222, 223, 220, 22 BR, 22-250, 22 Creed

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

We are looking to purchase several Reamers to chamber for the .224 Crowd.
The 22 Caliber (.224) has been around a long time for Varmint Hunting and also getting popular in PRS.
We have newer cartridges out there and always the wildcats.
We shoot a .223 in a RRA AR for Coyotes, Hogs, PD and Chucks and IMO it is a great cartridge. I have hunted with friends that use a 22-250 and we match up our .204 with them for Chucks out to 500 yds.
I do know that the .224 cartridge depends on the bullet weight, Twist rate, FPS. Is the cartridge going to be accurate, DROP, buck the wind, be a barrel burner?
I also know a few PRS shooters that are going with a 22BR for accuracy, DROP, and bucking the wind. Right there that is telling us something if Competition shooters are using and winning about a cartridge.

The .223 will always be here, but what is everyone looking for in a Great Varmint/Predator Cartridge? Higher Velocities, Heavier Bullets, Less Drop
Besides the AIs and Wildcats.
Looking for a cartridge that can be reloaded rather easy and have components available with minimal fireforming.
Is it still going to be the popular 22-250?
The 223
The 220
The 22 Creed?
The 22 BR?
What else?

Thanks much for your knowledge and experience!
Len & Jill

 

[FrogFire7]

I have used a fast twist 223 with 75 grain bullets for several years... Built a fast twist 22-250 and shot 75s. Both were lasers. One gun was too heavy, one too light (in the barrel), sold them both but loved them both. Am working on a 22 creed right now, also with heavies.

Personally, I LOVE a good shooting .224. but personally, I'm a heavy for caliber kind of guy, regardless of what chambering

Probably didn't help you much

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

I have used a fast twist 223 with 75 grain bullets for several years... Built a fast twist 22-250 and shot 75s. Both were lasers. One gun was too heavy, one too light (in the barrel), sold them both but loved them both. Am working on a 22 creed right now, also with heavies.

Personally, I LOVE a good shooting .224. but personally, I'm a heavy for caliber kind of guy, regardless of what chambering

Probably didn't help you much

Well you can look at the 22 Creed as the old 22-308 wildcat. Large case with a lot of powder compared to a 223 Rem, next a 220 & 22-250.
I am really interested in the 22BR. Between the 22 Creed and the 22BR there is almost 6-10 +difference in grains of powder for the same FPS.
Really interested in what most hunters/shooter want before I design & purchase more Reamers.
Thanks Much
Len & Jill

 

[FrogFire7]

Well you can look at the 22 Creed as the old 22-308 wildcat. Large case with a lot of powder compared to am 223 Rem, next a 220 & 22-250.
I am really interested in the 22BR. Between the 22 Creed and the 22BR there is almost 6-10 +difference in grains of powder for the same FPS.
Really interested in what most hunters/shooter want before I design & purchase more Reamers.
Thanks Much
Len & Jill

I hear you!

I think it will probably depend entirely on what the intended use is. As you know, some guys want lots of speed with light bullets for flat trajectories, some want heavies for further distances. My guess is probably the latter here, but I definitely could be off. I think a lot of predator hunters are probably in the fast and flat category.

Curious to see what answers formulate from your inquiry

 

[Varmint Hunter]

This is my 22 speedster. I use Lapua 243Win brass with Fed 210M primers. Velocity is 3,670 ft/sec.

 

[venatic]

I can say that now there are at least 4 manufacturers making 22 Creedmoor brass and are always sold out.
Also several smaller ammo companies are making ammo when they can get components and they are consistently selling out.



I can relate a story that happened a few months ago.. got a phone call from a fellow predator hunter and reloader. He asked my thoughts a a fast twist 220 Swift AI ?? My first question was why go with a hard to get brass that you had to fireform to just get same velocity as 22Creedmoor. His answer... everyone and his brother has a 22Creedmoor these days and I want something different. That's when I knew it had arrived. If you go to a contest hunt in Texas half the folks are shooting Creedmoor's.
It's still a Wildcat and will probably remain so due to twist rate versus bullet weight / speed variables that big manufacturers aren't ready to tackle....yet.

 

[wasskeet]

Len,

IMHO, it doesn't matter how many you have in stock - somebody is always going to want something you don't have LOL. I would think a .223 Rem, 22BR and a 22 Creed would be a good start. Then come others and AI variations.

 

[Orange Dust]

We are looking to purchase several Reamers to chamber for the .224 Crowd.
The 22 Caliber (.224) has been around a long time for Varmint Hunting and also getting popular in PRS.
We have newer cartridges out there and always the wildcats.
We shoot a .223 in a RRA AR for Coyotes, Hogs, PD and Chucks and IMO it is a great cartridge. I have hunted with friends that use a 22-250 and we match up our .204 with them for Chucks out to 500 yds.
I do know that the .224 cartridge depends on the bullet weight, Twist rate, FPS. Is the cartridge going to be accurate, DROP, buck the wind, be a barrel burner?
I also know a few PRS shooters that are going with a 22BR for accuracy, DROP, and bucking the wind. Right there that is telling us something if Competition shooters are using and winning about a cartridge.

The .223 will always be here, but what is everyone looking for in a Great Varmint/Predator Cartridge? Higher Velocities, Heavier Bullets, Less Drop
Besides the AIs and Wildcats.
Looking for a cartridge that can be reloaded rather easy and have components available with minimal fireforming.
Is it still going to be the popular 22-250?
The 223
The 220
The 22 Creed?
The 22 BR?
What else?

Thanks much for your knowledge and experience!
Len & Jill

I have always loved both the .220 Swift and later on the .224TTH. If I was buying reamers I would get neither due to case stretch, and the Swift can have feeding problems. I would try and push the 22-250AI on a handloader for these reasons: Performance is similar to the Swift without the issues and it isn't far behind the 22-6 or TTH. Case stretch is gone. You have a very high performance .22 that can fire factory 22-250 loads. But I'm not trying to make a living chambering barrels either. The 22 Creed may just obsolete both the 22-250 and the AI in time. All depends on brass availability. Seems redundant having an AI and a Creed except for the brass thing. Maybe drop the 220, leave the Creed and you got the .22's covered. How about a 6MM AI? My gunsmith has always said it is one of his most popular reamers. There are so many new 6mm cartridges now that may no longer be the case, but it really makes the most of the caliber in any twist.

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

Len,

IMHO, it doesn't matter how many you have in stock - somebody is always going to want something you don't have LOL. I would think a .223 Rem, 22BR and a 22 Creed would be a good start. Then come others and AI variations.

Thanks
Kind of figured that, but not a Creeeeed follower, but doesn't matter what I like it is what the guy/gal wants chambered.
Personally I think that is if you need more powder space go with a bigger cartridge than an AI (higher cost reamer and fireforming cases), but then again I designed a 338LMAI for our ELR.
Len

 

[Orange Dust]

Thanks
Kind of figured that, but not a Creeeeed follower, but doesn't matter what I like it is what the guy/gal wants chambered.
Personally I think that is if you need more powder space go with a bigger cartridge than an AI (higher cost reamer and fireforming cases), but then again I designed a 338LMAI for our ELR.
Len

Len, wasskeet and I gave you the same answer in different ways, but I'm going to change mine. Mine was on my personal preference and experience, and that could get you broke. If i was in your shoes, I would get on the internet and look at what you can get custom rifles and prefits for. Tally them all up and pick the 3-4 most available. Those are the ones I think you want. I think the .223 is a given. I still like the idea of one of them being a real hot rod at the other end also. Then maybe something in between? But, listen to me and maybe one of them you will never use. Maybe I'll just get you to make me one out of it. Remember, I am the guy with a toasted .224TTH barrel. Never met another fool that owns one. I have heard they exist, but I have never actually seen one. that thing is firecracked so bad I swear you can see some of them from the outside LOL, but it still shoots pretty good.

 

[HARPERC]

I think the .223 is a given.....Remember, I am the guy with a toasted .224TTH barrel. Never met another fool that owns one.

I won't be without a .223. Might need a re-barrel over next winner.

The .224 Clark, or TTH is a bucket list thing I may not get to, maybe when my 6mm is toast.

The Creedmoor is likely a very good choice.

 

[del2les]

I've run them all, and except for 100yd BR and shorter range (300 and under) P-dogs which is mostly my 222 rems, currently I prefer the long throat, fast twist 223's with long seated 75-80's and my 1/8" twist 22-250AI's (Same as 22CM but with 40 degree shoulder, and actually, I use some 22CM fire-formed in 22-250AI). The 22/250AI or 22CM using 75-88's is a real flat shooter and have much reduced wind drift. I have used it all the way out to 1 mile, and on the 1,000yd line, it has been a great performer.

Do not underestimate a long throat, fast twist 223 with long seated heavies. In my 26" barrels and with 2520 powder, I can achieve 2,980- 3,000fps with 75 Amax/ELD, but normally, I do not get more than 4 loads per brass. I run the 80's in the 2,850fps range, and they are great on the 600 yd targets and all the way to the 1,000 yd line. The 223 is much easier on throats than the 22CM/22-250AI, but of course, it is not nearly as flat out to the LR distances (800-1,000+)

If you are desiring an in-between round, I would vote for the 22BR in a fast twist using the heavies.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

The EZ button for a supercharged .224 is the 22-243 (plain). Just run some Lapua 243 brass (which is easily obtainable) into a FL 22-243 die and you're shooting. I loped 2.5" off the chamber end of my 22-243AI and rechambered in 22-243 (plain). It shoots just about as good as new. My 8 twist bbl was putting 83gr Bergers into rather small groups at 400yds and the barrel had well over 1,000 rounds through it.

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

The EZ button for a supercharged .224 is the 22-243 (plain). Just run some Lapua 243 brass (which is easily obtainable) into a FL 22-243 die and you're shooting. I loped 2.5" off the chamber end of my 22-243AI and rechambered in 22-243 (plain). It shoots just about as good as new. My 8 twist bbl was putting 83gr Bergers into rather small groups at 400yds and the barrel had well over 1,000 rounds through it.

My exact thoughts for a 224 build for myself as I mentioned before instead of a 22 Creeed - The 22-243 (Family of 08s the 22-08, 6mm-08, 6.5-08, 7mm-08, 308)!!!!