I am looking to build a longrange small gun. I was thinking of making a 22-6mm ack. but I saw how bad they are on barrels. Done some reading on the 22-250 ack but it dont seam much better than the reg 22-250. Im building it on a custon stiller action w/kreaiger barrel. Im making it big & heavy like a 30" barrel with brake. Dont do much walking in the south!! Please give me some ideals on small longrange chambers to go with......gun)lightbulb
longrange 22-6mm ack
- Thread starter joe30007
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I shoot a 22-243 Winchester. I'm shooting the 75gr Amax, but I have chronoed it. It is very flat shooting and easy to load for. There is no improved shoulder so there is no fire forming and brass life is good. Mine has a 26" shilen barrel and still shoots sub.5 after about 800 rounds. It is built on a Remington 700. I like this round so much I am having another built. Ya, the ackley version and the 22-6mms are faster, but not without being harder on the barrels and being more time consuming to load for. I need to get out and chrono it some day. I know it is pushing the Amax to its limit. I don't have problems in my gun, but a friend is shooting 1 grain more powder and his bullets will come apart on a hot day.
Fiftydriver
Official LRH Sponsor
I have built alot of these big 22 cals and will tell you its a fine line between performance and bullet faliure. The simple trueth is that there are few bullets out there in the heavy weight class that are designed for the velocity potential of this class of chambering. YOu really have to be careful about your baring surface compression and RPMs to get the best of both worlds.
The Bergers and A-Maxs will generally let loose around 3200-3300 fps in conventionally thought to be appropriate twist rates.
For an 80 gr bullet, I would generally go with a 1-9 twist cut rifled barrel as the 1-8 twists are pretty hard on these bullets. THe Sierra 80 and 90 gr MKs do a bit better but they can still be torn apart pretty easily.
When they perform they can be great but they can also give you alot of grey hair if you want full speed performance out of what the 22-6mm AI can produce, a 22-250 AI is much more user friendly, just not as sexy.
Kirby (50)
The Bergers and A-Maxs will generally let loose around 3200-3300 fps in conventionally thought to be appropriate twist rates.
For an 80 gr bullet, I would generally go with a 1-9 twist cut rifled barrel as the 1-8 twists are pretty hard on these bullets. THe Sierra 80 and 90 gr MKs do a bit better but they can still be torn apart pretty easily.
When they perform they can be great but they can also give you alot of grey hair if you want full speed performance out of what the 22-6mm AI can produce, a 22-250 AI is much more user friendly, just not as sexy.
Kirby (50)
dirtball
Well-Known Member
I have a 22-6mmIMP. The neck on the one I have has been shortened to the same length as the 22-250Imp to add a little more case capacity. I am getting 3640fps with 80gr SMK in a 30" PacNor barrel. Kirby is correct, the Bergers and the A-max's vanish after about 3300 fps. So far I only have about 125 rounds on this gun. Only time will tell whether or not the SMK's will start to come apart as the barrel gets some wear on it.
I am using RS Magnum in mine, I would suggest that you stick with Ball powder as you can get Powder Bridging even with short cut extruded powder in this cartridge.
This is not the rifle you want on a prairie dog shoot as the barrel would probably be toast before the end of day 2, but for the guy that shoots 50 to 100 ground hogs a year it will last a long time.
I am using a set of 22-250 IMP S-Type dies to do the neck sizing, and bullet seating, I understand that this will not size the base of the brass BUT IF that ever becomes a problem I also have a 240 Gibbs that could be used to resize the base on the 22-6mm brass.
Pic below 22-66mmIMP and 6mm case on right.
Dave
I am using RS Magnum in mine, I would suggest that you stick with Ball powder as you can get Powder Bridging even with short cut extruded powder in this cartridge.
This is not the rifle you want on a prairie dog shoot as the barrel would probably be toast before the end of day 2, but for the guy that shoots 50 to 100 ground hogs a year it will last a long time.
I am using a set of 22-250 IMP S-Type dies to do the neck sizing, and bullet seating, I understand that this will not size the base of the brass BUT IF that ever becomes a problem I also have a 240 Gibbs that could be used to resize the base on the 22-6mm brass.
Pic below 22-66mmIMP and 6mm case on right.
Dave
Varmint Hunter
Well-Known Member
I shot a 22-243AI for quite some time. 48.2gr of RE22 launched the 75gr A-Max (moly) bullet at 3,670 ft/sec with amazing accuracy. Groundhogs under 1,000 yds were in BIG trouble when this gun hit the fields.
Best group ever was .625" and was shot at 600yds, confirmed. Probably never repeat that with any gun in any caliber.
Best group ever was .625" and was shot at 600yds, confirmed. Probably never repeat that with any gun in any caliber.
I have a Savage FP10 (Choate Stock) that has been rechambered to 22/6mm Imp but without the shoulder being moved forward. Just the 40 degree ackley shoulder.
Quite frankly it has been a PITA. Being a std Savage barrel the barrel finish may not be what it should be. It is a 1:9 twist & my gunsmith got around 2000 rounds with his before changing the barrel. It too was a standard Savage 1:9 twist chrome moly barrel.
I too use Re22/WXR. Using WW cases & WLR primers I was fireforming with up to 47gr of WXR, it was shooting great with 47.5gr WXR and the 80gr A-Max moly. Now I am popping primers at 45.5gr of WXR. I mean what gives. My fireforming loads at 45.0gr are also popping primers.
Waiting to take it back to my gunsmith to bore scope it. There may be some damage in the barrel. The bullets are still making it to target, vel is around 3450fps but it pops the primers. BTW the 47.5gr load used to do 3520 fps and not pop the primers.
Hornady's manual has 22/6mm loads and I have corresponded with Dave Emary who has campaigned a 22/6mm Rem (Unimproved) for years so I don't think the barrel life issue is as big a deal as its made out in spite of the trouble I am having with mine. I'd love to say I have worn out a barrel through shooting it but that has not happened yet! I think I have too many guns!
If Kirby or others have suggestions for me I'm listening.
Here is a copy of my latest group:
The primer popped on the 5th shot of the group & the first shot of the fireforming load.
Thanks,
JohnT
Quite frankly it has been a PITA. Being a std Savage barrel the barrel finish may not be what it should be. It is a 1:9 twist & my gunsmith got around 2000 rounds with his before changing the barrel. It too was a standard Savage 1:9 twist chrome moly barrel.
I too use Re22/WXR. Using WW cases & WLR primers I was fireforming with up to 47gr of WXR, it was shooting great with 47.5gr WXR and the 80gr A-Max moly. Now I am popping primers at 45.5gr of WXR. I mean what gives. My fireforming loads at 45.0gr are also popping primers.
Waiting to take it back to my gunsmith to bore scope it. There may be some damage in the barrel. The bullets are still making it to target, vel is around 3450fps but it pops the primers. BTW the 47.5gr load used to do 3520 fps and not pop the primers.
Hornady's manual has 22/6mm loads and I have corresponded with Dave Emary who has campaigned a 22/6mm Rem (Unimproved) for years so I don't think the barrel life issue is as big a deal as its made out in spite of the trouble I am having with mine. I'd love to say I have worn out a barrel through shooting it but that has not happened yet! I think I have too many guns!
If Kirby or others have suggestions for me I'm listening.
Here is a copy of my latest group:
The primer popped on the 5th shot of the group & the first shot of the fireforming load.
Thanks,
JohnT
squirrelduster
Well-Known Member
Why not one of the 6mmbr or variants like the 6XC?
I have a 6br with 75g VMAX runs around 3300fps with a very good squirrel splat factor. The accuracy in absolutely incredible. We have shot squirrel heads consistently at 300 yards. Teach them to stick their head out. If you want to shoot under 600 yards it is pretty hard to beat.
Or do you just like the big flame.
Barrel life is almost forever compared to the calibers you mentioned.
How about the 25 WSSM with 75 grain bullets at 3800 FPS?
Seriously why not the 6mmbr.
I have a 6br with 75g VMAX runs around 3300fps with a very good squirrel splat factor. The accuracy in absolutely incredible. We have shot squirrel heads consistently at 300 yards. Teach them to stick their head out. If you want to shoot under 600 yards it is pretty hard to beat.
Or do you just like the big flame.
Barrel life is almost forever compared to the calibers you mentioned.
How about the 25 WSSM with 75 grain bullets at 3800 FPS?
Seriously why not the 6mmbr.
Varmint Hunter
Well-Known Member
OK - here's the solution which my buddy decided to take. 220 Swift AI. Very good case capacity without going to the extreme like 6mm or 243 cases. Works great with 55gr - 80gr bullets depending upon twist rate. Personally, I'd go with the 22-243 (plain) in a 9 or 8 twist. Fireforming is a waste of time and barrel life.
Just my 2 cents
Fiftydriver
Official LRH Sponsor
Varmint Hunter,
What barrel are you using on that rifle that your getting 3670 fps with the 75 gr A-Max? What brand, twist and groove count?
Also, how many rounds do you have down the barrel and what load are you using to get that level of performance out of the 22-243 AI?
Just curious. That is serious performance for that size of a chambering with that bullet.
What barrel are you using on that rifle that your getting 3670 fps with the 75 gr A-Max? What brand, twist and groove count?
Also, how many rounds do you have down the barrel and what load are you using to get that level of performance out of the 22-243 AI?
Just curious. That is serious performance for that size of a chambering with that bullet.
