Sam in VA,
I you came into my shop telling me this information I would not be suprised. In fact I am suprised the Stark bullet is perfroming better for you then the 75 gr A-Max on game but thats neither here nor there.
THe problem in my opinion is flat out lack of Horsepower for your needs. If you are paper punching the standard 22-250 in a fast twist barrel will work fine with match bullets.
If you want to drive these match bullets fast enough for effectively taking varmints, especially heavy varmints like chucks then you simply need more kenetic energy make these bullets perform.
Your kind of playing with fire anyway wanting any 22 caliber bullet to be real effective on game at long range but the larger cases will certainly work better.
The A-Max needs kenetic energy to expand. It really has nothing to do with transferring the energy to the varmint in general, it just needs a certain amount to open the bullet up.
You may be suprised to learn that unlike other tipped bullets like the Ballistic Tip, Blitzking and even Hornadies own V-Max, the A-Max polymer tip is not really designed to promote expansion. It does but this is not its design purpose.
It is intended to increase the length of the bullet without adding any real weight to the bullet. Thus increasing B.C. values without adding weight. It also shifts the center of balance of the bullet farther to the rear of the bullet which is felt to increase stabilty at extended ranges.
In the varmint style bullets, the polymer tips have angles on the inside of them that actually ack like a wedge forcing the bullet open when it impacts, not only open but it forces the bullet nose to go outward to violently expand.
In the A-Max bullets, the tip has no real internal wedging angles, just basically a flat end that extends down into the lead core.
This does promote expansion but not nearly as violently as the varmint bullets. It expands in a more controlled manor and this is why you are seeing it slip through hogs with little damage from side shots.
Liek you said, hitting them length wise allow the bullet to be in the target longer and thus more expansion is allowed to occur in target.
This may explain why the Stark bullet is performing better as it may be expanding quicker.
Anyway, back to my point. You need energy to make any bullet expand, the A-Max requires more enegy to expand violently then other tipped bullets.
This is why I would not recommend the standard 22-250 if the rifle will be used for extreme range varminting, anything outside 500 yards.
The AI version of this round offers a significant amount of velocity and energy increase and the 220 AI offers even more. These will just give you more effective range by keeping energy levels higher longer.
IF you came into my shop and said you wanted a rifle to use with the 75 gr A-Max and used strictly as a long range chuck rifle and you had no concerns about excessive damage, I would highly recommend the 22-6mm AI.
THe rifles I have built for customers are driving the 55 gr tipped bullets to 4200 fps out of 25" barrels with extremely mild loads using Rl-22.
For more velocity and higher pressures as well, one could use Rl-19 and I am sure get very close to 4300 fps with the 55 gr pills with acceptible pressures.
I prefer Rl-22 because with 55-56 gr of powder, you simply can not get any more powder in the case and pressures are far under what a typical 22-250 and 220 swift is loaded to for longer throat life.
Nothing else really compapred to thos round from what I have seen except perhaps the 224 Clark which is basically a 22-257. The 22-6mm AI is basically an improved Clark.
Compared to the smaller 22-250 AI and 220 Swift AI, there really is not a comparision.
Still it is best used as a hunting round for just the type of hunting you are doing. Use it for high volume varminting and you will be rebarreling it every season.
As a gunsmith, I like guys that use their 22-6mm AI for gopher hunting, keeps me busy, but for a customer, it can get pretty spendy.
If you want on game performance out of a 224 caliber round on game, you really need a bigger case then the standard 22-250 for shooting much past 400 yards.
Good Shooting!!
Kirby Allen(50)
