[Contender]

Greetings all,

Anybody do any work with this cartridge utilizing 357 Max brass necked down and sized in a 221 FB Die?

Looking to try something like this in a Contender pistol.

Thanks for any info.

Regards, Ray

 

[Bones]

out of the archive

Ray,

Did you do anything with the 221 rimmed? By coincidence? I have a 221 Fireball barrel and a 357 Max barrel on order for my G2.

Also, As I am relativly new to single shot rifles and I only have a .223 at the moment, extraction does not appear to be a problem - what are the advantages of rimmed over rimless? Now that you have me thinking about it I could also use Bertram Brass in .222 Rimmed.

cheers

Bones

 

[ASSASSIN]

I build a lot of H&R and T/C Contender barrels that are chambered for the 221 Fire Ball - Rimmed as well as the 17 Remington Fire Ball - Rimmed. Both use Remington's 357 Maximum brass...

For use in the T/C Contender, if you start with a 221 Fire Ball chambering, a simple rim counterbore can be cut to allow the use of 357 Maximum brass. A 22lr. or 22 magnum can also be rechambered to the 221 Fire Ball - Rimmed, just like the 17 HMR can be rechambered to the 17 Fire Ball - Rimmed...

In most all cases, a "rimmed" cartridge has greater accuracy potential in a break open single shot because it allows for better control over headspace...

A

 

[ASSASSIN]

As a side note to my post above, to keep from loosing any brass because of necking it down from .35 caliber to .22 or even .17 caliber, it should first be annealed...

A

 

[Rocky Raab]

It's also an extractor issue. In a Contender or similar gun, you need a spring-loaded extractor so it can ride over the case body and still snap into the extractor cut on the case. That complication is averted with a rimmed round. I've had enough hassles with rimless rounds in the Contender that I will use such a cartridge only as an alternative to a rimmed round.

 

[BAGTIC]

In most all cases, a "rimmed" cartridge has greater accuracy potential in a break open single shot because it allows for better control over headspace...A

The only way to 'control' headspace with rimmed cartridges is to adjust the sizing die to headspace on a shoulder, unless one wants to use minimal rim thickness cut and turn each case to fit.

 

[skb2706]

Just a couple of considerations regarding .357 Max brass.

It is not always readily available and the quality of the batches I have is marginal at best.

I have a .221 FB rimless chambered Contender and two .204 Rugers, none of which have ever given me a problem being rimless. As both the .221/.357 max and the .221 FB headspace on the shoulder in a Contender it is doubtful you could prove one design more accurate than the other. I heard it...but I don't believe it.

 

[skb2706]

Greetings all,

Anybody do any work with this cartridge utilizing 357 Max brass necked down and sized in a 221 FB Die?

Looking to try something like this in a Contender pistol.

Thanks for any info.

Regards, Ray

If you are interested I have a 16 1/2 " Bullberry .221 fireball barrel I am looking to get rid of. You can shoot it like it is or have David (assassin) cut a rim in the chamber and size .357 max brass down. You would actually be able to shoot both cases once the rim is cut. Make you a reasonable deal on the barrel too.

 

[ASSASSIN]

....... and I'll cut the rim counterbore at "no charge"....

A

 

[Bones]

Assasin,

Did you get to do any more load development work on your 357 super Max?

Bones

 

[flashhole]

As both the .221/.357 max and the .221 FB headspace on the shoulder in a Contender it is doubtful you could prove one design more accurate than the other. I heard it...but I don't believe it.

I would think this would be especially true with fire-formed brass. My unrimmed 221 Fireball is wonderfully accurate with my handloads.

Is the 357 magnum case too short to warrant a similar wildcat?

 

[KenK]

Seems like the Mashburn Bee would be a viable alternative. The Winchester 218 Bee brass I have is sorry and I've considered making some from the excellent Starline 32-20 brass.

Folks that don't own a rifle in this "weight class" are missing the boat on the fun factor.

 

[ASSASSIN]

Yes, the 357 magnum can also be necked down to .224 caliber and does produce an excellent cartridge as well. In the Contender and G2, rechambering both the 22 long rifle and 22 magnum to the 22X357 makes for an excellent little varmint round. Also, most 22 long rifle barrels have a 1-16" twist while most 22 magnums have 1-14" twist rate barrels. For the most part, if you are gonna shoot bullets of 45 gr. and lighter, go with a 22 lr. rechamber but, if you want to shoot bullets up to 55 gr., them go with a 22 magnum rechamber....

A

 

[kaytod]

Gary Reeder has a 224x 357 Maximum, although I don't know the case dimensions, the advertized performance is that of a 222 Rem. There is also a 224 R-C Maxi which is a 357 max formed in a 222 die. It yields a 222 with a .218 length neck instead of the .313 length.

Hope this helps

Todd