hello all lee here from england.information wanted on 22-243 middlestead,i want to shoot 55,60g bullets.ive got a BAT single shot action and generally use bartlien barrells.what twist rate and length,will work best .it is goin to be used fo fox control.im in to speed and flat shootin.all input will be glady taken, many thanks .
22-243 middlestead info wanted
- Thread starter ROCKANDROLLER
- Start date
OutlawKyote is the man to talk to!
shortgrass
Silver $$ Contributor
I have no experience with the Middlestead but lots with the .22-.243. Case volume is so close it is considered the same. The Middlestead has a different shoulder angle . All of the .22-.243's I've built have used 1 in 8 twist barrels for long, heavy bullets (Sierra 80g. Match King). I consider shooting a 1 in 12 twist w/55g. or 60g. bullets to be , almost, counterproductive. That case, with those lighter bullets, has reached "the point of diminishing returns" (when set-up to shoot 55/60g. bullets), meaning, you will reach a point in your load development where by adding another grain of propellant you will not get an appreciable gain in velocity. For shooting 55g./60g. bullets I would strongly suggest the .22-.250 Ackley Improved. When fire forming cases accuracy is so close to those loads that have already been fire formed and reloaded that I have no problem with fire forming cases while varmint hunting. The way I see it is, the only place the .22-.243/.22 Middlestead 'shines' is with heavy for caliber bullets. just my two cents "speed isn't everything, B.C. goes on forever" I don't know who said it, but , he hit the nail on the head!
many thanks to you all.mite have to go 70 - 80g after all
I have a 22/243 and love it. I shoot 75gr amax at 3500 gps with great results. Im using a 1in8 twist barrel. All i shoot is coyotes with it so barrel life isn't a huge concern. If you are looking for a flat long range gun that's easy to reload you wont be disappointed. Im just using a standard case necked down. I didn't see need to go to the middlested for a coyote gun. Give it serious loom.
many thanks again/ lee
Dead is dead. You need to give some thought to how far you are shooting. I live in north texas and can shoot as far as a person can see. When calling in the wide open fields with very little cover every bit helps. Out to 400 yards i just hold over a little and shoot. I don't bother with the scope. For shots closer like the prairie dogs i love my 22/250. You can't go wrong either way.
shortgrass
Silver $$ Contributor
It's all about bullet weight and B.C.s , HUGE differences between a .224/55g. bullet and a .224/80g. bullet
I had one of the 22-243s and it was a bitch to load. I was never happy with the accuracy. At the time I had mine built the only heavy bullet was the 68gr. It was a .7 gun and that was it. I tried the 22-250imp and did like it but barrel life was short.
I finally had it rebarreled to a 243Ack. really did like it and it was deadly accurate with the 70gr noz. BTs. However as one of the guys stated, "Dead is Dead" The extra 100+fps was not worth it to me. I didn't like fireforming cases or how the improved cart. fed out of a mag.
Now I use a stock 243 with the 65vmax or 70grBTs and have never looked back. It kills coyotes dead to 600yds with no problems. The last couple of years I have even gone to my 260 with a 95vmax an really like it. If you don't need the hide its a killing machine!!!
I finally had it rebarreled to a 243Ack. really did like it and it was deadly accurate with the 70gr noz. BTs. However as one of the guys stated, "Dead is Dead" The extra 100+fps was not worth it to me. I didn't like fireforming cases or how the improved cart. fed out of a mag.
Now I use a stock 243 with the 65vmax or 70grBTs and have never looked back. It kills coyotes dead to 600yds with no problems. The last couple of years I have even gone to my 260 with a 95vmax an really like it. If you don't need the hide its a killing machine!!!
These over bore .22 cals really shine when they are loaded with heavy bullets, slow powder and fast twist rates. Just do some search around here there is plenty of threads......heck thats why I had a barrel chambered in 22-284!
Another plug for the Std 22-243, looked at the Middlestead and for the difference in performance from the Std just couldn't see it. Mine is a 1-8" 28" Brux and shoots like a laser. RL22 and anything in the 105-108 range results in one shot kills out to 350 yards, feeds from the mag without that sharp shoulder of the Middlestead. I use a 243 FL bushing die and one pass and I'm ready to load, no difference in accuracy. As for barrel life I'm over 300 rounds on this rifle and over 800 on my other 1-12" rifle. Granted they don't get any mileage in the PD fields but that's not why I built them.
280 yds on a feral pig
Entry right below right ear
Exit on left side
280 yds on a feral pig
Entry right below right ear
Exit on left side
My load in the 12" rifle is H414 and a 70gr Sierra BK, velocity is around 3800fps. It's not a max load, it's just the most accurate in my rifle.
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