I built a 17 Fireball from a Stevens action (former .308) that I specifically wanted for fox hunting. I bot a SinMan barrel and wrenched it onto the Stevens Action.

Now, my "biggest" issue was the short .17 Fireball (which is the same length as the .221 Fireball) would be "sprung" from the magazine before the tip of the bullet had entered the barrel. This caused the bullet to jam...sideways...jump out of the gun altogether....and just plain be a PITA.

Of course, you can make it easy and put a single shot follower in it.....but I wanted a bolt action for a quick second follow up shot. So, the follower was not an option.

So, (and I'm giving you the short story) after many different "engineering attempts" at re-vamping the blind mag, what I ended up doing was buying a CZ removable .221 Fireball magazine. Then, with a friend who had an awesome wood shop, I cut a piece of walnut to "fit" in the blind mag "spot" and to also accept the CZ detachable mag. And finally, I cut two pieces of the Stevens blind mag to extend the feed lips of the mag enough so that the bullet was entering the barrel before it "left" the magazine.

In addition, there is a small grove in the extractor that must be filed out to be a bit longer so the spent brass will "drag" on the inside of the receiver until it reaches the opening to be ejected. Somewhere in the how to section there is an explanation of this.

Here are some pics of my work. Ask any questions you may have. If you go another direction...please post some pics so that others can have learn from what you have done. BTW....you should start from the bottom of the pics and go to the top for a logical order of start to finish...kind of!!
Completed rifle without mag in
[img width=600 height=357]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/davemuzz/Stevens%20Fireball/IMAG0034.jpg[/img]
Fitting walnut into blind mag space
[img width=600 height=401]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/davemuzz/Stevens%20Fireball/DSC00916.jpg[/img]
Fitting detachable CZ mag in with extended feed lips
[img width=600 height=401]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/davemuzz/Stevens%20Fireball/DSC00913.jpg[/img]
Fitting detachable CZ mag in before Davcon-ing extended feed lips
[img width=600 height=401]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/davemuzz/Stevens%20Fireball/DSC00912.jpg[/img]
Walnut fitted to stock, CZ mag work next
[img width=600 height=401]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/davemuzz/Stevens%20Fireball/DSC00911.jpg[/img]
Another view of finished walnut block prior to starting CZ mag fit and extended feed lips
[img width=600 height=401]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/davemuzz/Stevens%20Fireball/DSC00910.jpg[/img]
What it will look like when it's done
[img width=600 height=401]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/davemuzz/Stevens%20Fireball/DSC00918.jpg[/img]


The walnut block is not glued or held in place by any permanent means. The walnut is cut so when the barreled action is seated, the walnut does not move.

The CZ mag "Snaps" into place via a drilled piano wire front and back thru the walnut. In other words, it's just the piano wire pressure that holds it there. It works great and I haven't lost it yet.

My only "gripe" is the CZ mag spring is very strong and if I load 5 rounds in it....the first two will most likely jam when I go to eject and attempt to chamber them. So, I simply keep 3 rounds in the mag. When I hunt, I have one in the chamber and two in the mag. If I miss 'em after 3 shots....and I haven't had 3 shots at one fox yet, then it's a bad night!!!

Dave