Gee! All the loading manuals I currently have do not show any data for the Fireball Rifle loads! I bought a Kimber Ultra Varmint Rifle in 1994 in caliber 221 Fireball and as I recall I had to use pistol data and work up loads. According to my loading logbook I found a very accurate load with my third bullet and second powder tried. I now have another Fireball Rifle (a new Remington Classic) and am just now gathering more data for load development. Other than the one good load I found for the previous Rifles I do not have any load data. Anyone with any load data or favorite loads please post them for me! Also does anyone know (or have one of them) if the brand new now being advertised Sierra Loading Manual (#5?) has data for a Fireball Rifle? Thanks in advance for any data for any bullet from 40 to 53 grains out of the Fireball Rifle!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I am interested to hear what works well in your Classic. I will be getting mine out of the box come nicer weather

You might want to try the single shot pistol forum, a few folks there are shooting 221's.

Ken Waters did a Pet Loads on the Fireball in Handloader (using a Kimber); my issue (#130?) is on loan to another new Classic owner. It is a 1987 issue.
Nosler #3 manual has rifle loads (again using a Kimber), and Accuarate Arms has loads for all their powders in their manual (and website).
I use 18.5gr AA1680 behind a 40gr Vmax or Sierra HP. Wonderful accuaracy.
Good luck!

I shoot this in a custom 12" Contender barrel and have great accuracy with 18.0 gr.H4227, 35gr.Hornady V-max bullet, CCI S.R.primers. Bullet seated .005 off the lands.
Hope this helps.
Charlie C

Mulerider: I received an E-mail that says the Nosler Manual #4 has the 221 Rifle data in it! I of course have Nosler manuals 1 thru 5 but I loaned out my number 4 when I bought the new #5 in April 2002! Anyway I have a call in for my "overdue" manual and that should solve my situation. Its amazing to me that Nosler manual #5 does not also have the Rifle data on the Fireball still listed! Gee! Anyway thanks for the tip on Ken Waters article and the heads up on the Nosler manuals. AA1680 is on my shopping list now! By the way Nosler Manual #3 does not seem to have any Rifle data for the 221 - at least I can't find it!
Thanks again!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Memory failed me; Nosler #3 only has pistol Fireball data.
But to redeem myself, I also found Handloader 124 has an article by Steve Timm on the 221 in a Kimber.
RE7 and H322 also have worked well for me, and a buddy shoots AA2200 in his. I am interested in trying Lil Gun behind the light (40gr) bullets, but data is scarce.

VarmintGuy,
When I first bought my 221 Fireball barrel, I asked guys for their favorite powder for it. The most commonly rec'd powders at the time were (in no particular order): RL 7, AA 1680, and 4227. In my 12" Contender barrel from VVCG, using 40 gr V-Max bullets, I tried H 110 and IMR 4227. At 100 yds, H 110 wouldn't hardly stay on a notebook-sized sheet of paper so I didn't pursue it any further. On the other hand, my work w/ H4227 was VERY satisfying. 17.0 gr (2940 fps) and 17.5 gr (3020 fps) of 4227 both shoot 1/2-3/4 MOA at 100 yds (3 shot groups) using a 3-12 Burris LER scope. I used Rem 7 1/2 primers in virgin Rem brass; OAL was 1.935", 0.02" off the lands. I settled on the 17.0 gr load as I figured 2940 fps was plenty velocity w/o having to "hot rod" the barrel any. Afterall, if I want more velocity, I'll bring out my 223 Rem barrel or my 22 Rem BR XP-100 or 22-250 AI Encore. I've not tried any other powders or bullets in my barrel. Actually, I lucked up on "the load" in the FIRST 12-15 shots. I like my barrel so far! Gary T.

Everyone thank you so much for the load suggestions and support. I also received several load suggestions via E-mail.
I did go over to the nifty Hodgdon site and went to Rifle data then went to the 221 Fireball data section. There in I found the stats on a powder I have never used before, but Mulerider alluded to! Lil' Gun by Hodgdon gives just fantastic speed and very low pressure (lower than other listed loads!). I am going to try some of that powder also!
The Lil' Gun gave the highest velocity with the 40 grain bullets at 3,384 FPS and produced only 48,900 C.U.P.! The F.P.S. with Lil' Gun gave 130 F.P.S. more than the next highest powder! Yeah I am gonna try some of that!
Thanks again for the assistance and I have my Nosler #4 manual back to assist me.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy