hot rod 22 cartridge?

[Jim Butler]

I'm not as knowledgeable on all of the "things" that u guys talk about, I shoot a 220 rocket (40deg shoulder) that runs 52 gr. bullets over 4200, with the best accuracy at around 4150.
1/2" groups, better shooters I'm sure could shoot better groups, fireforming is easy, just shoot a swift in it and it is a rocket, case life is, to be accurate, short, cases in mine separate around 5 - 7 shots, less if I shoot faster loads.
results on pd's are a little more than spectacular, I had my local smith put a break on it so I could see the hits
I believe it is 1 - 12, but never have been interested in shooting much heavier than a 55 gr. bullet in the Rocket
Good thread, interesting and very informative for me. Jim

 

[40X Guy]

That could be a lot of fun burning a barrel a year on dogs.

So I have 243 brass and have thought about 22 243 Ai but is the much difference between it and a 22 250 ai? Not sure that the 220 swift is gonna make the cut, but if an Ackley would out do the 22 243 then it might work out. I think the 22 284 may be a little large I am going to Pu t this on a S/a savage most likely.

A 22-250AI is about the equivalent of a standard Swift, you still have to fireform the brass and more time is spent just fireforming and in my mind the brass needs to be shot twice, FL sized, plus annealed before you realize the benefit of a 22-250-AI which is almost a Swift, so one could rule that out. A 22-243AI again is more time and work spent necking down the brass, fireforming the brass and probably neck turning before you even fire a shot. I don't know many guys who run a 22-243AI without turning necks and if you want to reach out and touch varmints way out there then consistent neck tension is gonna help you in a big way. Apples to apples and oranges to oranges, I have this 8 twist Swift humming and I think its the perfect balance of powder burnt, velocity and accuracy one could ever hope for. Been there and done that with most of the Hyper 22 cals the last 25 years and the Swift hands down will win every time. I'm not sure what you meant by the Swift may not make the cut, but i am convinced after reading, talking and studying that most people that may not want to own one or do not realize the benefits of one have never owned one or have read too much stuff about them being barrel burners. Sure they are if you get em hot but modern components and barrels help immensely. I am not trying to tell you to go with a Swift, but I posted my opinion and based it on my life experiences shooting the Hyper 22 cals. And bottom line is that they are the most fun of any cartridges out there to shoot, but can be finicky at times also. If you already have a 9 twist barrel, go for the 22-243 or a 22-243AI based on the availability of lapua brass in parent .243 size. Try 75 A-Max right off the bat, if they do not stabilize or you are dis enchanted with them, try something a tad lighter in the Berger lineup. As far as bullet blowup with 75 A-Max at hyper speeds i have not seen it. But you will probably wish you had an 8 twist barrel eventually. Best of luck and keep everyone posted.. And yes a very good thread!

PS. If you are going to build one of the Hyper 22 cals for PD hunting you will wish you had a standard .223, or .223AI, as any of these calibers mentioned in thread will build an incredible amount of barrel heat after shooting shot strings. I get nervous after shooting 6 rounds at the range with my Swift's. I did bring a Swift with me during my PD hunting days in SD during the 90's but would have to park it after a string of shooting attacking PD's. Would have to go to the back up .223 VSSF Remy 700.

Frank

 

[calib]

40x,
You are correct I have not owned one. Maybe I need to do some more reading on the swift.

I am gonna do some searching on the rocket, I love ackley's and it seams easy enough to through in a swift and get a rocket. Get good coyote loads fire forming then full load rockets on dogs after that.

I don't do hardly any prairie dog shooting but occasional rock chucks.

Thanks everyone for your input. I am getting excited about this. Can't wait to see the splat and mist

 

[Phil]

I always figured a "Hot Rod" .22 to be a .22-243 with either a 30* or 40* shoulder.....

A 30* if it were to be a repeater and a 40* if it was a single shot....

Lapua brass being the deciding factor for me, since you lean on hot rods you need good brass.....

Also, this is all dependent on running the 75 Amax bullet, again just my way of thinking...

Phil.

 

[Phil]

You could also try a .22 Creedmoor and avoid the fire forming and use a little less powder than some of the others....

Phil.

 

[40X Guy]

Calib, i have owned 2 .220 Rockets also, first was a rechambered M70 HV in Swift with 14 twist and that gun was a ton of fun, not much velocity improvement (100 fps) but cases did not stretch, the Rocket has IIRC a 32 or 33 degree shoulder and the case body straightens out. Second one was a 13 twist as i was searching for more speed with 55 BT's but that backfired as i could not touch them off over 4000 fps whereas the Winchester was screaming a 55 BT at 4100 and load was mild. A rocket with fast twist barrel would have to be fun. Your 9 twist barrel with the right slow burning powder should stabilize the 75's. I also have scoured the net in the past for .220 Weatherby Rocket info and there's not a lot of stuff out there, most guys who build one opt for a 14 twist... I have kept Neil Jones busy for a long time building my custom dies for these wildcats and I would recommend him for dies in the future. Usual wait is 8-12 weeks.

Frank

 

[calib]

looks like i will be trying out a 22-243 here in the next couple weeks, gonna have to get dies, but will at least throw some formed loads together using 260 ai bushing set could i get away with using these for neck sizing and seating?


thanks to oif/oef i will be burning a barrel soon. and ill make sure to report my findings with this round and 75 amax's.

 

[Bobthenailer]

I shoot a 22-284 with 75grn A-max @ 3500fps. H1000 @ 53grains seems to be the velocity king with this cartridge in my rifle. Yes case prep is time consuming but once formed your there. Check out this blog for a write up on the cartridge (interesting article reference to Guns & Ammo 1964) www.knowyourzero.com

 

[calib]

Thanks Bob, doesn't sound like an improvement over 22-243 with a 75 a max

 

[calib]

Anybody know what head space gauge would work for 22-243? I have a 22-250ai and a 260ai already

 

[John from MN]

243-308 is the one you want. Your 260 AI won't work as the AI rounds are shorter.

 

[calib]

So just a straight 308 or 243 go gauge. That is easy enough

 

[calib]

I am going to order the gauge and then order some dies once I find out the gauge to use.

getting a donor rifle for this instead of making a switch barrel set up, they have a killer deal on stevens 200 at a local store

 

[calib]

If i have a match reamed 22 243 chamber can i fl once fired brass and it should work? A once fired brass wont fit in chamber all the way and dont have the 243 die yet

 

[stacy]

FITTED NECKS BRASS HAS TO BE TURNED TO PROPER DIA.

 

[calib]

Its not the necks that is the problem

 

[Marksman]

Have any of you documented what the RPM max seems to be with the Amax's and SMK's? I'm tempted to build a fast twist 22-250AI, but I don't want to be blowing up bullets.

 

[40X Guy]

Have any of you documented what the RPM max seems to be with the Amax's and SMK's? I'm tempted to build a fast twist 22-250AI, but I don't want to be blowing up bullets.

I have driven 75 A-Max at 3,659 fps using RL-17 in my .220 Swift 8 twist and they arrived at target fine. I slowed it down to a mundane 3,551 with N550 and accuracy is fantastic...

Frank

 

[22XC Guy]

RPM, I ran my .22X6XC, 1:8 twist and case capacity to the fullest speed possible with 75 grain A-Max, I never saw a problem with cutting holes so crisp in paper, diameter wise out to 598 yards.. Warping case heads, that another problem ladies...

Steve

 

[John from MN]

Have any of you documented what the RPM max seems to be with the Amax's and SMK's? I'm tempted to build a fast twist 22-250AI, but I don't want to be blowing up bullets.

The last reading I got from a now gone chronograph was 3580 pushing 75 grain amaxes out of a 7 twist Hart with 50 plus grains of Ramshot Magnum. The next round was loaded a half grain hotter and blew up right in front of the chrony and wrecked it. That barrel was relatively fresh at the time.

An 8 twist Shilen cm I had a couple years back would shoot the 80 grain amax at 3600 until the barrel had roughly 400 rounds through it and the bullets started coming apart 75 to 100 yds downrange. Backed them down to 3500 and enjoyed another 200 rnds of accurate barrel life.

An 8 twist Bartlein I have in the safe doesn't seem to have a speed limit I can reach with normal pressures with right around 500 shots through it. Best accuracy is around 3500 fps. All of these barrels are chambered to 22-243. Provided the barrel you choose is of good initial quality, You'd have to push a 22-250 AI waaaay into the red to blow up 75 and 80 grain bullets with an 8 twist. 7 twist??? seems unlikely, too.