22-284 and the new Sierra 95 MK's

[B23]

I've always kind of considered the 22-284 as probably being a bit to overbore and not particularly efficient given the available bullet selection but this new 95gr Sierra MK has me questioning that and I'm starting to get a hankering for a fast twist 22-284 just to shoot those new 95 MK's.

I know it will still be quite the overbore and barrel life surely won't be long but something about launching a 95gr .22 cal bullet with a BC of .600 somewhere around 3500+ sounds fun to me.

Has anyone played with any of these new 95gr MK's yet? I'll have some in hand as soon as the FedEx guy shows up today.

 

[MrMajestic]

Remind those overbore naysayers that barrels have threads...

 

[3dogs]

Remind those overbore naysayers that barrels have threads...

Yea and you will need to use them!
Jim

 

[daniel brothers]

my 22-243AI will shoot 90 bergers accurately at 3400 fps... so I would love to see what a 22-284 would do with 95's.... sounds AWESOME to me... nothing could equal it's BC.

 

[B23]

my 22-243AI will shoot 90 bergers accurately at 3400 fps... so I would love to see what a 22-284 would do with 95's.... sounds AWESOME to me... nothing could equal it's BC.

What twist are you using in your 22-243AI to shoot the 90's?

I talked to Sierra earlier today and even at the projected speeds a 22-284 may reach with these new 95 MK's he told me I'd need a 1-6.5tw. I was kind of thinking a 1-7tw would be enough but he said I'd need the 1-6.5tw. Already talked to Krieger and they'll do a 28in. 1-6.5tw 4 groove.

 

[daniel brothers]

I use a 8 tw, brux, rem varmint contour, 26"

 

[Gtscotty]

Wow, at 3,500 fps with a 6.5 twist you'd be at nearly 390,000 rpm... I wonder if the 95gr SMK would hold up?

 

[TAJ45]

What twist are you using in your 22-243AI to shoot the 90's?

I talked to Sierra earlier today and even at the projected speeds a 22-284 may reach with these new 95 MK's he told me I'd need a 1-6.5tw. I was kind of thinking a 1-7tw would be enough but he said I'd need the 1-6.5tw. Already talked to Krieger and they'll do a 28in. 1-6.5tw 4 groove.

Remember guys, fps is much, much less critical than the twist rate. Sierra is IN the bullet biz.

 

[SWRichmond]

What twist are you using in your 22-243AI to shoot the 90's?

I talked to Sierra earlier today and even at the projected speeds a 22-284 may reach with these new 95 MK's he told me I'd need a 1-6.5tw. I was kind of thinking a 1-7tw would be enough but he said I'd need the 1-6.5tw. Already talked to Krieger and they'll do a 28in. 1-6.5tw 4 groove.

Better buy two or three...

 

[B23]

FedEx just dropped off some 95gr MK's and 200gr MK's that I'll be playing with in a 30-338 Lap Imp. Dang, are these things freakin longgggggg. I compared these new 95 MK's to some 75gr VLD's that I shoot in a 22-6mm and they, naturally, are considerably longer. The bearing surface is a bit longer than I thought it would be but I had to remind myself it's a 95gr .22 caliber bullet so that's to be expected to some degree.

As Gtscotty pointed out, the rpm's are definitely going to be up there which is one of the reasons I called Sierra because I was thinking at these speeds I could maybe get away with a 7 twist but Sierra said I needed the 1-6.5 and thought they'd stay together, even at these, potential, speeds.

SWRichmond, ordering two barrels at a time for these fire eaters isn't something I haven't done before. I have a 20-250 being built to shoot the 55 Bergers that will be done in the next week or two and when we ordered the 8tw Krieger for that build I had them go ahead and do two of those barrels because I doubt it'll be much for barrel life either.

 

[daniel brothers]

I also have a 20-250AI that shoots 55 bergers very accurately at 3770 fps with 8 tw brux 26" rem varmint contour barrel... and it has the same BC ability as my 22-243 AI out to 600 yds.... then the 22 edges it out at longer ranges. I would only do the 22-284 if my main focus was on longer ranges then 600 yds... if not... then there is no real advantage. I built these rifles for long range coyotes, and even then, how often do you get to shoot at one past 600 yds... I've only killed two, 631, 650 yds... and that with the 20.

 

[MrMajestic]

Yea and you will need to use them!
Jim

80 grain A-Max at 3750 fps and a talented friend with a lathe makes it a no-brainer.

 

[284winner]

Wow, at 3,500 fps with a 6.5 twist you'd be at nearly 390,000 rpm... I wonder if the 95gr SMK would hold up?

That huge rpm number is scary.

 

[17VLD]

How about a long gain twist from Bartlein.Maybe 6 3/4-7??Not sure what they offer,you could always use the Berger 90 as a backup bullet choice if the 95s dont shoot as tight.It sounds like a very interesting rifle project to push the limits of what we think we know.
Matt

 

[urbanrifleman]

Am I wrong in saying those barrels aren't going to last 1000 rounds?

 

[Phil]

Am I wrong in saying those barrels aren't going to last 1000 rounds?

Couldn`t tell ya for sure, but they do have threads.......

 

[daniel brothers]

Throwing a piston is never an issue if you love the speed of HOTRODS.

 

[daniel brothers]

PS... send me some of those 95's and I'll let you know how fast and accurate they are in my 22-243AI 8tw.

 

[B23]

That huge rpm number is scary.

It's a concern of mine which is why I contacted Sierra about possibly using a slightly slower twist, given the speeds I could possibly be launching these things at, but he ran the numbers on his end and said I still needed a 1-6.5tw.

As for barrel life, I think 1000 rounds is probably a little optimistic and it wouldn't surprise me if it's more like 6-800.

A gain twist barrel is something I've thought about and I plan to do more research on this idea. I've talked to the guys at Bartlein before, seem like really nice folks, and once everyone gets back from Shot Show I plan on discussing this with them. I've already talked to Krieger and Brux, it's a 4 groove or nothing with them.

Years ago when I was having my 6-284 built I brought up "barrel life" to the gunsmith that was doing the build, his response was much like some of yours, he told me those barrels are threaded on for a reason and if I'm concerned about barrel like maybe I should be having a 308 built. I don't think I've ever asked about barrel life since. lol

 

[urbanrifleman]

I think 1000 rounds is probably a little optimistic and it wouldn't surprise me if it's more like 6-800.

I just got the load tuned!!

But wait the lands are 5 thou further out!!! Need to retune.

Barrel burned up.

Start over.