Going by both AR and 24HourCampFire both of these calibres seem to be way behind the 22/250 Imp and 6mm Rem Imp in popularity. This is certainly the case in Australia.

It really puzzles me. Why would would someone want to fireform 22/250 (you will need to so as to fit the loads) when a straight 22/243 is so easy and a bigger case. Similar deal with 6mm Rem Imp as compared to simple neck down of 25/06.

A mate of mine in Australia has been right down the road on 224s and 6mm. All accuracy rifles, Jewell triggers, Nightforce scopes, different rifling twists etc. and settled on the 22/243 and 6mm/06. He also tried the 22/240 (with the Wby shoulder) and 22/06. Main problem with that pair were cost of brass for the 22/240 and the much cheaper Norma branded 240 cases were soft as compared to Norma made Weatherby branded brass. The 22/06 with necked down 25/06 gave neck splitting problems on firing.

I did lots of 6mm/06 but nearly all barrels were 1 in 12. Also did 6mm/284 including rechambering 6mm/06 barrels after a 100 shots or so for a very valid comparison.

The only practical disadvantage I could see in the 22/243 and 6mm/06 as compared to the standard 22/250 and standard 243 was more expensive dies. I imagine shooters who want accuracy rifles would not consider lack of factory ammo to be an issue.

So why are the 22/243 and 6mm/06 so dead?

I built a 22/243 on a Hall bench rest action.

Shoots incredibly accurate, and broke 5,200 fps with it.

Shot a rat out in the backyard with it.

All I found was tiny pieces of skin and hair no bigger than 5mm the largest.

There was an 8-10 crater in the sand where he was when he was shot.

We play with wildcats because that is where our interest lies + because we can. I built up a 22-250 AI 40 deg. w/ a 1.6 twist that would stabilize an 80 G Sierra @ close to 4K. WHY? Because that is what we like to play with.

Nearly 4000 f/s with 80 grainers in a 22/250 AI

Wow

quote:

Nearly 4000 f/s with 80 grainers in a 22/250 AI

Wow

YEAH! RIGHT!

quote:

Originally posted by NormanConquest:
We play with wildcats because that is where our interest lies + because we can. I built up a 22-250 AI 40 deg. w/ a 1.6 twist that would stabilize an 80 G Sierra @ close to 4K. WHY? Because that is what we like to play with.

Barrel length?

I've got two 6MM-06 barrels for TCR-87'. The one with a 1-in-12 twist shoots is 29 inches long and shoots 70-grain Ballistic Tips at nearly 4,000 fps. The one with the fast twist (think it's 1-in-8 or so) is 26 inches long and shoots Berger 105-grain VLDs at 3,250. The slow twist 6MM-06 barrel is great for coyotes and the fast twist 6MM-06 barrel had gotten a number of deer in the 400 and 400+ yard ranges. Since fireforming is not required I don't have to burn up my barrels making full power ammo which I think is a big plus.

I have a 22-284 with a 26" 1/9 barrel? Why? Well I fubared the 22-250 AI chamber in a moment of stupidity. Haven't spent much time with it, but I suspect that 75 Hornady ELD bullets can be pushed beyond 3600 fps.

I have versions of the 22-243 and 6mm-06. Mine are a 22-243 Middlestead and a 240 Gibbs. They are both very fast, accurate with bullets they like. I also have 22-250, 22-250 AI, 220 Swift, 243 and 243 AI, 6mm Rem and the AI version. All will do the job, I just like trying things that are a little different. - dan

quote:
Nearly 4000 f/s with 80 grainers in a 22/250 AI

Wow!

Dan, do you get this kind of velocity out of your 22-250 AI?

I got 4600 fps out of my 22.250 AI with the 36 grain Varmint Grenades.

The original statement was using 80 Gr. bullets.

I shoot 80's in my 22-250AI and I'm nowhere close to 4Kfps.

....well, I'm close if 3400 fps is considered close to 4K.

Zeke

quote:

Originally posted by DocEd:
The original statement was using 80 Gr. bullets.

I can get 4000 fps out of the 50 grainers and maybe the 55s. I shoot the 69 grain SMKs 3,500 fps but I'm not flattening primers yet and I may be able to get 3,600 fps safely but the 80's, no way they'll make 3,600 fps.

I misquoted on here. My initial point was using the 1/6 twist to stabilize the 80 G. Sierra, NOT at 4K with THAT bullet. I achieve 4K using the 50G. bullet. Sorry for the misunderstanding.