22-6mm & 22-284 velocity question

[dakor]

Hello,

I have a 220 swift 14 twist barrel I took off that has been collecting dust and I feel the need for speed. Can anyone tell me what velocitys you were getting with either a 22-6mm or 22-284 with 40gr to 52gr bullets and your barrel length and powder used?

I already have an 8 twist 220 swift , 8 twist 6x45 and 6-284 so I have the heavy high bc bullets already covered. I want a supper flat shooting round for coyote calling. I am not worried about barrel life I know neither one will not be easy on barrels. Thanks.

 

[xswanted]

My dad had a 22-6 in a 12 twist and was running the 55 Berger at 3900 and the 64 Berger at 3700.

24” barrel.

 

[germanlongbow]

I have a 1.250 x 26, 22-6mmAI Krieger barrel. Running 40 gr at 4200 or 4300 fps, I'll look to confirm velocity its been a few years since I've shot it. It has 1x12 twist barrel.

 

[Yote Hunter]

I have a 22/6mm AI that really shines with 80 gr bullets (8 twist) at 3700 FPS. Also have (2) 22-250 AI rifles. My 14 twist 22-250 AI had a very accurate load pushing a 55gr BT at a touch over 4000 FPS. I believe there is little no gain in velocity using 55 gr class bullets in a case much larger than a 22-250 AI or a 22-243 at the expense of more barrel wear, louder boom, more powder, and harder to keep in tune.

 

[swd]

I played with a 22-6mm Ackley for a while. I found it difficult at best with light bullets. IMO the extreme over bore 22’s are more of a pita than they’re worth. A 22-250 Ackley will push 50’s right at 4000fp. That’s about perfect. 40’s slow down so fast personally I think they are a waste of time. 50’s or 55’s are far superior ballisticly especially a little farther out there.
The 22-284 with light bullets just sounds like a grenade waiting to go off, literally.

 

[TGP]

I'm getting 4200fps out of a 22-6mmAI, 50 grain Bal Tips and Varget, 26" barrel. I loaded a 95 gr MK in a dummy case the other day and I couldn't reach the lands, this is barrel has well over 1500 rounds through it but it will still shoot 3/4" groups.

 

[AckleymanII]

There is an accuracy node with the swift, 14T at 4000 in the several rifles that I have had, AA2700 and R#15. You are going to have to shoot a LOT more powder to get a tad more velocity.

Now, go to a 60g sierra in a 22-243AI and you will find a node at 4000fps in a 24" barrel that shoots bug holes. This is the best combo that I have found for ligher bullets in slow twist barrels. 22/250 AI shoots the 60's at 3700 in the barrels I have found with similar bug hole accuracy.

I am shooting 10g more powder in the 22-243AI to get that extra 300 fps.

 

[MrMajestic]

Assuming a 3" radius kill zone my .22-.284 pushing the 80 gr. A-Max at 3750 using RL33 from a 28" barrel the maximum point blank range is 371 yards. Not so sure a 55 will get you any more, JMHO

 

[dakor]

Thanks for the info everyone. I am leaning to the 22-6mm since it looks like that is about max case size for the bullet weights I am looking at.

 

[SDWhirlwind]

Built a 22/6 40* a couple yrs back with a Bartlein #5ish 8.5TW (.7 muzzle dia.) as that was what Frank G had on hand. Was looking for something flatter shooting and faster for running shots and a bit lighter than my RV 6XC. Basically a handier truck gun with 24" barrel. Foolishly never thought it all out and was anticipating less recoil with the 70 Berger than the 107MK. Only powder I tried was H4831SC @ 53.5gr max. Velocity was 3700 and change. Recoil was worse than the XC and for me no way I could spot misses. Muzzle blast was.....well......horrendous IMO and recoil worse than XC. Stupid me never thought to consider powder charge and velocity increase over XC load with recoil.All loads seem to run in the .6 to .8 range for me. Was hoping for better accuracy but best was around the 3500fps range. Think I had 130 something test loads before I pulled the barrel and sold it along with reamer and dies on here. Personally a waste of a good Bartlein blank. Then built a 22/250AI which is what I should have done from the get go.

 

[B23]

Thanks for the info everyone. I am leaning to the 22-6mm since it looks like that is about max case size for the bullet weights I am looking at.

My dad has had a 22-6mm for 20 years now. I've shot it on and off since he had it built and between the two of us it has dispatched countless coyotes. Couple things you'll want to keep in mind before you have one built, if you haven't already done so.

Are you building this on a short or long action? If you want to get the full use of the case capacity and shoot the heavy for caliber bullets, it needs to be built on a long action. Ours is built on a short action Rem 700 and it has a Wyatt's extended mag box which allows for a longer OAL. We shoot the 75gr Bergers and even with the longer mag box, it is barely long enough. If we were to shoot heavier, longer, bullets like the 80+ grainers it would be eating up case capacity. Another option, if you are using a short action, would be to have it throated however long you need, but then single feed and shoot it as a single shot.

The other thing to keep in mind is brass availability as well as the quality of that brass. Pretty much the only, new brass, that is available is Hornady and IMO their brass is just mediocre at best. Others may feel differently about Hornady brass, and that's fine, but if someone believes Hornady brass is good, they must be comparing it to some really crappy brass.

I'm certainly not trying to talk you out of anything and into something else, but the 22-243 is a ballistic twin to the 22-6mm and with not only top notch brass, but it works far better in a short action. Even though we have a 22-6mm and it shoots VERY well, I currently have a 224 Terminator build going on right now. The 224 Terminator is what my gunsmith, Defensive Edge Rifles, is calling their version of a 22-243 Improved. I'm generally not a real big fan of improving cases, like the 243, because they gain so little case capacity and it just doesn't seem like it's worth the extra time, but Defensive Edge offers formed Lapua brass for all of their Terminator cartridges for a small fee so that makes it a no brainer for me. Once the first 224 Terminator gets up and running, my dad is sending his 22-6mm in to them for a rebarrel and it will become the same, as well.

 

[dakor]

Thanks for the info and sorry it didnt work out for you. I will be using a suppressor so muzzle blast and recoil will be a non issue on this setup.

 

[Mark W]

Good thread!! I did my research and ended up with 22-243 AI. My fire forming load pushes 75 Amax at 3600 and groups them under 1/2 moa. I’ve never even got around to working up loads with formed brass. Using a 3” circle I get a mpbr of just over 350 yards. There’s not much to complain about with a trajectory like that!! I might just try a 22-284 when I burn this one up.

 

[SDWhirlwind]

To the OP, don't know if you know Duane Spooner who used to be in Tappen but now in Fargo. He has built at least 30 22/243 Middlestad's(sp?) and has had great luck with them being accurate and fast. Feed good also with 30 degree instead of 40 shoulder.

Don't know what freebore was on the 22/6 reamer I had but loading mag length in a short action was roughly .030 to lands IIRC with the 70 Berger VLD. That was stuffed pretty deep into case As mentioned above using a long action would be a better choice or at least something like a Stiller Predator with Wyatt mag box.

 

[13red56]

Few yrs back I had a 12 twist 22-6mmAI with a 26.5” barrel. I was running the Sierra 60gr FB at 4100 and I felt there was still speed left on the table. It’s was a laser beam and a ball to shoot but a friend of mine just had to have it so I sold it to him.

 

[Brians356]

To the OP, don't know if you know Duane Spooner who used to be in Tappen but now in Fargo. He has built at least 30 22/243 Middlestad's(sp?) ...

Middlestead.
-

 

[dakor]

Some good info. I have a long action that I am using its currently a Tikka T3 in 270win. I do know who Duane is but I am not interested in anything I have to fireform.

Between being a dad, building rifles and working a day job my time is limited. I did build a 22-6mm for a customer a couple years back but he is running 80gr matchkings out of it he has never tried light bullets. Those are tough on fur he is driving them a little over 3500 fps.

I should have gave a little more info on the other reason for the light bullets besides the 14 twist rate I have. Those heavy bullets in 22 cal are great for ballistics but tough on fur. I have tried most of them and they tend to tear coyotes up bad when driven at speed. If anyone wants a real nasty bullet and does not care about fur a 75 Amax or 77 Matchking at 3400+ is like you hit a coyote with a canoe.

So I have 3 bullets in mind out of this rig that seem to be fur friendly at speed the 40gr ballistic tips, 52gr and 53gr Matchkings. The reason for the need for speed I want to be able to hold 0 to 400 yards on fur. So I want to be in that 4200fps + range with the bullet I end up using.