New Guy With 22 BR

[jds holler]

Hello, I've just joined the forum, and thought I'd pop over here and start a thread in "Small Stuff" since that is what my latest interest is.

I purchased this rifle simply because it was too good of a deal to pass up, and seemed to fill a gap in my small caliber line-up. For many years I've shot and loaded for a sweet little 218 Bee, in Winchester Model 43, and a tack driving 222 Rem in Model 700 ADL. This 22BR just kind of popped up, and was the kind of thing I'd have never spent the money for if it hadn't been a rippin deal.





It's a late seventies vintage with a 20 inch barrel, slow 1/14 twist, with a Leupold 24X fixed power scope. Maybe someone can tell me what those mounts are, I've never seen them before.


Condition is very good, hardly fired from the looks of it, and I guess it's now probably the nicest rifle I own. I've put a little over two hundred rounds through it, and am still at the roughing out stage of my experimenting and reloading technique for it.

My best groups so far are in the .3's which to a lot of guys seems to mean that it's a real lemmon. : I think I'm finally on the right track with a few things, and expect it to shape up a bit as I learn better case prep and such. I just scored several different bullets from 50 gr. on down at our local gun show, so I'll be able to try a lot of different things as I have time to. Best bullets so far have been 40 gr. V-Max, and powders have been BLC, H335, and Benchmark. Been using CCI 450 primers, but just found some Small Rifle BR-4's to try.

There isn't a ton of load data out there for this cartridge, so I'd enjoy hearing from folks who know more about this than I do. Any info about the rifle itself would be welcome also. I've learned a lot but it's still kind of a mystery to me. Thanks for looking. jd

 

[Gabe22BR]

Great find !! on 50 gr. I use 30 gr. Benchmark with mine, BR4 primer.

 

[snert]

VERY nice 40XBR! I shoot a 222, and a 22PPC in similar platforms.

In the 22PPC I use 50 grain bullets at 3500. Vmax seems to be best for groundhogs. It shoots 53 grain SMK's real well with H322, but not for G-hog shooting.

I like Varget for the light 50's. I did not get good accuracy at 3900 fps in the 40 grain bullets.

8208, H322, 4198 IMR, Varget seem to work in the PPC. The BR case is different, but similar. My 6BR loves 8208

snert

 

[snert]

There is a Redding COMP seat die for sale in the tools section, good price if you need one

 

[jds holler]

I just got a pound of 8208, but have no clue (yet) where to start with it. So far my best accuracy with this rifle has been at the upper end. Frankly I'd like to find a sweet spot at lower levels if possible.

Snert I appreciate the heads up on the seater die. I wanna get one, but I think my next die expenditure needs to be a bushing die and bushings. I also appreciate that you have the name of a Scandinavian dog.

Neck on my chamber is .248", and right now my loaded necks are at .244". Does that sound too sloppy, or am I OK. I've got 200 new brass to process, and I want to turn the necks to what's optimum.

I'd be tickled to get this thing shooting little bug holes, but frankly I'm getting pretty happy with consistent .5" five shot groups. Those groups are for real, not imaginary internet groups like some guys shoot. ;D jd

 

[Ackman]

Mine is very similar to that one. Serial # 50xxx, originally a used 22-250 I had it rechambered immediately to 22BR at about 26". The thing was stupid easy to get shooting well. This was done in the late 80's. Back then 22BR was mostly chambered for benchrest and mine has a .243" neck. Beginning with RL15 it was so phenomenally accurate there was no reason to change. The 14twist isn't fussy and the 50Blitz shoots tiny-tiny groups, same thing with a Blitzking so those are what I've used. In this gun RL15 is by far most accurate but W748 or VV133 would be an ok second choice. Rem. 7-1/2BR primer.

 

[Ackman]

Neck on my chamber is .248", and right now my loaded necks are at .244". Does that sound too sloppy, or am I OK. I've got 200 new brass to process, and I want to turn the necks to what's optimum.

I'd be tickled to get this thing shooting little bug holes, but frankly I'm getting pretty happy with consistent .5" five shot groups. Those groups are for real, not imaginary internet groups like some guys shoot. ;D jd

Your .244" neck will be fine. But the beauty of neckturning is you can maintain a close fit. On the new brass, tighten them up to .246" loaded. File a small notch in the rim of your original stuff to tell which is which. You should be able to get groups down into the .2"s and .3"s.....and don't be surprised to see some less than that.

 

[jds holler]

I've been using Lapua brass, but I just bought some Remington 7mm BR for a good deal. I lopped off a 243 sizer die to use as an intermediate step in reducing the neck.. Kind of oakie but I think it's going to work.

I don't have a concentricity gauge, so I don't really know how I'm doing on that count. I suspect something is hinkey because I frequently get groups where four are touching and one is out; never know which shot it will be. jd

 

[Gabe22BR]

I just got a pound of 8208, but have no clue (yet) where to start with it. So far my best accuracy with this rifle has been at the upper end. ;D jd

I use IMR 8208 XBR with a 53 gr V Max. You can use H 4895 load data for it. Work up carefully.

 

[jds holler]

One of the slower powders I messed around with just because I've got a bunch of it is IMR 4320. By using a drop tube, I was able to work up to a max of 32.5 gr. under my 40 gr V-Max. (all that would fit) It was definitely no barn burner, with nuthin but signs of low pressure. However every load from low to high shot an almost identical group of just over a half inch -- super consistant, looking like it may be a great all day squirrel shooting load. I want to try it with a little heavier bullets. jd

 

[snert]

I just got a pound of 8208, but have no clue (yet) where to start with it. So far my best accuracy with this rifle has been at the upper end. Frankly I'd like to find a sweet spot at lower levels if possible.

Snert I appreciate the heads up on the seater die. I wanna get one, but I think my next die expenditure needs to be a bushing die and bushings. I also appreciate that you have the name of a Scandinavian dog.

Neck on my chamber is .248", and right now my loaded necks are at .244". Does that sound too sloppy, or am I OK. I've got 200 new brass to process, and I want to turn the necks to what's optimum.

I'd be tickled to get this thing shooting little bug holes, but frankly I'm getting pretty happy with consistent .5" five shot groups. Those groups are for real, not imaginary internet groups like some guys shoot. ;D jd

JDS
You are the first to know the origin of my "name"! Hagar the Horrible is my kind of guy, and I named my beagle after his! Best dog I ever owned. Sad when she died.

Not to be contrarian, but if you are looking to upgrade dies your best money spent is on a good seat die. After that you get diminishing returns for the money. (that is not to say the bushing dies are not a good idea, but you mentioned you were just getting going,a nd that die is a good price.

Gabe posted to work up carefully with 8208. He is very correct. i love 8208, but it peaks (in my 6BR) suddenly.

 

[Gabe22BR]

I have found that if you just neck size, the primer will crater. If you shoulder bump .002", will not crater the primer. Work up slow at Berger's manual recommended H4895 load data. It'll peak at Sierra's max for H4895. This is what I have found on 50 gr.-55gr. bullets. I use Rem 7 1/2 primers, jumping .020" on the bullets.

 

[Ackman]

I have found that if you just neck size, the primer will crater. If you shoulder bump .002", will not crater the primer. Work up slow at Berger's manual recommended H4895 load data. It'll peak at Sierra's max for H4895. This is what I have found on 50 gr.-55gr. bullets. I use Rem 7 1/2 primers, jumping .020" on the bullets.

That's interesting. I necksize and almost never FL size. Primer cratering isn't-and never has been-an issue.

 

[jds holler]

Welllll now -- this all leads me to a bunch of questions I've been wanting to toss around with you guys who I believe have mo-speriance than me with these matters. Trouble is, it's time for my beauty rest.

I'd admire talking about this tomorrow, maybe over in the reloading forum. Good night. jd

 

[JEFFPPC]

Try a case full of 748, pick 40-55 gr bullets, whatever it likes. Great velocity. I have shot the smallest groups with V-Max 40 gr. but more consistant with BR bullets. Rem 7 1/2 primers.