.224 bullet for 22-243 improved for deer hunt

[Orr89rocz]

I have odd 22-243 improved wildcat that my uncle had built. Its got an .251 neck and a 9 twist 30” hart barrel. May get it cut back to 26”. Id started playing around with it with some 69 gr matchkings and 4831 that he used to load and it shoots pretty good.
I kinda got the itch to try it on a deer hunt this fall. Probably a field hunt up to 350 yrds and in. I was thinking the 70 gr accubond. It will run a 69 matchking to 3700+ fps so i think the accubond may be a good choice. The 60gr partition is appealing but i generally dont get those bullets to shoot well and this will run them pretty fast. The gameking and other cup and cores worry me at these speeds and a close range hit. I know copper ttsx or similar would work great too but i have two other copper shooting rifles and dont need a third lol
What have you used with high velocity 22’s?

 

[drags]

I have odd 22-243 improved wildcat that my uncle had built. Its got an .251 neck and a 9 twist 30” hart barrel. May get it cut back to 26”. Id started playing around with it with some 69 gr matchkings and 4831 that he used to load and it shoots pretty good.
I kinda got the itch to try it on a deer hunt this fall. Probably a field hunt up to 350 yrds and in. I was thinking the 70 gr accubond. It will run a 69 matchking to 3700+ fps so i think the accubond may be a good choice. The 60gr partition is appealing but i generally dont get those bullets to shoot well and this will run them pretty fast. The gameking and other cup and cores worry me at these speeds and a close range hit. I know copper ttsx or similar would work great too but i have two other copper shooting rifles and dont need a third lol
What have you used with high velocity 22’s?

I use the 69 gr TMK in a .223 for groundhogs and they work very well, I wouldn't hesitate to use your 69 gr. load for deer.

 

[dk17hmr]

I would look into copper solids for the velocities you can get out of that round.

I used 62gr Barnes TTSX in a 22-250 on antelope an at around 3550fps it did really well.u

 

[Orr89rocz]

I would look into copper solids for the velocities you can get out of that round.

I used 62gr Barnes TTSX in a 22-250 on antelope an at around 3550fps it did really well.u

Yeah i have no doubt they would work. My 257 roberts uses the 80 gr at 3500 and my 6.8 western uses the 95 at 3650. I shot one deer with the 6.8 and it did the job. Good performance, i was happy. Only 70 yard shot. Damage looked good. They shoot accurate too. Just thought id stay lead based for this one but certainly not opposed to that ttsx

 

[Orr89rocz]

I use the 69 gr TMK in a .223 for groundhogs and they work very well, I wouldn't hesitate to use your 69 gr. load for deer.

Just thought the matchking may fragment too much before getting all the way thru. It might be fine tho. Only ever used a 168 matchking in a 308 on deer and it did very well

 

[Gary in MD]

I'd say the 77 TMK but I'm not sure if the 9 twist would handle them

 

[Scooby-93]

I'd say the 77 TMK but I'm not sure if the 9 twist would handle them

9 twist will, I’ve shot them in a 9 twist 223.
I’m sure the 75 eld will shoot also especially at the speeds the 22-243 is capable of. Keep us updated

 

[Orr89rocz]

I saw the 77 tmk get some good reviews on rokslide. Ordered a box to atleast target shoot with them. I probably have half a box or so of 69 matchkings left.

 

[Mark W]

I would try the Sierra 62 Gr Gameking.

22 CAL 62 GR SBT GameKing (SGK)

The Bulletsmiths®. Reloadable bullets for rifles and pistols designed for precision target shooting, hunting, and defense. Crafting a tradition of precision since 1947.

sierrabullets.com

 

[OFFSHORE]

At the velocities you can push them to, the 9tw. would possibly stabilize up to a mid-class 70gr. bullet. The Hornady 73gr./75gr. ELD-M, also the 75gr. Speer Gold Dot, and the 75gr. Swift (both bonded bullets) would be good choices for 180lb. deer within your 350/400 yard range. The Sierra 77gr. TMK would be great too, but may not or just be a max length to stabilize. Your barrel length and velocity are your best friends for a 9tw. and heavies. I have become a big fan of high velocity .224 caliber cartridges for deer hunting. Keep us posted and send pics too, please.

 

[AckleymanII]

65g Sierra is a great deer bullet, and I would lean hard on the 77g TMK. I shoot 60g Sierra at 4000 out of a 23" 14T, 22-243 AI.

 

[ELR LVR]

I would look into copper solids for the velocities you can get out of that round.

I used 62gr Barnes TTSX in a 22-250 on antelope an at around 3550fps it did really well.u

This ^^^^
I know someone who uses a 22/284 to do the same and uses Barnes TTSX `out to 400 yds on deer

 

[Orr89rocz]

65g Sierra is a great deer bullet, and I would lean hard on the 77g TMK. I shoot 60g Sierra at 4000 out of a 23" 14T, 22-243 AI.

Wow thats moving. What powder do you use?

 

[AckleymanII]

Varget blew the primers completely out of the case. I am using Win 760 with the Sierra 60g HP with amazing accuracy. I aim to try H4350, which is in the same burning rate, but the accuracy is on par with my 22 PPC.

 

[Orr89rocz]

Idk if i could get there or not lol i have a 30” barrel and seen 3770-3800 with the 69 matchking. Not sure i hit dangerous pressure yet. I dont know how much 9 grains less bullet will pick up but that sounds hot to get there in a 23”. But I also dont know what improved case reamer was used in this. Case seems to hold 53-53.2 gr water.
I use 4831sc now but thought about trying some others. H4350 seems slightly on fast side for this case but maybe not and its a good powder. Quickload seems to suggest re22-23 which i have, ramshot hunter which i have, and n550 that i wanted to try but dont have. Not that i need more speed, its accuracy is superb at the moment.