I have been reading up on the fireball. Does anyone have any shooting experience with it. I recently purchased a .17 hmr, but the .221 looks to be pretty impressive. It is a center fire round, and it is also faster than the .17. I would really appreciate any comments from anyone who has any information on shooting or hunting with the .221.

RYAN SMITH

well sadly the round seems to be dieing in popularity. though there is no telling whether it will come back or not, people have beeni think the 45 colt has been on the way out for years.
the cartridge itself is another .22 cal rifle with a little less umph that the .222 and thus less than the .223.

propmahn
save the world, reload your brass

Haven't heard about the 221 Remington Fireball in a long time.I almost forgot about it.If I remember correctly Remington's XP 100 was chambered in that little round.
For information the Speer manual Number 13 has it under the handgun cartridges.It was introduced back in 1962.The 221 is basically a shortened 222 Remington.Factory ammo using a 50 grain soft point chrongraphed at 2620 FPS from a 10 3/4" bbl. Only time will tell if it comes back or not..I was correct about the Remington XP 100 and this cartridge.The were a awesome combination.

Ruger Redhawk

..... A Proud NRA Life Member since 1977 .....Ruger Redhawk

I had a Rem. XP 100 pistol many moons ago, and my buddy had a mauser action built on the .221 fireball cartridge. We dusted many whistle pigs and a few fox with that little hottie! Very little report, and nearly zero recoil. VERY ACCURATE!

I bought a 221 last year. A Remington they only made one year. I love it. Not as much push as the 223 but a lot quiter. A great gun out to 400 yds

I can remember my father owning a pair of XP100s in .221 during the early 70s. He even had a pair of shoulder holster rigs made for them. I also remember shooting them alot but that was 30 years ago with me, my brother, and my father winning a lot of turkey shoots back then using those same pistols. They are a lot of fun to shoot, easy on the ears with no felt recoil and pretty deadly with the right optics on them(we had a doz turkeys in the freezer at one time). I think my father paid $150.00CDN each at the time. Myonly regret was that we could`nt hunt with them as we live in Canada. I am sure hitting gophers at 300yds with one would have been a blast.

Ron


Smitty....thanks for bringing up the memories

I' ve had an XP-100 in .221 Fireball for about 25yrs. Mine is topped with a 3X Burris scope. It is an exceptional combination - plenty of whomp for varmints out to 200 yds or so and much more convenient than hauling a rifle around. I' m never without mine.

With so many other capable .22 cal. rounds out there it is hard to imagine why you wouldn' t pick one of them over the .221 fireball

The .221 fireball case does have one excellent use...making 300 Whisper cartridges!