shooters and bystanders). For charges near 20 grains, these two tested primers seemed reasonable choices, perhaps the best choices. Use no other primer with these data! To see why, just refer to the table on preceding page! I measured case-head expansion
on enough new cases with each listed load to be comfortable that average ex- pansion in new cases will be insignifi- cant (with the lot of cases that I tested). My charge cutoff limit was ½-grain less than the charge that gave maximum expansion of about 8/10,000-inch for any given load when tested in three new cases. While I have no way of knowing
actual pressure in such loads, I can predict that, when used in Roger’s rifle, no load suggested here would open any primer pocket sufficiently to result in a loose primer fit, even after dozens of reloading and firing cycles. I would expect results to vary considerably in a different gun using different compo- nents and using different loading tools and techniques. You should expect the same thing and use appropriate caution in your load development. Bolt lift and extraction were per-
fectly normal with all listed loads. Primer appearance was indicative of top-end pressures in most tested loads. Flat area on pistol primers was unusu- ally large but that is predictable because those have thinner cups. In some guns incipient blanking
(what we sometimes incorrectly refer to as cratering) or blanking could be a problem when using any pistol primer, even with loads generating significantly less pressure. This depends upon head- space, characteristics of striker and striker spring, fit between striker and bolt, and other factors. Loads listed here generate pres-
sure that somewhat exceeds the SAAMI specification pressure limit for the 221 Fireball. For this reason, I do not recom- mend any load listed here for use in any other gun. Your decision to load any car-
tridge to higher-than-standard pressure entails risk associated with the fact that the gun was not factory proof-tested for such a load and, therefore, continued use of such a load could result in cata- strophic gun failure after firing some feasibly small number of shots. If you do not understand this, the
At the range with Roger Hazlewood’s short-action M-700 in 221 Fireball: This custom gun has a premium recoil lug, single-shot magazine follower insert, and a premium barrel but is otherwise built of original components. The Burris Fullfield II 4½-14x-42mm scope is a fine addition and the Burris Signature Zee rings have many advantages over any other scope rings – these are my go-to choice whenever feasible. The E-Z Pull trigger reduces let-off on this gun to about 8 ounces and I find this to be helpful both at the bench and in the varminting field.
www.varminthunter.org Page 55
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best course is to limit loads to standard industry maximum pressure. To use the components listed here
and to assure that the resulting load is not likely to generate pressure greater than the industry limit for the 221, re- duce your maximum-load charge one grain below the charge listed in the associated charge tables. However, before delivering this
gun to Roger, Branscomb had proof tested it for loads to at least 65,000 psi so we know that this gun will tolerate such loads indefinitely. Branscomb’s proof load generated at least 80,000 psi
(it blew the primer pocket of a converted 223 case), which is more than sufficient for the purpose. The fact that the gun survived that load proves that it will survive the firing of many millions of loads generating about 65,000 psi. So, I have no concern about using loads listed here, which are unlikely to generate more than about 60,000 psi, in this gun. BALLISTICS AND ACCURACY As with the original testing, I was
not disappointed. Velocity and accuracy were extremely impressive – I will not hesitate to take shots on vermin within about 400 yards. With tested conven-
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