High speed .224's
- Thread starter Cleftwynd
- Start date
I don't think I want a middlestead though, all the extra hassle to form brass for little to no gain as far as I can tell. One of the reasons I was looking at the AI versions is the "supposed" less pressure on the bolt from a straighter casing.
Is the 22-284 really any quicker than a 220 Swift AI? Does it take 10 grains more powder to get 50 FPS?
Is the 22-284 really any quicker than a 220 Swift AI? Does it take 10 grains more powder to get 50 FPS?
I personally haven't done enough to say, but there is a fair bit about them on the internet and it is the only practical case that will drive an 80-90 gn .224 bullet at speeds approaching 4000 fps with a 30" barrel. It would seem to be about 250-300 fps faster than the 220 AI with heavy bullets. I will know more in the months to come.
I built mine for a very specific use, an all you can shoot 2 week baboon hunt and I don't care if I have to rebarrel it afterwards. I need a round that I can shoot 200+ rounds a day accurately out to 500 mtrs and quite possibly in the wind. The over .5 BC of the 80 and 90 gn match bullets @ 4000 fps really minimizes the wind factor and allows for a body hold out to 500 mtrs with a 300 mtr sight in.
A tree farmer (friend of a friend) in South Africa has a permit to remove 1000 baboons from his nurseries, as they are debarking and killing his trees. I think I'll just have to go and help him out with that little problem!!
Baboon hunting..... Lol
I have been searching and reading for a bit, I myself don't really have a need for the heavy bullets, 40-60 grain would be plenty for my purposes. I would like a 55 grain moving along at light speed though, either a grenade, or solid.
I have been searching and reading for a bit, I myself don't really have a need for the heavy bullets, 40-60 grain would be plenty for my purposes. I would like a 55 grain moving along at light speed though, either a grenade, or solid.
The run of the mill 22-243 is about all the case you need for ultra velocities with those bullets and you have a much stronger case than the swift and a much better selection of brands of brass. It's tough to beat the selection for any case based on the 308.
Sask_Hunter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I'd forget about the swift all together because of case design and brass. 22-250AI twisted 1-8 is a better case design has more brass and better brass plus the ability to shoot cheap. Never know when you will run out of handloads on a major baboon hunt...
Nope, I hand load. I also want something that isn't so common, while at the same time being very effective.
I highly doubt I am ever going to be NDP/Liberal hunting anytime in the near future... however your comment about more and better brass deserves some more info! As for cheap.... I play with some a LOT more expensive than this, and more than a few hundred rounds per year woulld be very unlikely...
I would certainly not categorically reject the 220AI.
The Winchester 220 Swift is a very strong case, and will handle pressures well.
Additionally, improving that Swift case removes one criticism of the Swift....the taper of the case.
However, the 22-243 will obviously gain some powder capacity, as will the 6mm Rem case necked to .224.
Eagleye.
The Winchester 220 Swift is a very strong case, and will handle pressures well.
Additionally, improving that Swift case removes one criticism of the Swift....the taper of the case.
However, the 22-243 will obviously gain some powder capacity, as will the 6mm Rem case necked to .224.
Eagleye.
The more I read and search, makes me lean towards the 220 Swift AI, it just seems to be the max anyone would want to go with a .224 bullet without being insanely overbore. As long as the action will feed it properly, I think it would be a great medium/long range varmint/yote rifle. I would like to stick to 50-70 grain bullets as well, if I want heavier I would move to 6 or 6.5 mm. In that sense, it looks like a 1-12 twist or 1-14 should fit.
Yep!
Mine drives 40 gr Ballistic Tips 3900 fps, and 75 gr AMax a tad over 3000. Pretty versatile cartridge for less than 30 gr capacity!Ted
I have had about every 22Cf from the Fireball to the 22-284 with twists from 1/14 to 1/8, still have most of them.
If i had to do it over again, i would build a 22-204 with a 1/8 twist for every day shooting, and a 22-243 Middlested 1/12 twist set up to run Lapua brass with a no turn neck for predator hunting.
If i had to do it over again, i would build a 22-204 with a 1/8 twist for every day shooting, and a 22-243 Middlested 1/12 twist set up to run Lapua brass with a no turn neck for predator hunting.
If you can drive a 55 grain at 4,100 fps, would that make you happy? If so, purchase a 240 Weatherby and you will not look at any other 22 centerfire. I won't go into detail of the cartridge, however if you research it on cyber space there is alot of information..................start with the Nosler Website.
