No its not the .460 XVR. Its the Remington XP 100 .221 Fireball. I had one back in the 70's and regretted selling it, and now I found a pristine one. It was affectionately called just the Fireball back in the day. I was pleasantly surprised they still make ammo for it and in fact it is still kinda popular in a rifle. I was pretty hilarious watching the face of the employees doing the transfer, no one had ever heard of it and before I knew it their were several customers standing around me asking what in tarnation is that thing. Can't wait to shoot and reload for it. Looks kinda cool next to my 500 Smithy.

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I had a 7br version back in 1981 . You have a really nice shooter .

Watch for a modern run in 204 ruger cartridge for the real hot rod . But quality could be suspect !

The XP 100 is a cool machine--exotic enough that lots of folks have never had a chance to see one. I bought my .35 Rem. XP back in 1989 I believe, and have always wanted a .221. Good luck with your handgun, they're a jewel.

I remember the first time I saw a picture/description of the Fireball handgun. It was in a Spiegal Catalog (early- mid 60s, maybe?) In 1989, I had a Sako Vixen rebarrelled to the 221 Fireball; 22 inch, 1/14 twist stainless Douglas #4. My favorite varmint rifle of all time. Killed about a bazillion ground squirrels and prairie dogs with it.

The XP's have risen to sky high prices around here, so I have 2 ten inch Contender barrels for Fireball. My first is an octagon and the second is a bull. The bull seems to be the perfect weight, and really likes the Combined Technologies 50 grain poly tipped bullet. Factory ammo from Remington is OK at best (50 grain green tipped V-Max bullet), and more suited for rifle length barrels. However, Nosler loads this round as a Midway exclusive and the brass is fantastic! It is loaded with a 40 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip at an advertised velocity of 3200 fps (the package says loaded by ADC Bend, Oregon). Two of my friends and I have tried to come up with very high quality brass from 223 Remington, of several brands, and it will work but isn't very good in the neck (too far down into the case wall). A friend then tied 222 Remington, Lapua brand brass and the necks have the perfect neck tension even without turning! The Nosler brass is not available as a component, so most likely your best bet is to buy loaded ammo. I ended up with 3 different die sets (RCBS standard, Bonanza Competition, and Redding Competition with neck sizing collets) and can form brass in a simple turret press without resetting dies. I use a L.E.Wilson case length trimmer. When seating bullets my barrels like .002 to .003 neck tension and I full length size the case body and size the neck half of the length.

Since I don't have experience with an XP, you can take this with a grain of salt. My experience with Remington 700's in 22 Center Fire cartridges is they like the bullet between touching the lands and .010 off. I don't think the 40 grain will be able to be seated that far forward enough in the case, but my Contenders have responded very favorably with 50 grain bullets just touching the lands (not a hard jam!)

Remington 7 1/2 primers were invented for this cartridge! They still seem to be better than anything else in it.

Have fun. Ivan

Pleasantly surprised at all of the responses, thanks. I will definitely make use of the reloading info. I wonder how much velocity loss over the rifle( I take for granted the specs on all .221 Ammo is 22" or 24" test barrel)with the 10.5" XP 100, wondering if anyone has chronographed any of the ammo available. I also had at one time the 7MM Bench Rest with the 14"(I think) barrel and the gray stock, they are sure expensive now so I doubt I will get one again. I think $500.00 for the XP and $100.00 for the scope was a good deal but I never see them here in Cali. to often so I don't really know.
Thanks for all of the responses.

In Hornady's 9th edition, there is 400-500 fps difference between a 24" rifle barrel and the 10" XP100. I'd expect factory ammo to pretty much mirror that. I bet the 40 gr V Max or the 40 gr Ballistic Tip bullets could get you pretty close tot he lands in the XP. Even if they don't, I bet they would still be top notch in accuracy.

Keep track of your brass! Hard to find and spendy.

You shouldn't have any problem working up a load that will push a 40 or 50 grain bullet over 3000 fps.

Varmints beware!

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

I remember my uncle had one when I was a kid. Fireball is right!

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John
S&WCA Life Member