22BR gets a bad rap

[Mikem]

In my Sierra volume V book, in the header pages of the 22Br section, Sierra doesn't paint to bright of a picture of the then seldom used 22BR cartridge. Im not a big fan of Sierras rather Conservative load info anyway. And now I'm in the middle of making a new rifle using the 22BR round. Is that just old info? It was right when the PPCs where really coming on strong. Or is it just crap.
How have you 22BR guys found you rifles, did they meet you expectation? Ill take all info good or bad. I also have a good shooting 6BR, and thought I would try the 22BR as well.
You can never have too many.
Mike.

 

[Forum Boss]

I've shot a 22 Dasher with 80gr Hornady Amaxs. It was every bit as accurate as my 6BR, but shot flatter, at much higher velocities. I was impressed....

At 600 yards the wind drift of the 22 Dasher was the same as my 6BR, but the 3300 fps MV sure wasn't,my 6BR load with 105s runs about 2900 fps).

22 BR or 22 BR Improved is a great varmint round.

 

[Mikem]

Thanks, that's good news. Our Clubs range is limited to 400 yds, but for paper its only 200 yds. A reason I thought I would try the 22BR. I doubt I will do much shooting with that heavy a bullet, more down in the 50g to 60g range. Though Im still waiting on the barrel to arrive, Ive done some brass prep for fire forming, and load selection but only set the bullets vary shallow until I can get some accurate measurements to the lands when the barrel arrives. Plus it keep my interest up, during the long wait. Maybe two or three more weeks, I hope.
Thanks for the post.
Mike.

 

[Gadget]

Love the 22 BR, I run 80g VLD's Viv 150 @ 30.5g 1:8 twist 30' barrel and can hold my own in comp against some awsome kit.

Graham

 

[RonRouse]

Mike, your're going to love the 22BR. I have 3 rifles chambered for it, all with no-turn necks and I shoot them a lot. The accuracy is awesome to say the least. To illustrate their accuracy, Nosler uses a 22BR rifle to test the accuracy of their 22-cal. bullets in their ballistics lab.

 

[Eddie Harren]

I put a Rem 40X stainless takeoff barrel on my old trusty 722 action, that had been my tightneck 22-250 go to gun, for about 15 years. I chambered it in 22BR, .245 nk and took it, a good friend and 500 rds of ammo loaded with Nosler 55 gr Ballistic tips, to New Mexico prairie dog hunting. Had to threaten to shoot the friend to get him to give up the bench and rifle so I could shoot. Have never looked back at the 22-250.

 

[AlNyhus]

I love my 22BR. Lots of good info here in the 22BR cartridge section including some loads that work great in mine and other 22BRs I've tinkered with.

Sierra not knowing how good they are is par for the course.

 

[fdshuster]

Mikem: I'm very happy with my 22BR. Have several 6BRs' so it was an easy 'transition'. Use my 6BR redding bushing die with a .247' bushing, loaded round .249' w/ Lapua, for a .251' chamber neck. Shilen 1-12 heavy varmint contour. Did have some nasty signs of high pressure when developing loads,, hard bolt lift & ugly primers), backed-off a little & 'life is good'. My standard 'go-to' load is 28.5 of H322, 52 Berger & 53 Sierra #1400, touching, Lapua, federal 205. Consistant 1/4 moa w/ 5 shots at 200, 1/2 moa or slightly less with 5 at 300 yd. A really good ctg.: when this barrel is shot-out, it will be replaced with another in 22BR.

 

[NorCalMikie]

While we're on the subject of the 22 BR, I posted a question on the reloading section but no one jumped in with opinions.
Mikem,my main man and shooting buddy) and I were going back and forth about the trim length of the 22 BR barss. None of the load books seem to standardize the case lengths. They seem to jump from Remington to Lapua specs. Do you throw the different specs in a hat and just pick one?
The fact that the biggest majority of the newer chamberings will be to Lapua specs, you would think the load books would use the Lapua measurements.

 

[Preacher]

Case lengths should be cut for each individual chamber, the books are a average at best... Most folks trim more than is needed....

 

[Mikem]

Hay. thanks guys, I know I made the right decision now, to go with the 22BR, and it will come together soon. Im looking forward to working up a good load or two. And Im reading every thing I can find on this site,,My only trusted source) and I have most of the books.
And thanks for the tip on using 28.5g of H-322 under a 52g Sierra, Ill work up to that, as I have a large box of 52s on hand from shooting 223s for years, and up until I built my first 6BR. Then that 223 just started gathering dust, but she ready for the conversion now, and so am I.
Thanks again for the posts.
M.

 

[sambubba]

I have a .22BR and I am in desparate need of a good accuracy load using either 52 or 53g Sierra match bullets and N133 powder. I know this isn't supposed to be ideal, but I have several pounds of it. Any help would be appreciated. My most accurate load so far is 27.5g H322, and I really appreciate the 28.5g load given above.

 

[Mikem]

I have about 20 different types of powder on hand, and lots of different 224 bullets, and I will be using the 52g Sierras for sure, but I cant recall if I have N-133 or 135, but if any of my loads work out, ill let you know.
However, you will likely get others chiming in that have all ready found some amount of N-133 that works, or not. It might be a little faster or slow,,I cant remember there burning rates off hand) for a light 52g bullet, but who knows what your rifle likes to eat.
One things for sure, you came to the right place to ask that question.
And I sure hope my new 22BR will shoot like my 6BR does. With 30.5g of Varget under a 80g Berger set .010 in to the lands, it shoots in the high .1s to the high .2s for 5 @ 100, and another shooters may do better.

 

[Spook]

Big +1 for 22BR and 22BRX !

 

[AlNyhus]

The 'original' Remington 22BR's were 1.520 chambers....just like the 'original' 6BR's. They were made from 308BR brass shortened. Later 'original' 6BR's had the necks lengthened .040 resulting in a chamber length of 1.560. Later 'original' 22BR's were also 1.560.

I have factory Remington brass headstamped 6BR and 22BR,most people think 22BR headstamped brass was never produced by Remington ).

Now...when Lapua did the 6BR 'Norma' case, they wisely made it 1.560...same as the later Remington 6BR chambers. But with a bigger back end than the chambers for Rem. brass.

In general, if you have a reamer that's been spec'd for the Lapua case, it's going to be an 1.560 long chamber. The person who chambered the rifle should obviously know what reamer they used.

Hope this helps. -Al

 

[6BR]

I am a huge fan of the 6BR, however, the 22BR is an awesome cartridge too!!!!

 

[redfeather]

I have a brand new 22BR barrel on one of my Rem 700 SA actions that I plan to soot in 600 yard F-class soon. I put a Douglas air guaged premium heavy 26' long 1-8 twist barrel on to shoot the 69g, 77g, and 80g match bullets. I plan to shoot this as soon as I can get out...I have two other 22BR barrels that are 14T, and the accuracy is awesome. The 22BR and 6BR are super rounds with incredible accuracy. Enjoy them...the colonel.

 

[BradY]

By the sounds of it, you dont really need the twist to shoot the heavy bullets a long way. 200 for paper punching is fine for the 1:14 twist and the 52-53gr match bullet range. But in case it gets windy, consider a 1:10 twist to shoot 69gr match bullets. They will buck the wind better and the nosler match bullets have proved to be very explosive on foxes too.

I shoot them at 3364fps out of my 22BRX and best group to date was 0.172 centre to centre. Flat shooting as well. I use lapua brass, CCI BR primers and 31.8gr of varget.

If you stick with 1:14 twist and the lighter bullets you will get great velocity with a powder like H4895. More than likely the light match bullets will be fine for varminting too, but i cant explain just how impressed i am with the 69gr bullets for varminting and target shooting to 500m

 

[Mikem]

Al, Thanks for the BR case history and explaining the book discrepancies on case OAL, its all quite clear now. When my only BR rifle was my 6BR, and using only Lapua brass, it wasn't even a question. But when I decided to build a 22BR, and began reading about it, it was more than a bit confusing, no two books were the same.
Im making my 22br brass from Lapua 6BR brass, as most do, and I get the picture now.
Mike.

 

[Elwood]

My 22BR replaced my 22/250 and what a joy it is too shoot. I'm using a 1-12 twist barrel. My standard load is H322 and 55 grain Noslers, but I can also use Berger 64 grain heads and get them to just shy of 3400 fps which makes for some interesting shooting out to 600 yards.
On the case length question I have to trim my cases back to 1.530.