Model 700 Rem. 221 Fireball

[theoldman]

Bought a 221 fireball about 18 months ago and cannot get this thing to give me good groups. Tried several different handloads, nothing works. I'm talking 2 to 3 inch groups at 100 yards. The action is bedded and the barrell is free floated and also tried a pressure point at the forarm. It's topped with a weaver grand slam with fine crosshair. Anybody got any ideas on what will srink these large groups. Got a CZ 223 that will put this 700 to shame without  half trying. If this Remington does not improve another CZ may take its place. I hate to do this because I have got other Remingtons that will shoot and have been a BIG FAN of Remington,  but this thing is trying my patience. Thanks in advance for any advice.

theoldman

[sniperVLS]

Have you tried *several* different types/brands of ammo?

Have you only messed with handloads? Get out and try some factory ammo if you havent yet.

Are you cleaning it properly?

Did it come bedded and free floating? If not who did the job? Just because a rifle has such things done to it doesnt mean its shoot better, in some rare cases it will cause more problems.

And if it supposedly came bedded/free floated from the factory, chances are its not sitting right in the channel. Until you start getting up into the higher end models like Senderos and PSS, you'll find some imperfections that can be problematic. Even those arent perfect out of the box and need some work sometimes(as far as bedding/floating is concerned).

[theoldman]

Thanks gentlemen for your response. To answer your questions; No I have not tried any factory ammo yet, I have tried several different hand loads. Yes I am cleaning it properly I think, use the same method on the rest of my rifles and they do ok. I bought this rifle at a local dealers shop and the bedding and free floating was already done. The owner/gunsmith told me he did not do the bedding job, He took it on a trade and it had been bedded. The trigger is ok, I have not adjusted it.The rifling is 1 twist in 14 according to remingtons specs. I have tried from 40 grain to 53 grain bullets without any improvement. Had the smith I bought gun from to check head space and he said it was a go, but on the borderline of being to loose. I have had primers to back out some. Yes I sometimes tinker with what the reloading manual says. I may back off or increase the amount of powder slightly to see if I can get any improvement, after all my gun was not the test rifle used in the reloading manual. Yes my powder is fresh and there are no burs that I can see or feel on the crown. For torqueing the screws, I cannot tell because I havent got a torque driver and I am sure that I have over torqued and or under torqued these screws at some point. This rifle has had problems from the get go or the orginal owner would not have done or had done this bedding job imho. Talked to a guy yesterday who had one like the one I have and he no longer owns it. Got rid of it about a year ago, he said it would not group for him, but he did not try any bedding but did put a Boyds stock on it in an effort to improve his groups. The stock had a wide forarm and set better in his rest.
Thanks again guys and I may try some factory ammo before I give up on this gun. I like the 221, low recoil and report and is supposed to be very accurate.
theoldman

[nofun1]

I bought a 700 classic in 221, and it is such a tack driver, I bought a second I love everything about it: look, feel and the accuracy. Mine loves 19.8 grains of 10x behind a 40 grain Nosler BT with fed sr primers. at 3150 fps or if i want to really scream I load 15.6 grains of lil Gun behind a 42 Calhoon dhp bullet, same primer (3550fps) I neck size and I am ocd about cleaning my barrel. Mine is bedded and floated and the trigger breaks at 2lbs, otherwise stock. both of these loads shoot 5 shots at 100 yards 1/2". If you are having a tough time getting it to shoot keep after it. this cartridge is a true joy to shoot.Its well worth the effort.  I had the same expeirience with a 243 rem 700 I could not find a load for it I tried over 30 differant combinations. I shot it just like I do all my othher guns and I could not group it. I tried a lead sled and took 6 loads out to try I got 2 that were 3/4" the only thing I did was trim every brass and change rests. I usually shoot better with my leather bags than the lead sled but for some reason the 243 likes the sled. Go figure. What got me wondering was very often I shot 2 touching and 1 flyer so I thought it might be me. It was. I mainly shoot 22cal. but I also have a 300 win and a 7-08 that shoot well under an inch. Thats what keep our sport so much fun the screwy variables that keep us humble.
Good Luck.

[hicard]

A friend of mine has a classic 221 Fireball Remington which he takes squirrel hunting.  I have witnessed numerous long range hits frequently and a center hit with 40 gr V-Max bullets usually result in a 5 way explosion of chunks.  He rarely misses with that rifle.