John, how "reduced" do you want to go.Has anyone loaded a reduced load for the 221 fireball. Using the 35 gr hornady V -max?? If so how did you like it and what did you load it with?
Try the Blue Dot. In my rifle the reduced loads shoot to nearly the same point of aim until velocity decay lets them down. I would think that if the 4 grain load is around 1100 fps in the .223 it will be a tad higher in the Fireball. I regularly hit squirrels at ranges up to 150 yards with mine. It takes a bit of hold-over, of course. It's cool to have 2 rifles in 1.Well I tried a load and I used 3.5 gr. of 700x with a 35 gr. v-max. At 25 yds. 3 shoot group about the size of a dime, but at 50 yds. got much bigger like a half. And it was going at 1792 FPS. Then tried 4.0 grs. of 700x at 50 yds. and the group came to 1/2". Do you think that the blue dot would make the bullet slower in the 221 fireball . What I'm trying to get is the 35 gr. v-max at about 1400 FPS and at 50 yds. about 1" group.??????
I have a CZ 22 but that is the fun of reloading is trying new loads and working them up.or...buy a 22LR or 22WMR. Then you get what you're trying to load down for w/o all the hassle.
I guess I can see the "cool" factor of having one gun that you can hunt varmints and edible small game with, on the same day/trip, using different loads. I guess I was being a bit narrow-minded, as the only time I've ever created reduced loads has been when loading down a more powerful cartridge, such as the 44 Mag.I have a CZ 22 but that is the fun of reloading is trying new loads and working them up.
Keep us posted. I've never actually chronied mine and I'd like to see the velocity curve as you work up. Particularly if you go to the top.The most accurate was 4.o grs. in the 700X power, 1/2" group at 50yds. It was at 1900 FPS.. I did try the 4.0 grs. of blue dot and it was at 1250 FPS. , I am going to do a work up on the blue dot in a few days ( have to go buy some more). And that was with the 35 gr. v-max.
Try using 8.0 grains of SR-4759 & a 50-55 grain SPT bullet for light loads.I took the 221 fireball out today for a live test. Bullet 35 gr v-max, 4.o grs. of 700X, at 1900 FPS. I shot a rabbit at about 25 yrs. in the right front arm and the lower part of the chest. It hit the are first and then the chest , on more are and a hole about the size of a half dollar in the chest. Well for what I want that is to much power. Back to a new work up. I think I will try Hodgdon's Lil Gun or the blue dot??
Well you were right as rain. I order some sierra 40 gr. HP , this bullet is a lot stronger . I have shot them before in a 223 years a go. They be here next week. ThanksAs I said before, John, the problem isn't too much speed, it is too frangible a bullet. That bullet is designed to be explosive - and it is.
Get yourself a box of 55-gr softpoints and load them over that same charge. You'll be MUCH happier.