I'm considering the .221 fireball. My first thought was the K-Hornet, but having read about the .221 it sounds like a better bet. I can load down to Hornet velocities, or up near .222/.223. I'd like to be able to load with different powders to suit a use (quieter at 2,200fps, or louder at 3,800 depending on need) and 32 to 50 grain bullet weights.
My parents have fox and bobcat near where they live (got a few of their chickens!), a friend hunts coyote every year and is inviting me to join him. My gun club has a 200 yard range for target shooting. I cast and load for a number of rifle and pistol cartridges, so having to form brass doesn't bother me.
My mind isn't made up, but it's close. I'd like to hear other perspectives.

I might suggest taking a look at the 204 Ruger. Very accurate, easy to load and brass is much easier to get than the 221 brass. It's also fur friendly compared to most of the .224's on the market.

Add into that is shoots as flat as the 220 Swift or 22-250 and handles bullets in the 26 thru 40 grain range with recoil forces so low that you can watch your hits thru the scope and it's, in my opinion, one of the best new cartridges on the market in the last 50 years. I'm shooting sub half inch groups with my CZ 527 and these rifles are available for around the 500 buck mark.

my 2 cents.

If/when I buy a varmint gun, it's going to be a .223 based on my experience with the rifle I used when I was growing up, a Sako Vixen .223 that my sister wound up with in the wake of the auction my Mom held for my Dad's gun collection.

Had a friend when I was bench shooting, built a .221 on a short rem 600 action with a full 1 1/4 inch bbl (3/8 ball nosed mill deep fluted) 20 inches long. He could shoot dimes all day long, and that big bull bbl kept cool and stable. I say go for it, sounds very interesting.

im going to agree with bob on the .204 i recenlty purchased one in a savage low profile varminter, and i love it, there are quite a few loads made for it, with bullets from 26 grains to 50 grains, min e also shoots sub .5 groups and wind hardly effects this little bullet

Funny you should mention the .204...;)
My dealer has a 527 Varmint on the used rack, though it looks brand new. Said he'll let it go for $375.
Can the .204 be loaded down into Hornet territory? Does the accuracy suffer? At the quieter/slower end of the spectrum, can I use 4227, 2400 or Blue Dot? I really would like the option of quieter loads when the occasion calls for it.

I haven't loaded it down, but I believe it can be treated the same as any of the 223, 222, 222 magnum or 17 Remington cases. It's actually a 222 Remington mag case necked to .204. From reports I'm seeing on several of the varmint forums it's as fur friendly as the 17 Remington which is one of the favorites of the "keep the fur" crowd.

I shot the 22-250 for near 30 years as my varmint rifle and then the 243 for the last five years and for the last two years have had friends with the 204. I bought a used CZ 527 Varmint that looked like new and paid near 500 for it with a set of CZ Rings.

It's near as accurate as the old 222 bench rest competition gun I used to shoot and capable of shooting as flat as any Swift or 22-250 I've owned and this all in a 7.2 pound rifle that's light enough to carry to coyote sets.

You might check over on the 204 Ruger forum and ask about the loading it down over there. Here's the link. There is a loading page and the forum is really informative.

http://www.204ruger.com/

I've spent 45 years shooting a varmints and have had just about every commercial varmint round made from the 22 hornet to most of the 6mm's and I certainly am impressed with this new cartridge. A few weeks ago I rolled a coyote at a measured 385 yards with it. This spring I'll be shooting ground squirrels (coke bottle sized ground diggers) from 75 to 475 yards with it and rock chucks at the same distances. Most time where the 243 tears the hides of coyotes up the 204 doesn't exit and seems to kill as well.

I'll tell you what, Bob, I'm gonna do it. I like to experiment with different bullets and powder, so once I get a feel for the standard loadings (I'm thinking 39 grain bullets with 4895) I'll start with light Hornet loads and work my way up.
Thanks for your comments, you have me very interested in the .204.
Now for a scope....

I've got a heavy barreled Sako in .222 that does a great job on varmints (including coyotes) out to 225 yards... 250 yards if I "push" it.

But I have to admit that the .204 Ruger sounds pretty darned good... but I am a little concerned about taking the larger varmints with such a small caliber bullet. But, certainly, Bob's vast experience in varmint hunting speaks well of the validity of his opinions on varmint calibers. :)


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

The one thing you have to watch though is that sometimes the heavier bullets wont group that well. Ive got a cz 527 in 204 that I bought new abot 2 years ago and at first bought just Hornandy rounds for it until I had enough to reload and till brass started to come around here bulk. I bought 2 boxes of 32 grain v-max and a box of 40 grain v-max. The 32's group great and the 40's dont group at all. I can get 5 shots in about 3/4's and the 40 group about 2". I bought a box of Winchester yesterday that are 34 grain and are lubaloxed so Im gonna try them when it warms up enough. Just something to think about if you dont get decent groups to start out with.

Thanks for the thoughts.
I have a box of 39 grain Blitz Kings coming in next week - I'll let y'all know how it goes.