New varmint/paper rifle

[KDX]

I'm looking to buy a new rife in either 17 Remington Fireball or .221 Fireball for shooting paper and/or gophers and the odd coyote. I'll be hand loading and am looking for something with good accuracy with very little muzzle blast or recoil. Thanks in advance.

 

[asusual]

Its hard to pick. You dont have buying my sako 22/250 as an option

 

[Scott_N]

I would go with the 221 based on a greater selection of bullets available.

 

[casterpollox]

Just a question... why just those two?

Nothing more than me being curious.

 

[SuperCub]

I'll be hand loading and am looking for something with good accuracy with very little muzzle blast or recoil.

A .222 will nicely fit all your needs criteria.





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[JasonYuke]

A .222 will nicely fit all your needs criteria.

Xs 2 I have never owned any of these little hot rods. From what I have seen on the bench some can be quite pick to load and accuracy is difficult to obtain to the level of a good 22 cal varminter.

The 222 has a generous barrel life and proven accuracy thats why I would go for that, but also the 204 ruger has shown accuracy potential.

But hey thats your decision and your rifle.....you want what you want!!! do not let us talk you out of it.

 

[todbartell]

I voted 17FB mainly because of the very short supply of 221FB rifles out there right now.

 

[scott_r]

If you're wanting a .17 Rem FB you're going to have to look hard for brass, bullet selection in most stores is very low and rifle selection is limited as well. Not to say you can't find this but its something to think on. Id pick the .17 over .221 just because I don't have a .17 and think they're a cool cartridge.

The .221 Fireball has some steep competition with the .222, .223, 22-250, 220 Swift which all are as accurate and produce alot more velocity. Ive never understood the attraction to the .221 Fireball other the its got the coolest name. I guess if you're really into the effecient cartridge following the .221 is supposed be be one of the best.

My vote goes .17 Rem Fireball

 

[Merllin]

.204 ruger

 

[Cummins4x4]

20 Vartarg is the best of the bunch for that case size IMO

 

[44Bore]

Get one of each--or for simplicity go with the .221.

44Bore

 

[Splatter]

I'm just about to send my goodies away to have Bill Leeper build me a .221 If you cut-back the neck on a .222 to the same length as the FireBall's neck, the cases aren't much different in size.