yds. Velocity is around 2650fps. My coyote load is 13.0gr Lilgun under a 45gr Barnes XLC, shoots MOA and runs around 2925fps out of my Ruger M77 w/20" tube.
 
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...... load them up on Lee Collet dies and try again. This combo seems to work great in most Hornets.





OK....now I got a question.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I just bought a 3-die set of Hornet dies (Redding). It has the FL die, and also the Neck-sizing die. Should I have bought the Collet Die? Is it different from the neck-sizer that I have in this set?

PLEASE don't tell me I already messed up and I ain't even loaded a cartridge yet... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Hidalgo , The Redding dies you have are probably a bushing design for neck sizing . I have not tried this type . The Lee dies have a collet that compresses the neck around a mandrill .The mandrell is smaller than a 224 bullet and this allow the neck to hold the bullet. Until I started using this type of die I had very spoty results loading Hornets .I also crimp my hornets with a Lee factory crimper .If the body needs sizing I use a Redding body die and I try to never touch the shoulder ( what little there is) .
 
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Hidalgo , The Redding dies you have are probably a bushing design for neck sizing.



The three die set is their "delux" set - a FL, AND Necksizer, and seater... but NOT the bushing die.

.
 
Quote:
The three die set is their "delux" set - a FL, AND Necksizer, and seater... but NOT the bushing die.




That is correct. So...I got the right thing, yes? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif

I'll be SO GLAD when I get this reloading stuff figured out. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
hil - when you get it all figured out let me know. Been at it 35 years and everyday I learn something I didn't know before..lol.
As far as noise is concerned my .221 has a short barrel..16 1/2" which makes it much closer in noise level to a longer barreled .223 than any Hornet I have shot around. Mine is a Shilen barrel and has about 3000 rds. thru it. Not likely I will ever shoot it out.
 
I'm getting closer and closer to buying that Lee Loader Anniversary Kit. I guess I'm a little scared with all of this technical talk. Tell me basic reloading is easy to catch onto to. My rifle calibers consist of .22 Hornet, .222 Remington, .243 Win, .308 Win, .300 Win Mag and .375 H&H Mag. Will the Lee Loader mentioned load these 6 calibers?
 
Craig,
Single stage reloading is really very simple after you have been through the procedure a couple times. Most major reloading manuals such as Hornady have excellant instructions in them. The Lee aniversary kit would be a good low cost way to get started. The Lee manual that comes with it has good info for begginers.
I have rcbs rockchucker, Lyman, Hornady,Dillons 650& square deal B, and Lee. The Lee's are plenty good for small volumne reloading.
Reloading your own adds considerably to the pleasures of shooting.
 
Basic reloading IS easy to catch on to...however, please do not take it lightly.

You are, after all, igniting a capsule with about 50,000psi, 3 inches from your nose.
 
I shoot the hornet, 218 Bee, 221 FB, 222 and 223. The fireball is much closer to the 222 in noise levels. I don't know if 218 Bee's are generally accurate. Mine is and it has more enegy than the hornet and is just as quiet.
 
I load and shoot the 17AH, 19 Calhoon, 22 Hornet, 22 K-Hornet and 221.

My Hornets both shoot well. However, reloading and "dialing in" is essential.

The 221 is definitely louder but, you get a lot for the increased noise level. My 221 is probably one of the most accurate rifles I have ever owned. When I do my job, 1/2 MOA is the rule.
 
You will love the .221 Fireball. As for the Lee press, I would think you would be better served with a RCBS Rockchucker press.
 


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