Ah okay yeah I get it.. 204 ruger or one of the 20 cals based off the 221 fireball case sounds like a sweet option to me. I’ve never had a 220 swift. I’m sure they r fun to shoot! I like 223 and 308 for bulk ammo options and for long barrel life compared to some others. Wish i kept my 17 hornet but that things so tiny it’s almost no good for larger dogs. I’d keep 17’s for small critters. If you can’t buy factory ammo that may steer a lot of people away. Some don’t care and love to reload.
221 fireball vs 223
- Thread starter brybenn
- Start date
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
That's the route I took when it came to a rifle & cartridge combo. I had a Ruger #1 with a heavy barrel in 22-250. Young Son, who lives in the B.C. central interior was sure he could put it to good use on yotes so that's where it now resides. I replaced it with an old custom Winchester High Wall in 219 Donaldson wasp 
. After posting photos of it, prior to the photobucket screw up, I received a pm from a site member back east. After I confirmed a few of the I.D. markings on it, he told me he had once owned it and wanted first 'kick at the cat' if I ever decided to part with it.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
For the ranges brybenn looking at, I like the .243 loaded with 55 gr Ballistic Tips, but found their accuracy much beyond 400 was uninspiring. By the time I backed off to 600 yards, shooting in calm conditions, I only managed a single hit on an 8.5"X11" target, a problem easily resolved with a switch to 90 gr Scenars. Out to 300-350 though the 55 gr BT is dynamite on small critters.
I typically use a 2506 with 75grs vmax. Some properties i hunt allow safe 800 yard shots. However most are300 yards or less. Im currently acquiring parts for a couple 250 savage builds. One as a dedicated varmint rifle and another as a cross over coyote to short range deer rifle. Among the 2506 300 savage 308 300wm and 4570 i dont think i need another .473 case just yet. Nothing against the 243. Its a great caliber but i prefer the 25s.
Id like to get into a .378 bolt face to play with. I have a 223 winchester 70 fwt but its not accurate so it just sits in the safe. Ive spend more on components trying to get it to shoot a decent group then what the rifles worth.
This particular build im doing will mostly see targets and sit in a mdt chassis and wear a match grade prefit barrel.
I have a bunch of 22 cal bullets to use up hence the 22 cal choice
Does anyone know if the shorter fireball will feed through the poly mdt mags?
Id like to get into a .378 bolt face to play with. I have a 223 winchester 70 fwt but its not accurate so it just sits in the safe. Ive spend more on components trying to get it to shoot a decent group then what the rifles worth.
This particular build im doing will mostly see targets and sit in a mdt chassis and wear a match grade prefit barrel.
I have a bunch of 22 cal bullets to use up hence the 22 cal choice
Does anyone know if the shorter fireball will feed through the poly mdt mags?
Since you have a lot of 22 cal bullets, maybe consider the 222 rem mag, it is a great shooter, will keep up with and maybe surpass the 223, Nosler has brass, and Lee has dies. I have a reamer that has cut two chambers, I would be willing to loan it to you if you are interested.
I am not sure if the 221 Fireball will cycle cleaning through a MDT poly mag, I don't think it would be an issue but the proof as always, is in the pudding so to speak.
I am not sure if the 221 Fireball will cycle cleaning through a MDT poly mag, I don't think it would be an issue but the proof as always, is in the pudding so to speak.
It wasn't courage, it was stupidity. I should have kept it, I get into these states of mind once in a while thinking, I don't need this or that, I have too many. I then sell off a couple then a month or two later I wonder why I did it!
Thats part of my reasoning for wanting a .378 bolt face in an action that will take prefit barrels. Figured id start with a 22 cal and work down as i get bored. I havent played with the 20s much and only had a 17 rem for a short time
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
Glad to see I'm not the only one that has done that' and will likely do it again. Quite often, I end up replacing what I sold with another of the same.
Having shot hundreds of yotes over the years with 17rem to 7 mags, for yotes these days would be hard to convince me that anything could be better then a 6br.
A 22 hornet will do almost what you ask and a fireball just a little more, nice thing about them is they are just on the cusp of needing ear protection, 40gr vmax in hornet and fireball has killed more then a few dogs with good results.
A 22 hornet will do almost what you ask and a fireball just a little more, nice thing about them is they are just on the cusp of needing ear protection, 40gr vmax in hornet and fireball has killed more then a few dogs with good results.
The fun part of reloading for 22 Hornet and 221 Remington you can load them down like a 22 lr or to the max. Even at maximum they are still pleasant to shoot. I shoot them in my contender pistols which gets to be a challenge over 200 m. One of these day I will make up my mind to buy a rifle in 221 Fireball.
Well i contacted mdt. This is there reply
Thank you for getting in touch with us. After a bit of research into the 221 Fireball, it should feed, however, reliability will be an issue. As the round is so short it will be fully out of the magazine before it can be controlled by the bolt and feed ramp. In less than ideal cycling conditions, this will lead to unreliable feeding. Please let us know if you have any further questions.
Regards
Anthony Bujak
Customer Support
Quick response time and since this rifle may see field use and friendly competition on farm land i think im going to pass over the fireball for now
Looks like the plain old 223 barrel might get ordered
Thank you for getting in touch with us. After a bit of research into the 221 Fireball, it should feed, however, reliability will be an issue. As the round is so short it will be fully out of the magazine before it can be controlled by the bolt and feed ramp. In less than ideal cycling conditions, this will lead to unreliable feeding. Please let us know if you have any further questions.
Regards
Anthony Bujak
Customer Support
Quick response time and since this rifle may see field use and friendly competition on farm land i think im going to pass over the fireball for now
Looks like the plain old 223 barrel might get ordered
Sounds like they didn't want to do the conversion. The British military made the regular SMLE a 22 lr and it feeds properly. I can't see why a P14 or P17 couldn't be converted to 221 Remington Fireball.
