226 JDJ

[GWCustom]

I recently picked up a custom 15" SSK barrel for my Contender chambered for 226 JDJ. The barrel came with a bag full of formed brass and a set of RCBS dies. I emailed JD Jones at SSK for loading data and he sent me some but it only lists one powder for each bullet weight listed!
 Does any one shoot this cartridge and have more data that they have worked up? I have also done a search both here and on the net and not come up with much. I want to use this as a varmint shooter so I figure probably 50-55 gr bullets should be about right. Any body with advice would be helpful.
Thanks,
Van

[cnTndr85]

Van,

I've never had a 226JDJ but do shoot several other JDJ rounds and from my experience, JD might not send you a lot of data, but what he sends you is what works. His barrels shoot with the data provided. If you looking to experiment and do a lot of load developement he kinda takes the fun out of it cause he's already done the work for ya.

Mark

[Graybeard]

The .226 JDJ is a very mildly improved version of the .225 Winchester. It's kinda like a .225 AI in other words. Use .225 Winchester data as your base line and work up from there. I'd check the volume increase over the parent case to determine how many more grains of water it will hold. My general rule is to never add quite as many extra grains of powder as the new case holds in extra grains of water. That's a rough rule to work with but some times is about all one has.

John Barness has done a paper work study of such things and concluded that you can gain aporoximately 1% in velocity for each 4% increase in case capacity and remain at equal pressures. I've not done any extensive testing of that hypothesis but it sounds about right to me. When you gain more you should assume you're doing it with increased pressures.

SSK is the only data source I'm aware of for this round.

[sweetwyominghome]

The .226 JDJ was intended to be used with standard .225 Winchester data -- and no higher.

The increased case volume and minimum body taper bring it down to Contender-safe levels as long as you don't exceed the standard .225 Win data.

[Hopalong7]

GWCustom, Finding a used SSK barrel in good shape w/ dies makes for a great day.  I've been lucky enough to do it twice in my life and even luckier had it happen when I had enough cash in my pocket to make the purchase(a 6.5JDJ and a 309JDJ).  Both times I called JD Jones and asked for his help.  He agreed to send me load data and case forming instructions and cordially invited me to call him back if I had any problems or questions.  As has been stated, the data is short, sweet, and to the point, but, it is GOOD and it is RIGHT!  For once in my life I had enough sense to do what I was told.  Both barrels have performed flawlessly ever since.  They are still my favorite two barrels.  Congrats on your find....follow JD's data and.....ENJOY!!!!!!!  GOOD SHOOTIN', Walt

[GWCustom]

Thanks to all of you for the advice. I guess I'm so used to having to work up loads for my self that when I saw how little data JD sent that it never accured to me that what he sent were his best loads. Guess I'll try what he sent and see how it shoots. Now to figure out what scope to mount on it! I'm thinking maybe a Burris 7X or one of the 2-6 or 2-7 variables.
Thanks again,
Van

[sweetwyominghome]

Keep us posted on your load development progress. I'd wager that it will be easy, however, as JD's barrels generally aren't the least bit finicky and tend to print tight groups with a variety of component combinations.

As to the scope, I'd vote for one of the variables you mention as opposed to a fixed power as the increased versatility will pay dividends in the field.

[Ken ONeill]

I have one of the very few .225 Win. Contender barrels that SSK has chambered. It is outstanding, but one must be very careful to keep loads a bit below standard .225 Win. pressures. The case head size is the same as a .30-30, so we're talking a similar breech face thrust, and say pressures around 40-43000. This will run a 50 gr. @~3300fps
It is a correct statement that the .226JDJ should use loads in a Contender not to exceed standard .225 Win.loading data, for best durability and safety. In an Encore, one can do more.

[sweetwyominghome]

Ken-

I had one a short while -- and like you say, they are rare. But I also have a .250 Savage Contender barrel that SSK make up many years ago. JD doesn't offer that one anymore, either. Back then, everyone was learning the idiosyncrasies of the Contender, and the issue of backthrust was less understood then than it is now.

From that 14" .250 Savage barrel, you can safely drive a 100 grain bullet to around 2500. The .257 JDJ will do an honest 2675 fps with a 100 grain Ballistic Tip, but its case features minimum body taper, a characteristic which helps minimize the affect of backthrust.

[Ken ONeill]

I'm a great fan of both those cartridges. My .250 Savage is a Rem. Custom Shop XP-100, and my standard load runs a 100 gr. Hornady a bit less than 2500 fps, for best accuracy from my gun. I can go a bit faster, but with less accuracy, so I settled on my existing load.
My .257 JDJ Super 14 runs a 100 gr BallTip @ 2620 fps, and is even more accurate than the .250 XP. I use it primarily for deer-size game, but even with it's modest magnification Bushnell 3200 2-6X, it's sudden death on prairie dogs to 250 yds. It's one of those "If you can see 'em, it works" guns.
If you're an HHI member, you know that Eric Pavleck ("Crazyman") is also a great fan of the .257JDJ, for his use in Montana.