Saubier.com  



Go Back   Saubier.com > Saubier.com Forums > Small Caliber Discussion Board

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 06-04-2021, 02:07 PM
nvtoy nvtoy is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 37
Default 300 AAC to 221 Fireball

Has anyone done this and were there any problems. I can find lots of the AAC brass but Fireball is hard to find.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 06-04-2021, 02:16 PM
T_the_Tinkerer T_the_Tinkerer is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 63
Default

No, but you can find loaded 221FB easily. One if this site's advertisers, Reed's ammunition, has plenty of affordable, loaded 221FB ammo. Any reason, other than brass availability, you want to go 300AAC to 221FB?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-04-2021, 02:22 PM
nvtoy nvtoy is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 37
Default 300 aac

Nope, no other reason. Hate to buy loaded ammo (my mother was Scotch). Would rather fire loads tailored to my gun. Will check on Reeds site, thanks for the tip. nvtoy
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-04-2021, 02:24 PM
SEM SEM is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Sac CA
Posts: 307
Default

nvtoy, sent you an email
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-04-2021, 02:43 PM
Bill K Bill K is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: N.E. Kommie Kalifornia
Posts: 6,304
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by nvtoy View Post
Has anyone done this and were there any problems. I can find lots of the AAC brass but Fireball is hard to find.
Check often with Sleeping Giant and High Plains brass, they both have 221FB made from 223 brass often.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-04-2021, 03:09 PM
JohnHenry JohnHenry is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Northern Delaware
Posts: 514
Default

Midway has Lapua 221 brass in stock.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1021350953?pid=737441
__________________
John
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 06-04-2021, 03:38 PM
Oso Polaris Oso Polaris is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 456
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnHenry View Post
Midway has Lapua 221 brass in stock.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1021350953?pid=737441
That is a great response. For those who feel the need Lapua even makes 300BO brass!!!! I actually have a factory case with headstamp of 30-221. I have only ever seen the one so its on a shelf for posterity.

Theoretically, the only advantage of using a 300BO case for use in forming 221 Fireball is less trimming on final case length (it may actually turn out a bit short). However, I think this marginal benefit is offset by the increase in difficulty of forming a shoulder and neck. When forming Fireball/Vartarg from .223 cases you already have a transition in the brass. However, with a 300BO case you will be basically forming from a straight-walled case. Without the existence of a shoulder, I am not sure that the 221 Fireball Form Die will be of any use. You might need a Bullberry die of Neil Jones Bushing.... something that is going to assist forming the shoulder all the way from the case diameter when going from 300BO to 221 FB. Honesty, so much easier to just form from .223/5.56 using the Redding 221 Forming Die Set.

Depending upon your rifle's chamber you may need to do some neck turning. There is a list of .223/5.56 brass cases that are recommended for forming into 300BO due to the case wall thickness. All things being equal, if you have your choice of 300BO cases that you plan to convert into 221 Fireball then you might start by selecting ones made from the "favorable" brass headstamps. Google it.

Edit: I initially read this and thought you wanted to go the other way and convert 221 Fireball into 300BO... I quickly deleted by response, which was really funny and some of my best work.

Last edited by Oso Polaris; 06-04-2021 at 08:30 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 06-04-2021, 04:39 PM
T_the_Tinkerer T_the_Tinkerer is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 63
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by nvtoy View Post
Nope, no other reason. Hate to buy loaded ammo (my mother was Scotch). Would rather fire loads tailored to my gun. Will check on Reeds site, thanks for the tip. nvtoy
The reason I suggested this route is that unless you plan to FLS each firing, you might want to save actual load development until the cases are fireformed to the exact dimensions of your particular chamber. At least that's a good rule for us that use small calibers.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 06-04-2021, 06:14 PM
drewh drewh is offline
Supporting Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,152
Default actual length

I think the case length may be short when you neck it down.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 06-04-2021, 07:06 PM
B23 B23 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 781
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnHenry View Post
Midway has Lapua 221 brass in stock.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1021350953?pid=737441
And if anyone wants it now is the time to buy it because per Lapua 221FB brass is no longer in active production. Not exactly sure what Lapua means when they say that but if you want some it may be a good idea to have it before you can't get it.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 08:44 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.