Fireball gets a mod

[flashhole]

Hope this works. This is my Rem 700 Light Varmint Stainless Fluted 221 Fireball sporting a new Boyd's Pepper Laminate Thumbhole Varmint/Target stock.

 

[Guy Miner]

Nice. Tell me about the cartridge. Working well for you?

Dad has one of those thumb hole varmint stocks on his .22-250 Rem 700. Very nice setup. That rifle of his sure can shoot! :grin:

 

[honkeetonkin]

Very nice, I used boyds gunstocks for the first time last fall for an encore rifle . That V.I.P. inletting makes it too easy, but I'll take it. Oh yeah, I have a Rem 700 in 221 fireball and its a joy to shoot , good cartridge choise :grin:

 

[flashhole]

The cartridge is great. I wanted a small capacity 22 caliber but was skeptical about Hornet case life for reloading. The Fireball case is very robust and a step up from the Hornet and easy to reload. Powders like Hodgdon Lil'Gun and RL#7 really boot ballistic performance, especially Lil'Gun. 40 grain bullets from Nosler and Sierra both shoot really well. I've tested it on crows and one big fat ground hog. Nothing I shot even knew what hit it. Been hearing coyotes at night the past couple of weeks I hope I get to see one.

 

[JD338]

Sweeet!
Very nice looking rifle. Is she a shooter?
I'm interested in the 221 Fireball. :grin:

JD338

 

[flashhole]

You bet it's a shooter. I have three loads worked up, six if you multiply times two because I use two different bullets with the same powder. I like both Nosler 40 grain Ballistic Tips and Sierra 40 grain BlitzKing bullets. Both shoot to the same point of aim. I use Reloader #7, IMR 4198, and Hodgdon Lil'Gun powder. Lil'Gun is amazing in this dinky cartridge.

Primers make a difference in my handloads. The CCI BR4 are the best but the Remington 7 1/2 and CCI 400 work well too. The Federal 205 primers don't give me the accuracy the others do.

In the past couple of weeks I've taken 5 crows, 1 huge ground hog, and yesterday evening.....a skunk. Shots range from about 100 yards to about 300 yards. At the range I shoot bottle caps at 200 yards ....... stopped going because it became too predictable. The critters are a lot more fun but not challenging because they are so much bigger. We have a fox in the area but I haven't seen it when I have access to the gun.

What gun were you considering?

 

[JD338]

Very nice!

I was thinking of a M700 Classic since I have a few others.
Would be a fun little shooter. 8)

JD338

 

[flashhole]

That would be an excellent choice. I remember when they came out around 2001 or so. Still a few to be had new in the box. My opinion is it's a grossly under appreciated choice for a varmint gun. No recoil at all and you can see the hits through the scope. Lil'Gun loads are listed at 3300 fps in a 22" barrel with 40 grain bullets. That's smokin for the size of the case and is right on the heels of a 223 with a lot less powder. I had considered the 22 Hornet but didn't like the case. The Fireball case is a shortened 222 and is quite robust.

 

[JD338]

My thinking is that it would make for a nice walking varminter. Ideal for close in shots at coyotes and bobcats.
The 50 gr BT would be my pick. :wink:

JD338

 

[flashhole]

50 grain is a good choice but be aware Fireball barrels usually have a slow twist 1:14 or slower. I've shot 50 grain bullets with good success but the recommended weight is 50 or less. The slow twist won't stabilize longer, heavier bullets.

 

[FOTIS]

very nice!!!!


I love the fireball

 

[Northwoods Hunter]

POP...you are a FIREBALL!!!