22-243 Middlestead

[Savageseven]

awesome im loking forward to this cartridge

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

My GS and his son each have one, I can check with them about loads. I believe they shoot the Nosler BT.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Checked with my GS both middlesteads running the Hornady 68 BTHP and 4831sc. They have hundreds of that load ready.

 

[ballpowder]

Did you say what twist, bullet and intentions were for this gun? I have a 22 CHeetah built on a Cooper m22 and it’s amazing. I had the smith install a 1-15” 5 groove Pacnor barrel on it and it shoots the 52gr BR bullets into small holes at 200yds. I have been using IMR 4007 but it has been discontinued so don’t focus on that. My second favorite is H380 at the moment but you can’t go wrong testing what I call the sextuplets. They are all so close in burn speed and bullet speed that the gun has to choose. Those are: IMR4320, RL15, IMR4064, AA2520, w748, Varget. Of course BLC 2 and W760 work too But I would start with any of those solid 6 I mentioned and go from there


Tim

 

[AckleymanII]

22 middlestead, figure 800 rounds of barrel life. You can extend that barrel life by staying with cooler burning powders, H1000, N160, N165, AA2700.

I am running 60g Sierra's in a 23" Hart 22/243 AI at 4000 fps with Win 760 & AA2700, tiny groups with this 14 twist barrel.

A pard is running the 22/6 Rem AI with a 26" 8T, 51g of Retumbo with a 80g A max at 3650 and never uses a full length sizer...his coyote, deer, and antelope rifle. He says he can get 3800 out of the 80g, but 3650 is so easy on the brass, which is where he will stay.

 

[Savageseven]

I have used a 22-243 and 22-243AI extensively for hunting fat PA groundhogs. Used mostly RE22 at the time in an 8" twist bbl with Hornady 75gr A-Max moly bullets. Average velocity was 3,670 ft/sec and the accuracy was unbelievable. I shot my all-time tightest group of .625" @ 600yds.

That load was instant death on even the biggest hogs out to 1,000yds.

Did you ever Try H4831 powder or did you just stick with RE22 ?

 

[Charlie-NY]

Did you ever Try H4831 powder or did you just stick with RE22 ?

Yes - I used H4831, Retumbo and IMR 7828 for periods of time. However, the RE22 was clearly the best for accuracy with the 75gr A-Max (moly) bullet. I shot quite a few Sierra 80gr MK bullets too but the A-Max/RE22 combo was the best.

Eventually, I set that barrel back and decided to go with a 22-243 (plain). By that time RE23 was available and I began using it instead of the RE22. I also switched to Berger 82gr LR bullets. The rifle shot nearly as good as it did when I first built the rifle.

Now that my hunting buddies have aged out of hunting, I have left the groundhog fields. It was good timing anyway because the number of hogs on the farms had been decreasing every year for some time. I sent the rifle to AW and had him spin up a 6mmBR Krieger bbl. Loading for that thing is easier now than ever.

 

[crystalgayleguy]

I have a rechamber 22 250 in 22 243 middlestead

 

[Savageseven]

Yes - I used H4831, Retumbo and IMR 7828 for periods of time. However, the RE22 was clearly the best for accuracy with the 75gr A-Max (moly) bullet. I shot quite a few Sierra 80gr MK bullets too but the A-Max/RE22 combo was the best.

Eventually, I set that barrel back and decided to go with a 22-243 (plain). By that time RE23 was available and I began using it instead of the RE22. I also switched to Berger 82gr LR bullets. The rifle shot nearly as good as it did when I first built the rifle.

Now that my hunting buddies have aged out of hunting, I have left the groundhog fields. It was good timing anyway because the number of hogs on the farms had been decreasing every year for some time. I sent the rifle to AW and had him spin up a 6mmBR Krieger bbl. Loading for that thing is easier now than ever.

What didn’t you like about the H4831 ?
Was their a huge difference in accuracy?

 

[Charlie-NY]

What didn’t you like about the H4831 ?
Was their a huge difference in accuracy?

I wouldn't say that the difference was huge, but it was measurable. I was literally slapping hogs out to 1,000yds, so accuracy was paramount.

 

[snert]

Now that is a pig pile

 

[dave7mm]

Hi fellow shooters.
Just curious how many here have owned and shot the 22-243 middlestead???

Just getting started.
dave

 

[dave7mm]

dave

 

[Savageseven]

You using Lapua brass Dave ?

 

[dave7mm]

You using Lapua brass Dave ?

Yes sir.
dave

 

[Charlie-NY]

Those are some smoking velocities. Think of what you can get with a 35-40gr bullet.

 

[Savageseven]

What twist is your barrel Dave ?

 

[dave7mm]

It's a Hawk Hill 1-8.
I'm trying to recreate P.O. Ackleys 49g CE bullet and performance.
If you go back and read his hand book for shooters and reloaders ...
He called the Swift with proper bullets the best one shot killer of deer ever.
Well I'm going to give it a try .
It's fun to shoot.
Cleans up easy
Dave