221 Fireball/AA 1680 Gurus weigh in please

flashhole · July 11, 2011, 04:50 PM

I've been reloading 221 Fireball since I bought my gun in 2006. I have several conponent combinations that provide outstanding results but have always been intrigued by the claims of supernatural performance of AA 1680 powder in the Fireball. Bughole size groups at fasterthanyoueverthoughtpossible velocity ... defies the laws of physics ... T H E powder for the Fireball ... etc.

I have a portable reloading station that I am quite adept with and I hauled it to the range this weekend after I bought a pound of 1680 with the expectation I was going to come up with the super load. My go-to load has been Reloader #7 powder and Nosler 40 or 50 grain Ballistic Tip bullets. I've yet to shoot a bullet 50 grains or less with RL #7 that didn't shoot well in my Rem 700 but when I buy bullets I buy Noser BTs.

No luck at all with the 1680 powder. I tried both bullet weights, Fed 205, CCI 400 and Rem 7 1/2 primers and multiple powder loads and bullet seating depths. I sent about 120 rounds down range and I was focusing on 5 shot groups. The best I could manage was a single group just under 1.5". This from a gun that usually shoots one ragged hole at 100 yards. I shot some of the "control rounds" and the gun was spot on. I just could not make 1680 work.

Any suggestions?

Magnum Wheel Man · July 11, 2011, 05:22 PM

did you chrony your loads ???

flashhole · July 11, 2011, 07:27 PM

No, didn't have a chrony but went in load range from 18.5 grains of powder to 20.5 grains of powder. 20.5 is the only published max reference I could find. No pressure signs with any of the component combos I tried. I even went to 20.9 grains on two rounds and still looked to be within a safe pressure zone. The outside air temp was 72 degrees.

Viper225 · July 24, 2011, 01:03 AM

I did lots of research on what to load in mine. I ended up using Lil Gun. I came up with a load of 15.5 under a 50 grain V Max. This load was a little to warm. I ended up backing it off to 15.0.

My gun was a Stainless Fluted Lite Varmint.

I got mine to coyote hunt with, and ended up shooting matches with it.
I was shooting it in Lite Tactical Division in our Club's Sniper & Multi Range F Class Matches. It was a little lite on sudds to go to 600 yards however. I kept getting mauled my 223/80 grain rigs, and my brothers 204 AR15. I just broke it down, and rebarreled it to a 223 with 1/7 Brux M24 contour barrel.

I have a Remington 700 fluted SS 22" barrel, almost 500 rounds of fired brass, 200 or 300 rounds of new Remington brass, dies, BDL magazine box & follower that I will be moving, if anyone is interested in getting into the Fire Ball business.

Bob

flashhole · July 24, 2011, 06:34 AM

I tried Lil Gun too. The step up in velocity was noticible over my RL #7 loads but accuracy was not as good, not bad, just not as good as the #7 loads.

If you advertise your brass in the classifieds it will probably sell quickly. Not so sure about the barrel. Folks don't normally spring for factory barrels if they are going to replace a barrel. They go the custom route. I tooled up and make my own 221 brass from military 223 cases. Sold all my 221 headstamp brass and have several lifetime supplies.

My gun is the Lite Varmint Stainless Flutted but it's not so light any more since I replaced the factory tupperware with a laminate.

m&p45acp10+1 · July 24, 2011, 09:39 AM

I have had outstanding results wth AA2015 and 55 grain bullets. Especialy Hornady VMax. With 55 grain FMJBT Hornady or Win bullets I have achieved under .5 MOA 5 shot groups with my CZ527. Though it is a 1 in 11 twist. I agree with the RL7 and light bullets. VMax 40 grainers work as well as the BTs so if you see me cheaper they do the same thing.

steve4102 · July 24, 2011, 09:44 AM

I tried lots of powders in my CZ as well. Settled on 2400, accurate, fast and barrel seems to stay cooler longer.

5 rounds at 100.

July 11, 2011, 04:50 PM	#1
flashhole Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2005 Location: Owego, NY Posts: 2,000	221 Fireball/AA 1680 Gurus weigh in please I've been reloading 221 Fireball since I bought my gun in 2006. I have several conponent combinations that provide outstanding results but have always been intrigued by the claims of supernatural performance of AA 1680 powder in the Fireball. Bughole size groups at fasterthanyoueverthoughtpossible velocity ... defies the laws of physics ... T H E powder for the Fireball ... etc. I have a portable reloading station that I am quite adept with and I hauled it to the range this weekend after I bought a pound of 1680 with the expectation I was going to come up with the super load. My go-to load has been Reloader #7 powder and Nosler 40 or 50 grain Ballistic Tip bullets. I've yet to shoot a bullet 50 grains or less with RL #7 that didn't shoot well in my Rem 700 but when I buy bullets I buy Noser BTs. No luck at all with the 1680 powder. I tried both bullet weights, Fed 205, CCI 400 and Rem 7 1/2 primers and multiple powder loads and bullet seating depths. I sent about 120 rounds down range and I was focusing on 5 shot groups. The best I could manage was a single group just under 1.5". This from a gun that usually shoots one ragged hole at 100 yards. I shot some of the "control rounds" and the gun was spot on. I just could not make 1680 work. Any suggestions? __________________ ,,, stupidity comes to some people very easily. 8/22/2017 my wife in a discussion about Liberals. Are you ready for civil war?

July 11, 2011, 05:22 PM	#2
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	did you chrony your loads ??? __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

July 11, 2011, 07:27 PM	#3
flashhole Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2005 Location: Owego, NY Posts: 2,000	No, didn't have a chrony but went in load range from 18.5 grains of powder to 20.5 grains of powder. 20.5 is the only published max reference I could find. No pressure signs with any of the component combos I tried. I even went to 20.9 grains on two rounds and still looked to be within a safe pressure zone. The outside air temp was 72 degrees. __________________ ,,, stupidity comes to some people very easily. 8/22/2017 my wife in a discussion about Liberals. Are you ready for civil war?

July 24, 2011, 06:34 AM	#5
flashhole Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2005 Location: Owego, NY Posts: 2,000	I tried Lil Gun too. The step up in velocity was noticible over my RL #7 loads but accuracy was not as good, not bad, just not as good as the #7 loads. If you advertise your brass in the classifieds it will probably sell quickly. Not so sure about the barrel. Folks don't normally spring for factory barrels if they are going to replace a barrel. They go the custom route. I tooled up and make my own 221 brass from military 223 cases. Sold all my 221 headstamp brass and have several lifetime supplies. My gun is the Lite Varmint Stainless Flutted but it's not so light any more since I replaced the factory tupperware with a laminate. __________________ ,,, stupidity comes to some people very easily. 8/22/2017 my wife in a discussion about Liberals. Are you ready for civil war?

July 24, 2011, 09:39 AM	#6
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	I have had outstanding results wth AA2015 and 55 grain bullets. Especialy Hornady VMax. With 55 grain FMJBT Hornady or Win bullets I have achieved under .5 MOA 5 shot groups with my CZ527. Though it is a 1 in 11 twist. I agree with the RL7 and light bullets. VMax 40 grainers work as well as the BTs so if you see me cheaper they do the same thing. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

July 24, 2011, 01:03 AM	#4
Viper225 Senior Member Join Date: September 20, 2009 Location: SC Missouri Posts: 663	I did lots of research on what to load in mine. I ended up using Lil Gun. I came up with a load of 15.5 under a 50 grain V Max. This load was a little to warm. I ended up backing it off to 15.0. My gun was a Stainless Fluted Lite Varmint. I got mine to coyote hunt with, and ended up shooting matches with it. I was shooting it in Lite Tactical Division in our Club's Sniper & Multi Range F Class Matches. It was a little lite on sudds to go to 600 yards however. I kept getting mauled my 223/80 grain rigs, and my brothers 204 AR15. I just broke it down, and rebarreled it to a 223 with 1/7 Brux M24 contour barrel. I have a Remington 700 fluted SS 22" barrel, almost 500 rounds of fired brass, 200 or 300 rounds of new Remington brass, dies, BDL magazine box & follower that I will be moving, if anyone is interested in getting into the Fire Ball business. Bob

July 24, 2011, 09:44 AM	#7
steve4102 Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,955	I tried lots of powders in my CZ as well. Settled on 2400, accurate, fast and barrel seems to stay cooler longer. 5 rounds at 100.