G'day all

I've been wondering about a 22-243 Middlested (there's a thread on hot 22s where it gets a mention).

CH4D and RCBS make dies for it. In the case of a wildcat with off-the-shelf dies available, I figure it's a case of matching the reamer to the dies.

Does anyone have any experience with chambering and reloading this cartridge? Do you have a die/reamer combination to recommend?

Thanks
Ben

Ben,
No experience but I'd love to try one! Give MAB a call or email them ... they list a 22-243 reamer which may be a Middlested or a straight 22-243... you'd need to check. In South Australia, also try Sprinter as I have a sneaking suspicion that they may also have a reamer. A cheaper/easier option may be a 22/250 improved.
Cheers...
Con

Ben,

I spent some time one summer working up loads for a guy who had one (built on a Ruger No. 1 action). I shot bullets from 50 gr to 78 gr. You will need to choose your barrel twist for the bullets you want to shoot. I found it easy to load for, as it didn't do anything unpredictable.

Don Middlested lived in this area, and I understand he liked to shoot ground squirrels at 600 yards.

I don't have any dies or reamers, the gun's owner kept those.

jim

I have never loaded or shot a middlested. However I did build a 224tth http://www.ttha.com/224tth.htm
for my buddy a couple years ago. First it was the new kid on the block and second the 6mm(7x57) case fed in the MKX without a spacer in the back. As was stated you need to really think your planned bullet weight because the twist will have a huge impact. Even the same weight but different style can impact it. The shorter buller will group great the same weight but longer will tumble.

The 22/243 Middlested is a very nice cartridge. It is a favorite among serious coyote shooters in the wide open spaces. About 1/2 of the rifles I have built have been 14 twist and used with 50-55gr bullets around 4000fps and the other half are 9 or 10 twist shooting 60-80gr (3850-3400). If you are shooting at 400 yards or less there really isn't enough difference to argue; beyond 400 the big bullet starts to shine. Every Middlested I have built has been very easy to find an "accuracy" load- most shoot everything and anything well and many of the rifles have shot groups in the mid .2's low .3's. The standard neck dimension for a Middlested is .256 which means after you neck the 243 case down you will either need to ream or turn the neck, if you are using the rifle for hunting I inside neck ream. The brass is formed well enough in the die that hunting accuracy is usually more than acceptable without having to fireform the brass. If you do decide to build, drop me an e-mail and I can forward some load data.

www.duanesguns.com

Ben, Once you have got your 22/243 Middlestead dies and reamer organised, may I suggest that you consider ordering a 1 in 7 twist barrel.

I have some of Richard Graves 100 grain Wildcat ULD's, and Garry Littles 105 grain ULD's sitting on the shelf. If you are interested I would spare a few for you to try.

At this stage I won't get a chance to try them personally for another 2 - 3 months. My gunsmith does not get back from his shooting holiday until early October, when he will fit my Kreiger 1 in 6.5 twist barrel to my REM 700 SPS donor action, and then chamber it for the .224 Clark.

Send me an email or give me a ring if you are interested in trying them. Brian.

Forster gave me a quote on a FL die and BR seater. The dimensions they provided were the same as CH4D, and although they only cost a little more, I think it'd be worth the extra money, especially if I got the micrometer seater.

I had a 22-250AI with a standard neck in a single shot rifle. It was the second reamer I bought from Manson Precision; the first was a tight neck 6.5-284 Norma. I've been very happy with them, and with the quotes I've gotten for a 22-243 Middlested reamer, I think I'll buy a Manson again.

The reason I'm interested in a 22-243 Middlested is because I want it to feed from the magazine of a Remington 700 VS I've got, currently barreled as a 308, without any modification.

Although the 22-243 will also feed no problem, I like the Middlested version because of the improved shoulder angle and longer neck, despite the insignificant loss in capacity. The 22-243 could use 243/308 headspace gages though, and that would save me a few extra dollars.

G'day Brian
I'm thinking of a 1:9 twist Kreiger for this project. I primarily want to shoot 75 grain AMAXs, and I want a throat that will seat them near the lands but still inside the OAL for the magazine. I think it'd stabilise 80 grain Match Kings, and may even perform well with some 55 grain bullets.

Regards
Ben

I have been able to shoot the 80mk in all of the 9 twist barrels so far, but there are always exceptions. I think you will like your choice.

I had that bug a few years back...Layne Simpsons 22Cheetah is an almost identical cartridge using the Remington small primer pocketed BR brass.
I went a little overboard experimenting with a 22-284 60gr Nosler solid base bullets at 3600+fps from a 28" 1:9" twist Lilja barrel on a Rem700 action. Then the madness set in: I had a 22-378Ackley Improved Wby made. You could shoot a new barrel out in a half day shooting prairie dogs out past 600yds. The Leica Geovid made the whole long shot deal doable. It did shoot 80gr JLK VLD bullets near 4500fps. Just a stunt, but a very enjoyable project for a magazine article.

regards,

Rich