Considerations for a 500yd. 22 caliber groundhog rifle

As the heading says, I'm kicking the idea of a possible new 22 caliber build that could be used to take groundhogs cleanly out to 500yds.

I am looking at possibly a 220AI or a 22 Cheetah with a fast twist that could handle heavier bullets.

Would these two be good choices or are there others I should also look at?

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Alan

 

I would do a 22 Dasher as long as it will be a single shot. Shoots the 75 grain Amaxs close to 3500 will unbelievable accuracy, case and barrel life, and a with a lot less powder than the other cartridges you listed. Not quite as much speed but a hell of a lot better in the long run....

 

.22-243AI with 75 or 80 Amax would do it, but so would the 22 Dasher........ 8)



Phil.

 

22-250AI with twist to bullet weight desired

personally I used 22-250 std and13 twist with 55bk out to and beyond 500

Bob

 

Thanks for the replies.

Of the 75-80gr. A-max and the 55-60gr. V-max, which do you think would be a better choice cleanly taking groundhogs out to 500yds.?

Alan

 

the bullets you mentioned killing them explosively and the 55 sierra bk all will do the job,

the question is which you shoot , the twist and the accuracy you gain, the dogs die easily if hit by the foot pounds you are to expect from any of these.

Bob

 

75 or 80 grain A-max is my choice, they work extremely well on dogs. I should also mention that I still have 22-250 AI's and standard 22-250's. Sold off the Cheetah and Swift a few years back. It is virtually impossible to beat the Dasher from my experience. Second choice would be the 22-250 AI….And if it has to feed then for sure the 22-250 AI.

 

+1 FOR THE 22 DASHER 75GR VLD FOR ME AND MINE

 

I've killed them out to 450 yards with my Savage model 12 FVSS, 1-12 22-250ai (as is) using a Sierra 55gr Gameking. Haven't had an opportunity to shoot farther, need to try some 65gr pills.

 

22-250 Ackley or a 22 Dasher with a fast twist barrel would do it. Don't waste your time with light bullets and slow twist for longer range. Heavy high BC bullets really take over at 400+ yards in wind drift.

Personally I'd go 6mm. The 87 V Max has a BC of about .400 and even at a mundane 6x45 speed of around 2950 they run right along with a 22-250 Ackley shooting heavies in wind drift and blow away 50-55 grain pills at 500 yards in drift.

At 500 yards in a 10mph cross wind,
55gr at 3900, 33"
77gr at 3400, 18"
87gr 6mm at 2950, 19"

 

that last posts not correct.

6mm 87VM has BC of 0.4
0.224 75 AM has bc 0.435
0.224 77 tipped MK has BC 0.42
0.224 77 hollow point has bc 0.382

The 224 cal will have 200-300fps on the 6mm 87vm, and have similar bc so will shoot flatter and have less wind drift! Only advantage of the 6mm will be longer barrel life

 

I have no firsthand experience with the 22Dasher or22x47L, but realize that the use of quality small primer brass allows for running the higher pressure for them to reach "hotrod" status.
My 'smith built a 22x47L Imp by running our 22-243AI reamer short on a necked down x47L case and was getting wicked speed from it. To do so, the pressure had to be thru the roof to achieve the speeds that a .22-243AI makes at normal operating pressure...

A .22-243Win is a badazz that is a piece o' cake to load for, but you've got case stretch associated with the body taper & mild shoulder angle of the parent case. However, blowing that shoulder to AI dimensions neutralizes that, and adds a few more grains of capacity at the same time...

The .22-243AI makes for one heck of a hotrod from a short action. It will push a 75-80grain bullet as fast as you'd want to push one without compromising bullet integrity. IMHO, there's a 'sweet spot' where every bullet performs like a champ, and the .22-243AI has just enough capacity to push a heavy .224" bullet to its potential. Larger cases like a .22-6mmAI can push even harder, but the risk of proofing bullets pushed past 'sweet spot' velocity is just wasted speed. A bullet ain't no good if it don't reach the target...

Akin to the old car saying, "there's no replacement for displacement", a case with a larger capacity makes it convenient to net performance from a slower burning powder with a mild pressure curve. In that regard, a 22-6mmAI or other huge overbore makes sense IF you throttle it down to keep the bullet In the 'sweet spot' where it won't blow up and use slow burn powder to keep pressures mild. Downside is the need for a long action for that case. If you've got a long action in hand, then you're already in the game...

Small primer pocket cases can allow for running crazy high pressure to net velocity, but they can't negate any potential issues associated with operating above 'sane' pressure. Pressure is there, no two ways about it...

So what's a fella to do?

Run a 22Dasher or 22x47L over pressure to get speed, and deal with it?

Run them mild and net the speed of the .22-250AI that doesn't require any case prep?

Run a monster 22-6mm/AI on a long action with slow burn powder to make speed?

Or...run a .22-243AI that'll makes the speed of the smaller cases without the pressure penalty, yet still achieve the 'sweet spot' threshold of the larger cases without the need of a long action???

These are some of the questions I've pondered in the past, and have found a honey in the .22-243AI.

Of course, variety is the spice of Life, and can fully appreciate the enjoyment of figuring that what suits one, best. That said, any one of these can be the ideal choice for you, and you'll never be wrong for picking it!
Have fun deciding!!!

 

You could always use .308 Palma brass from Lapua if you wanted a .22-243AI with a small primer pocket..........Just sayin`.



Phil.

 

I went a cheaper route with a 223AI. in an 8 twist. I shoot 53 gr vmax and 75 amax ( .435 bc ) and have killed groundhogs @ 650yds. with this setup. I'm not saying it is the best possible choice but I have a bunch of brass and it will use less powder than some of the listed calibers. Works for me.

PS. I have not yet tried the tipped 69 gr Matchkings

 

How does the 75gr. A-Max compare to the 53gr. V-Max in damage to the groundhogs and do you get pass thru's with either bullet, also what velocity are you getting.

Thanks!
Alan

 

I use my 22br with 53 gr A-max.

 

Seems I have seen threads like this. lol. You would do well with a simple standard 12 twist 22-250 set up for 53 V-max bullets and their fine BC. My son and his 22-250 LRPV tagged 2 this summer at your desired distance. One at 475 and another at 508. This gun shoots literal tacks and we have the elevation chart taped on stock along with my trusty Leica rangefinder always with us. He just dopes the wind using a little Pennsyltucky windage and the rifle gets it done.

Now as far as the mighty Swift goes, its tough to beat. My 13 twist Swift is deadly aiming pretty much dead on out to 400 yards. Something to be said for speed. When i want to make everybody laugh so hard they cry I grab my 8 twist Swift set up for 75 A-Max at a sedate 3,558 fps and launch them up and backwards with lots of carnage. I have yet to shoot one over 500 yards but the rifle is incredible and i know it is capable of some long shots. You will be well served by any of the rifle calibers suggested in this thread. As a matter of fact i have a 22 Dasher in the works this winter courtesy of member 22 Dasher and his help to my questions. I love my 22 cals!

No passthru's with either 53 V-Max or 75 A-Max. You can hear the very distinctive "plop" when the chuck is hit and they are dead pretty quickly. Sons 22-250 is 3,788 @ the muzzle.

Frank

 

Thanks for the info. Frank. The more I read about the 75 grain A-Max the better it sounds and sure seems like it will do exactly what I am for. With the speed and high BC it should make a heck of a groundhog round.

I have to admit though that I am a little leery of building a rifle around one bullet, although with the different powders and primers available, I do feel that I could get it to shoot well.

Thanks again to you and everyone else that has provided such good information.

Alan

 

Stop footing around and get a big cartridge