Thoughts on reloading rimfire
- Thread starter Butch Lambert
- Start date
G
gambler
Guest
swiped from another site
I DIDNT WANT TO LOG IN OR REGISTER......
Handloading the 22LR cartridge? Should we be allowed to handload our own 22LR rimfire ammo?
Now I am aware that the rules of most competitions which involve 22LR do not allow this but not all of them actually do say that. In fact the SSAA Benchrest rulebook is silent on this matter.
22LR rimfire ammo can be handloaded. The components may be slightly difficult to get but they can be obtained. Demand would fix that anyway. I have had the gear and components to handload 22 Magnum cartridges for a few years but I have not reloaded 22LR myself.
I understand that a few people overseas are experimenting with handloaded 22LR like the Italians for example. I am sure there are many others.
I can see arguments for allowing this both ways. The theory of "commercially available ammunition" is fine for a level playing field if it really is that. For example if we had an International championships happening out here in AUS you could bet anything that the team from the UK would bring a special batch of Eley tested for themselves in the factory in the UK etc, etc. Is that a level playing field. Isn't that close to "handloaded" anyway?
Cost? I imagine just like centrefire that handloading ammunition would be less expensive once the tools are obtained.
So who wants to contribute their thoughts and experience to this debate?
Stuart Elliott
I DIDNT WANT TO LOG IN OR REGISTER......
Handloading the 22LR cartridge? Should we be allowed to handload our own 22LR rimfire ammo?
Now I am aware that the rules of most competitions which involve 22LR do not allow this but not all of them actually do say that. In fact the SSAA Benchrest rulebook is silent on this matter.
22LR rimfire ammo can be handloaded. The components may be slightly difficult to get but they can be obtained. Demand would fix that anyway. I have had the gear and components to handload 22 Magnum cartridges for a few years but I have not reloaded 22LR myself.
I understand that a few people overseas are experimenting with handloaded 22LR like the Italians for example. I am sure there are many others.
I can see arguments for allowing this both ways. The theory of "commercially available ammunition" is fine for a level playing field if it really is that. For example if we had an International championships happening out here in AUS you could bet anything that the team from the UK would bring a special batch of Eley tested for themselves in the factory in the UK etc, etc. Is that a level playing field. Isn't that close to "handloaded" anyway?
Cost? I imagine just like centrefire that handloading ammunition would be less expensive once the tools are obtained.
So who wants to contribute their thoughts and experience to this debate?
Stuart Elliott
G
gambler
Guest
i thought primers were spun into the rims in liquid form and let dry..
but what do i Know ??????
but what do i Know ??????
C
cwop
Guest
h/loading 22rf
well at first it seemed like a cockiemania idea but as i ponder this with good equipment a person could reload ammo as good or better than the big boys.
but can it be made into a safe endevor?? that would be the final question to me!
bob
well at first it seemed like a cockiemania idea but as i ponder this with good equipment a person could reload ammo as good or better than the big boys.
but can it be made into a safe endevor?? that would be the final question to me!
bob
J
Jim Mullican
Guest
Hand loaded 22 LR
Its my understanding Bill Brawand made copper and lead bullets for 22 lr, they used Primed Fed brass (dimple) they shot well . They were outlawed by ?
Per rules ammo must be factory loaded ?
Its my understanding Bill Brawand made copper and lead bullets for 22 lr, they used Primed Fed brass (dimple) they shot well . They were outlawed by ?
Per rules ammo must be factory loaded ?
B
B. Harvey
Guest
A thought to ponder
a .204 bullet will slide right into some 22 lr brass that bullets have been pulled on. That opens up a whole new world of possibility for a rimfire. Slide some 50 grain Bergers in there with your new 20 cal fast twist and let er rip.
a .204 bullet will slide right into some 22 lr brass that bullets have been pulled on. That opens up a whole new world of possibility for a rimfire. Slide some 50 grain Bergers in there with your new 20 cal fast twist and let er rip.
I have done some 22 mag bullet swapping and even some propellent swapping. You can pop the base off the rim in a heartbeat. Just playing with the seating depth can cause problems. If you are going to play with fire I suggest using an action with a magazine cutout, leave out the mag and possibly even the bottom metal if possible. Remote fire the gun.
All the hyper rimfires have lots of freebore to lower the pressure. The 17hm2's below are just barely into the lands [ fired case with the bullets seated long and ran up into the chamber ]. I expect that the velocity attainable with the bullets anywhere near the lands is going to be several hundred FPS less than the factory 2100 spec.
The long seated bullets do make the lowly hm2 look pretty amazing.
Brian and I were talking last night. We agree that possibly the hm2 should be incorporated in RF BR. There is good 100 yd potential there.
All the hyper rimfires have lots of freebore to lower the pressure. The 17hm2's below are just barely into the lands [ fired case with the bullets seated long and ran up into the chamber ]. I expect that the velocity attainable with the bullets anywhere near the lands is going to be several hundred FPS less than the factory 2100 spec.
The long seated bullets do make the lowly hm2 look pretty amazing.
Brian and I were talking last night. We agree that possibly the hm2 should be incorporated in RF BR. There is good 100 yd potential there.
A
andyd1179
Guest
Since the rules have just been formed for International events under the WRABF factory ammo has to be used.
As for the UK team yes we are able to batch test ammo at Eley but for guys in the States you have some of the very best Benchrest Rifles builders in the world and for getting our hands on these rifles is almost zero what with the problems of export licenses in the states so I kind of think that kind of evens out the field.
I can’t see how you would be able to make a homemade .22lr round at home that would conform to the rules and you could make to be a killer ammo, I expect you would have more chance of it blowing up in your face in testing if anything.
AndyD
As for the UK team yes we are able to batch test ammo at Eley but for guys in the States you have some of the very best Benchrest Rifles builders in the world and for getting our hands on these rifles is almost zero what with the problems of export licenses in the states so I kind of think that kind of evens out the field.
I can’t see how you would be able to make a homemade .22lr round at home that would conform to the rules and you could make to be a killer ammo, I expect you would have more chance of it blowing up in your face in testing if anything.
AndyD
Butch Lambert
Active member
I have some of Red Cornelison's hand loaded 17-22mag and 17-22LR. Federal supplied him with primed rimfire brass. This was at least 20-25 yrs ago. With a BR quality bullet they were unreal.
Butch
Butch
D
D R Greysun
Guest
Quite a common practice for WMR silhouette shooters.
D R
D R
There is a much bigger safety margin with centerfire components. Smallbore CF cartridges are much more finicky than larger bore and going to the rimfire case would only make matters worse.
Widespread reloading of rimfire cases would require some manu to step up and supply primed brass and some powder makers would have to supply loading info. Liability issues will most likely keep this from ever happening.
John Kielly
Shari's fan club
....and all that BS of seating & crimping heeled bullets.
Dave S
NRA Benefactor Member
Been reading this thread with some interest.. If what some of you are saying, that reloading your own ammo would produce extremely more accurate ammo, consider this..
How many people would go to the expense and time to load 5000 rounds of .22 rf ammo. ?? It would take forever to load a case.
How long do you think it would take, if some people started reloading their own ammo and it was much better than factory ammo, before you would get a bunch of people hollering "foul" and "level the playing field" and "create a special class for reloaded ammo"..??
I don't know about most of you, but I have some Eley Match for my 40X, that I do not believe that reloading my own ammo would improve the accuracy that much. To coin a phrase "It is killer stuff".
And, how many people would it take getting injured, by improperly reloading the ammo and having the primer or a partially loaded round go off, before the shooting disciplines would go back to "factory loaded ammo only".??
The ammo that Eley is producing, and probably Lapua also, is some of the best ammunition the shooting sport has ever seen. How much of an improvement would reloading your own give you.???
Just some points to ponder..
Dave
How many people would go to the expense and time to load 5000 rounds of .22 rf ammo. ?? It would take forever to load a case.
How long do you think it would take, if some people started reloading their own ammo and it was much better than factory ammo, before you would get a bunch of people hollering "foul" and "level the playing field" and "create a special class for reloaded ammo"..??
I don't know about most of you, but I have some Eley Match for my 40X, that I do not believe that reloading my own ammo would improve the accuracy that much. To coin a phrase "It is killer stuff".
And, how many people would it take getting injured, by improperly reloading the ammo and having the primer or a partially loaded round go off, before the shooting disciplines would go back to "factory loaded ammo only".??
The ammo that Eley is producing, and probably Lapua also, is some of the best ammunition the shooting sport has ever seen. How much of an improvement would reloading your own give you.???
Just some points to ponder..
Dave
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Bill Wynne
Active member
Part of me is with Dave and part of me is with Knapper.
It is easy to find the difficulties. There are many. If someone were to load up a batch and win some state championship, even though it would not count, the world of rimfire would turn on it's head in less than a year.
Has anyone noticed that good ammo cost about a quarter a round? If reloading great rimfire ammo comes of age, we might even have better factory rounds for less.
Something else to ponder: A 22 LR round has about 1 grain of hot powder. If you loaded within 1/10 of a grain + or -, your variation would be 20%. I would think it would need to be more uniform than that.
Concho Bill
It is easy to find the difficulties. There are many. If someone were to load up a batch and win some state championship, even though it would not count, the world of rimfire would turn on it's head in less than a year.
Has anyone noticed that good ammo cost about a quarter a round? If reloading great rimfire ammo comes of age, we might even have better factory rounds for less.
Something else to ponder: A 22 LR round has about 1 grain of hot powder. If you loaded within 1/10 of a grain + or -, your variation would be 20%. I would think it would need to be more uniform than that.
Concho Bill
Bill Wynne
Active member
Would be neat if you could load up enough killer ammunition for just one match just in case it didn't kill anything.Concho Bill
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Dave S
NRA Benefactor Member
Knapper:
I AM on the outside of the pecking order....I just found a good lot and bought a bunch of it.. If you would test several different lots, you too could probably find a good lot for your rifle.. My "killer" lot may not shoot worth a crap in your rifle and a good shooting lot for your rifle may not shoot in mine.. That is why you test different lots. One man's junk may be another mans gold..
Dave
I AM on the outside of the pecking order....I just found a good lot and bought a bunch of it.. If you would test several different lots, you too could probably find a good lot for your rifle.. My "killer" lot may not shoot worth a crap in your rifle and a good shooting lot for your rifle may not shoot in mine.. That is why you test different lots. One man's junk may be another mans gold..
Dave
What he said ^ . I think you will have a high defective rate. Unfortunately many of the defective rounds will look fine, they just won't shoot worth a hoot.
If you think you will be able to make 22lr ammo cheaper AND better than what is currently available I think you are dreaming.
I do think it is possible to make 22mag or one of the 17's that will shoot better than the factory stuff. It might even shoot better than the currently available 22lr match ammo. The difference is the jacketed, no cannelure bullet.
Bill Wynne
Active member
Fred, I guess until someone works out the problems and does it successfully, if ever.
Concho Bill
J
J Pappas
Guest
Rimfire Reloading
The only thing I can think of that would be more fun than testing different lots of ammo would be to have to load it first then test it. Then, after testing, load about 10,000 rounds. Or carrying more crap than I carry now to a match and loading between relays. That sounds like fun, too.
The only thing I can think of that would be more fun than testing different lots of ammo would be to have to load it first then test it. Then, after testing, load about 10,000 rounds. Or carrying more crap than I carry now to a match and loading between relays. That sounds like fun, too.