Okay guys, after buying the dies and loading up a batch for an elderly friend. I have decided to try this caliber...

For anyone who may have used it or just thought about it... what do you think would be a good barrel lenght?

also what kind of contour? Bull varmint barrel or make this puppy a walking varminter?

I've debated on a varmint or heavy magnum weight barrel, but cut back to 20 inches.. rigid but short still..

for a stock I was considering an HS Precision to keep it real light for covering a lot of ground without it weighing me down...

Haven't decided if this is going to be on a Rem 700 action, Ruger 77 Mk2, Savage or a Model 70..

I have each available....already have a 4.5 x 14 scope ready to mount...

thoughts are appreciated...

thanks,
seafire

I have a factory Rem 700 in 17 FB and like it a lot for PDs. Have also shot two coyotes with it, and it performed very well.
On the "build" be careful about feeding from the magazine with this cartridge and the 221 FB. I built the latter on a Rem model 7 and never got it to feed properly. I believe you need to start with an action that is designed for this short cartridge, or live with a single shot. Some Rem 700s are designed for this cartridge, most are not.

Hey Seafire.
As you might of noticed it's a fairly go getum little round. I'd do a 1 in 9 twist to insure it dealing with the 25 grain V-Max (some 1 in 10's don't like em, especially at lower elevation), plus it'll do 20's as well and probably quite well on 30's if you decide to pop a few coyotes for fur. You can barely find the entrance hole and zero exit.
I think you'd get everything the case has to offer in 22 inches and probably lose surprisingly little at 20. Bullberry sometimes does the ole cut off an inch at a time for velocity loss test but I don't know if they did this round or not. Usually posted on their website if they did.
I wouldn't go too heavy if your gonna carry it but that stuff you can figure on personal preference better than anyone telling ya. Heavy is usually to help dissipate heat and as you probably noticed this little fella is easy on barrel heat.
As to action my personal preference (as you probably know already) would be a CZ 527 in .221 Fire Ball or better yet the 527 Varmint Kevlar with the HS Precision stock and aluminum bedding block (.223 only but I have one I did to .20 VarTarg using the same case and it feeds flawlessly). That would take care of the stock and action problems in one fell swoop. .2nd would be a Remington.
Don't remember if you mentioned what barrel your using but I have a serious fondness for Pac-Nor 3 groove Super Match barrels, not the cheapest barrel but a lot less than Schillen or Lilga or some and I've yet to get a clunker (knock wood).

A real big deal to me if your buying a barrel to have chambered would be un-ass a bunch of free-bore to get closer to the lands. When I had my VSF Remington rechambered I used a reamer that cut a chamber with a .202 neck for no neck turning but more snug than the factory .208 (easier on brass). It also has a 1 1/2 degree leade with zero free-bore. I can seat 20 grain or 25 grain V-Max's to fit in the magazine, touch the lands and still have good purchase in the case. As I'm sure you know zero free-bore voids book factory load data just like a custom chambered Weatherby but what the heck, start low and work up slow as always.
Those are just a few personal thoughts but what the heck, if your getting a chamber cut ya might as well get what ya want.
Good luck with it, your about to take ground squirrel whacking to a whole new level.
I'd talk to ya about my powder favorites but I know better .

To get ya motivated here's a picture of a 6 shot group shot at 100 of course I shot with believe it or not factory ammo acquiring cases right after I got it back from the smith I had the action single pointed, bolt double sleeved etc as well but you see the result. This was gonna be a 10 shot group but when I pulled the one high and right I weenied out and called her good at 6. Remington won't admit it but the bullet they use is a 20 grain V-Max with a different color tip. To me that means hand loads ought to do as well or better (if that's possible). Excellent ammo from the factory however by anyones standards.



Keep me posted how it goes.

P.S.
That's a 20 grain V-Max pictured and with the 26 inch barrel on that VSF and the custom chamber the factory ammo had a mean deviation over the chrono of a titch over 4,100fps at about 90 degrees. I haven't played with it much since cause elk season happened followed by 2 or 3ft of snow. Your gonna love it.

I have a Mach IV built on a Rem 700 BDL action. the barrel is a Douglas finished to 24 " length. It is contoured with a dual taper. 1.25 at the receiver. 1.15 at the halfway point. Then finishes at the muzzle .750". The rifle is pillar bedded in a Rem factory stock. The total package weights in at 12lbs. A bit on the heavy side for a long hike but not too bad for short walk and shoot rifle.
This sweetheart does very good on P Dogs out to 225/250 yds. You can watch the hits in the rifle's scope the recoil is so slight.
Bang flops are just as satisfying to me with this little round as are helicopters with bigger rifles, but you usually have to watch someone else do the shooting.

muck

Doug,

that group is pretty comparable to the groups that were showing up with the handloads I had being shot, by an aquaintance who has a T/C done in 17 Fireball by Mike Bellm here in town..

we are both friends of Mike...

I can't warm up to the T/C platform at all... but the accuracy potential was definitely there...was shooting 20 grain V maxes.. I have some more loaded up for him to shoot for me if the weather ever gets cooperative....