Long range 22 cal

[buckbrush]

I am thinking of trying a Savage build to shoot 80+ grain bullets to 800+ yards. I love the light recoil and cost per round as opposed to a big 338.

Any recommendations for cartridge? 22br, 22-250 come to mind. I'll probably do a 26" McGowen 1:7 twist.

Thanks.

 

[JerryMay]

How about a 22/6.5x47?
Jerry (UK).

 

[cliffy]

Hornady makes the best brass for handloading American .223 Remington. I've had it with Lapua oversized cases. Cliffy

 

[fdshuster]

buckbrush: Tough to beat a 22-250 with a fast twist 1-7 or 8. Case powder capacity is easily enough to justify the long, heavy weights, needed for the longer distances. And another plus is the availability of the extreme high quality Lapua brass. This combination wins or places very near the top in our local long distance BR g'hog matches.

 

[1000yardstare]

If I was building a 1000 yard .22 cal rifle again it would be in .22/250 AI with an 8 twist. Redding makes the bushing dies as a standard item, not special order.

The original .250 Savage case has a strong taper for smooth feeding through a lever action. This taper promotes forward brass flow during repeated firings. The Improved form eliminates a lot of this brass flow cutting down the need for frequent case trimming.

 

[Preacher]

I did up a 22/6mm AI a few years ago and it shot the 80 gr MK"s into tiny little holes at 350 yards with lots of RL-25 crammed into the case....
The barrel didn't last very long but it sure was a shooter....

 

[vlcakc]

I have been testing a 22X47 Lapua for the last several months. The 8" twist barrel shoots very well with 69 to 75 gr bullets, and pretty well with 52 and 55's. Case capacity is a bit larger than the .22/250 Rem and a bit smaller than the .22/250AI. I have a couple of .22/250AI barrels and really like them also. With the availability of Lapua .22/250 brass it probably makes more sense to go with the .22/250AI. Dies are far more common (read cheaper) than for less popular cartridges, and a lot of smiths have the AI reamers. Good luck with your project and good shooting! Vic

 

[buckbrush]

Is the Lapua brass available already? I can't find it anywhere...

Also, has anyone tried the 90 gr Bergers? Amazing BC out of those things.

Thanks.

 

[ThunderDownUnder]

I'm building a 22BR to use with the Berger 90gr VLD bullets. Lapua 6BR brass is readily available and 3000+fps with 90gr bullets should get you all the long range you want!

Article here: http://www.6mmbr.com/T2K22BR.html

Ian

 

[acloco]

Lucked into a light varmint/heavy sporter Shilen Select Match stainless 1:8 twist barrel that I did not know what to chamber it in, until I found a great deal on some 80 gr AMax bullets.

Ran my 223 AI chamber a little deep (on purpose) and made a 222 Rem Mag AI. Necking up 204 Ruger brass provides 3150 fps with the 80 gr AMax's and very nice long range ballistics.

Away from home for the last two months, so I don't have access to my reloading info.

Very cheap to load for, plentiful brass, and definitely taking advantage of those long bullets.

 

[buckbrush]

Lucked into a light varmint/heavy sporter Shilen Select Match stainless 1:8 twist barrel that I did not know what to chamber it in, until I found a great deal on some 80 gr AMax bullets.

Ran my 223 AI chamber a little deep (on purpose) and made a 222 Rem Mag AI. Necking up 204 Ruger brass provides 3150 fps with the 80 gr AMax's and very nice long range ballistics.

Away from home for the last two months, so I don't have access to my reloading info.

Very cheap to load for, plentiful brass, and definitely taking advantage of those long bullets.

Sounds like a heck of a round. Custom dies I suppose though huh?

 

[acloco]

Lucked into a light varmint/heavy sporter Shilen Select Match stainless 1:8 twist barrel that I did not know what to chamber it in, until I found a great deal on some 80 gr AMax bullets.

Ran my 223 AI chamber a little deep (on purpose) and made a 222 Rem Mag AI. Necking up 204 Ruger brass provides 3150 fps with the 80 gr AMax's and very nice long range ballistics.

Away from home for the last two months, so I don't have access to my reloading info.

Very cheap to load for, plentiful brass, and definitely taking advantage of those long bullets.

Sounds like a heck of a round. Custom dies I suppose though huh?

No, just necksizing with 223 AI dies. On reload number 5.

 

[Phil]

How about a 22-243,22-243Middlestead or a 22-243AI????????

 

[357Mag]

Buckrush -

HOwdy !

Please check you PMs.

Regards,
357Mag

 

[BradY]

I have a 7 twist barrel being chambered in 22BRX for 90gr bergers, SMK's and a few JLK's that I could scrounge up. 22BR and its improved versions are what you want.

 

[rcparker1]

a simple 22/243 is hard to beat. no fire forming, just run through a die and do your normal loading. You can get dies from Redding or several others Im sure. If you have a .243 bush die you can change the bushing to make .22 cal brass. Shooting 75gr Amax I can get around 3500fps with a 1 in 8, 26" barrel. Rifle is a hunting rifle built on a 700 action and will shoot 5 shot mid .300" groups all day at a 100yards. Much easier than that fire forming unless your into that.

 

[SpencerC]

My next build will most likely be a 22dasher with 1-7twist. Seems hard to beat the BR/dasher style cases for accuracy and being able to form it out of Lapua brass is a big plus.

 

[fordwrench]

I'm thinking the same thing! I've been researching as well. I keep coming back to the 220 swift case. No ai, no firforming ,long neck,cheaper dies, the only drawback I see is norma is the only premium brass available. I'm just not sure the added cost of the primo brass would offset the capable accuracy of a hunting rifle. Target shooting is done with a purpose built bench gun in a bench cal. Anybody else?

 

[davidw3625]

223AI 7T 30" 70(ish) bullet............wind is always a factor so figure it in and shoot.......

 

[SooStan]

If I as going to use a case capacity as large as the 22-250 I would look at 90 gr. bullets instead of 80 gr. and a 1x6.5 or 7 twist.