221 fireball
- Thread starter revolver_ocelot
- Start date
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
The .221 is a shortened .222, so I have no doubt that it would prove more accurate than a Hornet when chambered in like rifles. Ballistically, the .221 does with a 45 gr bullet what the .222 does with a 55, or produces Hornet velocities when loaded with 50 gr bullets. The .221's powder charge falls midway between the Hornet and the .222, so while muzzle blast would be less than a .222 or .223, it would make more noise than a Hornet. Still, a rifle chambered for this cartridge would be a good choice for use in populated rural areas where residents might object to the sharp crack of a .22-250.
contaucreek
CGN Regular
- Location
- Methropolitan Haliburton Ont
Boy, when I was a kid I just HAD to have an XP100 pistol in Fireball. Did they ever bring any into Canada ??
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
They must've brought a few in. I picked one up a few years back in a multiple gun deal I did with a guy here on the island.
Hung on to it and wish we could use something like it on gophers in Alberta. Doesn't shoot too bad. I have some targets 'somewhere' where I'd been testing a variety of weights of VMAX bullets but this is the only target I can find at the moment.
contaucreek
CGN Regular
- Location
- Methropolitan Haliburton Ont
^^me like^^
I would like to challenge the above statement OR qualify it, depending on the parameters of your assertion...
As a Hornet/KH/FB shooter and reloader, I have not found the Fireball to be "more" accurate than an H/KH at say 100 meters or 150 meters... But once the effects of friction and gravity begin to wear on an "in flight" H/KH projectile the Fireball begins to shine... But at a given distance at a mutually aggreeable distance, neither is inherently "more" accurate... And in the case of my firearms and loads, my KH's outshine my FB's at 100 meters.
As Phil Shoemaker aptly said the question of accuracy in the context of which 22-Hornet,KHornet,221 Fireball,222 is more accurate is"--balistic masturbation"--Way to many variables in rifle condition ,bullets,powder etc,etc--I have all except the KHornet and they shoot well(very) but IN MY RIFLES I give the nod to my 222Sako, 221 Fireball and 22-250 AI.----Bent Barrel
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
True enough and well said. For me, when it comes to .22 cal rifles, my old 'antique' rifle, scope and calibre combo/match that gets the call is an old custom Winchester high wall, in 219 Donaldson Wasp wearing a 10X J.UNERTL scope.
And it seems to have a definate 'preference' for 50gr VMAX
.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
I've never had a Hornet that was much better than a MOA rifle, but I did have a .222 that was a true quarter minute rifle. Had a Hornet been chambered in a like rifle, it would still be a 1 MOA rifle, which given Hornet's typical target size and range is often good enough.
And you are welcome to draw that conclusion for yourself, but it is not reflected in my experience, and is based on limited data (a few hundred or thousand rounds out of a handful of rifles). To state that regardless of platform or distance the best that can be done with a Hornet is 1 MOA can be disproved with every range trip I make... I have two KH's that are better X2... What I am saying is that to compare the relative "accuracy" of two vastly different cartridges at a distance where one is out of its element, is grossly unfair and deceiving... To stretch the point, compare a CZ 452 LR bolt action rifle with a CZ 550 in .308 at 500 meters... The results are a foregone conclusion... But do the same test at 25m and my money is on the 452... Just saying.
Johnn... Of all they pretty guns you have posted... This one may well be the prettiest! I am not given to envy, but would dearly love to shoot that gun...
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
One of drawbacks associated with the Hornet is finding match grade bullets in the 40-45 gr range, unless you make your own of course. I suppose the Hornet could be loaded with 52/53 gr match bullets at 2450-2550, in a good rifle they should shoot, although I never tried it. But if the Hornet shot with a .222, I don't think the 100 yard bench rest guys would have ever gone to the .222, and if the .222 had shot with the .22 PPC, it wouldn't now be fading to into obscurity either.
I also shoot .22 PPC and .22 BR... But in essence... You nailed it, namely the projectile! Most people only have experience with the 45 SP in Hornet... And the accuracy that I quote is with the 52 BTHP in my KH's... But there is another hugely unfair factor in relative accuracy... Comparing a stubby SP in one caliber versus a long and elegant match bullet in another caliber...
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Well if the Hornet will shoot at all, it should shoot in that one. What bullet do you use?
