221 Fireball

[Booyah]

I took a 22 Hornet Barrel and re-chambered it to 221 Fireball. Very easy to do. I got to try it out today. Factory ammo shot just over a 1" group at 100 yards. I tried 4 different reloads out. Two of the reloads shot smaller than 1" groups. One of the reloads actual had the first 4 shots make a clover leaf pattern with all four holes overlapping each other,  a fifth shot just at the edge of the clover leaf. Tha barrel I used was a little rough so now I will start looking for a barrel in nice condition. I shot about 70 rounds total and all but the last five round ejected flawless. Going to clean the bore and reload more ammo and go varmit hunting. Cant wait. And to think 2 months ago I didn't even own a Handi Rifle.

[Inrut24/7]

That sounds great, does the factory hornet ejector work with the fireball?

[xhare]

Sounds like you are hooked.  This is only the beginning.  

I think the 221 Fireball is a great little round.  I have never shot it, but if your varmint hunting is closer ranged, than you can shoot more without barrel heating problems of even the 223 due to its reduced powder capacity.

When I was stationed in North Dakota a buddy and I went dog hunting on numerous occasions.  Often there was a lot of shooting to be done and distances inside 250 yards, and most less than 200.  Perfect for a 221.  Of course the 223 and 22-250  that we were using really detonates prairie dogs when hit at 150 yards.  

[Booyah]

I actually screwed up the 22 Hornet ejector. So I ordered a new ejector for a 223 from Brownells and it worked perfect. I think shipping and everything was about $10 and I got it in about a week.  The reamer I got from Brownells and that was the expensive part. It was about $80. I am going to do another barrel so I can spread the cost out over two barrels so that want be bad.

[quickdtoo]

You can cover the cost by renting it to your friends here, just don't make a business of it and let Graybeard know what your intent is. There have been 357Max and 445SM reamers passed around to lots of members in the past.

Tim

[Booyah]

Sure Thing. Don't mind helping anyone. If some would like to use it, that would be fine with me. All I ask is if some breaks/damages then they replace it with a new one.

[dw06]

Dang I just sold a hornet barrel,I always wanted to try a 221 fireball.Might put that on my things to do list.

[LaOtto222]

You will like the 221 Fire Ball. I have 2 of them in rifles. The powder capacity over a Hornet is not much. 5 - 6 grains of powder. There is about 500 ft/sec difference between a Hornet and a 221 with the lighter bullets You can get about 3300 ft/sec  from the Fire Ball with 40 grain bullets. You get some where around 2900 ft/sec from a 50 grain bullet. The case length is the same (1.400") for both cartridges. The 221 does a good job out to 200 - 250 yds. Both of mine seem to be accurate with any thing I put in them. I made up some Military 223 cases into 221's and loaded up 17 grains of Reloader 7, some pulled 46 grain Winchester bullets that were given to me and proceeded to shoot 1/2" groups at 100 yards with a 18" barreled Stevens 200. I can understand why people want more distance if they live out West, with all of the wide open spaces, but I have not figured out why the 221 Fire Ball has not really caught on with the Eastern shooters more than it has.   After all of that I still want a 22 Hornet. I have had one in the past and still have a 10" T/C barrel. I will have a 22 Hornet again, and it will be light weight.

[dave29]

I'm resurrecting a seriously old thread.   

Booyah, do you still have the Fireball reamer. I'm getting the itch for a new .22 caliber to play with and after a little google research and some GBO research, I have decided for the .221 Fireball. 

[LONGTOM]

Hey ol friend:
I will help you out on the cost a little.
I have had a Hornet barrel just waiting for someone to come along with a 221 reamer.
Just let me know how much to rent it.



LONGTOM

[jeepmann1948]

How about a 22K hornet results will be about the same, dies are readily available.

[Darreld Walton]

How about a 22K hornet results will be about the same, dies are readily available.

For me the answer is case life of the Hornet, or K Hornet, which is comparatively short.  Them thin little necks just don't last as long as Fireball. 
I don't personally own one, but my very most bestest ever friend owns a CZ 527 Fireball, and case life is on par, even maybe a bit longer than 5.56.
As mentioned, a fella could form Fireball from GI 5.56, making the cost REALLY attractive over the long run.

[manatee1947]

I saw the K Hornet thread also, so if this goes forward, I guess I will be looking for another Hornet barrel, unless the 222 gets out PDQ.