building a 22 cal varmint gun

[chet]

i am in the process of starting to build a long range 22 cal either in a 22-250 or a 22 BR heavy barrel contour in either a 8 or 9 twist 28" long, i think the bullet i want to go with will an 80 gr. will be using a savage action. any input on caliber choice and twist. i don't want to get into turning necks.

chet

 

[1911nut]

Savage target action, 22-250 28” Shilen, 1:8” ratchet, in a Mcree chassis

Three shots low on the coyote - Sitting on the ground using a Swagger bipod at 600 yds -80 grain Berger VLD

 

[B23]

For slinging the heavies, like the 75's or 80's, you may want something with a little more horsepower. A couple really easy ones would be 22-243 or 22 Creedmoor as they are both straight neck downs so dies will be easy peasy and with Lapua now making 6mm Creedmoor brass that could be the natural choice. I don't remember who, maybe Atlas brass company, but someone is making 22 Creedmoor brass.

Also, you're definitely going to want an 8tw barrel. I have a 22-243 Improved project going together right now and I'm using a Krieger 28in. 8tw fluted Sendero contour for my build. My gunsmith has a fireforming setup so I can get my brass from him already fireformed. If it wasn't for that, I'd probably being building a 22 Creedmoor.

 

[22DASHER]

I’d be leaning heavily on the 22x47L... for sure an 8 twist

 

[Clancy]

I’d be leaning heavily on the 22x47L... for sure an 8 twist

With some 80.5 Bergers

 

[Phil]

Depending on the horsepower you intend to have, a 22-250AI seems pretty simple and easy, Lapua brass doesn't hurt either....

 

[chet]

Depending on the horsepower you intend to have, a 22-250AI seems pretty simple and easy, Lapua brass doesn't hurt either....

sounds easy, will this case rival the 22-243 in similar power and powder chg
chet

 

[Knotwild]

22-250 AI

 

[Phil]

sounds easy, will this case rival the 22-243 in similar power and powder chg
chet

Probably close, but I think it will be less than the 22-243, I don`t have the parent case capacities with Lapua brass here at work...

 

[rr2030]

1911nut nailed in post #2, everything you asked for, caliber, barrel length, bullet weight, rifle manufacturer, no turn necks, plus photos and target to support the build. Just ask him for his build sheet and sourcing. Nice rifle 1911nut and great shooting!

 

[B23]

The straight 22-243 will have a slight advantage over the 22-250 Improved, and the 22-243 Improved will be another step up from a 22-243. The 220 Swift is no slouch either and would be the same as a 22-250 Improved with no fire forming involved. The biggest issue with a 220 Swift is brass quality is just kinda marginal and sometimes finding 220 Swift brass can be challenging but it has definitely gotten better the last couple years.

 

[Sniper338]

22x47 sounds interesting...

A regular ol 22-250 is hard to be though too... shot them for a while, been playing with the 22-250AI here lately. I havent decided if its worth it..

 

[1911nut]

1911nut nailed in post #2, everything you asked for, caliber, barrel length, bullet weight, rifle manufacturer, no turn necks, plus photos and target to support the build. Just ask him for his build sheet and sourcing. Nice rifle 1911nut and great shooting!

rr2030,
Thank you for the compliment.

I built the rifle but a friend who is hunting coyotes with it shot the coyote target.
I say I built it but I just screwed the barrel on the action with go and no-go gauges then screwed the barreled action into the chassis.

Something cool about the gun is it shoots smaller MOA groups at 200 yds than at 100 yds. Bullet taking longer to stabilize.?.
It shoots pretty consistent 5 shot groups off bags at 100yds in the 2’s
The 3 shots on the coyote target at 600 yds isn’t a fluke.

I’m planning a similar gun in 22 Creedmoor just to get a little flatter and faster at distance.

 

[linebaugh]

i am in the process of starting to build a long range 22 cal either in a 22-250 or a 22 BR heavy barrel contour in either a 8 or 9 twist 28" long, i think the bullet i want to go with will an 80 gr. will be using a savage action. any input on caliber choice and twist. i don't want to get into turning necks.

chet

Both your rounds "can" have feeding issues especially if you plan to use AICS or similar bottom metal. The 22x47 suggestion is an excellent choice right in your case capacity zone with excellent brass. Go 8 twist just in case you want to possibly shoot the 88 eld's.

 

[moorepower]

.22 CM Run the Lapua 6CM brass through the die and your done.

 

[rr2030]

22x47 sounds interesting...

A regular ol 22-250 is hard to be though too... .

Soon, when my 3000+ round barrel gives up, I plan on re-barreling it in its existing 22-250 chambering. May speed up the twist a bit to 1:12. Don't see a need, or have the desire to shoot 80 grain bullets as I have several other chambered rifles in 6 mm/.308 and .458 to handle the heavier payloads. I just need it fast enough to stabilize the 55 grain ish lead free projectiles, then I can use it as a hunting rifle again.

 

[22DASHER]

.22 CM Run the Lapua 6CM brass through the die and your done.

But then he would have a "Creedmore"

 

[pilot]

Something cool about the gun is it shoots smaller MOA groups at 200 yds than at 100 yds. Bullet taking longer to stabilize.?.
.

That would imply the bullets bending their trajectory back into the line of aim after deviating out of the line of aim. This has come up before on other sites. No one has offered any compelling evidence for it to be true.
There are many factors involved, something is being overlooked as to why it seems to be happening.

Cool rifle, though, and I would be proud to be carrying it.

 

[daniel brothers]

22-284 AI with 90 gr bullets for really long range

22-243 AI with 80's for a tad lesser long range

22 creedmoor with 75's for a tad less in long range

The REAL QUESTION IS.... what is long range to you? Not the occasional shot, but your focused area? And are just looking to shoot targets or willy coyotes. If it's mostly targets than most calibers will work fine as long as you have quality scope turret adjustments... because you can dial and drop your shots onto target. But if it's for coyotes who offer all kinds of long range shots at a lot of unknown distances, then you need the fastest and hottest bullet that slices it's way through the air in order to give you the best BC for the most amount of coyote impacts, by allowing the bullet to drop less or drift less. The more streamline the bullet is...the more impacts will happen. But to pull that off, you will also need a high quality scope and rangefinder to make it all come together.

 

[Evlshnngns]

I would like a 22 BR improved or 22 grendel. Someday Petersen will have BR brass on the shelf.

That said, I bought an 8 twist 22-250, its all you need. Brass, dies and ammo on the shelf, its that easy.