King of 4000fps

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brybenn

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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southern ontario
I have developed a curiousity for the ultra fast varmint cartridges and such an toying with the idea of something that can run over 4000fps.
While several factory cartridges are capable in differing calibers I'm left wondering which is the best?
17s seem fun and are quieter but them bullets are tiny for reloading
20s seem like a winner and offer slightly heavier bullets
22s are common and can share bullets with my 223
Step up to the 243ai with lighter weight bullets. The AI version to save brass life
I reload and the purpose is just to have something really fast. Realistically it would be used for coyotes and coons on field edges under 300 yards
So what's the cgns collective thoughts ?
 
Never owned anything that fast. Does bullet construction matter less because they are used on varmints and will be exploding on impact, regardless?
 
Northern Shooter said:
Never owned anything that fast. Does bullet construction matter less because they are used on varmints and will be exploding on impact, regardless?
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Most bullets will be of thin jackets designed to expand or fragment on impact. That's what I'll be looking for
The exception would be a fast 6mm in which case it could use a more controlled expansion bullet for deer sized game
I'm not sure which way I'll go as I'm just toying with the idea right now
 
The biggest issue I have seen is bullets being made stout enough to withstand the velocity and accurate in the upper velocity ranges, and of course barrel life.
The Swift and 22/250 traditionally are in there, and many others.
Cat
 
One very successful buddy runs the 58g max bullet out of his .243Win at that 4000ft/sec level on coyotes. Still overshoots a few because he’s accustomed to some of the slower combinations he’s shot in the past.
Another chap loaded his 220 Swift with bullets designed for the 22 Hornets. None made it to the 100 yard target. Also explained the blueish streaks we were seeing between 30-50 yards. Total disintegration mid flight.
I ran a 17Remington with 25g handloads at nearly 4000ft/sec for a while but got tired of having to do ‘long retrieves’ on well hit yotes. These coyotes in southern Ontario are well feed and big and can take a beating and still run. Not unusual to kill them here in the 44-55lb range. A few years back saw a pic of one that was weighed at 74lbs shot be a farmer I know near Dunnville, Ontario.
I find the 204 Ruger to be a spectacular performer on dogs but at the end of the day the 243Win is better and the 25/06Rem is King…. Just my 3cents worth.
 
I've had a few hot rods over the year's .17 fireball, 22-250, 204, 2506 and 6mm Remington, .204 was pretty accurate but didn't warm up to it, the 2506, was to too much noise and expensive, have hung on to the 6mm rem, but gone to the 65gr v-max at 3750 for a load, and kept the .17 fireball, but again slightly heavier 25gr bullet, at 3750 ish, I had fun playing around, but found better results with a bit heavier, bullet bucking the wind,
Currently got a 5.6x50R in a K95 Blaser, its pushing out a 52gr at 3500, and I am going to see how it goes with a 40ge v-max one day.
I've got a 20 Vartarg single shot, its not in your speed range but i have often thought that a 20 tac or practiable would make a dandy small game/ bunny buster. it would have to push a 32gr close to 4000, with cheap brass and resanable bullets, and 28gr powder.
 
My son has a Anschutz 1771 chambered in the 204 Ruger, it easily achieves over 4,000 fps with 32 grain bullets. We also own 240 Weatherby's each, which will achieve over 4,000 fps with 55 grain bullets. My 240 Weatherby has a 27" barrel, lots of velocity! With a 90 grain Nosler accubond the rifle averages 3,660 fps, using 56 grains of Reloder #26. I killed the antelope in my avatar at 175 yards with the 240 Wby., he fell real hard.
 
iron cat said:
I have a friend with a Middlestead and a couple other really fast 22's and 6's.
They are very impressive to say the least!
Cat
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I run a 22-243 Middlestead, a 22-250 AI (and a regular version), I'm on my second 220 Swift, a 224 Clarke, a few 223's, regular and AI. It really isn't that hard to hit 4k with lighter bullets. - dan
 
I l
Mr Bill said:
One very successful buddy runs the 58g max bullet out of his .243Win at that 4000ft/sec level on coyotes. Still overshoots a few because he’s accustomed to some of the slower combinations he’s shot in the past.
Another chap loaded his 220 Swift with bullets designed for the 22 Hornets. None made it to the 100 yard target. Also explained the blueish streaks we were seeing between 30-50 yards. Total disintegration mid flight.
I ran a 17Remington with 25g handloads at nearly 4000ft/sec for a while but got tired of having to do ‘long retrieves’ on well hit yotes. These coyotes in southern Ontario are well feed and big and can take a beating and still run. Not unusual to kill them here in the 44-55lb range. A few years back saw a pic of one that was weighed at 74lbs shot be a farmer I know near Dunnville, Ontario.
I find the 204 Ruger to be a spectacular performer on dogs but at the end of the day the 243Win is better and the 25/06Rem is King…. Just my 3cents worth.
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I love my 2506. I'm rebarreling it again this winter and upgrading the stock and optic on it. I've decided to try and find 1 load for the 2506 at the heavier end and get something else to replace the 75gr vmax loading I used for varmints. My first thought was a 250 savage but then I was playing around with my 300wm and 110gr gmx bullets at 3700fps and that rifle I sold. Left me wanting to try to surpass 4000fps. My current 223 works just fine for coyotes but the 16.5" barrel is loud. It was suppose to be rebarreled to a 20tac when I bought it but it shot to good as a factory 223 I decided to keep it that way
 
I'll second the 204R suggestion, the factory loads I shoot (32gr. V-Max) show a MV over 4,000 fps nicely though I've never run over a chronograph. Pretty easy to tag groundhogs out to 200 yards without having to consider drop, but 32gr. is pretty light to go far or hit hard on bigger varmints. From what I'm told, don't have many opportunities to varmint-hunt at greater distances in S. Ontario. lol I'd be willing to try and stretch that and see.

Keeping with 204, "heavy" is a relative term and the two guns I worked-up loads for were both very sensitive to very small changes in the load. As though there really was 1 bullet/powder/charge/OAL that would really shine, success relied on how hard you were willing work to find that combination. One rifle took at least 3-4 bullet types and 5 different powders. Winner was the "heaviest" 39gr. SBKs, powder H110.

Good luck brybenn-220 Swift has been one I've really considered just to see how far you could wring-out .22 cal. speeds. Reluctant to get used owing to their reputation as "barrel burners", don't know what the current/modern options on new are.
 
.22LRGUY said:
I'll second the 204R suggestion, the factory loads I shoot (32gr. V-Max) show a MV over 4,000 fps nicely though I've never run over a chronograph. Pretty easy to tag groundhogs out to 200 yards without having to consider drop, but 32gr. is pretty light to go far or hit hard on bigger varmints. From what I'm told, don't have many opportunities to varmint-hunt at greater distances in S. Ontario. lol I'd be willing to try and stretch that and see.

Keeping with 204, "heavy" is a relative term and the two guns I worked-up loads for were both very sensitive to very small changes in the load. As though there really was 1 bullet/powder/charge/OAL that would really shine, success relied on how hard you were willing work to find that combination. One rifle took at least 3-4 bullet types and 5 different powders. Winner was the "heaviest" 39gr. SBKs, powder H110.

Good luck brybenn-220 Swift has been one I've really considered just to see how far you could wring-out .22 cal. speeds. Reluctant to get used owing to their reputation as "barrel burners", don't know what the current/modern options on new are.
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Well as they say they make new barrels everyday. It's just money LMAO. I am kinda leaning to a factory chambering just for time constraints and ease of loading and finding components. Once a load is worked up the rifle won't see much use. It will just be put into rotation for coyote and coon hunting. Maybe see a few weekend farm shoots a year
A fast twisted 22 250ai has been intriguing me as well but I'm not sure how the fast twist will effect the lighter bullets.
The 204ruger and 17rem and 243ai are my top 3 but I'm always open to options
 
brybenn said:
Well as they say they make new barrels everyday. It's just money LMAO. I am kinda leaning to a factory chambering just for time constraints and ease of loading and finding components. Once a load is worked up the rifle won't see much use. It will just be put into rotation for coyote and coon hunting. Maybe see a few weekend farm shoots a year
A fast twisted 22 250ai has been intriguing me as well but I'm not sure how the fast twist will effect the lighter bullets.
The 204ruger and 17rem and 243ai are my top 3 but I'm always open to options
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I get that for sure. There are other .20 options I might have preferred over 204R as I don't need that much zip on a 200 yard gun, but chose a factory chambering for the same reasons. If I wanted expensive brass or a big effort forming my own-the option is always there. Good luck, still trying not to be interested in 220 Swift but if there is a CF varmint caliber I haven't tried but really want to, has to be that. lol Not sure if it would feel much different than 22-250 (shooting experience OR terminal results) but that doesn't make me want to try one any less. :)
 
I've shot a lot of .220 Swift, 52gr HP and 55gr SP were my choice. Used mostly on small vermin with coyote as the largest. I didn't find the really fast stuff to be an asset and intentionally slowed the velocity and achieved better results. The lead tips were leaving gray trails in the air and the HP's were easy to damage. Any decent hit was a kill, and a bad hit was my fault and not the gun or ammo.

The guys I was shooting with were using .222's and .223's and scoped for general purpose rather than long range. I left them most of the stuff under 200yds and did most of my shooting in the 200-400yd range, with available shots much further out. Even with the slower velocity I did not feel hampered.
 
If you want to detour, NASA has both a Light Gas Gun(19,685fps) and a Two Stage Light Gas Gun(27,500fps), gunpowder and small projectiles.
 
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