Long-range varmint rifle

[ras308]

Do any of you use something similar to a 22/243 improved with a fast twist (1 in barrel for long-range varmint shooting???  I am pondering building something similar in the future.  I have talked to several different people here in Texas, some of them very reputable custom rifle builders, they say they are having excellent results and accuracy with such a rifle.  Thanks.

[Rmouleart]

When you start reaching out, over even 200 yards, the heaver bullets bigger dia, perform much better, those 22 type bullets 222,223,22-250 ect...do not do well with any kind of wind, if you are realistically want to shoot long ranges, bump up to a 260 or something in that category, the 260 can harness a larger bullet and out perform the others mention with ease, and does well with wind using heavy bullets, and its not a custom rifle, ammo is easy to find compared to a new wildcat and paying extra money for something you can buy already to go out of the box, and put that extra money into your optics, you will need very good optics for long shooting. Aim small hit small. RAMbo.

[ras308]

Thanks for the input.  Call me crazy, but I like the wildcats, especially the improved versions!!!  The the 75 grn. A-max has a ballistic coefficient of .440, and pushed at 3500+ fps, the wind will not bother it as bad as one of the same or better BC than out of the .260 at 2500 fps.  Plus, I want something different???  If I need a more lead, I'll shoot the trusty .308.  Check out the .224 Texas Trophy Hunter.

[oso45-70]

ras308,
You are absolutely right, Its the BC and the time in flight that makes a long range shooter, You pump up a good BC bullet with enough powder and its not going to be hanging around long enough to be blown off course. Seems like some people have a hard time understanding this concept. Sounds like you may have a real shooter in the making, I have thought about making up a 22/6mm which will be about the same thing.
I think the twist is the most important thing for the heavier bullets . Good luck, hope to hear from you when you get it up and running........Joe.....

[SD Handgunner]

This same principal was the driving force behind the .224TTH (Texas Trophy Hunter) Cartridge. It has been a while since I read the article, but if memory serves me correctly this is nothing more than a 6mm Remington Ackley Improved necked down to .224". Again going from memory it seems that the author of the article I read felt that this cartridge case was about optimum for pushing the heavier .224 diameter bullets to maximum speed.

Larry

[ras308]

I was going to mention the .224TTH when I replied the first time, for some reason my brain went limp???  The .224TTH, if my memory serves me correctly is not an improved 6mm, it's based on the regular shoulder.  I think the improved .243 would be better.  I e-mailed the place that's been putting them together in New Braunfels, Texas, someone responded to me and said they are having the same or better results with the 22/243 improved as with the .224TTH.  I like the idea, but I'm afraid it's gonna be some time before I can put one together???  I do plan on looking for an action and other parts and pieces, kinda one piece at a time deal.  I believe I'm gonna go ahead and look for a good deal on a used custom action???  I like the 700 action, but if a person does everything to it that needs to be done, he may as well start with a custom.  Keep the ideas coming.  Have a nice weekend!!!

[oso45-70]

ras308
One of my shooting Buds is putting togather a 6.5 X 284 which ought to be one heck of lond range gun. I have a 6.5 JDJ and it is pretty much a tack driver which holds up good over long range. I also have a 6.5X06 wiich will reach out and touch things. Makes a hell of a mess of the pelts though, Just some thoughts that crossed my febble mind. Take care of your self..........Joe............

[Rmouleart]

Bottom line when shooting long distances over 300 yards. A bullet weight of 100gr and up will out perform any smaller bullet in any wind condition, as was said a 308 with 150gr bullet will out perform any of the 22's & 243 of sort I wind conditions, due to the range of bullets weight are higher,heavy bullets tend to shoot flatter in wind conditions and keep there mark, this is one reason the 260 eats up a 243 over all in power and down range, the 260 can harness larger bullets with equal accuracy to the 22's and the 243's...Now if the wind is not present, this is where those 22's shine, for great flat shooting and impeccable accuracy, Match the cart you need to the terrain you are hunting, all these carts have there place, just need to now where they fit in Aim small hit small. RAMbo.

[ras308]

I don't like to disagree, but a high BC .224 bullet of 75+ grains at 3500+ FPS out of a 1-8 twist barrel is gonna out perform the .260 with a 140 grain bullet in the wind.  And like I said, I like something different!!!  You all have a great day!!!

[IowaBuckHunter]

I dont like to disagree either, but that is incorrect.  A larger bullet is better in the wind.

[Rmouleart]

Not in the wind my friend, Maybe you had a stroke of luck on a windy day, Im not calling you a lier, but it sounds like you never shot on a windy day over 300 yards,we are talking long shooting here. The 22's are horrible with wind,even a slight wind, knocks them off mark easily, the 243win is a little better but not better than a 260 using a heaver bullets, I did not say 140gr either, even 115gr 260 will out perform the 243win using a 75gr bullet on any given day, the darn 75gr bullet is so light to be used on a windy day,you would be lucky to keep it on paper at 300 yards, windy days suck over all, but to say a lighter bullet at 75gr will perform better than a 115gr bullet and bigger is ridiculous. True field testing will let you know the truth of the matter, been there done that. Aim small hit small. RAMbo.

[ras308]

If the 75 grain bullet is traveling 1,000 FPS faster, it will get to the target much faster, if BC is the same, it won't drift as far.

[Hildy]

Not all of the time will a larger bullet outperform a smaller one in the wind. Ofcourse, within feasibility. We can't compare a .224" 35g bullet to a .308" 165g bullet.

Shoot a 22 mag at 250y then shoot a 17hmr at the same range. You will find that the higher BC of the HMR outperforms the slow, bulky 22 mag bullet in the wind. Just because it is bigger, does not mean it is better.

Ballistic coefficient is the one thing that shows greatly on target when it comes to windy shooting. A 75 grain .224 bullet with a great BC is going to cut through the air greatly and have less of a wind surface bearing than a larger .264 bullet. Unless ofcourse, they have similar BC's.

Another thing to add....all of this comparison isn't really making too much sense since we aren't talking about the same caliber. Its like comparing an apple to an orange. A heavier bullet in the same caliber will most likely be more resistant to wind but not when we're talking two completely different cartridges.

that is incorrect. A larger bullet is better in the wind.

Ok. Take a 115g 9MM and shoot it at a target at 300y. Now take a 22-243 launching a 75g bullet in excess of 3500fps and shoot it at the same target. I wonder who wins?
Must have been the bigger one cus its bigger and better in the wind. Sorry,,,the blunt nose of that big bullet threw its BC down the drain and put the fast, slick lighter bullet in the lead.

[oso45-70]

Rmoulert, You and Hildy need to go back and reread ras308s post and i think you may see the light. This is a battle that has been fought as long as i've been messing around with loading and building wild cat rifles. I truley think you all missed the point. Some things have changed sinse i started playing around with loading in 1948 but the physics has not.

Good luck to you all...........Joe...........

[Rmouleart]

Your absolutely right Joe, got off on some kind of tangent LOL. Aim small hit small. RAMbo.

[mitchell]

i've shot a fast twist 22-250ai before on groundhogs before and it did a good job on them i never got to shoot it past 300 yards but it was fun. if long range varmint is your game i would go with the 6mm size (ie 243win or 6mm rem) and shoot something like the 87gr V-max but thats just me i'm a bigger is better kind of guy.