recently bought a remington 700 in .221- what kind of MV can be had in a 24 inch barrel using what components? I see that remington is the only company that loads the ammo, so I guess I'm limited to remington brass. what's the max range you would use this rifle/ammuntion?

thanks,
-tincan

I just tried a new load for the 221 FireBall!



I have a 26 inch barrel on my TC Encore!



Brass: Remington, Fire Formed and Neck Sized (partial sized)

Bullet: Speer 40 grain Spire Point (.223 diameter)

Powder: 18.0 grains of IMR 4198

Primer: CCI 400



Seated to OAL 1.750 inches

Velocity: 3-Shot average = 3180 FPS at 20 feet!

3-Shot group at 100 yards: Slightly under 1 inch!

NOTE: No sign of excess pressure!

I wouldn't hesitate on a 300 yard shot on a coyote with this load!



NOTE:

This load worked for me!

I'm not suggesting anyone else use it, or not use it!

I have a 700 in 221. I am loading a 50 gr v-max with 16.0 IMR 4198. I don't know what the velocity is but it shoots under 1/2 inch @ 100 yds.

The one thing I did to the rifle that made all the difference in the world was replace the factory trigger with a drop in from Rifle Basix.

The Remington trigger is adjustable but the lawers got to Remington and the adjustment screws are sealed with red Loctite. The only way I know to break them loose is with about 500 degrees of heat and then you can adjust, but is still not as good as Rifle Basix.

Have fun with the 221, Mine is great!

trshep

thank you both. right now I'm in the process of free-floating the barrel/ruining the stock

Someone on the board gave me the page at sniper country as to adjusting the trigger; while wandering thru the Brownell's catalog today a Keplinger set trigger caught my eye.

thanks again,
-tincan

Tincan: I bought a Remington 700 Classic in 221 Fireball last year and mounted a Leupold 4X12 scope on it. I have been very happy with it. It is accurate and holds P.O.I. from Hunt to Hunt! I use the 40 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip in it. The new "go to" powder I researched for the Fireball is Hodgdons Lil'Gun! I have not got this Fireball out over my Oehler chronograph as yet but it shoots flat and really whops the Varmints! I have taken many Prairie Dogs to 300 yards with it. I am sure if connection was made that PD's would be killed much further than that with this set up.

I have owned a Kimber Ultra Varmint Rifle in 221 Fireball since 1994. It also is a very accurate Rifle and all manner of Varmints have been taken with it. I presently am shooting the Berger 40 gr. bullets out of this Fireball.

The 221 Remington Fireball is an amazingly accurate round. I have a friend that bought a Remington 40XB-KS factory chambered Rifle in this caliber. It was one of a limited run of 40X's in this caliber. I have seen that Rifle perform at the range and it is simply sensational in the accuracy department! It uses the Remington brass as does both of my Fireball Rifles and I have no complaints about the brass!

The Fireball is an excellent Varmint cartridge and I would only limit its range on the largest of Varmnts to maybe 350 yards. The accuracy of this round will let you place your shot right where you want it!

Good luck with your Fireball!

Hold into the wind

VarmintGuy

Go to http://www.varminthunters.com/tech/crisp.html for instructions on 700Rem.trigger adjustment. The Hornady 6th Ed. reloading book has data on the 221 Fireball. The reload that I have used is a Rem case,Rem 7 1/2 primer,50 Gr. Hornady V Max, at .015 Free Bore and 18.1 Gr Re7. Per.Hornady book start at 16.3 GrRL-7 Max 18.1 Gr. I have a 700 Rem.LS Mountain Rifle with a 24 inch barrel. The rifle recoil lug and forword reciever has ben glass bedded,the barrel free floated and the trigger adjusted down to 3Lbs. I,m going to have a gun smith lapp the bolt locking lugs because one lug in not making contact as it should. Poor locking lug contact in is not uncommon on the 700 Rem. action. The above reload will group under one inch in my rifle.

Try a search on this site for additional threads on the Fireball, as it comes up often (great cartridge!).
I have had great success with RE7, AA1680, and LilGun. You can get safe performance out of the 221 (especially with 40-45gr bullets) that exceed what most will believe, that being 3500+ fps with a 40gr.
And just for grins (and crows), I use some 30gr mollied Bergers with LiLGun to hit 4000fps. Lousy BC, but fun for the small critters.
Data is available on Hodgdon's and AA's site.

gents, thanks again, I'm getting a good running start here. I ordered 100 rounds/221 from sportsmans guide this afternoon. I'll have the rifle channeled and bedded in the next week, and will be able to give a test run in the middle of february.



many thanks,

-tincan