My next handi re-chamber project .

[stimpylu32]

Just got a e-mail from Gary Reeder about my next project , a 224 GNR , which is a .357 Max necked down to .224 . Gary said the H&R would be a great platform for this round and he would do the re-chamber for $100 , plus he has custom Hornady dies already made for it and load data for the .222 Rem. can be used .

So come monday morning 1 of my sportster frames is off to H&R for 2 of the 22" / .22 Mag bull barrels , one will be for the GNR and the other for a project to be named later .

http://www.reedercustomguns.com/information/GNR_cartridges.htm

I just love rimmed rounds in the Handi so this will fit just fine , i'll keep ypu posted on the progress of the project .

stimpy

[greg916]

Stimpy, I was thinking of a similar cartridge, the .224 R-C Maxi. I ended up with a 223 instead. Like you, I like rimmed cartridges. Looking forward to know how this works for you.

[stimpylu32]

greg916

It was the 224 R-C Maxi that got me to thinking about this project , and i was even able to form the brass using a 222 Rem die but at this time a custom reamer & die set is cost prohibitive .

Also the 224 GNR has a bit sharper sholder than the Maxi giving it a more AI profile while keeping the strait wall of the 357 Max case .

By going with the Reeder i will be able to do it all , barrel , re-chamber and dies for under $300 .

stimpy

[greg916]

I think the 30GNR is interesting. Don't know about that short neck though, might be tough to reload for.

[AKbuilder]

What about a 224 GNR with a .243 cal bullet? 

Thanks,
Paul

[Fred M]

What about a 224 GNR with a .243 cal bullet? 

Thanks,
Paul

Why not a 6x47 (222Rem Mag) case. Or a straight 222Rem Mag. Case forming the 357 Max will be a chore for sure just to get  222 Rem performance without the 222Rem accuracy maybe. and no over the counter dies and cases.?

To get any kind of accuray from this 357Max case, you need both inside neck reaming and outside neck turning with precision tools and equipment
Alas you have a rim to  show for your efforts, besides Handi rifles don't need rimmed cases.

Sorry to sound negative.

[LaOtto222]

The 22 Mag to 224 GNR is possible, of course. Would a 22" heavy 22 Hornet barrel be better for a re chamber job? The OAL case length is 1.400 for the Hornet and 1.605 for the Max. Then it could be fitted to a SB2 frame from the factory instead of a rim fire frame. I know the 22 Mag barrels are a little cheaper than a center fire barrel. I do not under stand that, unless the rim fire barrel is not made out of the same material or of as good of workmanship. No fitting to a frame would be necessary for the new chamber from a hornet barrel. As for the other suggestions, I do not think there are any barrels offered that could easily be re chambered short of a stubbing project or re bore job (more money). There are no 308 , or 6 mm calibers offered in Handis that are smaller than a 357 max in size. That is, unless I am missing something. You will probably find out what Fred said is correct. I do not know what the thickness of 357 Max necks are in comparison to 224 necks, but they do not get thinner when necked down. That brass has to go somewhere and usually does not go out the end when resizing. That could be compensated for in the reamer or not. You may or may not need to turn the necks. Some times when necking down that far there is ring left on the inside of the neck right before the shoulder than should be reamed out, especially if the shoulder is sharp. It is difficult for brass to flow around the corner while resizing and it can not go out due to the die. I certainly do not want to discourage you from your project, just some things to look for or ask about. Projects are fun and they give you something that few others have. Party on Stimpy and let us know about every step of the process.

[quickdtoo]

Would a 22" heavy 22 Hornet barrel be better for a re chamber job?

It would, but H&R doesn't make a bull barrel hornet barrel. Other than barrel material, the 22mag barrel has a 1:16" twist compared to the 1:12" twist of the hornet, but Stimpy's 218 Bee seems to work fine with the slower twist.

I know the 22 Mag barrels are a little cheaper than a center fire barrel. I do not under stand that, unless the rim fire barrel is not made out of the same material or of as good of workmanship.

Rimfire barrels are 1137, centerfire barrels are 4140.

Tim

[safetysheriff]

Just got a e-mail from Gary Reeder about my next project , a 224 GNR , which is a .357 Max necked down to .224 . Gary said the H&R would be a great platform for this round and he would do the re-chamber for $100 , plus he has custom Hornady dies already made for it and load data for the .222 Rem. can be used .

So come monday morning 1 of my sportster frames is off to H&R for 2 of the 22" / .22 Mag bull barrels , one will be for the GNR and the other for a project to be named later .

stimpy

stimpy'

you seem like a nice-enough guy and all; but you're beginning to worry me!

maybe you should "go on the patch"    or maybe you should just try alcoholism!     it'd be cheaper!

best regards,

ss'   

[quickdtoo]

That's a real knee slapper SS!!!

Thx,

Tim

[stimpylu32]

SS

Now thats funny    but been there - done that , handis and smokes are my only addictions these days .

Fred

Thanks for the in-put , it gives me something to think over , i have always liked the 222 and this gives me a chance to do some things that i have not done much of , just to see if i can .

LaOtto222

The Hornady dies that Gary sells are designed to form the case from 357 Max brass and the reamer takes the wall thickness into account so not much neck turning will be involved if any . For some reason i have a fondness for the 35 and 40 grain bullets in 224 cal. that was why the 218 Bee , also the 1 in 16 twist of the 22 mag barrel works great with them .

The plus side is that one of my Sportster frames is a spot on match for one of my CF frames so no extra fitting is needed . 

stimpy

[LaOtto222]

Looks like you have all the bases covered. Just threw in some things to think over. The 222 is one heck of a round. They did not make the twist rates fast because they wanted it to shoot the 50 - 52 grain bullets with the greatest accuracy, and it does. They still make most 224 target bullets in the 52 and 53 grain weights, a throw back to the 222. I wish you good luck and I want all of the details on your project, aren't they fun

[Fred M]

Stimpylu32

Quote
The Hornady dies that Gary sells are designed to form the case from 357 Max brass and the reamer takes the wall thickness into account so not much neck turning will be involved if any

Now this is where the designer is all wet. The case necks will thicken considerable and will be excentric. A new design as such should if any
accuracy is expected include a turned neck with a neck wall thickness of no
more than 10-11 thou or less so the thin necks can adopt to the chamber
and stay concentric.

Thicker neck walls get obstinate because of the brass spring back and these should be carefull annealed so they will stay concentric. To get concentric
case necks they need to be outside turned and inside reamed.

The chamber reamer neck should provide plus 0.001" radial clearance.
Or .246" chamber neck and case neck wall 0.010. Loaded neck diameter
0.244". This would be my spec for the cartridge, anything else I just forget it.

.

[trotterlg]

Wish we could get straight info from H&R.  When I did my 17 Remington conversion I was told the barrels were made by Green Mountian and they were the same steel as the .223's are.  I am near positive that my 22 Mag barrel is a 1 in 12, (I would check but I left it in AZ).  Larry

[quickdtoo]

The barrel material specs come from my Marlin contact, the twist info is from the FAQs, and I just checked mine, confirmed at 1:16".

Tim

[Couger]

If I was going to 'wildcat' the .357 Maxie ......



How about the .204 / .357 Maxie?



But I agree choosing the .224 and .243 calibers would probably be easier and more practical.