Looking for bullet/powder combos for this caliber.Just picked up a Rem Light varmint rifle in this caliber.

Try a search (now called "Find") for 221 Fireball; lots of posts, some very recent.
I prefer the 40's, with AA1680, LiLGun, or RL7.

Lil gun behind 40 gr. V-Max's will get you to 3500 fps with ease. I'd start with 15 grains and if you have a chrono work up to 3500 fps. 16 grains of little gun gave me well over 3600 fps and slighly cratered primers. Others shoot 16 grains and get slightly over 3500 and no pressure signs. Velocity is a better pressure gauge than charge weight.
With 50 grain V-Maxs I'm using 17 gr. IMR 4198 for a little under 3000 fps.
I plan on working up a load with Ramshot X-terminator and the 50 grain V-maxs. I'm thinking I should be able to get 3000 fps pretty safely as it is slower than 4198 but much more dense. I can get three more grains in the 221 case with the X-terminator at the neck/shoulder junction vs. the IMR 4198. Haven't been able to shoot any yet though.

I am sure I am different, but my favorite load is 16g IMR 4227 with the 42g Calhoon bullet for about 3050 fps in a 24" bbl. This bullet is very accurate and fragile. If I need more fps, I go with my 223 or 22-250. I see the 221FB as the replacement of the 22 Hornet, it is my favorite 22 cal rifle. Shoot 5 shots as fast as you can and the bbl does not get hot !!!!! try that with a 22-250 or even a 223......LR

Here's a copy of my load testing sheet for my Rem. "Classic" 221 Fireball. Hope this page "Paste" shows up on this post good enough to make sense of. Godsdog.


221 Fireball
Load # Powder Grs. Primer Bullet
1 IMR 4227 16.2 cci400 40 gr. Vmx
2 AA2200 21.54 7.5BR 40 gr. Vmx 3240 fps. Oal=1.877â€
3 T-680 18.0 Cci 400 40 gr. vmx 3285 fps
4 T-680 18.5 Cci 400 40 gr. vmx 3309 fps
5 T-680 19.0 Cci 400 40 gr. Vmx 3394 fps Oal= 1.895â€
6 T-680 19.5 Cci 400 40 gr. Vmx 3541/3510 (Some Pressure) recommend 19.2 gr Max Load
7 IMR 4227 16.2 Cci 400 40 gr. Vmx 3153 fps Ave. Note: 1.924†oal touches lands w/40 gr. vmx
8 RL-7 19.0 Cci 400 40 gr. Vmx 3382 fps oal=1.895 3394,3454,3330,3369,3363
9 AA#9 15.0 Cci 400 40 gr. Vmx 3339 fps.
10 AA#9 15.5 Cci 400 Cci 400 40 gr. Vmx 3348/3348/3366 fps – Some Pressure sign
11 CZK-52 17.5 Cci 400 40 gr. Vmx 3565 fps. No Pressure signs
12 CZK-52 17.0 Cci 400 40 gr. Vmx 17.2 gr max 3382/3397/3451/3357 No pressure
13 AA 2200 21.2 Cci 400 50 gr Blitz No pressure 3280 fps. Shoots same poi as 40 gr. vmx
14 T-680 19.2 Cci 400 40 gr. Vmx 2â€x2†group @200 3442,3442,3413,3432,3435 OAL=1.895
15 AA #9 15.2 Cci 400 40 gr. Vmx Ave=3303 sd=9 3291,3297,3312,3308,3312
16 Blue Dot 13.1 Fed 205 40 gr. Vmx 3315 fps Load didn’t show pressure but the load was max. Case Primer Pocket swelled. Suggest 12.8 grs Max load
13.5=3378 fps 14.0=3410
17 AA2200 21.8 Wsr 45 gr. Sierra SP 3315 fps
18 T-680 19.6 Wsr 45 gr. Sierra SP 3378 fps
19 T-680 20.1 Wsr 45 Gr. Sierra SP 3400 fps Pressure seems OK. Will test.
20 AA 2200 21.2 Wsr 52 Gr. Harwood 3274 fps OAL=1.962 .50†grp @ 100 yds very good
21 AA 2200 21.2 Wsr 52 Gr. Harwood 3278 fps SD=13 OAL=1.985 (touch lands) 1 Hole Group (Best)
22 AA 2200 21.2 Wsr 52 Gr. Harwood 3285 fps SD=23 OAL=1.965 3-shot .35†grp Very good