221 Fireball Build

[triggerfingers]

Looking for advise in my next rifle. Already have a 204 Ruger and a 20 Vartarg. Wanting a 221 fireball with a 24” barrel and a 1:12 twist. Looking to shoot up to 50 gr. BlitzKings. Sadly due to the cost I can’t justify a Cooper (rather have one more). I see where I can build a ER Shaw MKVII rifle at the very top of my budget. Or I can buy an Remington 700 223 action have have it barreled, but I have read where the ejector is in a different location on the bolt and unsure if that will be an issue. Last I can try to find an used Remington or CZ.
What do you guys think is the best way to go?

[Bill K]

A used Rem in 223 rebarreled and a Sako extractor on the bolt would work. Or you can search and maybe find a used Rem or CZ already in 221 FB, use it until you need to re-barrel it also.

[triggerfingers]

Thank Bill for the reply.....I guess my first choice is to find a used Remington and go from there. If I remember correctly most of 2000 era Remingtons came with the J locks on the bolts, but that can always be replaced with a new firing pin assembly. I have heard CZ’s are good, but never owned one.

[Jim White]

but I have read where the ejector is in a different location on the bolt and unsure if that will be an issue.

You're correct, there are differences between the 223 & 17/221 Fireball [Remington] bolts. There are also differences in the receiver too in the area of the feed-ramps if memory serves me correct. Remington did this after one of their Fireball runs when feeding and extracting issues popped up. Additionally, the magazine & follower are different as well.

I'd imagine if you single-shot loaded it there wouldn't be an issue but if you're going to use it as a repeater it could be. WRT a Sako extractor, I couldn't say one way or the other.

HTH

[RowdyYates]

You must be planning on re-barreling, because as far as I know, any rifles chambered in .221 Fireball came with 1:14" twist barrels. I'll check my Cooper and Remington again to be sure, but I once was wanting to try some 53 grain V-Maxes in those, but then remembered those longer bullets require a 1:12 or faster rate to stabilize (50s work fine at 14, though).
The small CZ 527 action is perfect for the little FB; had one of those rifles in .221 too, but personally didn't care for the short pencil barrel. Used .221 Remingtons do come up for sale fairly regularly, especially on Gunbroker.

[Bill K]

If they have it in the proper caliber, how about the CZ 527 with the varmint contour barrel ?

[RowdyYates]

Only trouble is, CZ doesn’t offer the .221 in the Varmint model. Man, I wish they did, and others have agreed! They would no doubt sell as quickly as that batch of Mexican-market HB Varmints in .222 Remingtons CZ imported here a couple years back did.

[Rick in Oregon]

Rowdy is spot-on; a varmint 527 in 222 would sell like hotcakes. However, if you really want a CZ in 221FB, don't overlook the American model, as mine is scary accurate for a pencil barreled rifle. You could always rebarrel it with something heavier.

Not BR accuracy by any means, but here's some targets shot during load development with my CZ 527 American showing that these rifles shoot far better than they should for wearing such a light barrel. These rifles have a very good accuracy reputation, and for good reason.



My 527 221FB wearing her old bolt knob....now it's a graceful teardrop knob.



It's a nice change for me to tote this nice light little rig in rock chuck habitat compared to a heavy HB varmint rig, and I still get all the accuracy I need for head shots on sneaky chucks peeking through lava rocks showing only their eye and nose.

We all love hotrod calibers like the 204R, but there's just something special when taking one of these light, soft but flat shooting little numbers into the field and enjoying all they have to offer (high fun factor)....almost zero recoil, minimal muzzle blast, see all your hits/misses, miserly on powder, and that accuracy, oh the accuracy. The rock chucks here fear this rifle!

[triggerfingers]

Thanks to everyone that has replied with your help and advise. I will keep checking the sites for a used Remington or CZ chambered in 221 fireball. Maybe even hold out hope for a Cooper that is more reasonably priced.

[Jim White]

Thanks to everyone that has replied with your help and advise. I will keep checking the sites for a used Remington or CZ chambered in 221 fireball. Maybe even hold out hope for a Cooper that is more reasonably priced.

WRT Remington, there was definitely a difference between the bolt faces and the action, all for feeding purposes. That's not to say there are differences in a CZ and outside of single-shot Coopers, I don't recollect right off the cuff of any other manufacturers offering the Fireball cartridge.

WRT to Rick's post, I have a CZ 527 American in 204 Ruger. It's one heck of a walk-around rig and it has all the same attributes he pointed out with his and it is very accurate once the load is found. I have used mine in rat-patch with swivel benches and it performs very well to the task but since mine is 204 the barrel can heat pretty quick so its not ideal for that IMO. In 221 Fireball that might not be to big of a problem.

The one drawback to CZ IMO is the bolt handle may-not clear the scope. However, mine is an earlier one and maybe they have remedied that issue and looking at Rick's rig, aftermarket options are available. The only other thing that comes to mind is when using the set-trigger, the length of pull is on the long side [with mine any way] and the trigger pull is awfully light. All of these are minor issues though especially with the performace the rifle delivers. To boot, the folks at CZ are easy to reach to inquire.

[Bill K]

The new models to have a bolt handle that clears scopes, or you can re-work the old one's to do so.
As for triggers, I really did not like the adjustment and lack of reducing the let off, as much as I wanted, so installed a Rifle basix trigger, with takes out he set trigger feature and allows me to adjust down to the 1lb or less, that I like. Bill K

[triggerfingers]

Ok..... a small set back on the 221 Fireball build. While visiting a somewhat local shop for the first time, they had a 20 Vartarg rifle built on a Savage Target action. Has a custom Shilen barrel and with a nice bedded stock. So I went ahead and picked it up. It is a very heavy rifle. I took it out to sight it in and it will shoot. So I guess I will keep her.
So I guess I will keep looking. Can you have too many 20 Vartargs?

[Rick in Oregon]

So I guess I will keep looking. Can you have too many 20 Vartargs?

Absolutely NOT!

[Varmint Shooter]

So I guess I will keep looking. Can you have too many 20 Vartargs?

Absolutely NOT!

I agree with Rick. I have 3 20 Vt's and 2 of it's relatives, the 20 SCC.

[triggerfingers]

It really likes the same load as my Cooper 20 VT......a 5 shot group measures .330 from center to center at 100 yards with Sierra 32 gr. BlitzKings using H4198.