22 BR good bad ??

[chuckshooter]

I have always believed that there are only two ways to increase MV.
1. bigger case.
2. higher pressure.

School me. How is this different?

smaller bullet?

 

[chuckshooter]

Any one shooting a 14 twist 22 BR ??
Positives negatives what kind of velocities with 50gr bullets? How does it compare to a 22-250AI for performance besides the powder charge.

I own a 14t 22br and shoot 50gr vmax's with it, I can't compare to it the 22-250ai as I have never shot one.
my load is 32.5 varget, CCI450 pri. 50gr vmax. about 3650 fps pacnor barrel, 27"

It's getting tired and I am trying to decide what to do with it. I don't have a 22br reamer, but I do have a 20br reamer and really like that cartridge.

 

[littlebuddybr]

I’m shooting a 22 br in for score matches and also have one in a varmint rifle. They are extremely easy to tune and are deadly accurate. My bench gun has placed in several matches with 53 gr. bullets. My powder is N133 @ 30.2 gr. She is shooting around 3600 fps. My varmint rifle is shooting a 50 gr Sierra Vermonter bullet with 31.5 gr of Bench mark powder @ about 3900 fps. Both of those rifles are a thrill to shoot. As you can tell I’m sold on the 22 br. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with this caliber.

A 50g @3900 in a br? That is fast.
I have pushed a 50 and 52 that fast in a 22 250. Didn't think it could be done in the br.

 

[806leadtacos]

A 50g @3900 in a br? That is fast.
I have pushed a 50 and 52 that fast in a 22 250. Didn't think it could be done in the br.

From the first time out with 50 grain V-Max’s, Remington 7 1/2 primers. Barrel is 26” 1-12” Bartlein. Barrel presently has 60 rounds down range.

 

[NorCalMikie]

22BR=GOOD!! Just don't think you can add powder (like you can do with a 6BR) without lots of work first or you'll need a BIGGER hammer to beat the bolt open and probably have to ship the bolt out to get the broken handle fixed!!
20BR.
22BR.
6BR.
6.8 BR Wildcat. (more gooder)

 

[boltfluter]

A 50g @3900 in a br? That is fast.
I have pushed a 50 and 52 that fast in a 22 250. Didn't think it could be done in the br.

It can be done with ridiculous pressures! But I would not attempt it nor recommend it. The BR case is very strong right up to the point of something giving way. And it usually does not end well. Don't be "That guy".
Paul

 

[littlebuddybr]

It can be done with ridiculous pressures! But I would not attempt it nor recommend it. The BR case is very strong right up to the point of something giving way. And it usually does not end well. Don't be "That guy".
Paul

That's exactly what I was thinking.
But, I don't have any of those programs to tell what the pressure would be at that charge/velocity.

 

[oneraggedhole]

Don't rely on computer software to tell you if you're over pressure. Start low and slow and work up, flat primers, ejector marks and hard bolt lift are good places to stop and back up.

 

[urbanrifleman]

It can be done with ridiculous pressures! But I would not attempt it nor recommend it. The BR case is very strong right up to the point of something giving way. And it usually does not end well. Don't be "That guy".
Paul

Honestly not being argumentative. I think that's completely doable. Or quite close. We shoot the 62 at a very mild 3450. I've had customers run those up to 3750 in the 22bra.

I used to shoot the 55 Varm in the 6br zero freebore at 3850 fps.

So... Close to that number.

 

[ELR LVR]

A 50g @3900 in a br? That is fast.
I have pushed a 50 and 52 that fast in a 22 250. Didn't think it could be done in the br.

I'm pushing 55's at 3800 in a 22 BR, surprising I know.

 

[littlebuddybr]

Many thanks to all for the information. I’m in the process of possibly working a trade for a 22 BR with a 14 twist barrel hopefully I can make it work with 40-50 grain bullets for my prairie dog trip next year. I already have an 8 twist 6 Br for the long work. Would like to think I can use the 22 out to 300 yds. Time will tell I guess. Again thank you all for the good information. Anyone who shoots a rig like this have any idea as to velocities achieved with these lighter bullets.

You won't have any issue shooting 40-50gr or even the 52-53gr smk with that 14 twist. If you do, it will be something other then the 14.

 

[Lefty2506]

I don't understand why the 22BR has such a low pressure rating. The 308 Win is supposed to be the parent case and it has a max pressure of 62ksi. Seems like the book max loads and pressures for the 22BR are VERY anemic.

 

[padom]

I don't understand why the 22BR has such a low pressure rating. The 308 Win is supposed to be the parent case and it has a max pressure of 62ksi. Seems like the book max loads and pressures for the 22BR are VERY anemic.

I mean a BR case is smaller than a 308win case...

But as you know, book loads are a starting point, do your own load development.

For example, I went up to 30.2gr of IMR4166 with a 90smk in my 22BR with no pressure signs 3093, SD 2.6 ES 4.6 and grouping in the high 0.1's....

My low node charge is 28.7gr IMR4166 2980 SD 2.8 ES 5.5 and grouping in the low 0.1's.....

I use QL a lot and with my 22BR built profile with all measurements entered correctly, including actual case volume updated via water weight...

My 28.7gr low node says 53,713psi way below max... And my 30.2gr says 61,965psi way above max... But I have no pressure signs, brass looks excellent, primers look excellent, bolt feels great..

So do your own work up. Also, I have over 18 firings on this brass... no issues still shooting it and it was 6x fired 6BR brass before I converted it to 22BR....

 

[Lefty2506]

I think I was seeing 52,000 cup and reading it as 52ksi. 52ksi would be a pretty low pressure limit for the BR case.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Neck down is all you need. I do it in 2 steps, squeezing down half the diameter with a bushing in the middle of 6br and final 22br neck diameter then do a second pass with my final neck bushing. I just dont like doing it all at once but many do. Haven't lost a single case.

Yes they make 22br dies. But you can also use a 6br die with thr right 22br bushing.

I've used my SAC FL Bushing die for both 6br and 22br for many years just swapping bushings.

I actually took a bunch of my 10-12x fired 6BR lapua (fired in my 6br) and converted them to 22br and they are still going strong zero issues. Many firings.

Your info on 90 smk loads is pretty much exactly what I found.

I do have a bunch of 90 vld Bergers I got in a trade. They seem to group ok. Not nearly as simple as the 90 smk or even the 88 ELDM. Did you ever find a seating depth?

 

[padom]

Yes my 90smk load shoots in the 0.1's @ 0.02 off the lands...

 

[urbanrifleman]

Yes my 90smk load shoots in the 0.1's @ 0.02 off the lands...

I have been shooting 20 into from touch. They seem to love that too.

I meant did you ever test the Berger 90 VLD?

 

[ELR LVR]

I don't understand why the 22BR has such a low pressure rating. The 308 Win is supposed to be the parent case and it has a max pressure of 62ksi. Seems like the book max loads and pressures for the 22BR are VERY anemic.

All current loading manuals are anemic in my opinion.
Especially like a .223 (3100 fps? Really? lol I've had mine starting at 3300 going up to 3500)
No loading manual prints that kind of velocity with 50/52's and a 21 inch barrel
The 22 BR is such a varied wildcat ranging from 14 tw to 8 tw.... I think they play it lawyer safe now.
Many of the current Max loads, are starting loads for older manuals.

 

[AndrewB]

Another vote for 22BR. I use the 53gr Hornady Vmax bullets and Varget and get 3950 FPS with them, but note that I am using a 30 inch barrel. Smokes a prairie dog. I go prairie dogging 1-2 times a year with 5 friends and most of them are now shooting the 22BR. I just run the brass thru a full length Redding die , load and shoot. I use a 12 twist since I don't plan on shooting anything else but 50-55 gr bullets with this. I use a 6 creedmoor/108 ELD's for long shots. Faaaaarrrrr prefer shooting the BR

 

[ricco1949]

I have about a 1000 22-250 and 6XC brass that have been gathering dust for 15-20 years.

I'm gonna try to make 22 and 6mm BRs and Tall Dogs out of them via the cut off 22-250 die route. Primary use will be for PDn when the 20 VT, 222 and 223 just don't seem enough gun and because it's a challenge.

I've pushed back shoulders and turned necks on thousands of 223's, WSMs, 308s, and 6.5 Lapua's so this may not be cake walk but certainly appears doable.

In fact it may be easier than making a Tall Dog from 6 BR brass since the necks will not have the neck shoulder junction to contend with.

If the shoulder push back goes well I'll make the die into a Dillon cut off die....push and trim to length in one pull of the 650.