Where can I find out which 22LR is manufactured at .224 in diameter?

[ralphwolf]

My Savage Mk II really likes Paco's 'accurized' rounds and old Lapua Midas L, both at about .224.

I gotta guess that most accurate diameter is a REAL valuable clue about which ammo would be optimal in my (and probably your) gun.
(Sure, LOTS of other variables apply but Dia seems as BASIC as... say... Velocity (Probably easier to measure, too).

Yet, I can not find any numbers on this measurement.

Which manufacturers (or which 'flavors') of ammunition are at .224 in diameter? Anybody help me find the info?

THANKS!

 

[Shynloco]

ralphwolf,
At the risk of sounding like a jerk, though not intending to, I have read your post AT LEAST 5 times since you posted it and am still unsure what the heck you are asking or looking for. And I suspect the 80 some odd other guys who've read your post, share in that loss. You mention some ammo made by someone named "Paco" who I've never heard of as an ammo manufacturer in over 50 years of shooting. Now I am familiar with Lapua Midas L which I believe is no longer made. But I would recommend you give Lapua Midas + a try in your rifle as it shoots EXTREMELY tight groups at 50 yds in my Anschutz (which I use to compete locally) as well as two of my Savages, although my Savages seesm to like Federal Ultra Match UM22 a little better. Now as to the .224 measurement, since .22 ammo comes only from manufacturers already made and there is nobody I've heard of who even attemtps to load their own .22 rimfire ammo, 22 Rimfire ammo isn't sold or advertised in .224 caliber as is Centerfire .224 bullets or ammo. Rather Rimfire is advertized as bullet weight (32, 40, etc). Now if you perchance are looking for recommendations of Rimfire ammo, I'm sure alot of the more knowledegable folks up here can recommend some different ammos to try and then of course there is the criterion of expense that you may want to consider. Most of ammo I use (Lapua & Federal) usually runs in the $15+ a box category simply because even though some Savages shoot very well with Wolf Match Target ($5 a box) or Wolf Match Extra ($7 a box), they usually won't outshoot the more expensive ammos I mentioned previously, not to mention the rifles themselves. But let me state, cost of ammo doesn't necessarily mean it'll work well in your rifle(s) as Eley, a top Rimfire ammo manufacturer doesn't make an ammo )Black or Red/Tenex) that works as well in any of my rifles and still sells at $15+ a box of 50.
Again, I'm not trying to be a wise guy, but trying to get at whatever you seek just to lend a hand. In any case, good luck in finding what your seek.

 

[ralphwolf]

OK. No offence taken. Maybe I assumed too much familiarity. THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE AS BIT@#Y AS IT READS!

To clarify, the "Paco Accurizer" (do a search. Gunblast's a big booster and reviewed it) is a die sized (in my case, to .224) to take a punch which basically forces the bullet to the diameter of the die - say... .224 - larger than normal factory .22 ammunition.
Put a round into the chamber-like die, set 'er flat on a table, slip the punch into the die, tap the bullet and out comes a bullet matching the die size. This is an old approach and has been around a while - with at least two other guys machining and selling similar dies right now. I got mine in the 80's. Swear to God!
The "old lapua Midas L" was an earlier model of the Midas round you refer to, both purposely sized at... .224! Again, larger than most (apparently ALL) factory ammo.

I've fired about 18 types of ammo in the gun, a pretty decent cross section of rounds from Eley to RWS to CCI, Sub sonics to High Vel, and have found that the fattened up 'accurizer' rounds and the Midas rounds (both at .224 diameter) do very well in my gun. So far, so good?

I want more rounds like that.

Manufacturers do not publish the diameter of their rounds GENERALLY but I hoped you guys may know if anyone puts together ammunition that goes toward that magic (for me) .224 rather than the more common .223 or less diameter.

Summarizing - Tested many rounds in gun. Two shoot well - both are known diameter .224. Want more like that. Do not know who makes more like that. Would like to know. So I asked.

 

[Hammer47]

I am fairly certain that all 22 rimfire ammo is .222 diameter. If you want to make QUALITY fat ammo go to the Waltz die. It is designed to make the outside diameter .224.

 

[killahog]

This is something new I have been reloading for 25 years and have never heard of anyone resizing there rimfire ammo. I would like to learn more about this because I have just picked up 2 CMP 40x rifles and they might benifit from this .

 

[CJ6]

If you look for Lapua Master L it has a slightly larger bullet diameter(haven't mic'ed it tho) (it's no longer made but available ). It works OK in my 541X but not in the Broughton BBL'd H&R m 12 (Tighter chamber)

 

[ralphwolf]

A) Here's a start for those curious...
http://rimfireshooting.com/index.php?s=2cedc0fbfbaa1731dfd9e08da42719cb&showtopic=7185

B) My Paco tool on CCI Blazers consistently improves their accuracy in rifles. As I said, my Mk II likes 'em alot.

 

[Shynloco]

Ralphwolf,
Thx for the explanation and reference. Guess you taught me something I hadn't heard in over 50 years of shooting. Since accuracy is my thing and a key to accuracy is consistency, I'm very particular about what I shoot in my rifles. I guess perhaps taking lesser expensive ammo and trying to make it shoot 5 shot groups that measure .120 and less on a regular basis, is a challenge that doesn't excite me. And what CJ6 says about the tight chamber is something I've found lends to consistency accurate groups, not to mention that Broughton barrel which I (and others) believe is probably the cream of the crop. And that tight chamber is something you tend to feel when you close the bolt each time when I use Lapua Midas + in my Anschutz. So thanks again for for info and good luck with those toys you like using to accuratize whatever ammo your rifle likes. Now the name of the game is to be able to shoot an ARA target with consistent center X's in all 25 targets. That to me is the real challenge that shows both the rifle's capabilities as well as those of the shooter. Even shooting top grade Match Ammo makes that a real challenging experience. Have fun!

 

[CJ6]

22RF's drive me nuts, BUT right now it's THE funnest most aggravating game I know of.

 

[ralphwolf]

Synloco, I like your style.
Any shooting 'sport' is dependent on what the shooter values. I respect your values. Me, I'm not ready to do what needs to be done to do your style justice. I'm an advanced plinker, having fun and doing that by playing within my limits. You are absolutely right. I'm playing with toys. Your 'game' is ML to my AA. Sincerely.
That said, thanks for the input. It's appreciated 'cause my game is flexible. Maybe I'll try yours some day. Or maybe I'm just not that good.
But I AM having fun. As you are.
Some day I'd like to split a pitcher with you.

Mark

 

[Greatwhitenorth]

.222 is the standard size that I am aware of. Older PMC made in Korea measures .2235 and shoots very well in my winnie 75. We had a club member who shelled out for a Paco resizing die years ago and wasn't too happy with it accuracy wise. It got passed around a bunch of us like a drunken fat girl on prom night and ended back with him and nobody really noticing anything remotely close to consistant accurizing. The 22 is a heeled bullet. It is also very notorius for being slightly canted and inconsistant fit in the brass. When "tapping" the round on its head there is an increadbly small bearing surface of lead holding the bullet where it is. This goes against the very fundamentals of re -sizing forming dies. The bullets get further canted or end up being driven inconsistantly deeper in the case. Neither of these are good for accuracy. In match chambers the bullet will often lightly engrave on the first lands and quite often have a straightening effect on slightly canted bullets. You lose this advantage by setting the bullet back farther.

Its possible that some extremely junk bulk bullets might be improved with the die but any decent match or target bullet would be worse off IMHO.