22 BR case length

[FClasser]

I am in the process of buying a Cooper 22 BR varmint rifle and was told all I have to do is neck down 6BR brass and load. When I check the specs, it appears that the 22BR case is approx 0.040 shorter than a 6 BR !!?? Is this true and do I have to trim 0.040 off of by 6 BR cases ??
Thanks in advance
Tom Nichols

 

[RonRouse]

Tom, the maximum case length will be 1.560", trim to 1.550" and you will be OK. I have 3 rifles chambered for the 22BR, and when I neck down the 6BR cases, they are usually around 1.555" so I go ahead and load them and fire them. Don't have to trim them very often and case life is great. Enjoy!

Ron

 

[TominSWNY]

Yes all I had to do was full length size with a 22 br full length die and load. A bushing die will not push the neck back all the way.
I used the same procedure for my 20 BR and had to trim. You just have to love this custom stuff.

Tom Keeley

 

[RonRouse]

Tom, since you have your Cooper rifle, neck down one of your 6BR cases to 22BR and make up a dummy round and try it in your chamber to make sure it fits OK. Considering the popularity of the Lapua cases, I don't believe any rifle manufacturer would chamber their guns for the old shorter version of the 22BR.
Ron

 

[FClasser]

Thanks everyone for the fast responses. I don't have the rifle yet. I should receive it next Friday. I had a 22BR a couple of years back, and it seemed as though all I did was size the necks down and load them. But, when I looked in the Sierra loading manual, it said o/l was 1.510 !! I then looked at the 6mmbr website and they said 1.510, also !!! I guess I will find out when I receive the rifle !!!
Thanks Again Everyone
Tom

 

[NorCalMikie]

And if you check the "actual" chamber length, you'll know when you need to trim, if at all.
I've got two 22BRs and the "actual" chamber measures 1.585 on both. That means that I don't have to trim for a long time if I only shoulder bump and neck size. Less time playing with brass and more time pulling the trigger. ;D

 

[SpencerC]

I would try and check your chamber length first. In my .223 it says I need to trim to 1.750 but my chamber measures all the way out to 1.785. Guess I can make a long neck .223

 

[epmn]

There is a 22BR Remington and a 22BR Norma. The main difference in the two is the length. The original 22BR Remington has a case length of 1.520" and the 22BR Norma is 1.560". These days everyone just seems to refer to the 1.560" length as the 22BR.

epmn

 

[fdshuster]

Tom: If you want to eliminate all the guesswork, get the Sinclair chamber length gauge ( Sinclair 2010-B catalog, page 37, item# G-224 @ $6.95). As noted by SpencerC many of the factory chambers are waaaaaay longer than max case length, and any trimming at all will result in a very long gap in front of the case mouth.

 

[dmickey]

I understand that you cannot use the chamber length gauge if the chamber is tight.

 

[fdshuster]

Dennis: They do offer a reduced size for the 6mm (#G-243T), tight neck .262", but not for any other calibers. I've used the standard .224" on my 22BR that has a .251" neck and it fits without any problems. I guess they could be chucked up in a lathe or even a drill press & carefully polished down a few thousandths if needed.