Love the .225 Winchester. But your advice is not completely correct. The 30-30 and .225 have different rim diameters. It would take a crapload of work to cut the 30-30 rims to .473". Even then, using .225 data with the 30-30 case might be questionable with top loads. 225 Win brass is extremely strong. 30-30 not so much.
Varmint caliber ideas?
- Thread starter JORTZ
- Start date
Love the .225 Winchester. But your advice is not completely correct. The 30-30 and .225 have different rim diameters. It would take a crapload of work to cut the 30-30 rims to .473". Even then, using .225 data with the 30-30 case might be questionable with top loads. 225 Win brass is extremely strong. 30-30 not so much.
2506 is sweet try a 1-10 t with 100 grn Bullets.flate shooting and bucks the wind reall good .smk 100 grn work best for me
2506 R.E.M. Is sweet .shoots real flate .shoots a 100 grn bullet over 3200 Fps .1-10 t is nice .
RCBS sells dies to convert .30-30 brass to .225 Win.
You're correct about brass thickness: the .225 brass near the head is about .016 thicker than that of the .30-30, presumably because the former operates at a significantly higher pressure than the latter. So I agree with you about being cautious with top loads. The OP seems pretty savvy and I assume he knows how to work up a load.
The .30-30's rim diameter is .033 greater than the .225's (.506 vs .473), but I don't know that it needs to be reduced for it to function in a bolt action (I have a post-64 Mod 70). (I'm not saying it will, I'm saying I don't know. One of these days I may take the plunge and try those RCBS dies just for the halibut
. For the time being, I have plenty of .225 cases, some virgin, some fired upwards of 10 times.) I've read that the difference in rim diameters may be important in some single-shot rifles.
A .225 case made from a .30-30 case is also said to be .09 shorter than the specs call for with a .225. I'm not sure what that might mean in terms of erosion, accuracy or velocity.
Stuff I've read suggests that loads made with converted .30-30 cases shoot accurately but have no first-hand knowledge of that.
Dasher @ 4100 with a 55 gr nosler bt.
timeout
Silver $$ Contributor
Wow. What kind of barrel life are you experiencing? Powder, grains?
Was wondering the same thing. I can't get hit velocity with 55's in my 22-250AI.
I get 4150 with my 22-250 AI shooting 55 grn ballistic tips pushed by H414. 6mm Dasher is just way more efficient.
Jeez Louise! What charge weight? That's 200 FPS faster than I've managed without pressure signs.
Too much to list... ha
Must be somewhere around 48 grains
Yikes!
long40shot
Gold $$ Contributor
how about a 300 Winchester Magnum running 125grn Nosler ballistic tips.
Lone Hunter
Silver $$ Contributor
Look at a 6.5 Grendel. Can run it out of a bolt gun or AR. I have one in an AR and am impressed with it. Can run 85 gr bullets up to 140 gr .Generally need to stay 130 and below though.
I actually own a grendel to shoot the 123amax never thought to load it for varmints. It is a great round!!!
Man, I loves me some hotrod wildcats as much as the next gun nut.
But...p-dog poppin' (for me) means LOTS of shooting...
To that end, I'd lean toward a cartridge that meets the following:
1. easy to load for (time savings when building lotsa rounds)
2. easy/ cheap components ($$$ savings for same)
3. low recoil (less fatigue & more enjoyment spottin' splats in the scope)
4. barrel friendly (more shooting time per session, and longer overall barrel life)
5. accurate (most any cartridge will suffice)
6. decent bullet selection (fragile = FUN for p-dogs)
Base on the above, sticking with something off the good ol' .223Rem case makes alot of sense. Brass is EVERYWHERE & dirt cheap. And plenty of cool wildcats to make off that parent case.
Here's what I'd build:
.20Prac shooting 39Blitzkings
.223 or AI shooting 75Amaxs
.6x45 or AI shooting 87Vmaxs
Stepping down to .20cal will decrease barrel life & heat the barrel up faster, but trajectory & splatterformance is excellent from 0-300yds. Still enough energy to pop a fragile p-dog @ 600yds, too...
Staying @ .224 cal might be 'boring', but you'll still get good performance & efficiency.
Stepping up to .243 will let ya lob a heavier bullet & likely enjoy even more barrel life...
If I had to build just ONE p-dog rifle, it'd be a .20Prac/TAC or .20-223AI...aka Mr. Maj's 5x45AI
Have fun!
But...p-dog poppin' (for me) means LOTS of shooting...
To that end, I'd lean toward a cartridge that meets the following:
1. easy to load for (time savings when building lotsa rounds)
2. easy/ cheap components ($$$ savings for same)
3. low recoil (less fatigue & more enjoyment spottin' splats in the scope)
4. barrel friendly (more shooting time per session, and longer overall barrel life)
5. accurate (most any cartridge will suffice)
6. decent bullet selection (fragile = FUN for p-dogs)
Base on the above, sticking with something off the good ol' .223Rem case makes alot of sense. Brass is EVERYWHERE & dirt cheap. And plenty of cool wildcats to make off that parent case.
Here's what I'd build:
.20Prac shooting 39Blitzkings
.223 or AI shooting 75Amaxs
.6x45 or AI shooting 87Vmaxs
Stepping down to .20cal will decrease barrel life & heat the barrel up faster, but trajectory & splatterformance is excellent from 0-300yds. Still enough energy to pop a fragile p-dog @ 600yds, too...
Staying @ .224 cal might be 'boring', but you'll still get good performance & efficiency.
Stepping up to .243 will let ya lob a heavier bullet & likely enjoy even more barrel life...
If I had to build just ONE p-dog rifle, it'd be a .20Prac/TAC or .20-223AI...aka Mr. Maj's 5x45AI
Have fun!
Looks like we've covered the 6mm alphabet soup so I'll make a suggestion. Get something with brass that's easy to come by cheap if your out hunting in the sticks. Despite my best efforts I have lost brass when taking follow up shots. Loosing a piece of cheap Winchester .243 doesn't hurt. Loosing a piece of my fireformed, neck turned Lapua, different story.
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.