.221 Fireball
Contributors to this thread:Equipment
From: fuzzy
20-Sep-22
Since there are several gun threads circulating I'll try my luck with this. I'm about to come into ownership of a bolt action rifle in this caliber. I have a bit of experience with the parent cartridge .222 Rem but not the shorter FB. Anyone here have experience and thoughts?
From: bigswivle
20-Sep-22
I had one fuzzy and traded it for a 22-250. Dumbest thing I’ve ever done. I loved it, was great for hogs and for my younger girls to practice with. Even killed a few deer with it. Mine was a CZ. Definitely in the market for another 221
From: fdp
20-Sep-22
My buddy who is a gunsmith had one (and may still) that he used as a short/medium range varmint gun and turkey gun. It was one more good shooting rifle. He also had one of the Remington XP-100 bolt action "handguns" as well. It was also very accurate.
From: JL
20-Sep-22
JL's Link
Gunbroker shows a bit of ammo, brass and dies for it so that shouldn't be a problem to get that end of it. This used one is going for a pretty penny.
From: Glunt@work
20-Sep-22
It was developed for the XP100. Good cartridge. Not as much available in factory loadings but for what it's good for, any load that shoots good is fine.
Likey a 1:12 twist so probably wouldn't go heavier than 55gr bullets if hand loading.
From: spike78
20-Sep-22
I would think very hard to get ammo so you better reload.
From: fuzzy
20-Sep-22
Bigswivle this is also a CZ. Thanks everyone for the input
From: fuzzy
20-Sep-22
Spike78 reloading will be in the plan
From: molsonarcher
20-Sep-22
I had one for a few years. Was offered a stupid amount of money for it, and like a dumbazz parted with it. It was a fantastic rifle, shot great, handled like a good rifle should, and accounted for way more groundhogs than i can remember, at distances out to 350 yds. Loading for it was very simple. The velocities you can achieve loading are wicked fast and i could keep my 40 grn loads in 1/4” groups. Still wishing i had that gun,limited run remington 700.
From: JL
20-Sep-22
^...looking at the Gunbroker auction above for that Rem 700 .221..........ya, you should have kept yours.
From: bigswivle
20-Sep-22
..looking at the Gunbroker auction above for that Rem 700 .221..........ya, you should have kept yours
Yeah, that’s a great setup
From: Bake
20-Sep-22
Buddy has a REM 700 classic in 221 fireball. I don’t think he’d take anything for it. It’s a sweet handling and sweet shooting rifle.
From: Ambush
20-Sep-22
I had a Remington 221 “handgun” in the 1970’s. For some reason it was not considered a handgun, but rather a pistol grip, short rifle. I dunno :)
I killed a lot of groundhogs with it. The cartridge resurfaced again several years ago in rifle offerings. Not sure it’s any better than a common 222 except the cool factor. Or 22 Hornet.
From: Glunt@work
20-Sep-22
From: Ambush
20-Sep-22
^^^ That’s it, but mine had an uglier plastic stock. Looked way more plastic than that one even.
From: BackwoodsVT
21-Sep-22
My first XP-100 was in 221. Replaced it with the 7mm Benchrest when I started loosing woodchucks that were so far away that I could hit them, but not quite anchor them every time. Wish I had them both back. The dumbness of youth claimed another victim.
From: spike78
21-Sep-22
That is sweet looking would be a cool gun for calling predators here.
From: fuzzy
21-Sep-22
Good stuff guys thanks!
From: Dale06
21-Sep-22
I had a Rem 700 classic in 221 fb, and was dumb enough to sell it. I also have a custom 221 fb built on a Sako A1 action, and McMillan stock. It is a very nice rifle. Of course I hand load for it and use it for coyote calling.
From: JL
21-Sep-22
Wow...so we had 3 people sell their Rem 700 .221's??? Ouch!
From: bigswivle
21-Sep-22
The CZ I had was a great gun. Loved the set trigger
From: DanaC
21-Sep-22
Passed on an XP at a gun show years ago, didn't have $250 to spare. Today they go for 4 figures...
From: molsonarcher
21-Sep-22
@JL I made a ridiculous sum on that deal. At the time, i had a large amount of varmint rifles/cartridges and was just “tinkering” with them all, and trying to simplify my shooting. If i had a do-over, i would still have that rifle. It was nowhere near capable of matching the performance the ones i have now, but the cool factor and handling of that particular rifle was just about the best of any out of the box rifle ive shot.
From: fuzzy
23-Sep-22
Thanks again guys. I got it yesterday. Love the set trigger. I'll be scoping it with a Nikon 3x9 for now.
From: Deer Nut
27-Sep-22
Rem 700.222 is a blast, I've been using it mainly for coyotes since like 2013! Definitely my top 3 caliber of all times. Other 2 gotta be .300 blackout ammo and 7.62x39 :D
From: fuzzy
29-Sep-22
Deer Nut I love the .222 round as well. I've just had no experience with the .221
From: TGbow
29-Sep-22
The Fireball was developed in the early 60s?? I've never had the opportunity to shoot one.
I had a Remington Nyoln 66 back in the 70s.
Someone in the family pawned it off. Had the nylon stock.
From: keepemsharp
29-Sep-22
I saw a nylon 66 sell l;ast week for $600./
From: TGbow
29-Sep-22
Dave. ..I wish I still had mine. Somebody gave it to my granddad in the late 60s or early 70s. I've seen the 66 in brown color stock, mine had the black stock.
From: Glunt@work
29-Sep-22
I roamed the local river bottom with a Nylon 66 as a kid. Bricks of .22 were inexpensive and I went through a bunch.
From: CurveBow
29-Sep-22
The stocks were Dupont Zytel on the Nylon 66's and the XP-100 - billed as about indestructible! I shoot some 300 yard BR stuff and some guys have XP-100 actions with rifle stocks and bull barrels. However, not in 221.
I've not owned a 221, but do have a Model 700 in 222 that my dad bought circa 1964 or so. Still shoots great and has sent many woodchucks to the pasture in the sky.
My dad had a bar and a regular there was Andy Slaboc. Andy was a model builder for nearby Remington Arms in Ilion, NY. Andy smuggled out the first XP-100 & brought it to the bar to show off. His version was a thumb hole design. Fast forward, a guy I shoot with and travel with to shoots was married to Andy's daughter. After Andy died, he got ahold of that original XP-100; although I have not seen it. But, in time I expect I will. They guy is a shootin' fanatic and owns a LOT of guns....
>>>>-------->
From: fuzzy
30-Sep-22
Curvebow that's very cool. I'd buy a ticket to see that gun.
