New Build / for 50 gr V's / Prairie Dog Rig
- Thread starter markT
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redrockranger
Silver $$ Contributor
No smith has a 0 free bore no turn neck reamer ? Pleased with my 22 BR. It replaced a 22 - 250. barrel burner.
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50 gr at 3800 will most likely be a dream. Not sure if a .22BR would even get there. A 40 would do it though.
Paul
Paul
For varminting, there will be volume... 223 or 223 AI to make brass easy to get. Longest barrel you're comfortable with, and more mass, better heat properties. Fluting if it's too heavy.
If you don't want factory ammo, why not a 20 Practical or... 20 Practical AI?
-Mac
If you don't want factory ammo, why not a 20 Practical or... 20 Practical AI?
-Mac
JSH
Gold $$ Contributor
I have no 223AI, yet, I have looked and studied them. Some of the claims I have read I really question, even though they say “no pressure signs”. It falls in with the 280AI. It did outrageous things until someone with pressure equipment tested it.
The 22BR. I built one much as you describe. #1 thing make 100% sure of the reamer specs. Seems there are a fair number out there for the RP brass.
I went with a no turn neck zero free bore 1-12”, as I didn’t t want/need to use it for anything over 55’s.
I did skim turn necks just because I could and knocked the high spots off
What’s not to like, it has not been picky for me nor a shooting buddy. I was advised to stay with H335 for longer barrel life. Buddy has shot about everything imaginable for 22BR, I think he has settled on AA2460.
I myself don’t let brass price change my mind on cartridge performance. The 22BR will easily do what anything in a 223 parent case will struggle to do.
redrockranger
Silver $$ Contributor
12 tw for the 53 gr V-Max.
1mil
Silver $$ Contributor
I think it depends somewhat on if you will have more than one P dog gun in the field or just one.
Most folks have several to switch out while cooling barrels.
Also depends on what range you want to shoot. 500+ yards and the bigger bullets/cal really make a differnce, esp with the ever present wind.
If I had to take just one, it would prob be a 223 AI...with 50-53gr bullets.
My all time favorite though is the 22BR with 60 vmax @ 3450fps
Hope this helps
BTW ... headed to the p dog town next week with
17 H Hornet
20 Vartarg
22BR and
6 Dasher with 87gr vmax
Yes we have the affliction.
Cheers
Most folks have several to switch out while cooling barrels.
Also depends on what range you want to shoot. 500+ yards and the bigger bullets/cal really make a differnce, esp with the ever present wind.
If I had to take just one, it would prob be a 223 AI...with 50-53gr bullets.
My all time favorite though is the 22BR with 60 vmax @ 3450fps
Hope this helps
BTW ... headed to the p dog town next week with
17 H Hornet
20 Vartarg
22BR and
6 Dasher with 87gr vmax
Yes we have the affliction.
Cheers
Having had a 222 AI I can attest to this. Even if it were attainable there is not a PD in the world that will notice the difference between a standard 223 and a 223 AI and in the field the slight drop difference between the two is not noticable. On chronongraped loads the most difference I saw was 100 fps.
Given the numerous proven good loads for the 223 why not just go with it. Unless he has a goodly amount of self control the money for 223AI dies would be better spent on a backup rifle to shoot while his main rifle is cooling.
drover
My pdog rig is a Savage action, .223, SS ershaw 24" 1/14" twist varmint bbl, boyds thumbhole stock.
My load is the 50g vmax in front of h335, primer don't make a difference.
This runs st 3328 fps.
This loads works the same with 50g tnt, 50g jsp, 52g hp bullets.
Imo a 223A, 50g vmax would be more explosive.
My load is the 50g vmax in front of h335, primer don't make a difference.
This runs st 3328 fps.
This loads works the same with 50g tnt, 50g jsp, 52g hp bullets.
Imo a 223A, 50g vmax would be more explosive.
I guess I understand the want of a new rig. In that case if it were me I would go with a 6mm BR, they hold up very well in the wind, great explosives with the lighter bullet and about the same recoil level as a 22/250 when using the 6mm 58 gr bullet
drover
Agreed. 6BR with zero freebore, .272 neck, Lapua brass...pushing the 55s or 58s with Xterminator...will become his primary high volume gun, certainly. Already had the dies for 6BR too.
And, per previous posts, my 223AI pressures start getting too high when I hit 3,650fps with the 50s. Above this and brass becomes difficult to extract in my rig.
I have recently fitted a new proof sendero
carbon barrel on my .223 stolle panda also rebeded the action.
it's nice and light and shoots 52grn burgers
Great.3 shot group.it shoots in the low.2s easily if I do my part.it wears a pulsar night vision thermal scope now.i use it for fox shooting here in the UK.ive shot a few thousand foxes over the last 25years and I haven't found a
fox a .223 won't kill yet...Great caliber.i also use 6BR.6.5x47 and 6ppc.
carbon barrel on my .223 stolle panda also rebeded the action.
it's nice and light and shoots 52grn burgers
Great.3 shot group.it shoots in the low.2s easily if I do my part.it wears a pulsar night vision thermal scope now.i use it for fox shooting here in the UK.ive shot a few thousand foxes over the last 25years and I haven't found a
fox a .223 won't kill yet...Great caliber.i also use 6BR.6.5x47 and 6ppc.
Attachments
urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
I have a no turn neck 22 BR reamer and Savage large shank blanks. I would suggest an 8 twist.
I also have the 6bra zero freebore reamer.... that in an 8 twist with 55s to 70s is money. Over 4000 fps with 55s. Big splodey.
I also have the 6bra zero freebore reamer.... that in an 8 twist with 55s to 70s is money. Over 4000 fps with 55s. Big splodey.
timeout
Silver $$ Contributor
Curious what powder is giving you the over 4000 fps? I haven't experimented a whole bunch, but H335, 55 grain bullets, 26" barrel Dasher is @ 3640 in my rifle. Also, I am not loading the hottest possible charge from my ladder test. Thanks.
urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
Lt32.
Ackman
Gold $$ Contributor
Choosing between a 223AI and a 22BR, I like the .223AI better. I have both. The 22BR is very accurate, so is the Ackley. And 50gr. velocity is about the same but the Ackley does it with 4-5gr. less powder. Fireforming loads are just as accurate and still faster than a standard .223. For years my load was with 2015 powder, now it's VV133 with 50's, velocity 3825 with a 25", 14tw barrel. Yes, 3800 is very realistic. Velocity with 40's is well over 4100. And for something on the BR case, go with 6mm. The standard 6BR with 14 or 12 twist is just awesome and stupid easy to make shoot, so is the 6BRAi. So is the 6BRX, which has the advantage of being able to use 6BR dies.
*** Never messed with one of those Savage target guns. Would it need to be rebarreled or rechambered to .223Ackley? I'd strongly recommend a 14 or 12tw barrel which will be very easy to find a load with light bullets. And a chamber with .250" neck and 0....ZERO....freebore.
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