Gonna buy me 22cal rifle. Opinions please on either the 221 Fireball or the 222Rem. Most of my use will be yotes and paper. I am not interested in the 223.

it would be the 222 for me.....a real accurate classic medium to long range varmint round.

Why not a 223?

You can't go wrong with a 222. Very accurate and easy to load for. I had a 223 at one time, since sold. I don't miss it at all and probably won't buy another, unless of course, it's an offer I can't refuse. Big advantage the 223 has over the 222 is cheap ammo.

Joe, I've had them all and the .223 is the most realistic offering in todays market. I sorely miss some fine old Sako's in the .222 Mag version, and the accuracy of one particular .222Rem. The fireball is cute and effective, but the best balance for the case head size and accorded action is the .223/ 5.56 today. Just MHO of course.

I think that either the .221 or the .222 would both be great. I see the .223 has been mentioned here as well. Both the .221 and .222 will come with a 1 in 14 twist unless they are custom. So 55 Gr. bullets will more than likely be as big a projectile as the will handle well. I rate the .221 and 222 very close. The .223 would give you a very small increase in MV and energy. But many .223’s would come with either a 1 in12 or a 1 in 9 twist which will let you load some larger bullet weights. That's what I see as its real advantage over the other two along with almost an unlimited supply of used brass. Not the case with .221 or .222.

I have them both and I like the 221. If you load Lil'Gun and the 40 gr bullets In the real world there is little difference between the 221 and the 222. The 221 does so with less powder and will shoot those small groups nearly as good at the 222.
I like the 221 for 250-300 yds and the 22 Dasher with the fast twist out to 600.

I sold my .223 and bought a .222 and don't regret it at all. I also hear a lot of good things about the .221. The .222, at least mine, is extremely accurate. Good luck.

Joe: you have picked two winners to choose from...the 221 is simply an overachiever, doing great things with the lighter .224 pills. As mentioned, LiLGun works great, as does AA1680 for amazing speeds. RL7 and H322 also shine, but slightly slower in velocity. Can't stand to not have a Fireball in the arsenal!
The 222's proven record of accuracy is certainly present in my Rem788, and since most book data on the 222 is somewhat low pressure (don't know why), it can do better than most think at stepping out the 50gr bullets for a little extra range over the 221.
If I had to pick just one (horrible thought), it would be the Fireball. Just plain fun to shoot; easy on the barrel and ears.

Get both then you don't have to decide any thing except which one to shoot today!
More rifles = more fun.

muck

There are some cartridges which have glowing reputations, the 222 is one of them.
Buy a rifle on 222 , you won't regret it.

both are great rounds. I tend to lean towards the Fireball. You really can't go wrong with either one.

I have a CZ 221 and my shooting partner has CZs in both 221 and 222. Both are fine cartridges. The 222 has the advantage of higher velocity and the availibilty of match grade brass which may be the reason my shooting partner's 222 may have an accuracy advantage on a several days average. The accuracy of the 2 221s and the 222 are very close. All capable of fine accuracy.

I hear rumor of someone producing match grade brass for the 221 later this year. Anyone has any info on this?

Joe A.

Loaded to simlar pressures, there is very little practical difference in velocities between a .222 and a .223 with similar weight bullets -- perhaps 100 fps or so. There may be a little more difference in the .221 and the .222.

My view is that if you want to hunt larger varmints like coyotes, that the .222 is the more practical choice. It will launch 55 grain bullets at 3100 fps, which a .221 will not do.

Now, don't get me wrong: A .221 is one of the cartridges on my short "wish list", but I view it more as an improved replacement for a .22 Hornet or K-Hornet than as a substitute for a .222-.223. Besides, either a .221 or .222 will have to be built on the same action, so there is nothing to be saved in rifle size or weight with the slightly smaller cartridge.

If you only have one gun, it makes sense to make it the .222.

quote:

Joe A:

I hear rumor of someone producing match grade brass for the 221 later this year. Anyone has any info on this?

Joe A.

Lapua is alledgedly making 20 Tactical and 221 Fireball brass, but it may be all brokered thru Dakota Arms, making it very $$$.
Also heard Graf & Sons may be in the running as a distributor.
Some info on it a 6mmBR.com.
Lapua was non-committal when asked the question at the `06 SHOT show, but didn't deny the rumor?

Most of the points on the .221 and .222 have been covered. If you do get a .221 you have the option of buying Remington brass, or forming it from .222 brass. I was disappointed when I tried to form it from .223 brass. The necks were too thick and I hate reaming necks so I stuck with making it from .222 brass when I couldn't find enough .221 brass.

I have .22 Hornet, .221 Fireball, .222 Remington and several .223 Remingtons. I use the .221 mainly for sagerats and shoot the 35 grain Vmas or 40 grain Ballistic tips. I use the .222 for 40 grain and 50 grain Vmax's - whatever I find cheapest. In the .223 I shoot mainly 55 grainers. For above 55 grain bullets I switch to my 6mm BR.

If you can't find a CZ in .221, it is easy to set a .222 barrel back a bit on a CZ in .222 and make it a .221 Fireball. The .222 magazines work well in the CZ I converted before CZ offered the .221 chambering.

Have fun with whatever you choose. If you see any AA1680 or Winchester 680 powder in a store, buy it for the Fireball. Surplus H116 is also great.

I have a custom Rem 700 in 221 Fireball that is a sweet rifle in the classifieds, does 3600 plus with 40's and puts them under .3-.4 moa with cheap 3-9x.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
Loaded to simlar pressures, there is very little practical difference in velocities between a .222 and a .223 with similar weight bullets -- perhaps 100 fps or so. There may be a little more difference in the .221 and the .222.

My view is that if you want to hunt larger varmints like coyotes, that the .222 is the more practical choice. It will launch 55 grain bullets at 3100 fps, which a .221 will not do.

Now, don't get me wrong: A .221 is one of the cartridges on my short "wish list", but I view it more as an improved replacement for a .22 Hornet or K-Hornet than as a substitute for a .222-.223. Besides, either a .221 or .222 will have to be built on the same action, so there is nothing to be saved in rifle size or weight with the slightly smaller cartridge.

If you only have one gun, it makes sense to make it the .222.

Stonecreek,
How are you coming with your prescription meds? You know since George W was elected. At least you have your firearms, right? But no gas to haul them anywhere Right.(grinj)

Stepchild