Just bought an XP100 in 221 Fireball.
Where's the best source for new or used brass?
What is a reasonable price in todays market?
Where's the best source for new or used brass?
What is a reasonable price in todays market?
221 Fireball
- Thread starter hittman
- Start date
you can make it from .223 or buy from most the online reloading sites such as Midway...
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1601145641/remington-reloading-brass-221-remington-fireball
they also have Lapua and Norma in 221
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1601145641/remington-reloading-brass-221-remington-fireball
they also have Lapua and Norma in 221
Rick Courtright
Hawkeye
Hi,
Sounds like a good find! I used to run into a guy at some of the silhouette shoots where my buddy competed who had about three of those XPs--he had to lock 'em up in the trunk to keep the droolers off them!
As to brass, I get a lot of my rifle brass from Graf's, so I just looked them up and they have some .221 brass in stock. Mostly the high dollar stuff, but they've got a sale on some Nosler brass that brings it down to slightly less stratospheric levels:
http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/category/categoryId/633?
Chief's idea of making your own should bring it down to dirt cheap once you've got the dies.
Hope you have a lot of fun with that new toy, too!
Rick C
Sounds like a good find! I used to run into a guy at some of the silhouette shoots where my buddy competed who had about three of those XPs--he had to lock 'em up in the trunk to keep the droolers off them!
As to brass, I get a lot of my rifle brass from Graf's, so I just looked them up and they have some .221 brass in stock. Mostly the high dollar stuff, but they've got a sale on some Nosler brass that brings it down to slightly less stratospheric levels:
http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/category/categoryId/633?
Chief's idea of making your own should bring it down to dirt cheap once you've got the dies.
Hope you have a lot of fun with that new toy, too!
Rick C
contender
Ruger Guru
I used to own a 221 Fireball,, in a 4 digit XP-100. By selling it,,, it was one of the guns that created "seller remorse" in me,,, so I quit selling,,, I just buy.
Now, as for brass. Quick, immediate access isn't normal,,, but I see it pop up from time to time. I understand another caliber is being made by necking up the 221 cases,, and as such, brass is "around." I've seen some pop up for sale on other gun forums often enough to know it's still out there & viable.
Now, as for brass. Quick, immediate access isn't normal,,, but I see it pop up from time to time. I understand another caliber is being made by necking up the 221 cases,, and as such, brass is "around." I've seen some pop up for sale on other gun forums often enough to know it's still out there & viable.
OP
Thank you all for your replies.
And dang the bad luck! I drove through Mexico MO just last Friday and didn't think to stop at Graf's!
And dang the bad luck! I drove through Mexico MO just last Friday and didn't think to stop at Graf's!
rugerjunkie
Hunter
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2005
- Messages
- 2,048
Congrats on the xp! The little 221 is a fun cartridge! You'll enjoy it for sure.
As for the brass...gunbroker has it on and off but most of the time the Rem stuff is way overpriced. Just a few years ago it was plentiful and ran about $42/100 but prices got crazy just like everything else with some asking $1 per case and somtimes more. They can keep it for that price. The rem brass is ok but barely. I don't think Rem has run a batch of it in quite a while. They sure seem to crank out the 300 blackout though and the 300 was based on the 221 case.
Places like midway and powder valley carry nosler and lapua brass. Prices between the two are pretty close. Id lean towards the lapua. The other option was mentioned too by others and me in your original post about the xp...form it from 223 or 5.56 brass. I got form dies from Redding and couldn't be happier. The dies will cost about what 100-150 brass are going for and then you pretty much have an unlimited supply of 221 brass. I read up on it beforehand and a lot of people were saying the necks would need turned or reamed but I have not had to. Using several brands of 223 brass and lake city 5.56 has netted brass with neck thickness right on the money. Originally I tried forming by using the 221 dies with the 223 brass and lost a ton of them. Using the form dies was way easier and I only lost 2 out of the last batch of 550 I made up. Pm me if you'd like more info on the forming. There were a few tricks that the guys from Redding gave me that helped a lot.
As for the brass...gunbroker has it on and off but most of the time the Rem stuff is way overpriced. Just a few years ago it was plentiful and ran about $42/100 but prices got crazy just like everything else with some asking $1 per case and somtimes more. They can keep it for that price. The rem brass is ok but barely. I don't think Rem has run a batch of it in quite a while. They sure seem to crank out the 300 blackout though and the 300 was based on the 221 case.
Places like midway and powder valley carry nosler and lapua brass. Prices between the two are pretty close. Id lean towards the lapua. The other option was mentioned too by others and me in your original post about the xp...form it from 223 or 5.56 brass. I got form dies from Redding and couldn't be happier. The dies will cost about what 100-150 brass are going for and then you pretty much have an unlimited supply of 221 brass. I read up on it beforehand and a lot of people were saying the necks would need turned or reamed but I have not had to. Using several brands of 223 brass and lake city 5.56 has netted brass with neck thickness right on the money. Originally I tried forming by using the 221 dies with the 223 brass and lost a ton of them. Using the form dies was way easier and I only lost 2 out of the last batch of 550 I made up. Pm me if you'd like more info on the forming. There were a few tricks that the guys from Redding gave me that helped a lot.
wdr2
Bearcat
I have made lots of 221 brass from 223 and 222 Winchester brass also using the Redding dies. I have not had to neck turn for 221. When I make 20 Vartarg brass, I do need to turn the necks.
You will just have to measure a fired case neck compared with loaded case neck of one you make...I shot lots of 221 Fireball made by trimming then sizing in 221F RCBS sizer, used in a firearm with a fairly tight chamber thus always turned the necks...taking it down to 20 caliber will thicken the necks more. You have to take it on an individual basis...possible it will work without turning...just depends on how it fits your chamber...btw, the 20 Vartarg has got to be one slick cartridge...I shoot about a thousand 204 Ruger rounds a year , that 20 cal is one explosive bullet.wdr2 said:
If you can't find any brass, Midway has loaded ammo.
daveg.inkc
Hunter
Highway 54? I used to ride my H-D thru Mexico going to Springfield Mile Racehittman said:Thank you all for your replies.
And dang the bad luck! I drove through Mexico MO just last Friday and didn't think to stop at Graf's!
OP
daveg.inkc said:
Yes sir. I'm guessing you took 54 through Bowling Green to maybe Rt. 79 and Louisiana, MO.? Then across the river into Illinois. That'd be the scenic route on your scooter.
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