I have 2 Fireballs, a CZ527 American, and a Cooper Model 21 which I use regularly at a local Metallic Silhouette Prairie Dog shoot which will take the 9" x 5" groundhog silhouettes off the stand at 385 meters (that's 417 yds folks). My load for the COOPER is 57gr Calhoon Double Hollowpoint over 17.5gr of Accurate Arms AA1680 in Remington cases with Winchester WSR primers. Average velocity on 3 different occasions was 3053 fps (5 rds), 3058 fps (10 rds) and 3058 (5 rds). Very consistent with a max S.D. of only 11. I call the Fireball cartridge "Mighty Mouse" as it is simply AMAZING, and the interest in it as a RIFLE cartridge is really showing after 43 years of life!!! For comparison purposes, I have a Cooper Model 21 Montana Varminter in 223 AI that shoots my 60gr Hornady Spire Point loads (my P/D Silhouette match winner) at 3148 fps...that's less than 100 fps difference from the Fireball. Go Figure. That load incidentally uses 26gr of Alliant Reloder 15 in Lapua cases with CCI BR4 primers.
Now for the GOOD news. J & G Sales in Prescott, AZ is a CZ-USA dealer. Their web address is . When you get the home page click on "ONLINE STORE", accept the agreement, then go to "CZ RIFLES" on the page that appears, then "CZ 527" for their current listing. I see the current price on Fireballs is $509.95. I purchased my CZ527 Fireball from J & G in Dec 2003 for $469.95 NIB. That was with scope rings included. The gun has a mini-Mauser type action, hammer forged free floated barrel, BEAUTIFUL walnut stock and single set trigger that goes into set mode by pushing it forward...SWEET. The rifle shot a 5 shot group that measured 5/8" out of the box with handloaded 42gr Calhoon DHP bullets over 17.5gr of AA1680. It has absoluitely NO recoil so you can see every shot hit, and it handles like a BB gun for weight and balance. It has a Burris Fullfield II 3-9X40MM matte scope with Ballistic Plex reticle that complements it perfectly. I love my Coopers for accurate, match type work, as they are a bargain, and a success story unto themselves, but for an accurate, inexpensive varmint hunting rig the CZ 527 can't be beat on a dollar for dollar basis. Total investment with new scope included will be approx $700 if you do your homework. Good luck and keep us posted about your success with your Fireball quest.