CZ 221 fireball back in production?

I have always thought the 221 was neat, seems fun, but I am not in the market for one. Didn't stop me from sending an email to help stuff their inbox for you guys though lol. I'll let you know if I get the same reply.

Shelton
 
It looks like I'm going to have to buy a 204 and turn it into a VARTARG, I guess I'll just wait them out on the others 17 Rem. and 221 Fireball.
 
I had one. Neat rifle with the best wood of all the 527 chamberings. Mine wasn't super-accurate and, for whatever reason - maybe the hammer forged barrel steel and length - the muzzle blast/report was annoying to my (protected) ears. Didn't mourn much after selling it to help finance a .221 Cooper; then soothed the pain of loss more after finding a NIB LVSF for a song.
Sadly, I can understand C-Z's reluctance to fire up a line for no more than a few hundred rifles. I will e-mail them with a suggestion, but not for the .221: If they really want to endear themselves to the American varmint/predator hunters - and sell thousands of rifles by getting the drop on their competitors - chamber the 527 Varmint (in both wood and the old-style Kevlar synthetic stock) in .20 VarTarg!
(I see outwest posted similar even while I was writing this....see what I mean?!)
 
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So, what would be the cheapest/best/easiest route to get a .221 rifle?

I am interested in it mainly for a night time calling rig. I see a few 24 inch barrels listed, but not interested in something that long or in a varmint configuration.

Can a savage or Stevens simply be rebarreled into a .221?
 
Originally Posted By: YellowhammerSo, what would be the cheapest/best/easiest route to get a .221 rifle?


Can a savage or Stevens simply be rebarreled into a .221?

Sure. As long as it has the same size bolt head (.378") it's a snap. I would just try to find a good deal on a used Stevens or a Savage .223 and then get you a ER Shaw barrel for it already chambered and threaded and have at it. You can rent go/no go gauges pretty cheap. Youtube videos are out there to show you how to make the swap. I had never done one before and it took me about 20 minutes. I think that I could have done it a second time in less than 10 minutes but I did want to try and not screw anything up.
 
Originally Posted By: 6mm06Summer of last year, DoubleUp and I both found the 527 in. 17 Rem. We purchased from the same vendor at the same time. What a great rifle / cartridge it is. It has quickly become one of my top favorites, and has produced accuracy of 3 shots into .240" and shoots often in the. 3's.



You have to do anything to it to make it shoot so good?
 
I'd like to have one in 17 Hornet. I just don't like the extended magazine. If I could make it look like the M1 model with flush magazine or convert it to a hinged floor plate I'd have to pounce on one.
 
I would like to get a CZ in 221FB. I have a Rem 700 classic in 221, they are fun rifles. I would like to see CZ chamber a 17 Rem with the sporter contour barrel they use for the 17 Hornet.

I found and bought a new in box CZ 17 Rem Varmint just a couple of weeks ago. Probably won't shoot it. They are out there, but they are like hens teeth.
 
Originally Posted By: Roger LondonI'd like to have one in 17 Hornet. I just don't like the extended magazine. If I could make it look like the M1 model with flush magazine or convert it to a hinged floor plate I'd have to pounce on one.

On my .221 I put on one of these. Makes the gun look so handsome! Even add a bit of weight to it.




SINGLE SHOT FOLLOWER FOR THE CZ 527 - NEW ! From James Calhoon Mfg.


No more hangin' down magazine! No more having to load your magazine in a panic! Finally , a slick and practical alternative to the bulky magazine in the otherwise excellent and popular little CZ 527 Mauser action. James Calhoon Mfg. converts many CZ 527 rifles to the 19 Calhoon (Hornet) and 19 Badger and 19-223 cartridges, and has designed and manufactured a single shot follower that completely replaces the original magazine. Made of steel, this sturdy and attractive unit easily snaps in to fit flush with the trigger guard, instantly improving appearance and handling. Just lay in a round and it feeds in fast and smooth! Simply revert to your magazine whenever desirable. Two types of Single Shot Follower are available for the CZ 527. "S" TYPE is for the 22 Hornet, 221, 222 and of course, 19 Calhoon and 19 Badger. "L" TYPE is for the 19-223, 17 Rem, 204, and 223 Rem. Price is $53 (S) or $54 (L). Price includes shipping


•"S" model single shot follower for short magazine CZ 527 (19 Hornet, Hornet, 221, 19 Badger, 222)(includes shipping)
$53.00
•"L" model single shot follower for long magazine CZ 527 (17 Rem, 19-223, 204, 223) (includes shipping)
$54.00
 
Originally Posted By: DoogerOriginally Posted By: 6mm06Summer of last year, DoubleUp and I both found the 527 in. 17 Rem. We purchased from the same vendor at the same time. What a great rifle / cartridge it is. It has quickly become one of my top favorites, and has produced accuracy of 3 shots into .240" and shoots often in the. 3's.



You have to do anything to it to make it shoot so good?

Dooger, No, that's out-of-the-box accuracy. I found a load it likes and used Lee Collet Dies to neck size and seat.
I adjusted the trigger and that was all. DoubleUp got similar results from his.

Here's a bit of experimenting. As you can see, not every load is so accurate. No doubt some of the poor accuracy
was my fault and not the gun's. As you know, some days you shoot good and others not so good, even from one
group to the next. It just required some shooting to find the sweet spot. I can't say that I can shoot .240" all the
time, but the rifle is plenty accurate enough and when I do my part, I can get some darn good groups.















I used a picatinny base on the rifle, and Quick Detach Medium rings to get the scope as low
as possible while still allowing the bolt to open. The CZ has a rather high bolt lift, but Medium
rings worked well for me, probably because I used the picatinny base which added a little height.









 
Originally Posted By: Roger LondonI'd like to have one in 17 Hornet. I just don't like the extended magazine. If I could make it look like the M1 model with flush magazine or convert it to a hinged floor plate I'd have to pounce on one. Roger London, have a CZ in 22 hornet, and had my mag cut down to a 3 shot flush with bottom receiver, and also purchased a single shot flush mag. There is a guy on here that does the work...if can find will post. Now, that is the cats mew in little centerfire, most accurate gun I own...and that set trigger is what really helps accuracy.
 
Some may be in stock NOW. See: http://www.damascusgunshop.com/shop/
Two other 221 are listed on Gun Broker at a price that I was not will jump at. Last January I placed an order with someone listed on CZ dealer list. I was told by Kip Oretle from CZ that they had a small amount coming of 221 coming in around June. Kip sent me an email back within one day with information to give to the CZ dealer for placing on order. I placed the order with CZ dealer in January. I emailed Kip in May for update. He informed me that they may not be in until July. I talked to the CZ dealer a number of times, they were going to check and call me back that never happened. I emailed Kip the first of July. Kip said they had all come in and shipped back out. He did not have an order with who I had placed my order with. But he did give me four other dealers that had 221 shipped to them in the last two weeks. Kip said it would be 2016 before ant more were shipped to the US. I will say I have in all my years has any manufacture ever replied the timely manner as CZ. The amount I was told were shipped out was about one for every State. I ended up calling Damascus Gun Shop. They sold me one for less than my original order back in January. Damascus Gun Shop are very good to deal with. They said it would be shipped today. If you want 527 221 Fireball this may be your last chance for a year.
 
Oooooooooh! Almost makes me wish I needed another one!

Of ALL my .224 bore centerfires I think that my Furball is the most fun of them all to shoot. Deadly accurate, (fairly) quiet, and only drains my powder hopper 15-16 grains per crank. Gotta love it!
 
Originally Posted By: RustydustOooooooooh! Almost makes me wish I needed another one!

Of ALL my .224 bore centerfires I think that my Furball is the most fun of them all to shoot. Deadly accurate, (fairly) quiet, and only drains my power hopper 15-16 grains per crank. Gotta love it!

You may have to get a second one, I have had reports the rabbets are coming back around Bruneau. It would be nice to have what was around 35 years ago.
 
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