Why no heavy 22 LR bullets?

[linebaugh]

Okay I know that Agulia makes the 60gr SSS. This is a serious question/discussion of why there are no legitimate heavier bullets out there.

I have delved into another rabbit hole in my shooting career. I have owned and shot 22 LR for as long as I have been able to shoot a gun but I am finally taking the little cartridge seriously. I am starting to shoot the 22 PRS type events and I cant help but to wonder why there are no heavy bullet choices to choose from?

It seems to me that a 1:16 twist is probably capable of stabilizing a .500 long 50gr bullet at about 1070fps in most practical elevations and temps. If this is the case and it was taken seriously simple math would dictate around a 25% gain in energy and additionally it should net gains in BC as well. Simply put the heavier bullet should outperform a lighter bullet in all aspects from trajectory, drift and energy on target.

If the heavy bullet idea was taken seriously and the time was spent to develop "match" type ammo options with the heavier bullets it seems like it would be a no brainer. Am I missing something here? Think it's coming down the pipe now? Thoughts or ideas welcome on the subject.

 

[Bill K]

I believe with the small amount of powder in the 22lr case any bullet over the present weights would drop like a rock after about 50-75 yrds. Maybe just not that practical to go any heavier.

 

[linebaugh]

I believe with the small amount of powder in the 22lr case any bullet over the present weights would drop like a rock after about 50-75 yrds. Maybe just not that practical to go any heavier.

So considering that we are talking standard velocity (1050 +/-fps) I would expect that they should drop less given they should have a higher BC even if basic form does not change. ain addition they should carry more inertia because of higher BC and higher weight at any extended range.
Standard velocity should be redily obtainable with a 50 gr bullet. The Auglia SSS is about 950-1000 fps and there are 40gr bullets available advertised at 1400 FPS.

I guess I secretly hope to see companies offer heavier standard velocity match loadings.

 

[DukeDuke]

there was a company at the 2020 shot show that is working on some heavy's. don't remember the name.

 

[jpx2rk]

Guess you could start handloading 22lr, I've seen where a guy is buying 17hmr ammo and re-loading in some fashion/manner to obtain better accuracy. He states he shoots long range with the 17hmr and is getting good results. I just kinda skim over his posts as it seems a bit "to far out there" for me, but everyone has their pet projects.

I have enough trouble busting 190 in ABRA, so LR is not in my foreseeable future.

 

[cmillard]

Cutting edge bullets is working on 3 different bullet designs. All with monolithic bullets. IIRC, the heaviest bullet will require a real fast twist

 

[rockhound78]

Didn't Winchester at one time have a 45gr. load for Silhouette?

 

[kzin]

 

[kzin]

Cutting edge bullets is working on 3 different bullet designs. All with monolithic bullets. IIRC, the heaviest bullet will require a real fast twist

1 in 6 !!

 

[kzin]

https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog...ts-22-lr-elr-ammo-with-solid-spitzer-bullets/

 

[linebaugh]

Cutting edge bullets is working on 3 different bullet designs. All with monolithic bullets. IIRC, the heaviest bullet will require a real fast twist

saw this but does not look practical to me.

 

[germanlongbow]

I purpose built my lone star action with a 1x9 lilja five years ago to shoot the Aguila 60 gr round suppressed. Hard hitting on steel and quiet at 100 yards. Still shoots the 40 gr rounds well out to several hundred yards. Waiting to see how a box of the cutting edge rounds do.

 

[Ggmac]

There's a few 42-45 Gr subsonic loads currently on the market . I did make a 1-8 tw rifle for the Aguila 60 Gr loads . It's good but with only one heavy weight bullet available, your barrel either loves it or it doesn't.
I've tried the 45 Gr Winchesters , not bad but at 100 yds I start to get yaw on the targets with 1-16 tw , at 200yds it's very obvious. If they could keep the overall length of the 45 Gr bullets the same as the 40 Gr and maintain the same profile as the match 40 Gr bullets , they'd have a winner .

 

[linebaugh]

I purpose built my lone star action with a 1x9 lilja five years ago to shoot the Aguila 60 gr round suppressed. Hard hitting on steel and quiet at 100 yards. Still shoots the 40 gr rounds well out to several hundred yards. Waiting to see how a box of the cutting edge rounds do.

how accurate are the 60SSS rounds in that rig

 

[linebaugh]

There's a few 42-45 Gr subsonic loads currently on the market . I did make a 1-8 tw rifle for the Aguila 60 Gr loads . It's good but with only one heavy weight bullet available, your barrel either loves it or it doesn't.
I've tried the 45 Gr Winchesters , not bad but at 100 yds I start to get yaw on the targets with 1-16 tw , at 200yds it's very obvious. If they could keep the overall length of the 45 Gr bullets the same as the 40 Gr and maintain the same profile as the match 40 Gr bullets , they'd have a winner .

I wondered about this. I am shooting some Eley 42gr bullets now and they are about .480+ish long. I assumed that another .010-.020 would get to 50ish and still be stabilized. I might be wrong obviously

 

[Ggmac]

I wondered about this. I am shooting some Eley 42gr bullets now and they are about .480+ish long. I assumed that another .010-.020 would get to 50ish and still be stabilized. I might be wrong obviously

It all depends on actual twist ( published numbers can vary ) and your altitude ( velocity )
I'm at sea level and very humid air . One Winchester 52 is about 1-16.5 and another is 1-16 spot on . I would think any hammer forged barrels would be consistent? Haven't checked .