Most efficient .22 center fire

[Hydra6]

"component costs, brass availability and long range capability"

Components = 223
Brass Availability = 223
(Brass Quality = 22BR/22BRA/22GT/22Creedmoor)
Long Range Capability = 22BR/22BRA/22GT/22Creedmoor (depending on your definition of long range)

Cartridge Efficiency (most performance for powder burned) = 22BRA

 

[Bullbuck]

Brass for the 22 ARC will cost more than the 223 for sure. If you can find it.

 

[17CalFan]

I'd never even considered the .221 fireball but it looks like a very efficient cartridge. Doesn't get a lot of press.

I'm gearing up to build a .221 because I can. I built a 17 Fireball and it's incredible on pasture poodles in MT. FPS per grain of powder is very efficient. Not a huge difference between .221 FB and 222. I shoot a custom 222 in MT also, spitting Speer TNT 50 at .13 - .15 cents per bullet and extremely accurate.

 

[Gary in MD]

For pure cost and availability? Then it's probably the 223
For thumping something out at longer ranges? The 22-250 would be the better compromise to me.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Any of the 221, 222, 223 flavor Im fond of as I have all three currently. While they don't necessarily tick the "long range" box for some people they are darn fun to shoot.

 

[sable tireur]

The most favorable, general answer will be the .223 Remington or the 5.56mm version. Overall availability and cost plus reasonable performance rule the day. This can include, as noted above, several variations on a theme. I shoot one, sure but it isn't a favorite.

Currently, for overall performance, I am running the 22 GT and using the Alpha Munitions brass. No it's not cheap but the brass is excellent in quality and consistency with case life being longer using the cooler burning powders (slightly slower velocities) and no long volleys. My barrels are made with fast twist so I run the heavier target bullets.

 

[Mikecr]

For the dark times ahead, you gotta have a 223.
It'll cover most actual needs to 500yds.

 

[budlight]

As a kid I shot a 26 inch 22-250. I got over my days of barrel burner bragging rights shooting long ago and I got into practicality and common sense. I got into match grade ar15's. I don't have any experience with a 223AI. because my research showed that the case only gained about 2 grains of powder. I'm not sure that right in the burn rate chart if there is powder to take advantage of this minor volume change. I generally load with CFE223 and power pro 2000 -mr. Right up at 5.56 pressures around 60,000 psi using rifle and rifle +2 inch gas tube holes on piston guns

In 2022 I bought a 224 Valkyrie because the 223 IMO is limited to 75 grain bullets. Because the neck is too short and the magazine length limits you on COL. Also 223 Rem heavies become horribly slow out of even out of 20 and 24 inch barrels. I actually only use 62 and 69 grain because I perfected them over time in my 223 stuff. RMR sells .223 69 hpBT for about 14 cents each these days for 1000.

Cheap fun shooting like my Wyoming PD shooting where I go through 300 rounds per day I use cheap bulk bullets 55 or 62gr hpbt out of a 223. But I always bring along my trusty 224 valkyrie 24 inch AR loaded with 75 gr match bullets

223 Rem + 223 AI Cartridge Guide

223 Rem Guide for .223 Remington reloading, 223 Rem accuracy, .223 Rem hunting, 223 AI and 5.56x45 rifles. 223 Remington Brass, 22 bullets, powder, primers and loading dies for .223 Remington. Ballistics drop chart for .223 Rem, .223 Ackley AI, 2-250. 223 Remington Black rifle, service rifle...

www.6mmbr.com

224 Valkyrie vs 223 Remington | Field & Stream

The 223 is hard to beat, but when it comes to the 224 Valkyrie vs the 223 Rem., which of these cartridges is better?

www.fieldandstream.com

 

[Bret GRAVELINE Graveline]

Define long range, compared to a 22LR the 22 hornet is a long range round, 12 grs of a number of different powders will give you 3000 to 3200 fps with 34 to 40 gr bullets, compared to a 220 swift which can burn 40 or more grs per pop, in practical terms a 223 makes a lot of sense,

 

[Buckleman]

I've got a 22K Hornet on a H&R single shot. Fun to shoot hell on ground squirrels. California Rats. LOL

 

[436]

The old .222 Rem. Cheers

 

[budlight]

Define long range, compared to a 22LR the 22 hornet is a long range round, 12 grs of a number of different powders will give you 3000 to 3200 fps with 34 to 40 gr bullets, compared to a 220 swift which can burn 40 or more grs per pop, in practical terms a 223 makes a lot of sense,

Are those chronographed verified loads out of a say 22 inch barrel? My buddy chronos his and he was beyond skeptical. Quote he said maybe with 30 grain and no typical 22 hornet bolt rifle was ever built for over 50,000 psi loads.

Just another opinion about rounds that were only somewhat better than 22 mag rimfires of yesteryear. They just don't have the jam or the twist rate in those rifles sold years ago to be a longer range choice like my 14:1 twist 22-250

 

[Bret GRAVELINE Graveline]

Are those chronographed verified loads out of a say 22 inch barrel? My buddy chronos his and he was beyond skeptical. Quote he said maybe with 30 grain and no typical 22 hornet bolt rifle was ever built for over 50,000 psi loads.

Just another opinion about rounds that were only somewhat better than 22 mag rimfires of yesteryear. They just don't have the jam or the twist rate in those rifles sold years ago to be a longer range choice like my 14:1 twist 22-250

Yes they are verified using H110 for 34gr dogtown hollow points, and lilgun for the the 40gr Speer sp, loads are from the Hornady Manuel, rifle is a CZ, barrel was shortened from 23.5 to 21.5

 

[highdrum]

22br variant if you want heavies above 3000fps. 22gt if you want em up to 3200 fps, going faster you have prob X47, creed and the list goes on.