Need help with first wildcat

[jayph]

I have just ordered my first wildcat barrel and dies and want to load up my fireform rounds so when the rifle is built I am ready to go. I have never loaded anything other than standard hunting cartridges but do have 12 years expierience at the loading bench.

Cartridge: .220 Swift AI
Action: Savage 111
Barrel: 26" Shilen select match 1-9 twist
Dies: Redding
Primers: WLR
Brass: Winchester

So what powder should I use to give me the best formed brass? Also what charge? I don't really want to do much load development to fireform I just wan't to load up 100 rounds to have waiting for the rifle. Then get serious with finding the right combo.

I have Nosler custom competition 52gr and Barnes Varmint Grenade 50gr on hand to load.

Second question. What powders will work best once I have a fireformed case? I was hoping to use the 60gr Nosler ballistic tip. Also does anybody have data Min/Max loads for the .220 AI. Or even starting loads that I can work up from? I was going to use regular .220 data starting in the middle and working up but wasn't sure if the shape and volume of the new case ment different powders would serve me best.


Thanks in advnce and any other advice on this cartridge would be great

Jason

 

[357Mag]

Jay -

Howdy !

You'll wanna use powders of the speed range like
VV160, I4350, RL-19 and slower..... for that twist and with heavier .224" bullets.

I don't recommend fire forming with breakfast cereal.
But hey... that's just me.

For MY high case cap .224" cal wildcat ( not on the Swift case, though )... I fire formed with regular loads while I checked groups ( i.e ...... I did not shoot " reduced " fire form loads ). Cases came out fine, and accuracy was also fine !

An example:
I used Hornady 75 "A-Max" for everything... paper and live
varmint. My rifle had a 1-8 28" K & P 5 groove in Palma taper. The best / most accurate load for my .224" cal wildcat in THAT rifle was the 75 over 40.5 gr AA3100, and a FED LR Math primer. That load went 3,420fps, and switch in load to FED LR Magnum Match opened group a bit; while vel increase to 3,500 honest.

I'm sure your powders needs will be around a similar burn rate range.

For a middle-of-the-road bullet wt, maybe you could make use of Sierra's old-school 65gr SP in .224" cal ?

Best of luck in your endeavors.

Regards,
357Mag

 

[bsekf]

I seat the bullets long with tight neck tension. The theory is to keep the base tight against the bolt face through ignition. I use the heaviest bullet and a starting load right out of the book.

Bill

 

[Preacher]

RL-15 works great in the 220 AI, the 75 grain A-max will make that rifle sing with the 9 twist, it works so good you'll toss the 60 gr Bt idea shortly after trying them..

 

[Bulseyetom]

I also seat my bullets well into the lands on the fireforming process and use a standard load. Lube the cases with Imperial before shooting and they will expand nicely. Tom