.224 Wthrby vs .22-250

[The Sodbuster]

Became curious lately about the .224 Weatherby Magnum.  Began looking at load data, comparing it with the .22-250 Remington.  Restricted my comparisons to data from the same source that used identical bullets and powder.  What I found was that, with the exception of 70 grain bullets, the .224 Weatherby nearly meets, meets, or barely exceeds the .22-250's ballistics with just 91% of the powder the '250 uses.  And it only generates 83% of the pressure (Accurate Arms was the only source to provide pressure values for both cartridges).

Was ol' Roy on to something here?  Is there merit to his contention that his radiused shoulders make for more efficient gas flow?  Or do the Weatherby's velocities have more to do with the Mark V's having a 26" barrel and greater freebore than the .22-250's test barrels probably had?

It's all moot anyway as Weatherby no longer chambers rifles for their own .224 caliber (or lefty guns in any caliber anymore, according to their website).  I know as a proprietary cartridge for which brass runs nearly $1 per case it will never see significant popularity compared to other varmint rounds, but is it grossly underrated?

P.S. - In most other popular calibers, Weatherby cartridges are the fastest in their caliber or nearly so.  The .224 was introduced in '63 and fell short of the .220 swift and .22-250.  Why so timid with his .22 centerfire?

[Lawdog]

The Sodbuster,

Everything that you said about the .224 Weatherby is true.   :yeah:   I got my first .224 Weatherby in 1969, a Mark V Deluxe with a 26" barrel.  Seeing the only factory rifle to ever chamber this great little cartridge was Weatherby the cost was what put most hunter/shooters off.  Factory ammo cost was/is still prohibitive as it's not cheap.  I retired both of mine.   :cry:   The re-sale value makes shooting one on a day to day basis un-wise.  An NRA 95% or better Mark V will bring $2,500 and more from collectors as it is one of the most highly sought after of the Weatherby line.  Many Weatherby fans try every year to get Weatherby to re-introduce the .224 and every year we get a “We’ll look into it.” from the powers to be at Weatherby.  I keep my fingers crossed.  Lawdog
 

[tr17]

It is good to see that there is still some interest in and recognition of the .224 Weatherby.  I purchased a .224 Weatherby Varmintmaster in 1965 while stationed in Germany, and, to this day, I have never owned a more accurate factory rifle.  

In its day, it was a great woodchuck rifle, but, alas, here in the northeast, there aren't many woodchucks left to hunt, and where there are, the report of the rifle is offensive to nearby residents.  Current varmint hunting opportunities, being more limited in availability and restricted in distances, are filled with my .22 Hornet.  

Lawdog's reference to the current value of a .224 Weatherby is appreciated and reassuring, and I would concur with his recommendation to limit one's use of the rifle.  However, even though mine has not been used in years, I would never part with it for sentimental reasons.