Going small

[Leo_B]

I'm spec'ing on a future purchase and looking for opinions. I don't hunt. I don't like recoil. I like to shoot competition. Against myself. How will I do this time compared to other times. No other real interests. I'm using this chart (below) as a guide. I've randomly set .22-250 as my upper limit, based in part on prior experience with .25-06. My primary suspects are .22-250, 6mm BR, .22 Nosler, .204 Ruger, 6.5 Grendel, .224 Valkyrie, 223 and .222 (enjoyed in a Contender long ago). I've got a .22 Hornet now. I'm open to any suggestions, not just this suspect list.

Some I wonder how viable they are as they either seem to be headed toward the out door or else never really making it all the way through the in door. I've heard a lot about .22-250 forever. I've heard a LOT lately about .204 Ruger. 6.5 Grendel gets a fair amount of acknowledgement. And .223 is everywhere. The rest just look good in the chart but I know very little.

So advice for a guy who just wants something to shoot? I'll start with factory ammo and when I get enough for a good outing I'll start to reload it. Thanks for any and all input.

Rifle Recoil Table: Updated for 2024 with all popular cartridges – Backfire

backfire.tv

 

[AWS]

If accuracy is your goal I'd look closely at the 222 Rem. Ammunition availability and accuracy the 223. And if longer range is your goal, 223, 22 ARC, 22 CM.

 

[ricco1949]

222 or 221FB....BR competitive with very little recoil.

 

[jpx2rk]

Lots of comments on the 6mmBR's accuracy and easy button. Something a bit different but similar to the 204R would be the 20 Practical, another easy button wildcat IMO. Good selection of bullets, unlimited supply of brass.

 

[alf]

I'd skip the thought of shooting factory ammo just to get the brass for the future, if accuracy is the ultimate goal.

 

[NorCalMikie]

.221 Fireball, accurate and nothing in the way of recoil.

 

[Leo_B]

I liked the .222 in the Contender. I wondered if it isn't drifting toward the exit door though?

I hadn't considered the .221FB in part thinking it might be too close to my Hornet and not being in the recoil chart although I'm sure it is well within my acceptable range.

The .22CM is too high on the recoil chart, the .22-250 being an arbitrary but pretty firm ceiling.

Not familiar at all with .22ARC and will have to research that one.

I will likely be mostly shooting at 100yds comparing to previous outings. Maybe now and then if feeling less lazy trying out 200yds when it's nice hiking days.

I thought some factory ammo would give me brass specific to my gun but also break it in and get me used to the gun. Then reloads to see where it can go.

I'm newer than new at all this so LOTS to learn.

 

[244remington]

17 Fireball or 17 Hornet. They will make you smile every time you pull the trigger.

 

[TAJ45]

I am surprised that 22 BR or 22ppc haven't been mentioned.
Give up a smidge anda half of accuracy (maybe) but more zip n std face w the Br. You could always use same brass if you wanted to bump up to 6mm in either...as long as you avoid anything more than a bare skim cut on the necks.
20 Practical is sooooo easy. Brass good n cheap galore. Just sumthin else to ruminate on.

 

[Leo_B]

I'll be honest, I don't even know what some of these are and so also nothing about them.

20 Practical? Brass good n cheap galore? Is this brass you have to create from other brass? Zero clue how that would be done. And not nearly advanced enough in my journey for that, yet anyway. But interesting to think about and look into.

I hadn't thought about .17 in part due to already having .22 Hornet and I guess thinking I should stay a bit larger than that, although not sure why.

 

[alf]

I thought some factory ammo would give me brass specific to my gun but also break it in and get me used to the gun. Then reloads to see where it can go.

I'm newer than new at all this so LOTS to learn.

Hardly anybody breaks in a barrel anymore, waste of time & components with a quality tube.

A plain 'ol 223 built right will give you all the accuracy you can use w/o beating you up.

Start with virgin Lapua brass, & go straight into load development, you're forming brass & getting comfy with the gun, & not wasting barrel life. Groups right out of the gate will surprise you when you start with good brass.

 

[TAJ45]

Read some threads on 20 Practical. Not tuff at all. Use 223 brass, run it through a sizer when you reload it for the first time. No rocket science there....just do it like you are reloading for a 22-250, 222, etc. Decide on a load and do the exact same steps. No more, not less.
We all started exactly where you are. Read, maybe find someone at a local range to buddy up w. Most of us enjoy sharing what we know. Itsa fun ride

 

[snert]

Leo, if you are going to reload, just build a decent rifle (used Panda action, used BR stock, new 14 twist barrel put on by Hart or smith of your choice , a good 36X scope, a good rest, not Caldwell) and buy 200 222 Brass from Starline, or one of the reputable makers like LApua (find it here now and then) buy the componants (52 grain Barts) some N133 or H4198 and good primers. Load from the start about .005 off the lands. That approach is the easy button. You can shoot that rifle for 2000 rounds and never have to replace anything but bullets, primers and powder. Don't try to "go cheap" with a factory rifle and factory loads. Bou once, cry once and there are tons of used BR guns out there to get you started. See The Shooterss Corner (The List) for representative BR guns. Get advice here on potential "starter BR gun" and you will be happy.

And it will shoot better than you to start out, so you will learn to load, shoot and manage yourself on it, without constantly wondering if its the gun, barrel, brass, cartridge.

 

[Leo_B]

Interesting suggestions. Looking at my Hornady, they list the same bullets for my Hornet and the .223 but not one powder overlaps. Another interesting find, to me.

And insanity to some (most?) I'm sure but I've wanted a Mossberg MVP Patrol for a good while, for who knows what reason, but just do. I have a wild idea of getting one of those and seeing if I could even hit the target at 100 yards with the iron sights. Hah, or even see the target at 100 yards.

 

[CJ6]

I'm sorting out a 6 ARC for my granddaughter using 85 gr bullets. Lite recoil and accurate. Just another option.

 

[jpjulian]

If you can't do it with a .223, biased as I have 6, it doesn't need to be done.........

 

[hseII]

I'm sorting out a 6 ARC for my granddaughter using 85 gr bullets. Lite recoil and accurate. Just another option.

This has become the little rifle option for us.

Hard to beat for an easy button smaller rig.

 

[Oso]

It seems like you are looking at using a bolt rifle, and not AR15. Let’s first talk about the rifle (1) Custom build, (2) upgrading existing rifle, or (3) new factory. You just have to decide your budget. Buying a custom is +$3k. Buying a quality barrel and having gunsmith chamber it is $600-$800. Buying a new factory is $500 - $900. The reason I started with the cost of firearm is some of the mentioned cartridges don’t come as a factory offering so at the very least you will be buying a barrel. Depending upon type of rifle action, you might be able to buy prefit barrel in certain designated cartridges. If you plan to buy a new factory rifle then for the quality and price then Tikka is hands down winner.

I’m assuming you plan to primarily use this rifle/cartridge for shooting at the range 100-300 yards. You have a great selection of low recoil cartridges that will fit your needs. Some of these cartridges are standard factory offering (rifles are chambered in this cartridge at factory, and also readily available selection of ammo on store shelves, including .223 Remington, 22-250, 6ARC, 6.5 Grendel. The 22ARC is new to marketplace so.ammo availability will improve in near future.

.20 Cartridges:
20 Vartarg (221 Fireball necked down to .20 cal, 30gr - 40gr, light recoil) Gunsmith to chamber,
20 Practical / .20 Tactical (223 necked down to .20 cal, 30gr -40gr). Gunsmith to chamber.
.204 Ruger (30gr - 40gr)

. 22 Cartridges:
221 Fireball (40gr - mid 50gr, light recoil). Gunsmith to chamber.
222 Remington (40gr - 60gr, extremely accurate). Gunsmith to chamber.
223 Remington (50gr - 75gr, all around performer)
(80gr - 90gr long throat … not a factory chamber)
22-250 (50gr - 75gr).
22 ARC (ie .22 Grendel) 60gr - 90gr, accurate
22 BR (60gr - 90gr). Gunsmith to chamber.

6mm Cartridges:
6x45 / 6TCU (223 case necked up to 6mm, accurate, target & hunting). Gunsmith to chamber.
6 ARC (ie 6mm Grendel more or less, 75gr - 108gr, accurate target & hunting)
6 BR (65gr - 115gr, accurate). Gunsmith to chamber.

6.5mm Cartridges:
6.5 Grendel (90gr - 130gr, accurate, target and hunting)

Note: .20 cal cartridges are wonderful and perfectly designed for shooting varmint. Due to small/light bullets, these caliber has limited use for larger game (deer, pig, antelope, etc.)

It is hard not to pick either .223 Remington (the adult’s 22 long rifle) or 6 ARC.

 

[Leo_B]

Yes, I am thinking of a bolt rifle and likely ~$1k budget and a factory ammo offering. And looking at ammo for the first time it looks like the only one I may be able to afford to feed in more than small snack size servings is the .223. The path seems to be leading to the MVP again, a path I wouldn't mind being led to. But there are a number of good possible trails on the .223 path.

I find it interesting the Grendel name has stuck with the 6.5 but the 6 and 22 have adopted the ARC moniker instead. Is there a reason for that?

I suspect the .204 will stick and be around a long time, in no small part from being named Ruger, a fine and well respected name. I'm currently reading "Ruger And His Guns", a very interesting book.

And to digress briefly from the thread topic, I HIGHLY recommend the series "Walnut And Steel" by Bill Ward. A VERY good and interesting set of books on rimfires and the "good old days" of guns.

Thank you to everyone for very interesting and very helpful responses so far. I truly appreciate them and they are helping me gather and focus my thoughts on how I'll want to proceed.

 

[ELR LVR]

I'm spec'ing on a future purchase and looking for opinions. I don't hunt. I don't like recoil. I like to shoot competition. Against myself. How will I do this time compared to other times. No other real interests. I'm using this chart (below) as a guide. I've randomly set .22-250 as my upper limit, based in part on prior experience with .25-06. My primary suspects are .22-250, 6mm BR, .22 Nosler, .204 Ruger, 6.5 Grendel, .224 Valkyrie, 223 and .222 (enjoyed in a Contender long ago). I've got a .22 Hornet now. I'm open to any suggestions, not just this suspect list.

Some I wonder how viable they are as they either seem to be headed toward the out door or else never really making it all the way through the in door. I've heard a lot about .22-250 forever. I've heard a LOT lately about .204 Ruger. 6.5 Grendel gets a fair amount of acknowledgement. And .223 is everywhere. The rest just look good in the chart but I know very little.

So advice for a guy who just wants something to shoot? I'll start with factory ammo and when I get enough for a good outing I'll start to reload it. Thanks for any and all input.

Rifle Recoil Table: Updated for 2024 with all popular cartridges – Backfire

backfire.tv

My fav is a 22 BR, I love the 22-250
But the 22 BR just does it in a Short fat package with less powder
The 22-250 is almost as consistently accurate though
the 22 BR seems to hold tighter groups more consistently
-------------
222 will be just as accurate and use less powder than a 22BR
however a 22 BR will allow you to shoot groups at 600 yds and hit plate no problem with first round hits
if youre at all into that
222 wont quite do that as easily,
I'd vote 22-250 for no fuss brass use
22BR if you want more custom, caseforming, fireforming, neck turning etc which eeks out that extra .100" over a 22-250
I built a 1:10 twist 22-250 one time for use of Sierra 69 TMK bullets -
a VERY accurate combo from 100 -600 yds
Pic 1 - Typical group from 22 BR
Pic 2 - a Bad group from a 22 BR