For a long time I was unsatisfied with the current selection of 221FB brass, this led me form my own from LC 223 and with great success. It takes a great deal of work and time to form but 100 pieces will literally wear a barrel out. This however is not a new process of forming 221Fb variants off of the 223 cases but I think it's one that should be reconsidered with those of us who are unhappy with the current selection.

My tools for forming:
221FB FL Redding (with the stem removed)
17M4 #1 Form die
Harbor Freight Mini Chop Saw
KM 20Cal expander
Sinclair/ Wilson trimmer
KM 20cal Neck Turner
Propane Torch

That is also the steps I follow for forming the brass.

Weigh brass into 1gr lots
FL 221FB
17M4 #1 trim die
Mini chop saw to 1.42"
KM Expander
Sinclair Trimmer to 1.4"
KM Neck turn to .227" loaded round diameter
Anneal
Polish
Uniform Primer pockets



The result is a very uniform, very very tough piece of brass that literally blows everything out of the water for 20VT. With AA2200, CCI 450 primers, and a 34gr bullet I can hit 4000fps, I can also use the same load and hit 4108fps with the 32gr VMax.


This is an average group @ 100yds with the 32gr Vmax moving 4100fps.



After five firings these pockets are tight. Annealing after two firings is looking like a must though.

This is from a 22" Rock Creek barrel with a Stiller Tac 30 action, Bob Green was the smith.


This is more than Remington could ever hope for. In the Remington brass I reached a max of 3750 and this is with sticky extraction and ripped rims from cases. The reformed 223 brass has a very easy extraction and super tight primer pockets.

Now I am sure some ask "Why not Lapua?". Well Lapua is a great quality product and I have made them for others who requested it. Yet in my tests the LC faired better after five firings. Also for the price of 100 pieces of Lapua you can buy almost 500 pieces of LC.

Now if you think you're going to try this please ensure that weigh and sort the cases into lots of 1gr or smaller. The LC brass can swing vary wildly in weight and internal volume. This can cause some serious issues. Also use the same year lot if using mil brass. This makes things much easier when sorting. IF you use once fired brass then you'll need to anneal prior to forming as the case is hardened enough to cause buckling and you loose many cases before you realize it's not the die.

All said this produces a high quality piece of brass that will last many chuck seasons or Coyote seasons. This also turns the little 20VT into a whole new animal.

Last weekend I was making chip shots @ 298yds with the little round, I even managed to hit a few over that on the Belding ground squirrel.





Adam

Nice looking brass.
Looks like your maxing the cases.

Hal

The bottoms are shiney from the crush fit on the fire forming. The primers aren't cratered but if I push it any harder, which I can, I start getting a sticky bolt. Adam

While it is true that in modern bolt action rifles it is the case which is by far the weakest link in the gas containment system, I'm not sure that it is wise to push pressures to the level that these loads must be running. Although your hard-won brass may stand several firings, higher pressures = hotter gases and more bore erosion. In an expensive little .20 caliber barrel, it would seem counterproductive to trade barrel life for a few fps of extra velocity (which could be obtained by switching to a slightly larger cartridge, anyway.) Most especially at the cost of investing so much time and labor in forming the cases.

But to each his own. If this is the way you prefer it, by all means enjoy.

By the way, that AA 2200 is great powder, isn't it? I use it in my .221 FB, and also use its stablemate, AA1680 for some surprising velocities. Both give me excellent accuracy.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
While it is true that in modern bolt action rifles it is the case which is by far the weakest link in the gas containment system, I'm not sure that it is wise to push pressures to the level that these loads must be running. Although your hard-won brass may stand several firings, higher pressures = hotter gases and more bore erosion. In an expensive little .20 caliber barrel, it would seem counterproductive to trade barrel life for a few fps of extra velocity (which could be obtained by switching to a slightly larger cartridge, anyway.) Most especially at the cost of investing so much time and labor in forming the cases.

But to each his own. If this is the way you prefer it, by all means enjoy.

By the way, that AA 2200 is great powder, isn't it? I use it in my .221 FB, and also use its stablemate, AA1680 for some surprising velocities. Both give me excellent accuracy.

I had thought about it but, it's no more harsh than a 20-222 burning the same amount of powder. But you're right this 2200 is some prime stuff. Adam

Also let me be the first to say that if you run them at the nominal 3800fps they'll handle that fine as well. Adam

I went about forming down 222 and 223 brass in a different manner and had excellent results in my own 20VT.
I shortened a 222 neck die so that the outside shoulder-wall junction was spot on. then I got a hardwood block and drilled it so that a quick run on the linisher had them a fraction long. A shortened and lapped 204 die (to make a body die) with the neck opened up to .230 allows a neck ID that is perfect for final trim to length and neck turning. Wilson dies for neck sizing. I have done over 400 like this to use for my main shooting needs which is in the under 250yd range so not pushing the velocity on them. Body die and anneal every fifth firing but with so many cases have only 8 firings through them so far.
Longer range loads are in Fireball cases but have some Lapua 222 cases on offer from a chap who has a 20VTT and had his trimmer set too short so they will be a 'steal' for best loads which has the 35gn Berger at 3735fps with H4198.
Built my rifle on a Rem XR 100 and while our shooting here in NZ has different chalenges to that which you face, I do have a 350 yd rabbit to date.

Hello Adam,

Welcome to AR. Hope you enjoy it here. I find that there is much wider scope of interest, and a good deal more tolerance here than some places I've visited in the recent past.

FWIW, I guess in my old age I’m content to work within a narrow band of mediocrity.









I’ve not had a bit of problems with either necking up the 17 Fireball, or necking down the 221 Fireball. Just a little Imperial Sizing Die Wax on the case mouth, and a downstroke on the press.



But then I don’t try to get Tac 20 or 204 Ruger velocities out of this fine little gem, just like I don't try to turn my 17 Mach IV or Hebee into a 17 Remington, or the 221 Fireball into a 222 Rem Mag.



Best

GWB

Is a corvette scolded for being able to do 120mph when it gets you from point a to b @ 60mph? Adam

quote:

Originally posted by ab_bentley:
Is a corvette scolded for being able to do 120mph when it gets you from point a to b @ 60mph? Adam

nope,

just different stroke for different folks, as the old sayin' goes

Best

GWB

quote:

Originally posted by Geedubya:

quote:

Originally posted by ab_bentley:
Is a corvette scolded for being able to do 120mph when it gets you from point a to b @ 60mph? Adam

nope,

just different stroke for different folks, as the old sayin' goes

Best

GWB

Totally agree. Adam

Geedubya: No wonder those groups are so good! You've given away your secret by photographing the bottle caps off of your special nerve tonic formula along with the groups.

Stonecreek,

Actually,if the truth be known Negra Modelo is my secret. I just used those bottle caps to throw folks off the scent.
And, as an aside, I've been heard to declare on more than one occasion, "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy".

Best

GWB