I would like to build a 22 centerfire, I have a smith who says he can build a 22-284 that with 40gr pills can do 5,000fps. Would like feedback on this round from people who currently have one. Also, would like opinions on a good fast above 4,000fps with 50 or 55gr BT's 22 centerfire. This rifle will not be shot a lot, not worried about barrel life, want it laser flat and accurate what is the best round.
Many years ago, a close fried built a .25-284 with a 26 1/2 inch barrel. He topped out in velocity at 4264 FPS with a 60 grain Speer. Other 60 grainers failed to stay together (which was kind of fun).
I have some doubt that you could reach 5000 in a .22-284, even with 40 grainers. Besides, if your goal is flat trajectory, the poor ballistic coefficient and high wind drift of the light bullets would largely defeat your purpose.
For your 50-55 grain bullet a 4000, I would suggest one of the improved versions based on the .243.
Posts: 13280 | Location: Henly, TX, USA | Registered: 04 April 2001
quote:Originally posted by Montana: ...I have a smith who says he can build a 22-284 that with 40gr pills can do 5,000fps.
Well, my guess is that he has never tested one. There is one hell of a difference between being able to push a 50 gr bullet @ 4500 fps and pushing a lighter bullet at 5000 - the reason being that you get nearer and nearer to the maximum velocity of the expanding gasses.
If you really want bullet-blowing speed, a .22-06, .22-284 or 'overloaded' .220 Howell (more pressure than what Ken designed it for, not necessarily dangerous pressures...) is probably all you could use. The .220 Swift is a good cartridge too, don't overlook it.
With light monometal bullets, a huge case (think .22-338 Lapua or similar) and a really slow twist, 5000 fps CAN of course be reached, but why?
Mats, 5000 fps is attainable with much less exotic equipment than you mentioned. At this website, check out the loading info for the 22-250 Improved, 35 gr. Berger, over 5100 fps. Done by Saeed himself. I also know a guy that hunts coyotes with a 22-284 and shoots 40 grain Noslers at well over 4900 fps. I understand the coyotes go down quite hard!
Hey Montana; Please see my thread in this forum in the Varmit Hunting section and the info I posted on 6/28/01 about my 22-243 Middlested. I was pushing 30 Gr. Berger moly's at 5,000 fps and a little over and never had any bullets not make the target. If you have any questions after you read the thread e-mail me and I try to answer your questions. I have not tried any 40 Gr. bullets at super speeds in my Middlested yet.
Thanks for all the input, but if there is anybody else out there please respond.
And Mats my smith has built 3 or 4 of these already. by the way there is a guy in Sweden I will post his address later but he has a picture of two crows shot with one 50gr. V-MAx at 160meters above 4300fps with a 22-284 and there is not enough left for a cat to eat.
Have you seen Small Caliber News winter issue. It has a 22-284 compared to a 20tatical (20-223). Very little difference. I am having a 27" 20PPC barrel made for my encore. Im hoping for 4500 fps with 33gr V-max. This should be right with the 22-284 with much better barrel life. Now I wish I had gone with a 30" barrel I really think this cartridge could use it. If you want a little more look into the 20BR.
Sorry I forgot to mention- There is more info on the 22-284 in this atricle than I have seen anywhere else. It is really about the 20tatical but has several charts and loading data for the 22-284. I tend to agree with you about a gun that shoots like a laser. You hear about people shooting something at 1000yds. i just wonder how many sighter shots it took to get that heavy bullet on target. I want to "Quigley" a yote at 500yds.
Hello, Correct me if I am wrong, but this sounds like a way to "maximize throat erosion". BTW, the tech people at Nosler state that their BT bullets will go way over 5000.
------------------ Safety & Ethics,Accuracy, Velocity, Energy Joe M
Article by Seyfried in latest Handloader magazine about the 22/284 much as you describe....well done and worth reading if you are really interested in building a 22/284.
Posts: 4360 | Location: Sunny Southern California | Registered: 22 May 2002
Read the same article as DB Bill. Seyfried was getting a 60 grain Nosler Partition up to 4100 in a 30" (that's thirty inch) barrel. 78 grain Lost River monolithics were going 3700.
40 grains at 5,000? Ought to really launch small varmints.
Interesting posts. I've actually seen velocity over 8,000 fps. It was a test set up to see how the Army's Hellfire missile would respond to an air burst anti-aircraft shell. The extreme velocity was attained (forgive me for not remembering the exact nomenclature) with a "Parrot" rifle which I believe was a 40mm bore and a slightly bottlenecked mild steel case. The barrel on the thing was about 5 feet long and a sabot was loaded with a cube of aluminum about 1cmx1cmx1cm - this was to replicate high velocity shrapnel. Velocity readings were taken with two mesh metal screens. Where the cube passed through the metal mesh, there was about a one inch hole with the ends of the wire melted back! The projectile entered a large concrete safe-house through a 2 inch opening (vented on top) and went directly into the warhead of a Hellfire missile. The steel case was ruined after one shot too! They were badly flattened and there was no way except color to tell the primer from the base of the case. Can you immagine the pressures?
You might give Greg Tannel a call (970) 353-6176 (Colorado). He used to have a .22-284 and would launch 40 grainers at over 5000 fps. As I recall throat erosion was so rapid that it made the project less than feasible. It was to be his dream "point and shoot" coyote rifle. He now uses a .20 Tactical, but he can tell you all about the .22-284.
I had on in the middle seventies. 300 round and 10 inches of freebore. Course I didn't have the powders available today I was getting an honest 4350 with a 55 gr Nosler but again, short lived barrel life. Shot on dog at 513 paces and that back then was a feat, fully realizing today anything under 1500 is child�s play. We didn�t have range finders, just had to pace the distance. I not have retired to the small ones and the largest I shoot is a 17 Mach IV but really prefer the smaller 17�s. Brooks
