BACK IN THE 70's I GOT A XP FIREBALL BUT THE SCOPE CHOICES SUCKED AND MY GUN KNOWLEDGE WAS AT AN ENTRY LEVEL. IN THE 80's I HAD IT REBARRELED WITH A 17 INCH 17 REM SHILEN BARREL AND PUT A BURRIS VARIABLE ON IT. IT TAUGHT ME THAT I DID NOT WANT TO RELOAD 17 REM, TOO EASY TO SPIKE PRESSURE AND BLOW EXTRACTORS. PROBABLY 30 YEARS + SINCE I HAVE SHOT IT. HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT PUTTING THE ORIGINAL FIREBALL BARREL BACK ON BUT HAVE OTHER PRIORITIES + I RECENTLY GOT AN OCTAGON 10 INCH CONTENDER BARREL IN 221 FIREBALL AND THAT "SCRATCHED MY FIREBALL ITCH". UNDER POWERED FOR HOGS BUT A SUPER NEAT ROUND FOR SMALLER CRITTERS. I AM USING SOME HSM 50gr AMMO. "I SWEAR" THAT I HAVE SOME FIREBALL DIES SOMEWHERE BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THEM.