Range report, .221 Fireball

elpac3

elpac3

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Just got back from the first range session with the new (to me) Remington XP-100 chambered in .221 fireball.

Gun is a vintage 1963 XP-100 in the original chambering of .221 fireball. Pistol is topped off with a Nikon 2.5 - 8 scope. The single shot action is based on the 40x rifle action and has by far and away the nicest out-of-the -box factory trigger I have shot. VERY clean break at 1.7 pounds.

After reading up on .221 loads and not having any of the favorite .221 powders and bullets (50 grain) I settled on W296 (which I have for the .30 cal carbine) and Nosler 40 grain ballistic tips and Sierra 52 grain Match Kings (which I have for the .222)

Both bullets were measured in the chamber with the Hornady gage for seating depth. Numerous others have found the gun seems to like the bullets just off the lands so both bullets were seated .010 off the lands.

The 40 grain Nosler ahead of 13 grains of W296, running 2539 fps, turned in a .23" group off the bench at 50 yards as did the 52 grain Match King ahead of 12.5 of W296, again with a .24" group. The Nosler group opened up slightly with 13.5 grains of W296, going to .54".

Cases were a little sooty which may be due to the loads being bottom end loads as 296 burns best at the top of the loading.

Will be ordering a Lee collet sizing die as I have fond the Lee collets give very good neck concentricity (typically .001 or less) and do not require case lube.

Next outing will be to the 100 yard range :p
 
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We need pictures of that weapon !!
I think it was the #1 best looking "Weird design, Sci-Fi" work or art ever made !!
The nylon Remington .22 came close but yours, presses my buttons.

I remember all the write ups when I was young on that "Hot Rod" of a pistol, doing all those impossible shots......

Nice to see that you are able to own one of those beauties.
 
I wanted one of these since I was a kid reading gun magazines. I got lucky at a gun show a couple of years ago and found a guy looking to trade one for an AR. And I had an AR for sale. I found out when I got it home that it was a first year gun. Added a scope and it shoots as well as I can hold it.
 
Fireball

Great Handguns based on the 600 action
I have one original and 4 custom I built
This is a .17 Mach IV with Burris 4-12
Aluminum bedded
Curley maple with walnut forend and grip
Shilen barrel with match chamber
Working on 22 Benchrest at the moment
The light makes the stock look flawed, but it's not
 

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Sounds like it performed great at the range for you.

I had one in the late 70's & had it rechambered for .223 which I handloaded for it.

Sold it a few years later. :(

Interesting guns.

.
 
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Nevada Ed said:
We need pictures of that weapon !!
I think it was the #1 best looking "Weird design, Sci-Fi" work or art ever made !!
The nylon Remington .22 came close but yours, presses my buttons.

I remember all the write ups when I was young on that "Hot Rod" of a pistol, doing all those impossible shots......

Nice to see that you are able to own one of those beauties.
Click to expand...


This was one of three guns I passed on a long - - - time ago and regretted. One down, two to go. Have always been fascinated with the .221, can't explain why - - -

Mine is minus the original factory iron sights but for my intended use, optics are needed (not to mention the eyes are having a little more trouble focusing these days)
 
Nothing like a beach ball sized flame at the end of your arm! I have a 12 inch "Hunter" Contender barrel in 375 Winchester, shooting at dusk the ball of flame is almost Volkswagen sized!

Ivan
 
Looks like the 40 grain and 52 grain loads are running about 250-300 fps slower than published data for the 10 1/2 in barrel for published charge weights.

Seems pretty typical for some of the reloading manuals
 
It's an interesting gun, for sure. My experience has paralleled that in the OP. Recoil similar to +P .38 Special in a K-frame. The grip is a bit awkward for a Weaver stance, but the isosceles hold works well. Great accuracy. I topped mine with a Leupold 2x long-eye-relief scope. Scope bases for the Remington 700 series work well; I trimmed mine in back for the shorter length with a Dremel cut-off wheel.

I covered the XP-100 in my book 101 Classic Firearms. The chapter begins on page 190. Wayne Leek and his pals at Remington gave us a unique pistol that's easy to transport and can do the job of a centerfire .22 rifle quite well out to around 200 yards.

For getting the pistol on target, and for more economical practice, I got a chamber adapter (.22LR) from MCA Sports in Anchorage, Alaska.

Here's a picture of mine, produced in April of 1976.

John

REMINGTON_XP100-APR_1976_zpshgt0la83.jpg
 
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PALADIN85020 said:
For getting the pistol on target, and for more economical practice, I got a chamber adapter (.22LR) from MCA Sports in Anchorage, Alaska.

Here's a picture of mine, produced in April of 1976.

John

REMINGTON_XP100-APR_1976_zpshgt0la83.jpg
Click to expand...

How do you like the chamber adapter? I have seen their web page but have no experience with their adapter and have not seen one in person.
 
elpac3 said:
How do you like the chamber adapter? I have seen their web page but have no experience with their adapter and have not seen one in person.
Click to expand...

The adapter works quite well. The outer shape fits the chamber. Inside, there is a stepped hole. The .22LR drops into the forward part, which is essentially a .22 LR chamber. Then, a two-pronged insert is placed in the back end of the stepped hole, the prongs resting on the .22 LR base. The middle rear of the insert is where the gun's regular firing pin impacts, driving the insert forward, where the prongs set off the .22.

Accuracy is nothing to write home about, but it will get you in the ball park for initial sighting in, and informal cheap plinking.

John
 
PALADIN85020 said:
The adapter works quite well. The outer shape fits the chamber. Inside, there is a stepped hole. The .22LR drops into the forward part, which is essentially a .22 LR chamber. Then, a two-pronged insert is placed in the back end of the stepped hole, the prongs resting on the .22 LR base. The middle rear of the insert is where the gun's regular firing pin impacts, driving the insert forward, where the prongs set off the .22.

Accuracy is nothing to write home about, but it will get you in the ball park for initial sighting in, and informal cheap plinking.

John
Click to expand...

I just received a 22LR / .221 fireball adapter from MCA Sports in Alaska. I am a bit confused reading your instructions on how to use one of those adapters. I am looking at the very simple instructions that they sent with my adapter, and comparing them with your instructions that sound like they are for an entirely different adapter than mine. My instructions state that you simply load the cartridge into the adapter, and the adapter into your chamber, fire the round, then after firing the round, knock out the fired sub caliber case using a wooden dowel, or a cleaning rod. Why the big diference? Just curious. I have not used my adapter yet. Thanks
Chubbo
 
22 rimfire rounds are seldom as accurate as the 22 center fire rounds they are substituting for. The low pressure of the rimfire doesn't expand to take the rifling, and the twist is usually wrong for the 36 to 40 grain bullet. Plus the massive jump the bullet takes to exit the chamber.

All that said the adapters allow for practice indoors when the weather won't cooperate.

221 Fireball is a little "exciting" for shooting in the basement! I have a 22 RF barrel for my contender now, but in 1980 I used a 223 Super 14 barrel with factory ammo in the basement, for one shot! (this is not conducive to a harmonious marriage!)

Ivan
 
Chubbo said:
I just received a 22LR / .221 fireball adapter from MCA Sports in Alaska. I am a bit confused reading your instructions on how to use one of those adapters. I am looking at the very simple instructions that they sent with my adapter, and comparing them with your instructions that sound like they are for an entirely different adapter than mine. My instructions state that you simply load the cartridge into the adapter, and the adapter into your chamber, fire the round, then after firing the round, knock out the fired sub caliber case using a wooden dowel, or a cleaning rod. Why the big diference? Just curious. I have not used my adapter yet. Thanks
Chubbo
Click to expand...

There is no conflict here. Put the 22. cartridge in the adaptor, place the rimfire backup piece in behind the cartridge, load it all into the chamber, and fire it. The generic instructions are for smaller centerfire rounds like .32 ACP in a .30-30 rifle. The rimfire adaptors need the extra part. Just do it. It will be self-evident.

John
 
PALADIN85020 said:
There is no conflict here. Put the 22. cartridge in the adaptor, place the rimfire backup piece in behind the cartridge, load it all into the chamber, and fire it. The generic instructions are for smaller centerfire rounds like .32 ACP in a .30-30 rifle. The rimfire adaptors need the extra part. Just do it. It will be self-evident.

John
Click to expand...

That is the point that I am bringing out. there was nothing that came with my MCA Sports .22LR /.221 Fireball adapter, just the adapter, and the very simple instruction sheet. That makes me wonder if I should have recieived other parts along with my adapter? I guess that I should try to get in touch with MCA, and see if I am missing parts that I should have, to enable me to use the adapter correctly. Thanks John, for helping me solve a problem that I didn't even know that I had yet. Some of us "Old Poops" seem to draw troubles, like a magnet draws steel, and are thankful that we have Folks like you, and many others like you, that are able, and do take the time, to help folks like me. Thanks.
Chubbo
 
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Chubbo - here is a picture of the chamber adapter, showing the body, the firing insert and the toothpick I use to eject the fired case (and the insert) after firing. I erred in describing the insert - it has only one projection to serve as the rimfire firing pin, not two. I hope this will help.

John

221_22LR_CHAMBER_ADAPTER_zpsk5esgzsl.jpg
 
Groo here
I have the 7mmBR version of the XP100.
The first thing you find out is --50yds is too close!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also 100yds is just getting started...................
The XP100 out shoots most rifles.
Got my first deer with the 7mm.
 
bluetopper said:
Some say the XP-100 was used in Dallas on the grassy knoll in Nov. 63.
Click to expand...

That makes more sense than the Warren Report! But in 1963 6.5 mm was an unusual thing in America! The 6.5 Carcano rifle, is the only mass produced rifle with gain twist rifling, and that makes it impossible to connect a fired projectile to a particular rifle!

Ivan
 
Waiting for Info.

PALADIN85020 said:
Chubbo - here is a picture of the chamber adapter, showing the body, the firing insert and the toothpick I use to eject the fired case (and the insert) after firing. I erred in describing the insert - it has only one projection to serve as the rimfire firing pin, not two. I hope this will help.

John

221_22LR_CHAMBER_ADAPTER_zpsk5esgzsl.jpg
Click to expand...

I have contacted MCA Sports, about the necessary firing insert, that was not sent with my adapter, to find out how I would be able to get one. I have not heard from them on that matter yet. I guess that they assumed that I was buying the adapter for a TC Contender.221 fireball barrel, as I had requested Info. about the possibility of them making a .22LR adapter for a TC Contender barrel chambered in Rem. 5mm rimfire mag., and they must have assumed that the .22LR / .221 fireball adapter was also for a TC barrel, and omitted the firing insert, from the adapter shipment. My search for a replacement wood stock is going the same way. I did get an offer for the sale of a "drop dead" beautiful, brand new looking, wood stock, at less than 1/2 the going price, I Thought about that offer very carefully, before deciding that it sounded to good to be true, and passed on it. Things are progressing, but, very slowly.
Chubbo
 
Finally!

Well, the grounds have finally settled to the bottom of the pot, as they say. I finally received the complete .22LR / .221 fireball adapter, today, after a lot of tries. Now, the XP-100 .221 Fireball project is pretty much up to date, and can be shot, or sold by my Son after my passing. I would liked to have acquired a Factory issue wood stock, or other nice aftermarket wood stock, and would liked to have build a wood presentation case to hold the XP-100, and all the accouterments, I'd also liked shooting the pistol. I don't think that any of those things will ever happen now, but I've taken another step into the future. Thanks for listening to my long boring story.
Chubbohttp://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=285091&stc=1http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=285092&stc=1&d=1495483782d=1495483782
 

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