.222 Anschutz Keyholing

577/450 said:
sorry to highjack but where can you find calhoon bullets. I got some at an auction and they shoot very well. Hveèt been able to find any anymor.
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I have a stash squirreled away from when he was still in Canada. A friend in Moose Jaw occassionally stumbles upon some that pop up at local gunshows and gets them for the two of us.
Yes, his prices since he's moved to Montana are quite a bit more.
It escapes me where I've since seen his bullets advertised for sale in Canada friend.
My best advice is to contact Doug Rayner or Clay at Prophet River.

Sorry.................
 
This is very puzzling.

I've never tried the CFE 223 powder but it looks like you're right in the suggested range so your velocity should be OK.

Have you measured the twist rate? It's easy. Send me a PM if you need info.

Standard twist for the 222 Rem is 14 and it should pretty close to this.

The only time I've experienced keyhole issues is with sub-sonic loads and heavy-for-caliber bullets.

I didn't have good luck with the 50gr Varmint Grenades. However, have had great success with 50gr V-Max bullets and 52gr Sierra match HP's. The most successful bullet has been the 50gr Hornady SPSX.

The jump to rifling shouldn't cause a problem. I've loaded them with a big jump to touching the lands and no issues.

Have you tried any other powders?

My goto powder for full-power loads is H322. I've loaded lots with BL-(C)2 too.

I use Unique for target loads (paper punching only) with incredible accuracy.

Are there any visible defects on the crown and is the barrel straight?

Sounds like you have more trials to go through.

Good luck with this.
 
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Just a cursory check on the internet via google. There seems to be something untoward going on with the barnes varmint grenade bullet and the 222 cartridge to raise some interesting questions. Don't listen to me. Just check it out for yourself guys.

Cheers!
 
I've been reading about the varmint grenades. That's why I didn't try them today.

I'll try a different powder when I have a chance. Big snowstorm in NB right now and seeing as how I'm just starting to reload I only have CFE223, H335 and H380 on hand.

I'm going to do a good inspection on the gun in the morning.
 
I have an Remington 722 in a 222 that likes 55 grain Sierra sp, a healthy dose of H335, fed 205 match and win brass. With this load I'm able to get close to 3200 fps with minute of gopher accuracy. It will also shoot 50 grain Speer TNT, and BL(c)2 powder but I found the TNT to explosive for hide hunting but great for ground hogs. Hope that helps you
 
I currently shoot three .222's and here are my thoughts:

Barrel could be shot out, or just the crown damaged. Inspect them.
try the shortest available standard bullets, such as the Sierra 50 gr. semi pointed
Try the most common "standard" powder in the .222, IMR4198 ( or Hodgdon's version) and work up to full power loads.

good luck!
 
I checked the crown and it looks prefect, I don't think it was shot a lot. I'll have to buy more factory ammo to experiment, it shoots factory rounds just fine.
 
Tazzy said:
I've been reading about the varmint grenades. That's why I didn't try them today.

I'll try a different powder when I have a chance. Big snowstorm in NB right now and seeing as how I'm just starting to reload I only have CFE223, H335 and H380 on hand.

I'm going to do a good inspection on the gun in the morning.
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Like I posted earlier turn up the juice some you are barley over min charge weights. I bet all the problems will go away if you give them some more gas.
 
Measure the twist of your barrel. They are keyholing because they are not stable. They are not stable because they are not getting the RPM, and that is from twist x velocity. many button-rifled barrels end up being less-than-advertised twists. also, the specific gravity of varmint bullets is lower, and the requirement is for a tighter twist. at 3000 fps the requirement for the a copper jacketed lead bullet is about 14, but for a solid copper bullet it is a 12" twist. varmint grenade is a bit too long and heavy I think, although this strikes me as more extreme than i would have expected. Do you know your velocities?
 
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IIRC the box on the 50 gr. Varmint Grenades says they are to be used in a fast twist barrel. That Anshutz isn't that, unless the OP is holding out on us and has had it rebarreled.

They need to be shot in a fast twist barrel because they are very long for their weight. The twist requirement is related to length, not weight (greenhill formula?) and the varmint grenades are made of lighter material than the lead that most use.

Clean the barrel! A fouled barrel can cause issues. Clean it even if it looks clean! Copper solvent! If you have used Calhoon bullets and are switching back and forth, esp., as the plating on them does not play nice with copper in the bore.

And up the speed. try somewhere close to the mid-range loads.

Other than the varmint Grenades, I'd expect any problems with accuracy or stability to be related to the barrel condition rather than the bullets.50-55 grains is the pretty much standard weight for a pretty much standard 22 center fire barrel before the trend to heavy bullets and fast twists came along.

Cheers
Trev
 
trevj said:
IIRC the box on the 50 gr. Varmint Grenades says they are to be used in a fast twist barrel. That Anshutz isn't that, unless the OP is holding out on us and has had it rebarreled.

They need to be shot in a fast twist barrel because they are very long for their weight. The twist requirement is related to length, not weight (greenhill formula?) and the varmint grenades are made of lighter material than the lead that most use.

Clean the barrel! A fouled barrel can cause issues. Clean it even if it looks clean! Copper solvent! If you have used Calhoon bullets and are switching back and forth, esp., as the plating on them does not play nice with copper in the bore.

And up the speed. try somewhere close to the mid-range loads.

Other than the varmint Grenades, I'd expect any problems with accuracy or stability to be related to the barrel condition rather than the bullets.50-55 grains is the pretty much standard weight for a pretty much standard 22 center fire barrel before the trend to heavy bullets and fast twists came along.

Cheers
Trev
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Yep you're right about the varmint grenades 1:10 or faster, I didn't see that on the box, glad I only paid $20 for them.
Barrel is shiny clean and if I did it right a 1:14 twist.
Hope to get out after this stupid snow storm is over. I hate winter. :mad:
 
Brutus said:
What is the maximum range you've shot these at? What were the size of your groups from a bench under favourable conditions?

curious
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Shot at 200 yards. Thats s far as the range here is. groups in perfect conditions were just over an inch. Shot form dare I say a savage axis with vortex viper 4x16x50 hs
 
Rifle is 1:14

Box says needs 1:10

Guess the bullet maker was right.

I wish the 222 and 22-250 was made in at least 1:12. 1:14 sure limits the choices. The biggest bullet my 222 will shoot is the 60gr Sierra HP.
 
Well I seemed to have solved the problem. I bought some Hornady 55gr soft points. A shorter bullet than the 53gr VMaxes. I loaded one batch up with 24.5gr of CFE223 and got a three shot group in a half inch at 50 yards. I had another batch with 25.3gr of CFE that did a vertical string. So I think I'll be starting at 24gr and work from there.

My rifle range is snowed in now so I had to make do with a woods road and shooting off the opened door of my car. Thanks to everyone for their help.
 
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