22br

[25 Sharps]

I'd imagine it would be quite a bit faster as my .223 runs 55 grain bullets at 3600 without trying too hard. According to the chrony anyway.

That is very hot for a .223, are you sure your chrony is right? What barrel length and load?

Ive been thinking about a slow twist 22-250 build to shoot the 69 TMKs, this thread has got me thinking that .22BR might be a better bet.

Ps the 22-250 is conservative at 3500 with a 55 gr, our club chairman has a load for 55gr sierras nudging 4000 fps

 

[User00033]

There has been a massive improvement in terminal performance in my .223 since I started using the Nosler 38135 64gr Bonded Solid Base, that 20% increase in weight and massive increase in "toughness" over a varmint bullet cannot be overstated. So a .22BR that weighs another 5gr and leaves the muzzle 10% faster is an attractive proposition.

How long can you go in terms of projectile length, Nigel?

 

[User00033]

I'd imagine it would be quite a bit faster as my .223 runs 55 grain bullets at 3600 without trying too hard. According to the chrony anyway.

The .223 can reach these speeds with a hot load of Benchmark for example. I had mine up around 3550fps with benchmark but backed it off and changed to 2206H because I just didn't need hypervelocity.

yes agree Boydy, Nigel's .22-250 MV assumption is a little conservative but I would favour the longer, heavier pill that the .22BR can deliver over the 50-55gr anyday.

I have a T3 Supervarmint in .223 with the 1:12" twist but the idea of swapping out the barrel for a 1:8" Truflite is increasingly appealing as I have the COAL to be able to load some of the heavier .223 VLD type bullets like the Sierra TMK. That would open the door to the T3 .204 to take over bunny duties, I have one sitting in the shed not doing anything waiting for a new stock and some tidying up as she is a bit rough...

 

[25 Sharps]

The .223 can reach these speeds with a hot load of Benchmark for example. I had mine up around 3550fps with benchmark but backed it off and changed to 2206H because I just didn't need hypervelocity.

yes agree Boydy, Nigel's .22-250 MV assumption is a little conservative but I would favour the longer, heavier pill that the .22BR can deliver over the 50-55gr anyday.

That is an incredibly hot load of benchmark, hodgdon give a top velocity of under 2900 fps for their max load with this powder under a 55 gr pill.

Agree on the 69s which is why if I went 22-250 it would likely be a semi-custom build to allow a fast twist for the 69s. Looking at hodgdon's data for the 22-250 they list 4 or 5 powders giving over 3300 fps with a 70 gr pill with the super performance reaching 3499 fps!

 

[User00033]

That is an incredibly hot load of benchmark, hodgdon give a top velocity of under 2900 fps for their max load with this powder under a 55 gr pill.

This is the part of re-loading thats so hard to get your head around, I see the differences between ADI, Hornady and Nosler data all the time and this is why I like to use Quickload as a sanity check.

I used Benchmark, which is actually Benchmark 2 in Aus/NZ just to confuse matters even more, with a 50gr Nosler BT and measured 3523fps avg with 26.7gr which is marginally over the highest load listed in the Nosler book. I switched to the 55gr Varmageddons and got 3356fps avg with 25.3gr, which is a compressed load and a bit over the max listed but again with no pressure signs at all.

Now ADI and Hodgdon being basically one and the same, your comment does not surprise me because I have found ADI published velocities to be very very conservative compared to their competitors, especially Hornady, and the chronograph. So much so that I do not start low with ADI/Hodgdon data any more I start in the middle of the range and work up in reasonable increments to the max and always end up using either the max or just over.

It is also worth pointing out that the chronograph averages usually show up Quickload as well, i.e. The model is just a guide but often it can be a fair bit out of line with reality.

Boydy are you looking at an old book or maybe at another bullet because the data on the Hodgdon website shows higher velocity than what you've quoted, but still nowhere near as high as what me and others I shoot with have got with Benchmark or what Hornady & Nosler quote.

 

[25 Sharps]

To be honest I tend to find that actual velocity I get compared to published data is under by around 5% though I generally use Viht or ramshot powders. Apologies though I picked up on the minimum load velocity earlier, hodgdon are quoting around 3200 fps for the top end with the 55s.

 

[User00033]

All good...

I am Lying in bed with a book on how to Ackleyize my Super Varmint with a new 1:8" barrel... this .22BR thread has got me thinking about all the fun things you can do with the versatile .224 pill.

 

[ziggy]

Still in progress but at min, it's 27" 1/12 twist barrel, Lapua cases, 26.4 grains of N135 and a CCI BR4 primer. Loaded to mag length with a 55 grain Nosler BT. With a 50 it's over 3700fps with 26 grains of N133

 

[NigelM]

Who built the .22br ?

Riflecraft in Suffolk. He has built a few for me and they have all been very good.

 

[NigelM]

There has been a massive improvement in terminal performance in my .223 since I started using the Nosler 38135 64gr Bonded Solid Base, that 20% increase in weight and massive increase in "toughness" over a varmint bullet cannot be overstated. So a .22BR that weighs another 5gr and leaves the muzzle 10% faster is an attractive proposition.

How long can you go in terms of projectile length, Nigel?

On the 9 twist I'm just about there with the 69's. Go 8 twist and you will shoot the 77 TMK's. I didn't do that as I wasted a span of 55 to the 69's to keep velocity up and trajectory flat for shooting at night when range estimation is tricky.

 

[Whitebeard]

Good to see another advocate of the brilliant .22BR cartridge, I am getting 3580fps out of my 24" 1:12 barrel with a 55gr SBK over 31grns of Vit 135.

Ian.

 

[shakey jake]

Not trying to hijac too much but what in reality is the fastest you could push a 22 round? Can they get much above 4000fps?

 

[User00033]

Not trying to hijac too much but what in reality is the fastest you could push a 22 round? Can they get much above 4000fps?

Yes, considerably higher... asumming its a little .224 like a 35 gr.

4800fps is possible with a .22-250 Ackley with a little pill.

4500fps is acheivable with the .220 Swift and .223 WSSM.

Personally I set a minimum weight of 50 gr for .224, which could theoretically get up to 4000fps with the .22-250 AI. Actually, that sounds like quite a lot of fun, would like to see the goats get up from that one...

 

[Whitebeard]

Not trying to hijac too much but what in reality is the fastest you could push a 22 round? Can they get much above 4000fps?

Oh yes, years ago i decided to see if i could get 5000fps from my 22-250 AI, well i didnt quite make when extreme pressure problems halted my Quest at 4890fps with a 35gr Berger over a stiff charge of Vit 560

Ian

 

[Whitebeard]

Dodgy, i was comfortably shooting 52gr A Max at 4200fps from my 22-250 AI before my quest for 5000fps.

Ian.

 

[NigelM]

1st blood tonight. Nothing very impressive but two foxes, one at 80 yds and the other at 140 yds using the NV. Both dropped instantly so the 69 grain TMK's seem to do their job well.

The only issue is that it doesn't feed very well. Will have to see what we can do about that...

Overall, very happy.

 

[User00033]

1st blood tonight. Nothing very impressive but two foxes, one at 80 yds and the other at 140 yds using the NV. Both dropped instantly so the 69 grain TMK's seem to do their job well.

The only issue is that it doesn't feed very well. Will have to see what we can do about that...

Overall, very happy.

What kind of feed problem do you have? I also experienced problematic feeds with the Howa action when I try and feed around slowly and quietly.

 

[NigelM]

The case is very short with long neck and bullet. When it comes through the feed lips the bullet touches the top of the receiver and jams. Slowly and gently seems to work better than quickly but I do need to sort it out and I ended up single feeding last night.

 

[shakey jake]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Well done on first blood Nigel always nice to christen a gun

 

[NigelM]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Well done on first blood Nigel always nice to christen a gun

Jake, I have a mate in Scotland who uses what he calls a 22 Max. I's from a chap in the US who's a retired general or something like that who has a series of "Max" chamberings. This one I think is an Improved 257 Roberts necked down to 224 and he claims it runs his 55 Blitzkings at 4200 fps. Having used it on a few occasions I don't dispute that. Very accurate and laser like in it's trajectory.