Does anyone here have any experience with the .224 Clark?

I have used a .224 Clark since 1988, and after some 1600 shots through this barrel my experience has certainly been positive.

The case capacity of the 257 Roberts cases prior to fireforming was 58.3 grains, and after fireforming was 64.0 grains.(which is almost identical to a 22/284 that I once owned)

The case capacity makes it most suitable for use with 70 - 90 grain bullets, which requires the use of slow powders ranging from H4831 through to H870.

In my rifle M700, ShilenSS 25.5 inch barrel, (chamber neck .2543) I achieved 3900 fps with 69 grain Sierra, 3800 with 75 grain Hornady Amax, and 3700 fps with the 80 grain Sierra HPBT.

I experienced some feeding problems after about 600 shots, and this seemed to be related to my practice of keeping the bullets seated .010 to 020 inches from the lands. At about 600 shots the throat had eroded about .125, and the loaded length was sometimes causing the tips of the bullets to catch, and then jam on the ramp prior to the chamber, due to the angle of feed.

Luckily I found that the rifle would still group OK if the overall length was restricted to 2.9 inches.

I recently gave the rifle to my gunsmith for him rechamber the existing barrel to 22/250 imp 28, which he said has eliminated the worn throat, by reducing the barrel length to 24.5 inches. I previously used this case successfully on a M700 action back in 1973.

I still want a rifle based on the .224 Clark, so I am looking for a long action M700 rifle, and will probably choose a Krieger stainless steel 27 inch barrel with a 1 in 7.7 inch twist. The long action will allow me to use the long 80 to 90 grain VLD bullets which are about 1.1+ inches in length.

I found that the 224 Clark was easy to load for, and had little difficulty in getting 1/2 moa accuracy (or better) with a number of different powders, which contrasted with my experience with a 22/284 some years previously.

I found that firing about 3 shots within a couple of minutes made the barrel hot, so if you are frequently likely to be firing numerous shots within a short space of time, then I would advise that you choose a case with much less capacity.

Send me an email if you want my load and chronograph data. Regards, Brian

Thanks for the info I really apperciate it.

There's a guy on predatormasters.com who shoots a .22-284, and was getting 4100 (i believe) from the old 65 gr. Berger HP. But i think he's got a 28 or 30" barrel. His screen name is Low Dog 1. Might check it out. The guy's a real shooter.

I had Ken Waters 224 Clark, that was built on a mauser action. It was short throated so I lenghtened it out to shoot 68/69 grn Horn & Sierra bullets. I found I could turn them into white mist when pushed much above 3950.
I had some 85 grn bullets that shot better the the comercial models. At 3450 fps they would group 3/4". I shot a whitetail with that load at about 220 yds. Bullet went through on a broadside shot, massive internal damage. The rifle was to heavy to do anything but shoot off a rest, so I sold it.