Just put a Remington 700 LVSF in 221 Fireball on hold, been wanting a 221 for some time now. I will pick it up in a couple of weeks. It's the light weight stainless/synthetic model with the fluted barrel, short action, and jeweled bolt. Gander mountain had one on "clearance" for $100 less than I could order it from Wally World. Hate the stock and the butt pad, those gotta go but couldn't pass up the low price.

Now I'm trying to get tooled up for handloading and looking for a good replacement stock. I'm anxious to try Hodgdon Lil Gun with some Sierra or Nosler plastic tip bullets.

Any leanings with the stock?

I think you will really like that rifle. I had a BDL 17 Rem that I couldn't get to shoot the way I felt it should have and it rebarreled it to 221 fireball with a standard weight Shilen barrel cut to 23". Great carry rifle and super acurrate. I'm using the 40 gr. Sierra Blitzking and 15.0 grains of H Lil'Gun for 3383 FPS.
Good Luck with your new toy.

Panhandlepr

Here is what I would look at for a stock
http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/BrowseEbus/WarnerVall.asp
http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/BrowseEbus/Varmintall.asp
I have handled the thumbhole stock and it is sweet

jb - the Ross thumbhole sporter looks like the winner to me. Thanks for the link. I'll be getting the VIP version and finishing it myself.

I'm using the 40 gr. Sierra Blitzking and 15.0 grains of H Lil'Gun for 3383 FPS.
Good Luck with your new toy.

Panhandlepr

Those are pretty impressive numbers. Is your Lil'Gun load maxed out? The 22" barrel has a 1:14 twist so I'm thinking 50 grain bullets are going to be the heavy weights for this cartridge. I have had wonderful results with Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets in my 25-06 and 243. I have no reason to doubt equally good performance with the Fireball.

As far a sbullets I like Sierra and Hornady V-Max. Noslers are nice, but for varmints, you want something that blows up nicely. The Noslers seem to be a little harder and make a clean hole. The V-Max, and Sierra's blow up nicely.

For a stock, you might want to look at these also.

http://rifle-stocks.com/

I have a Remington 700 LS. The best reload for my rifle is Rem. cases, Fed 205M primers,Hornady 40 Gr V-Max bullet with 18.6 Gr of Re 7 powder. I started with 17.7 Gr powder = .92 inch group, 18.0 Gr = 1.1 inch group, 18.3 Gr powder =1.1 inch group but four rounds were in a .45 inch group, 18.6 GR =.46 inch group. I also reloaded some rounds with LilGun but Re7 powder is a little better in my rifle.

Those are pretty impressive numbers. Is your Lil'Gun load maxed out? The 22" barrel has a 1:14 twist so I'm thinking 50 grain bullets are going to be the heavy weights for this cartridge. I have had wonderful results with Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets in my 25-06 and 243. I have no reason to doubt equally good performance with the Fireball.

This load was worked up using my Ohler chrono and there are no pressure signs of any type. This has turned into one of my more accurate rifles and shoots those little tiny groups we all love to see.

I have a Remington 700 LS. The best reload for my rifle is Rem. cases, Fed 205M primers,Hornady 40 Gr V-Max bullet with 18.6 Gr of Re 7 powder. I started with 17.7 Gr powder = .92 inch group, 18.0 Gr = 1.1 inch group, 18.3 Gr powder =1.1 inch group but four rounds were in a .45 inch group, 18.6 GR =.46 inch group. I also reloaded some rounds with LilGun but Re7 powder is a little better in my rifle.

Thanks, I have some Re 7 powder on hand, I'll give it a try sometime down the road.