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22-243 Middlestead
22-243 Middlestead
Just chambered this one; 22-243 Middlestead. It differs from the standard 22-243 in that it has a longer neck and a 30 degree shoulder. Made for heavier 22 bullets, and good feeding. Looks like a great round; free brass, and 22 swift performance. What'a not to like? It's on a 788.
21 March 2023, 02:10
hogfarmerLooks good Tom, but is that a model 600 recoil lug?
"For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind..."
Hosea 8:7
21 March 2023, 02:46
D HumbargerI've built several for customers. Great round but also a great throat burner at max performance. Be forewarned
Doug Humbarger
NRA Life member
Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 72'73.
Yankee Station
Try to look unimportant. Your enemy might be low on ammo.
It ain't mine so I don't care about barrel life.
When the owner burns the barrel out, that means I get to install another one.
I never hard of it before
It's a 788 as stated.
21 March 2023, 20:25
cal30 1906Dpcd
What did you use to hi-light the lettering with?
Is that paint or just raw metal,emgraved?? Silly I know.
If it cant be Grown it has to be Mined! Devoted member of Newmont mining company Underground Mine rescue team. Carlin East,Deep Star ,Leeville,Deep Post ,Chukar and now Exodus Where next? Pete Bajo to train newbies on long hole stoping and proper blasting techniques.
Back to Exodus mine again learning teaching and operating autonomous loaders in the underground. Bringing everyday life to most individuals 8' at a time!
21 March 2023, 20:59
SaeedBuilt many of these.
One is used in Africa for all sorts of animals for years.
He loads 52 grain match bullets and shoots everything in the head!
He absolutely loves it and says it saves the meat!
Yes it does sound like a fast 22. I, however, have zero use for such toys and only make them for guys who want them. No idea what they want them for. I wouldn't shoot a mouse with one. I want a real bullet, not a pellet gun.
As for the lettering, it is just steel.
22 March 2023, 05:16
theback40Tom has some odd customers it seems!
22 March 2023, 07:10
D Humbargerquote:
Originally posted by dpcd:
It ain't mine so I don't care about barrel life.
When the owner burns the barrel out, that means I get to install another one.
I never hard of it before
It's a 788 as stated.

Doug Humbarger
NRA Life member
Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 72'73.
Yankee Station
Try to look unimportant. Your enemy might be low on ammo.
Definitely very odd customers.
Had a 22-243 M built years ago (early 70s) used for coyotes, prairie dogs and an occasional deer. 55gr and IMR 4350. Douglas heavy shorter brrl on a win 670 action. A deadly accurate rifle.
09 April 2023, 10:01
SaeedBarrel life seems to depend on the actual barrel in question.
Years ago, we had a house on the beach out of town.
On a big sand hill about 200 meters from the sea.
We used to go there for weekends, and I take all sorts of rifles and lots of ammo to shoot.
These range from several 22 rim fire to a customs Ruger Number ONE we chambered for the 460 Weatherby Magnum.
The 577 T.Rex wasn't born then.
We would shoot some rifles until we had to stop because of heat waves making impossible to see through the scope.
I made an addition to my 460 Weatherby Ruger that made my father shake his head!
Not the first, or last, time!

I turned down a Thomson Contender barrel, in 223 Remington, and machined it to fit into the 460 Weatherby barrel.
Made all the necessary modifications that the empties extract fine.
Trick was I put that barrel in the Ruger.
Get some poor sod shoot it a few rounds with the 223.
Then someone would distract him, and I would take out that barrel, and chamber a 460 Weatherby round, and hand it to him to shoot!
It never failed to impress!
Anyway, back to barrels.
Some rifles would loose accuracy, some seem to just carry on.
09 April 2023, 16:55
theback40I have a good supply of heavyer 22 cal bullets I intend to use. If the throat starts to wash, I have a throater, and will "freshen" it up and seat bullets out.
09 April 2023, 18:38
bpestevequote:
Originally posted by dpcd:
Definitely very odd customers.
Hey - I resemble that!

Saeed; you are evil. But I wish I had seen it.
Hip, you are the one I was referring to.
11 April 2023, 01:11
dan belisleI've had a 22-243 Middlestead built on a 788 for a few decades. 27" barrel. I don't use it that often, but it certainly does the job on far away coyotes. - dan
"Intellectual truth is eternally one: moral or sentimental truth is a geographic and chronological accident that varies with the individual" R.F. Burton
11 April 2023, 01:32
LuckyduckerI considered the Middlestead when I had a rifle rebarreled but decided to just go with the meat and taters 22/250Rem.
Dennis
Life member NRA