22 BR - Trim length?

[PaperSniper999]

What's a good trim length for the 22 BR? I keep finding data on the 22 BR Remington, but is that the same as the 22 BR? Someone gave me some cases that I thought were trimmed to 1.540 if my memory is right, but I see at the 22 BR Info Page at this forum the case length is listed as 1.510. Big difference.

So now I am confused.........my rifle's Douglas barrel has '22 BR' stamped on it.....no mention of Remington.

Thanks for the help. Also will be working on a load using Benchmark and 52 gr bullets......now wondering if the load data I've seen here is for the 22 BR Remington or 22 BR???????

 

[Forum Boss]

There is a link to an older diagram showing a 1.520' OAL length. That is based on a case length that Remington used to produce for the 6BR. However, the SAMMI spec for the 6BR is 1.560'.

Modern 22BR chambers should be based on parent brass with a case OAL of 1.560.

A lot of guys shoot the brass a couple times, then trim everything to 1.555 or 1.550. As long as your brass fits in your chamber, there is no reason not to leave it long, particularly since you will probably be shooting a wide variety of bullet lengths in the 22BR.

 

[PaperSniper999]

Thanks Ed.

I believe I will stay with the 1.54-1.555 trim length for the 22 BR. It seems to work with the 3 dozen rounds I've loaded and fired so far,fire formed only so far). It was difficult to close the bolt on some of the rounds, but I think that might have been a case of the bullet seating depth being too long on those hold to close ones. All the cases are 6BR Norma, Lapua brass.

I'm using a Redding FL sizing die with a .249 bushing.

 

[fdshuster]

PaperSniper999: For a very minimal Cost, about $7.00) contact Sinclair for one of their chamber length gages,, part# G-224, page 32 of the 2009-A catalog), and take a measurement of the actual length of your, emphasis on 'your') chamber. You may be surprised to learn how much longer it may be from maximum case length/ sometimes as much as .040'. It all depends on the chambering reamer that was used: some are way too long-- must be a 'lawyer thing'. I know the lengths of all my chambers & keep a safety margin of .010' shorter than chamber length.

 

[PaperSniper999]

Thanks Frank. That gauge sounds like a good idea. I'll check that out. I have never measured the chamber length in any of my guns.....probably makes sense, doesn't it? <g>

I suspect my rifle is a 22 BR Norma, but it never hurts to be sure. The smith said to use re-size 6mmBR brass for this 22 BR. I have a lot of previously shot 6BR, so I ran them through a Redding FL die then trimmed to a uniform 1.54 inch. I'd think that length case would not chamber in an older 22 BR Remington, but it does not hurt to know for sure your chamber length, does it.

 

[NorCalMikie]

I've got 2 22BR rifles and the actual length of the chambers are 1.584' and 1.585'. So if you run your brass long like maybe 1.560' you're still talking close to .025' clearence to the end of the chamber.
I think what it boils down to is you decide what length you want your brass. A little longer neck would give you more bullet contact on the brass. And the Sinclair plugs for checking chamber length :thumb:. Got them in 22, 6mm and 30 caliber.

 

[PaperSniper999]

Thanks Mike. I have the Sinclair chamber 'gauge' on my list. I probably should have had one a long time ago, but I don't remember them about 5 yrs ago when I was doing most of my new rifle work....