Gene Beggs
Active member
For those of you who have followed the history of the 220 and 6mm Beggs cartridges, I thought I would update you on what has transpired. Before going into detail, I will say right up front, "Both cartridges have exceeded my expectations; especially, the 6mm Beggs!" 
If you have only recently joined us, the 220 Beggs cartridge was developed to provide the short-range group shooter with a cartridge equal to the 22PPC-100 but without the case forming hassles.
The 220 Beggs is simply the Lapua 220 Russian case as it comes from the box with no changes to the body and shoulder angles; the only change being the radius at the junction of the neck and shoulder.
The standard 220 Russian cartridge uses a .125 radius at the junction of the neck and shoulder, which results in excessive growth in length compared to the PPC. On the 220 Beggs, the only change to the standard 220 Russian was to sharpen this radius to .060, which is the same as the PPC. Internal case capacity of the 220 Beggs is virtually identical to the 22PPC-100. The Beggs cartridge shoots the 52 grain .224 bullets at the same velocity (3500 to 3550) with equal accuracy using N133, Benchmark, 8208 and other similar powders. Factory-made, custom dies by Hornady and L.E. Wilson are available off the shelf. Chamber reamers are available off the shelf from both JGS and PTG.
If you want a terrific 22 centerfire cartridge for use in light varmint, heavy varmint and unlimited 100, 200 and 300 yard group shooting, the 220 Beggs is an excellent choice. Which brings up the question;
"The 6PPC has dominated group shooting for decades; why would anyone want to go back to a .224 bore?"
The simple answer is, "Reduced muzzle blast and recoil."
Yep, that's it! The .224 bores are less punishing to shoot but give up nothing to the 6PPC in accuracy and wind bucking capability.
If you have a tendency to flinch, the .224 bore will help. Mike Ratigan, who is a big fan of the 22PPC-100 estimates a 30 percent reduction in muzzle blast and recoil over the 6PPC. In his book, "Extreme Rifle Accuracy" he says "Shooting the 22 against the 6PPC is almost like legalized cheating."
The ONLY disadvantage of the 22PPC-100 and 220 Beggs cartridges is you can't shoot them in Sporter category. That's it in a nutshell. Which brings us to the story of the 6mm Beggs.
Let me ask you a question,
"If there were a 6mm cartridge that would compete heads up with the 6PPC using the same 68 grain bullet at the same velocity (3360 to 3400 fps) using two grains less powder, and furthermore, do so with greatly reduced muzzle blast and recoil as compared to the 6PPC, you would probably be interested in hearing about it; wouldn't you?" Sure you would! Listen up.
When I set out to develope the 220 Beggs cartridge, I gave no thought to a 6mm version. The 6PPC reined supreme; some felt that NOTHING would ever surpass it. Well, I'm going to go out on a limb and make a bold statement,
"Yes, something HAS come along that surpasses the legendary 6PPC for 100, 200, and 300 yard group shooting, it's called the 6mm Beggs!"
"Aw,, come on Beggs" you say, "You've got a lot of nerve making a statement like that! NOTHING beats the 6PPC."
Well,, let me explain;
The 6PPC and the 6mm Beggs both use the same case; the Lapua 220 Russian, which is the greatest BR case we have ever had, but with the terrific powders available today we no longer need the extra capacity of the 6PPC which is obtained by blowing out the body taper and steepening the shoulder angle to 30 degrees. The 6mm Beggs holds exactly 2 grains less powder than the 6PPC.
Using the faster burning powders such as Norma 200, N130 and Hodgdon's 4198 Extreme, the 6mm Beggs launches 68 grain bullets at 3360 to 3400 fps, same as the 6PPC, which strongly suggests it is a more efficient cartridge! But here is the big difference, the most important difference and the reason you should switch to the 6mm Beggs cartridge for 2010
THE 6MM BEGGS CARTRIDGE DOES EVERYTHING THE 6PPC DOES BUT WITH GREATLY REDUCED MUZZLE BLAST AND RECOIL!!!
That's right! If you have ever shot a 22PPC you know how pleasant it is compared to the 6PPC. If I were to sit you down behind my 6mm Beggs Sporter and ask you to compare it to your hot loaded 6PPC, you would swear it feels like a 22PPC. "But how is this possible?" you ask.
The faster burning powders burn more efficiently and completely in our 22 inch Sporter barrels resulting in greatly reduced pressure at bullet exit. As you know, it is the jet effect of the muzzle blast that is largely responsible for felt recoil. Now be honest with yourself,,,
Wouldn't it be nice to have a 6mm Sporter that will do everything a 6PPC does but feels like you're shooting a 22? Well, now you can.
For next year, I'm building six new Sporters chambered in 6mm Beggs with .269 necks. The action is the Stiller Viper Drop Port, RBLP. Bartlein GT barrels 22 inch length. Stocks are aluminum Ultralite and each rifle will be equipped a tuner. Weight is such that you can use either a Leu Competition or March scope. I'll be anxious to get these rifles into the hands of some top notch, competitive shooters next year. If interested, contact me on or after Dec 15.
Later
Gene Beggs
If you have only recently joined us, the 220 Beggs cartridge was developed to provide the short-range group shooter with a cartridge equal to the 22PPC-100 but without the case forming hassles.
The 220 Beggs is simply the Lapua 220 Russian case as it comes from the box with no changes to the body and shoulder angles; the only change being the radius at the junction of the neck and shoulder.
The standard 220 Russian cartridge uses a .125 radius at the junction of the neck and shoulder, which results in excessive growth in length compared to the PPC. On the 220 Beggs, the only change to the standard 220 Russian was to sharpen this radius to .060, which is the same as the PPC. Internal case capacity of the 220 Beggs is virtually identical to the 22PPC-100. The Beggs cartridge shoots the 52 grain .224 bullets at the same velocity (3500 to 3550) with equal accuracy using N133, Benchmark, 8208 and other similar powders. Factory-made, custom dies by Hornady and L.E. Wilson are available off the shelf. Chamber reamers are available off the shelf from both JGS and PTG.
If you want a terrific 22 centerfire cartridge for use in light varmint, heavy varmint and unlimited 100, 200 and 300 yard group shooting, the 220 Beggs is an excellent choice. Which brings up the question;
"The 6PPC has dominated group shooting for decades; why would anyone want to go back to a .224 bore?"
The simple answer is, "Reduced muzzle blast and recoil."
Yep, that's it! The .224 bores are less punishing to shoot but give up nothing to the 6PPC in accuracy and wind bucking capability.
If you have a tendency to flinch, the .224 bore will help. Mike Ratigan, who is a big fan of the 22PPC-100 estimates a 30 percent reduction in muzzle blast and recoil over the 6PPC. In his book, "Extreme Rifle Accuracy" he says "Shooting the 22 against the 6PPC is almost like legalized cheating."
The ONLY disadvantage of the 22PPC-100 and 220 Beggs cartridges is you can't shoot them in Sporter category.
That's it in a nutshell. Which brings us to the story of the 6mm Beggs. Let me ask you a question,
"If there were a 6mm cartridge that would compete heads up with the 6PPC using the same 68 grain bullet at the same velocity (3360 to 3400 fps) using two grains less powder, and furthermore, do so with greatly reduced muzzle blast and recoil as compared to the 6PPC, you would probably be interested in hearing about it; wouldn't you?" Sure you would!
Listen up. When I set out to develope the 220 Beggs cartridge, I gave no thought to a 6mm version. The 6PPC reined supreme; some felt that NOTHING would ever surpass it. Well, I'm going to go out on a limb and make a bold statement,
"Yes, something HAS come along that surpasses the legendary 6PPC for 100, 200, and 300 yard group shooting, it's called the 6mm Beggs!"
"Aw,, come on Beggs
" you say, "You've got a lot of nerve making a statement like that! NOTHING beats the 6PPC."Well,, let me explain;
The 6PPC and the 6mm Beggs both use the same case; the Lapua 220 Russian, which is the greatest BR case we have ever had, but with the terrific powders available today we no longer need the extra capacity of the 6PPC which is obtained by blowing out the body taper and steepening the shoulder angle to 30 degrees. The 6mm Beggs holds exactly 2 grains less powder than the 6PPC.
Using the faster burning powders such as Norma 200, N130 and Hodgdon's 4198 Extreme, the 6mm Beggs launches 68 grain bullets at 3360 to 3400 fps, same as the 6PPC, which strongly suggests it is a more efficient cartridge! But here is the big difference, the most important difference and the reason you should switch to the 6mm Beggs cartridge for 2010
THE 6MM BEGGS CARTRIDGE DOES EVERYTHING THE 6PPC DOES BUT WITH GREATLY REDUCED MUZZLE BLAST AND RECOIL!!!
That's right! If you have ever shot a 22PPC you know how pleasant it is compared to the 6PPC. If I were to sit you down behind my 6mm Beggs Sporter and ask you to compare it to your hot loaded 6PPC, you would swear it feels like a 22PPC. "But how is this possible?" you ask.
The faster burning powders burn more efficiently and completely in our 22 inch Sporter barrels resulting in greatly reduced pressure at bullet exit. As you know, it is the jet effect of the muzzle blast that is largely responsible for felt recoil. Now be honest with yourself,,,
Wouldn't it be nice to have a 6mm Sporter that will do everything a 6PPC does but feels like you're shooting a 22? Well, now you can.
For next year, I'm building six new Sporters chambered in 6mm Beggs with .269 necks. The action is the Stiller Viper Drop Port, RBLP. Bartlein GT barrels 22 inch length. Stocks are aluminum Ultralite and each rifle will be equipped a tuner. Weight is such that you can use either a Leu Competition or March scope. I'll be anxious to get these rifles into the hands of some top notch, competitive shooters next year. If interested, contact me on or after Dec 15.
Later
Gene Beggs
