22-6mm/22-243

J

jaybic

Guest
Hello all,

I am here looking for help/advice from those more learned than myself.

I am looking at rebarreling my Savage 116 which is a 22-250 into 22-6mm or 22-243 or perhaps the AI verson of one of these cartridges or something with similar ballistics. The problem is that I know little or nothing about the inherent accuracy and pros and cons to these loadings or anything else that I should consider...ie...6x284 or others. Feel free to make suggestions. Suggested bullets and loads will also be quite helpful. I have heard of guys pushing a 69gr matchking to 3700 fps but I would be interested in any and all data from folks experienced in these rounds and or other similar rounds that I should look at.

Its for long range coyote hunting/calling out West and I am looking for FLAT shooting and will consider most any round but it must be .24cal or smaller. It wil also be a walking rifle so weight is a factor. I would appreciate any and all advice for these or any other calibers/cartridges that I should consider that will allow me to "hold on fur" or close to it out to 400 yards(plus or
minus).

Thanks,

Jamie
 
What do you really expect to get with those bigger cartridges that a 22-250 is not giving you? 22-250 can push .224 bullets about as fast as the bore size and twist rate will effectively allow.

Robert Whitley
 
22.6mm

jaybic-

We built a rifle in 22- 6mm AI on a 725 Rem. long action, Douglas 1-7"twist, stainless, varmint weight 27" barrel, Jewell trigger, homemade maple stock.
Scope is a Leupold 6.5-20 with target turrets.
I have used RL-22 with good results, although I think it is on the fast side. Tried H-1000, looked good, will work with it more when the weather gets better.
I zero at 300 yds., and use the Hornady Ballistics Chart. It follows the chart very well out to 850 yds., which is as far as I've shot it. Very easy to hit with out that far on prairie dogs. It will hold .3 min. at 400 yd. if I do my part.

Loads are as follows- 52.0 gr. RL-22, 75 gr. Hornady A Max, #250 CCI , Remington 6mm cases. 3700+ fps. max. for summer.

52.0 gr. WMR, same bullet and primer. 3750fps.

53.0 gr H-1000, same bullet and primer. 3700 fps.

We went with a 1-7" twist, thinking of using 80 gr bullets, would probably go with 1-8" for 75gr, might gain a bit of velocity.

We used a worn out .223 barrel rechambered for fireforming, I'm sure it will burn the throat out in a hurry.

It will shoot 55 gr. B-Tips very well at 4250 fps but will destroy 55 gr. v-max within 20 yds. of the muzzle due to the fast twist.

If you are going to use light bullets, a smaller case, say 22-250AI would be all you need.
Hope this helps you get started! kjk
 
Jamie, unless you've got a really good barrel budget either of those rounds would be not so good a choice. They will move heavier bullets faster than a .22-250 or .22-250 Ackley, but with 55 to 60 gr bullets you'll be burning a lot more powder for a few percent more velocity.

Also I wonder what a 69 gr SMK will do that a 60 gr V-Max or Sierra or Hornady HP won't except not expand reliably.

There's an article in the latest issue of Precision Shooting about a .22-300WSM that produces outstanding velocities, but at the expense of likely extremely short barrel life. The throat looks like alligator skin at slightly over 200 rounds according to the author. A .22-243 or .22-6mm would likely produce a big longer barrel life, but I'd imagine that 1000 rounds would be stretching it. A .243 only has an accurate barrel life of ~1500 or so rounds in my experience.
 
Larry Elliott said:
Jamie, unless you've got a really good barrel budget either of those rounds would be not so good a choice. They will move heavier bullets faster than a .22-250 or .22-250 Ackley, but with 55 to 60 gr bullets you'll be burning a lot more powder for a few percent more velocity.

Also I wonder what a 69 gr SMK will do that a 60 gr V-Max or Sierra or Hornady HP won't except not expand reliably.

There's an article in the latest issue of Precision Shooting about a .22-300WSM that produces outstanding velocities, but at the expense of likely extremely short barrel life. The throat looks like alligator skin at slightly over 200 rounds according to the author. A .22-243 or .22-6mm would likely produce a big longer barrel life, but I'd imagine that 1000 rounds would be stretching it. A .243 only has an accurate barrel life of ~1500 or so rounds in my experience.
Click to expand...


I'm shooting a 1-10 twist barrel on my .22-6mm AI Remington brass and have also found the RL-17 has a good home for that case, stay with the 55 grain .22 bullets for that case. After 500 rounds with any of these hot rod cases you start figuring on a new barrel, if you have a Hawkeye you can sure see them go fast.
 
22-6MM or 224 TTH

My son built one of these rockets and he likes it. I think he put a nine twist barrel to shoot heavier bullets-80 gr. My suggestion would be to call Lonnie Hummel at Hornady and talk to him. He likes this round and dies are available. He was very helpful with my son and has loading data he will give you. Remington 6MM brass works fine..
 
I did a 22-243AI this summer. 47gr rl-22 pushes an 80grVLD out of my 30" tube at 3600 very accurately. As far as barrel burners, yes they are, so what. If its what you want go for it. the gentleman that said they have nothing to gain over a 22-250 apparently has no experience with one
 
Here's where I stand on it... I built a standard 22-250 with an 8 twist throated for the 75 grain A-maxes...Pros:does it shoot??? Yes very accurately...with bullets from 65-80 grain.
cons are: bullets will not reliably expand on critters... my friend & gunsmith asked me why I was trying to push that big ass bullet down that little hole..I wanted to get into the 500 yard club... I could hit critters with the bullets , but would not anchor them... everyone said ohhh you need to make it an AI or 22-6mm etc... well. After finally listening to my good friends & gunsmith used a 6mm barrel & I built a 243AI that shoots the 70 grain blitzkings with .75"accuracy @ 325 yards & anchors the critters... way more flat shooting as well... so if you are wanting to punch paper the go for it.. for critters..??? not so much for me.. I would not build another fast twist one in 22 at all, I would do another 243AI or 6mmAI in a heartbeat. Just my 2 cents worth.. Sam
 
If he only wants to shoot 350yds then yes, a 243AI with 70's will be flatter than a 22-243 with heavy pills
 
Thanks for all the feed back fellas,

I guess I was hoping for a bit more distance than 350. I have shot a number of coyotes that far out with my .223s and my .22-250s and they been DRT. My intentions are for greater distance that that.

I actually hunt calling tournaments and this is going to be my dedicated "tournament rifle" and will never see a pd town. I guess I am just hoping to take it a bit farther. I realize the barrel is going to check out early which is one of the reasons I am kinda thinking on just ordering the barrel(s) for my existing Savage and learn to change them myself. The tools appear to be fairly cheap and I am fairly mechanically inclined. This is the best way to keep my barrel budget in order but I want to be ABSOLUTELY sure that there is a SIGNIFICANT ballistic advantage or I may as well keep shooting my standard 22-250.

I dont know enough about these calibers(22-6ai/the 22-243/the 6x284) to know how they stack up against a simple 6mm or .243 or my 22-250 so I am a bit lost here. Which one is KING? Which one is renowned for its being a "inherantly accurate" round?

I am pretty much just looking for the flatest, most hard-hitting coyote whacker that I can find that will do it reliably out to 400 yards or even 50 yards and beyond, then I am going to burn up alot of powder and probably a barrel making sure that I can make that shot when the time comes.

How much farther is are these rounds capable of making a good, clean, killing shot? I have no idea. Are they 600 yard rounds(this is of course assuming that the trigger guy has the practice and the skills to do it.)

I just dont know whether to go with a .24cal and a light bullet(heavy bullet?)or a .22 cal and a light or heavy bullet with the extra speed.

Thank you all again and please pardon my ignorance.:)

jamie
 
If you want to add the distance you'll definately want to go with a heavy pill in either one, 22 or 6. I have and shoot both and really like both, but if I had to choose it would be a fast 22 for coyotes. the thing that I've found with coyotes and a VLD bullet is that you have to launch it around 3200 or faster at the muzzle to get the expansion you want at longer ranges due to the thin skin and body of a coyote. As far as accuracy, my 22-243AI shoots just a little better than my 243AI and edges it out a little in the ballistics so I usually grab it. The 22 will be a little harder on barrels than the 243 but barrel life isn't why you build these calibers. Either way, good luck in what you choose and if I can give you any more info or help any way let me know.
 
Jaybic

I did not mention this earlier, but one of the elders and still the fastest production round is the 220 Swift. I have a Savage 112 BVSS-S that shoots 52 grain pellets at around 4000 fps. You can get a barrel and screw it onto your action and you will be in business. I load my own and I do not know if factory ammo is available to achieve these velocities, but it is very accurate at these loads. I have had mine for years and put between 2000 to 3000 rounds thru it and it still performs, sub .5" groups are the norm.
My son has a 6AI that shoots extremely well and is probably deadlier and longer ranges than the Swift. Even more deadlier is my 7STW, really screws up a pdog's day but I have never shot a yote with it. Man, have I gone overboard....
If you do not load your own I would strongly recommend the 220. I owned a custom 22-250 that shot really good for the first 5-600 rounds but the barrell went south and I had a new barrel chambered in 22BR put on that I like much better.
Personally I would put several rounds ahead of the 22-250. There are a lot of fans that will tell you that the 22-250 improved will give the same results as the Swift, but if you improve the Swift the boundaries move...
I guess it is a matter of loading your own or using factory ammo. The last time I looked the fastest one out there was the 220 Swift.
 
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If you do decide on the 22-243 or 22/6mm buy two barrels and have them chambered at the same time . When I was shooting the 22-243 Rayhill Rocket I found you could burn one out just doing load development and then you would have the other barrel ready to hunt with . Seriously though about 800 rds is about the max life of a barrel chambered in one of these cartridges.

Rodney
 
22-243

I've got a 22-243 with a 1-8tw Brux barrel that is pushing 1,100 rounds. It doesn't shoot as well as when new but will still push a 75gr Amax into a .75 group. Dies were cheap, just used my 243 Redding bushing die and a generic 22cal Hornady seater. Feeds nicely from the mag as it should, donor was a 243. It will shoot the 75gr'er at approx 3650FPS and have made several one shot kills out to 400yds on feral pigs. Components are common, forming brass was one pass with the FL die, what's not to like.
 
Built a 22-6mm last summer with 1in9 twist Shilen barrel on a Rem 700 action. I shoot 75 grn A-
ax at 3610 fps with 47.5 grn R-22. It easily shoots 3-shot 1-inch groups at 300 yards, Have shot several pds at 500+ yards and it vaporizes them. Have not shot anything larger yet. This load carries 1500 ft-lbs out to 500 yards so plenty for coyotes. Shoots so flat I shot about 1 foot over acoyote at 750 yards.
 
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