Author Topic: 22 magnum bullets (Read 1891 times)

swifty22 · « **on:** June 14, 2011, 02:12:06 PM »

Howdy, Came across a couple of hundred of what appear to be 22 magnum bullets, both solids and HP, that appear to have never been loaded. They weigh between 37 and 39 grains (both) and mike from .2245 to about .2260. Anybody have any ideas about loads for a 223 Rem? Was thinking of using slower cast bullet data w/Unique/700X/Red Dot or some such. Thanks-Swifty

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 15, 2011, 01:02:51 AM »

You did not say, but I assume they are lead with no jacket. Are they copper plated? If they are a lead alloy with no copper plating or gas check, I would not use them in a 223, I would use them in a loaded down 22 Hornet or not at all. If they are copper plated you can push them into the 2000 fps range. Blue Dot loads for the 223 come to mind for loading down. If they are jacketed, depending on jacket thickness, can go 3800 fps+. Do a search on the 'net for Blue Dot loads in a 223. There has been some experimenting with them, with good results in some cases.

Good Luck and Good Shooting

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #2 on:** June 15, 2011, 03:39:56 AM »

could they be for the BP mini revolver ? Why would one have bullets for a round that is factory loaded only for the most part ? Or maybe a 218 Bee or such.

swifty22 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 15, 2011, 04:45:28 AM »

Sorry, the FMJ's appear to be jacketed and the HP's appear to be plated. Thanks Swifty

cwlongshot · « **Reply #4 on:** June 19, 2011, 01:51:33 PM »

What makes you think they are made for a 22Magnum?

Can you post pics?

The first thing that came to my mind was the old homemade bullet swagger bullets made with 22LR cases as jackets and lead wire as the core....

swifty22 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 19, 2011, 05:55:31 PM »

Nope these are copper plated/jacketed, I have shot a few thousand 22 LR cased bullets from "Malta Bullets" which are brass colored, not copper, and still have the head stamp. I have been shoot'n the 22 mag for about 30 years and they are 22 mag commercial bullets as far as I can tell.-Swifty

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #6 on:** June 20, 2011, 02:36:55 AM »

Unless the org. owner pulled the bullets to use the primed case with another bullet or to reform the case into another round why would he have 22 mag bullets ? Where would he get primed 22 mag cases ready to load ?

McDerry · « **Reply #7 on:** June 20, 2011, 05:30:30 AM »

40 gr .22 hornet bullet.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #8 on:** June 20, 2011, 05:31:57 AM »

Quote from: SHOOTALL on June 20, 2011, 02:36:55 AM

Unless the org. owner pulled the bullets to use the primed case with another bullet or to reform the case into another round why would he have 22 mag bullets ? Where would he get primed 22 mag cases ready to load ?

If. Was guessing, i would say someone got them from Winchester, Remington or Federal.... Out the back door.....

CW

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #9 on:** June 20, 2011, 05:42:52 AM »

maybe so

Ladobe · « **Reply #10 on:** June 20, 2011, 09:40:43 AM »

Never tried 22MAG bullets in a 223, but my 22 Hornet's do love the 33 grain green poly tipped V-Max bullets that were made by Hornady to be used in Remington 22MAG ammo in the mid-late 90's. They became available for sale bulk back then when the contract between Hornady and Remington fell through, and I bought several thousand of them. They are instant death on diggers at surprising ranges in the 22 Hornet despite the short ogive and "jump". So if that is any clue at all, what you have ought to be doable in a 223. I'd just work up loads for them from starting 40 grain bullet load data for your 223 and see if you can find a sweet spot as I did where they shoot well in it.

BTW, I shot a few of them in a 22-250AI (on a quest to see if they could be pushed to 5000 fps or beyond before going puff). Was fun to see just how much a little frangible bullet will take. Point is your bullets can probably be used at greater velocities than in 22MAG ammo, opening the door to your 223.

HTH

22 Hornet with the 33 gr V-Max bullet...

geezerbiker · « **Reply #11 on:** June 26, 2011, 04:56:14 AM »

Before Hornady standardize the .17 rim-fire mag, guys would pull the bullets from .22 mag and resize the cases for .17 bullets. I got a bunch of these from a guy when I bought my Martini in .22 K-Hornet. As I recall I was warned not to shoot them at more than 2400 FPS...

Tony

gs50401 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 27, 2011, 01:18:59 PM »

Years ago Winchester sold the 40 grain HP's as components. These were the same ones used in the .22 WMR.

dieselman · « **Reply #13 on:** July 02, 2011, 03:48:29 PM »

Maybe old 22wcf (aka 22 hornet) it is center fire and started off as BP right??? they had lead bullets and copper plated

gypsyman · « **Reply #14 on:** July 03, 2011, 04:54:42 PM »

Years back, there was alot of IHMSA field pistol shooters, that would pull the bullets from 22 mags., and reload them with 55 gr. bullets.
This gave them better knock down on the rams at 100 yds. Maybe these are left over from a silhouette shooter. gypsyman

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #15 on:** July 03, 2011, 05:04:04 PM »

When 22 Hornet first came out it did not use a 224 bullet it used a 222.
If you have an older 22 Hornet these could be perfect projectiles for it or a converted 22 LR / 22 Mag barrel to 22 Hornet or 221 Fire ball.

sidewinder319 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 03, 2011, 06:38:02 PM »

These were great in the Remington Jet chamberd in the Smith & Wesson handguns. It was very difficult to get a bullet to expand well in the .22 Jet. The .223 Jet worked very good with pulled Mag. bullets. This is a very expensive reload but it works.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #17 on:** July 06, 2011, 12:46:47 AM »

Quote from: sidewinder319 on July 03, 2011, 06:38:02 PM

These were great in the Remington Jet chamberd in the Smith & Wesson handguns. It was very difficult to get a bullet to expand well in the .22 Jet. The .223 Jet worked very good with pulled Mag. bullets. This is a very expensive reload but it works.

Just a note here for new/inexperienced re-loaders.

The 22 JET is designed to use .222 diameter bullets. Loading them with the larger .224 bullets can be problematic and should be avoided unless you are experienced or loading them in a re-chambered barrel with a proper 22 bore.

sidewinder319 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 06, 2011, 07:35:07 PM »

I have been shooting .22 Jets going back to the 1960s. It is very common to use .223 .224 as well as .221 bullets. When reloading for any caliber follow data which provides info for these bullets in a Jet.

Iowa Fox · « **Reply #19 on:** July 13, 2011, 07:26:10 AM »

Quote from: Ladobe on June 20, 2011, 09:40:43 AM

Never tried 22MAG bullets in a 223, but my 22 Hornet's do love the 33 grain green poly tipped V-Max bullets that were made by Hornady to be used in Remington 22MAG ammo in the mid-late 90's. They became available for sale bulk back then when the contract between Hornady and Remington fell through, and I bought several thousand of them. They are instant death on diggers at surprising ranges in the 22 Hornet despite the short ogive and "jump". So if that is any clue at all, what you have ought to be doable in a 223. I'd just work up loads for them from starting 40 grain bullet load data for your 223 and see if you can find a sweet spot as I did where they shoot well in it.

BTW, I shot a few of them in a 22-250AI (on a quest to see if they could be pushed to 5000 fps or beyond before going puff). Was fun to see just how much a little frangible bullet will take. Point is your bullets can probably be used at greater velocities than in 22MAG ammo, opening the door to your 223.

HTH

22 Hornet with the 33 gr V-Max bullet...

Ladobe,
What rifle were you using for the Hornet at the time?

Ladobe · « **Reply #20 on:** July 14, 2011, 12:11:56 AM »

Iowa Fox... I used them in the three 22 Hornets that I normally intended for the Winchester 46 gr. OPE's, but not in all of my Hornets. If I remember right, of those that I did use them in this one will look particularly familiar to you though

(and that's what's in the ammo boxes on the shooting bench with it at Digger Wars).

I'd still like to try them in my BRNO ZKW465 one of these days.

Iowa Fox · « **Reply #21 on:** July 14, 2011, 07:42:29 AM »

Thanks for the pic Larry. Thats a beauty of a rifle.