To all,

Just got back from one of the local sporting good shops where I like to keep an eye out for any handguns I may need.

Found a mint condition 221 Fireball today for a very good price, even talked the price down $100.00.

I looked up the SN to check the age and found that Remington started making the XP-100 in 221 FB in 1963. These handguns had SN with a letter prefix with a seven digit number after up until the discountinued time.

This XP has SN 3066 with no letter prefix.

The reason I know this handgun was from 1963 is that it had the original reciept along with all original paper work and black leather case.

Anyone else out there have an XP-100 with a four digit SN.

I never find these deals so I feel pretty fortunate to get this one. Most Xp's I buy are to be rebuild either for myself or for my customers. This one will go in the safe and stay with me just as is.

I will test her out on the range soon and report how it shoots.

Good Shooting!!!

50

fifty;how you doing? yea I have 2 or 3 in the four digits.But i think my lowest one is about 37xx or so.Dont know if the lower numbers mean anything but a early production. wade

Handcannons,

Good to hear from you, been pretty busy lately in the shop but was able to build me a couple rifle to play with in between customer projects.

Put together a 1000 yard chuck rifle in 6.5-06 Imp and just got out yesterday to see how it would shoot and I was very happy. I am using the 140 gr A-Max bullets at just under 3200 fps and am getting 1/2 moa groups at 100 yards.

I now need to step back to 500 yards to see how things do at real ranges. My 6mm-284 gets these same groups at 100 yards and it will shoot 1" three shot groups at 500 yards, do not expect that but I'm hoping.

This rifle is built on a mauser 98 with a 26" barrel pillar bedded into a Fajen heavy varminter stock.

The other rifle is one I put together for an upcomming exotic sheep hunt. I used a stainless Rem 700 BDL action which I fully blueprinted with a 27" sporter barrel and again pillar bedded in a Boyds laminated Thumbhole sporter stock.

I wanted flat shooting but did not want alot of recoil and did not need a heavy bullet as this will be my sheep, deer, pronghorn rifle so I ordered a 257 STW reamer.

The barrel is just a cheap A&B barrel blank, just wanted to see if I could make these cheap barrels shoot.

I started load developement after barrel break in with the 100 gr Ballistic Tip and Rl-25. Topped out at 3870 fps with 3/4", three shot groups at 100 yards.

I just tried the longer 115 gr Ballistic Silvertips yesterday with H-1000 and the rifle loves them. I shot four test groups and not a one was over 1/2".

Velocities were not what I wanted topping out in the 3450 fps with a hint of pressure sign.

I will try Retumbo and then H-50BMG to try to get those big 115 gr bullets up to 3600 fps comfortably.

I know your thinking, THESE ARE ALL RIFLES. Well, I will be ordering my 6.5 WSM reamer here after I get a couple rifle projects finished for customers so that I can get my XP built. I think I will go with a 17" Lilja with a 1-8" twist so I can shoot the big 140s in that as well.

Took that little 221 FB out yesterday as well, nailed a few gophers with it that were out early. It only has a 2x Luey on it but at 100 yards it shot the 50 Gr Ballistic Tips into sub moa groups. The 40 gr Sierra HP loads went into 1 1/4" groups.

Good Shooting!!

50

fiftydriver;
Did I hear you say rifles.Sounds like your makeing some damn good shooters.We don't need that much range here.1,000yds shoot here is wishful thinking.
Glad to here your shop is up and running.I fully understand being busy since I have been very busy.just now slowing down and getting ready for some shooting and fishing.Hoping to get the 416 Encore dialed in,plus my 300RUM XP.I have a few loads to go back and try.Since top loads did not prove to be anything to talk about as far as accuracy goes.
SSK has my 375/284 now making it into a 50XP.So I should have a nice barrel and dies from the take off when he getts done.Was thinking maybe a 375/300WSM but then I need another action.
My 221fireball is a great shooter it is in the nylon stock 10X burris,and 45gr and heavier does really good.I have not shoot any of the real heavy bullets.
Let me know how your next XP project goes. Wade