221 FIREBALL vs. 222 REMINGTON

BCD 45

BCD 45

Member
Does the 221 have anything over on the 222 Remington besides using less powder? I'm wanting to build or customize a varmint rifle with a medium weight 22" or 24" barrel in a HS Precision stock. I've got Swift's but want a small 22 caliber cartridge and can't decide between 221 or 222. I don't care about saving a little powder & 222 brass seems more available but still can't decide. What do you guys think about it? Which barrel length? Thanks all,
Jim D
 
If I decided on the 221, I found a NIB Remington Light Varmint Stainless Fluted 22" that I could just drop in a stock & I already have a Jewell trigger. Just don't know how that model rifle shoots & I guess you wouldn't know until you shot it.
Jim D
 
I had one it shot good. I used 40 gr plastic tips but only shot P dogs. I think you will enjoy it. I got rid of it because I have a Custom Sako I use more.
MB
 
Originally Posted By: Texas Swifty I found a NIB Remington Light Varmint Stainless Fluted 22" that I could just drop in a stock & I already have a Jewell trigger.

Gee, that sounds to me like the question just got made a bit easier to answer.

I am a big fan of the cute little Furball. I bought a CZ 527 in .221 several years ago not long after they had just came out and really got smitten by the round. 16 grains of Lil Gun propelling a 40 grain slug over 3500 FPS and bugholing too? Something not to like about that?

Nothing against the triple deuce at all but since you already have a .220 Swift (as do I) and you want something more quiet and efficient then I really would give that Light Varmint a hard look. I cannot imagine it being a poor shooter- I really cant. About the worst thing that I can see happening is that you might become as smitten as I am with the little round. And that is, in my opinion anyway, not a bad thing.
 
Originally Posted By: Texas Swifty Does the 221 have anything over on the 222 Remington besides using less powder?

No, no it doesn't. Nothing at all.
 
Originally Posted By: Texas SwiftyIf I decided on the 221, I found a NIB Remington Light Varmint Stainless Fluted 22" that I could just drop in a stock & I already have a Jewell trigger. Just don't know how that model rifle shoots & I guess you wouldn't know until you shot it.
Jim D

IMO...the stock was the weak link in the LVSF so I wouldn't worry since you plan on changing it anyway.

One thing to be aware of is the LVSF's barrel contour isn't the same a regular Remington sporter. It "steps down" (for a lack of better words) about half way down the forarm. I've heard it's similar to the mountain rifle but that was internet hear say soooooo.
The stock makers should know or maybe a call to Remington if all else fails.

I had one in 17Rem that I put in a BDL stock. Accuracy improved but I couldn't live with the irregular barrel channel so I went a different route.

I think you're on the right track though.
Good luck with it.
 
Originally Posted By: PrusonOriginally Posted By: Texas Swifty Does the 221 have anything over on the 222 Remington besides using less powder?

No, no it doesn't. Nothing at all.

Agreed^^^^^^

The 221's cooler but the 222 has a history for accuracy that few cartridges can match.

Clearly the sensible answer is to own both.
 
Thank you guys a lot.
....................................................................................................
RePete, on a HS sporter stock at the front end, how much gap you think there will be? I don't like ugly either.

Jim D
 
For all practical purposes, no difference. Barrel length would be the deciding factor: a good quality 24"-or-longer barreled .222 will get you more fps (and arguably better accuracy than the LVSF; I have one). I've recently experienced some remorse for not jumping on a mint .222 40-X at a decent price; just couldn't justify it, when I already also have a sweet Cooper .221FB.
I dunno, tough call. You might go with the LVSF with the intent of going to a longer barrel and/or converting to a .222 later(?)
 
I'm a fan of the 222 having been using one in one form or another for a long time. Brass is plentiful, even Lapua and every other top quality brass. Load data, just about every powder and bullet combo has been tried and discussed. Being longer than the 221 I think it will be easier to get to feed than 221 if in an action that wasn't designed for the 221. Lastly if you want to shoot at 221 velocities you can just cut the powder charge a couple of grain and I'm sure you will find just as accurate load.

Supposedly the 223/222 Rem Mag should have all the advantages over the 222 as the 222 has over the 221 but they have never been able to get the accuracy of the 222. The 222 is in a class of it's own only topped by some rare custom BR cartridges. But what do I know I'm just an old fart(I remember when it was new) that can win things and kill things with the old "Triple Deuce"
 
Originally Posted By: RePeteOriginally Posted By: PrusonOriginally Posted By: Texas Swifty Does the 221 have anything over on the 222 Remington besides using less powder?

No, no it doesn't. Nothing at all.

Agreed^^^^^^

The 221's cooler but the 222 has a history for accuracy that few cartridges can match.

Clearly the sensible answer is to own both.


A history for accuracy is very well worded. Indeed it does, way back. I owned two 221's and 222's at one point in time. I still have both of those 222's and neither of the 221's. No remorse here.
 
Splitting hairs, which is a worthwhile March pastime. Get whichever platform you like and can get a better deal on. Isn't worth debating the performance difference.
 
I have an lvsf in 221 fur ball that is a 5 shot one holer with 40 vmax and 19 grains of reloaded 7. If I recall 40 bt's were about the same. I'm not sure you need to mess with a stock. Too bad I have no use for it lol!
Something about those lvsf's that I have a weak spot for. I am adding my 5th in a few days. They are all well under 1 moa with the 17 and the 221 around .5 or better if I do my part.
 
Last edited:
I have shot them both at various times. I had the 221 in lvsf. No longer here. I now have a quad- two 222's and two fireballs hiding inside them. Better ammo and component availability, and fantastic accuracy. Made sense to me.
 
I grew up with a 222. That gun ruined me...I thought all guns were supposed to shoot groups wth bullets touching at 200 yards! It started life as a Marlin Varmint King...we got it 3rd hand and had to have it rebarreled. 19.5 grains of 4198 and a 52grain Sierra HPBT makes shooting paper boring. I can't tell you how many woodchucks I took with that rifle through my teen years.
 
Which 4198 powder? I have so many 52 Berger's that's what I'd like to shoot. I guess most powder is good but I'm not sure where to start. I've got IMR4198-8208-N133&135-BM-PRO VARMINT-& X-TERMINATOR. I guess I'll just pick a couple & go with it. I'm used to loading for Swift's & haven't loaded the smaller 22's.
JD
 
Originally Posted By: Tstorm1I grew up with a 222. That gun ruined me...I thought all guns were supposed to shoot groups wth bullets touching at 200 yards! It started life as a Marlin Varmint King...we got it 3rd hand and had to have it rebarreled. 19.5 grains of 4198 and a 52grain Sierra HPBT makes shooting paper boring. I can't tell you how many woodchucks I took with that rifle through my teen years.

Yep....I know everyone likes the plastic tipped stuff but those 52SMK's and the 222 are a match made in heaven.

 
TexasSwifty...I've used IMR and Hodgdon. My rifle seems to prefer Hodgdon a bit better. Give the IMR a go and see what you get. Many I have talked with that shot 222's were very close to 19.5 gr. Once you find what it likes you'll want to keep shooting it as there is almost no recoil.
 
I still have my XP221 Fireball, althou I haven't put a round down the tube since back around 1985, it was doing really well with the Hornady 50gr. SX pills at that time.

I have never owned a 222, so help here on comparing them.
 
Back
Top