What loads do you use in your Fireball? I started out with Lil Gun and 40 grain Blitz Kings. That load would is good but occasional flyers. The other day I needed something to load in my Fireball (was running low on Lil Gun and Blitz Kings, my Hornet loves them) and spied in my shop 8# H322 and several boxes of 52 grain Match Kings. I had 45 prepared cases on hand and loaded them with the H322 and the Match Kings. Most of my group was .5 inch at 100 yards and less. A few was one ragged hole. That's out of a CZ 527 and a 3x9 Burris.

Does your Fireball prefer heavier or lighter bullets?

Joe A.

The only combination I've shot so far are 40gr V-Max with H4227. 15.8gr of H4227 gives me 3200fps and 0.5" five shot groupings. No need to experiment any further

The best load I've found is as follows, for coyote, woodchucks, etc.

Caliber: .221 Remington Fire Ball, 26 inch barrel
Bullet: 40 grain Speer SP (.223 diameter)
Powder: 19 grains IMR 4198 (slightly compressed)
Primer: CCI 400
Velocity: 3700 FPS (3-shots 3707, 3718 & 3692)

DISCLAIMER: I am not recommending that anyone use this load, I'm just saying that it works for me. I therefore assume no responsibility for it's use!

The only reason I used the .223 diameter bullets is just because I happened to have them on hand!

The following are my favorite loads, with the Lilgun loads being the ones I use most.My rifle has shown a preference for the lighter bullets, the Speer 52 HP is the only heavier bullet that it has shot well. Overall that little CZ has become one of my favorite rifles, beautiful wood, fantastic set triger and great accuracy.


AA2200,19.5 gr,52 Speer HP,1.79 COL, 100 yd group-0.37, primer-CCI400 harris bipod

AA2200,21 gr,40 Horn Vmax, 1.848 COL,100 yd group-0.67, primer 7 1/2 harris bipod 3246 fps

AA#9,15 gr,40 Horn Vmax, 1.848 COL, 100 yd group-0.63, primer BR4 harris bipod 3414 FPS


LIL GUN, 15 gr, 40 Horn Vmax,1.848 COL, 100 yd group-0.35, primer 7 1/2 harris bipod 3400 fps


LIL GUN,15.5 gr, 40 Barnes Varminator HP,1.810 COL, 100 group-0.396, primer WSR harris bipod 3430 fps