#21
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221 fb
Like Rick in Oregon, I find my 221's like the 2200 powder as well. I shoot it in my Cooper and CZ 527. Surprising CZ's so accurate it shoots right with my Cooper. I love the 221 FB and have never understood why it's not more popular. Have one in 1964 built XP-100 and it's a joy to shoot as well but my go to load for it is 2400 powder, You'll love the 221 FB and she really shines with 40-45 bullets. Enjoy
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#22
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The skies were bright and clear today and so I packed the CZ in 221 and the chronograph to collect some velocity data. The bullets were some 40 gr. with a blue poly tip that kind of looked like Nosler BT in disguise. I think they were seconds as I did observe some small imperfections in the bullets, so accuracy was the best 4 out of 5 strikes. I used RP brass, CCI 450 primers, with the bullets seated to 1.930"
The two best shooting loads were 19.0 RL-7 at 3371 fps and 16.0 gr. of Lil'Gun at 3619 fps. The fastest load was 20.5 H116(WC680) at 3701 fps and was likely to hot for regular use and didn't shoot well either. BLK-CFE delivered 3609 fps. and poor accuracy. The most surprising load was 16.0 of WW 296 that only clocked 3285 fps and patterned like a shotgun. With 40 gr. bullets the winner was Lil'Gun for velocity and accuracy, but I'm thinking that RL-7 will pull ahead when I try 50 gr. bullets. I'm still surprised that my velocities exceeded that specified in load manuals. How often does that happen. |
#23
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My 221 is a 24" heavy T/C Encore barrel. I load 53gr SMKs, RP cases and 7 1/2 primers with Lil Gun powder. It is very accurate, I am waiting for sage rat season! I bought the Encore barrel after waiting for a CZ 527 Fireball, never happened.
Bill Last edited by Flynmoose; 02-08-2022 at 05:15 AM. |
#24
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Count me in on being a Furball lover.
Both RL-7 and A2200 seem to be the favored powders for this little gem, along with 40gr bullets:
__________________
Rick in Oregon - The East Side, where common sense still prevails. NRA Life, OHA, VHA, Vietnam Veterans of America |
#25
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I'm with RIO. I have two 221FB rifles, a Cooper M21 and a CZ527 American. Both like RL-7 or AA2200, so I typically use the AA2200 since it is less money. Both will typically run 0.3 to 0.4 MOA if I am paying attention. Also have a 12" Contender barrel which truly defines why the round was named 221 Fireball. The muzzle blast and flash are absolutely obnoxious.
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#26
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[quote=TinMan;301623paying attention. Also have a 12" Contender barrel which truly defines why the round was named 221 Fireball. The muzzle blast and flash are absolutely obnoxious.[/QUOTE]
If you can find some old clippings about the 221 Fireball and it's firearm, when it came out, that is exactly why they named it "fireball" due to the muzzle blast and bright flash when fired. Very well fit that hand cannon. |
#27
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Yup, about an 18"-20" diameter ball of noise and corruption.
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#28
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Sometime in the early 90's, both Layne Simpson and Steve Timm came out with articles on the 221FB in rifles. I was smitten, and immediately built a Furball on a Sako L461 I had. It shot very, very well, but a friend who just HAD to have it snagged it from me. Of course, not long afterwards, I sincerely regretted that foolish act, and went 25 years before another came home.
The two I have now will be with me until I'm pushing up daisies. IMHO, it's one of the most underrated and ignored calibers available today. Too bad the young-un's must have the latest, fastest barrel-burner possible, because they're missing out on one of the gems of the shooting industry, and replacing barrels more often too. When one considers the current price of components, especially powder, cartridges like the 221FB really start to be appealing to more of us small caliber aficionados.
__________________
Rick in Oregon - The East Side, where common sense still prevails. NRA Life, OHA, VHA, Vietnam Veterans of America |
#29
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I am with Rick on the 221 FB. If young ones would shoot one and then add a 20VT, maybe a little larger 20 cal i.e. practical, tactical or 204 R. and a nice 17 FB, they would have an arsenal of very fine shooting firearms for just about every type of varmint/target shooting.
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#30
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Have had three 221 FBs. All of them like Lil'Gun with 40 or 50 grain bullets. The 50 grain SPSX shot lights out in all of them and did 40 grain Blitzking and Vmax. I tried other powders, none gave me speed and accuracy that matched and since I had lots of the Lil'Gun I used that pretty much exclusively.
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