22-6mm ack.
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Fiftydriver
Official LRH Sponsor
I have always used Win 6mm Rem cases in my 22-6mm AIs and never had any real problems. There are other cases that can be used but you will likely have to consider neck turning.
A bag of win cases and a couple hours at the bench will get you brass that will shoot as well as most rifles will.
A bag of win cases and a couple hours at the bench will get you brass that will shoot as well as most rifles will.
Tyler Kemp
Well-Known Member
There is Norma and RWS 7x57. You would probably have to neck turn it after sizing the necks to 22.
Fiftydriver
Official LRH Sponsor
I used to have a fast twist 22-6mm AI but got tired of bullets coming part when the barrel warmed up. THis chambering will tear apart pretty much all of the heavy 22 cal bullets, especially the Berger and Hornady bullets. THe Sierra do a bit better but not much. One bullet I never did try was the 90 gr bullet weights.
Personally, if you compare this class of chambering to that of the 6mm-284 with heavy bullets there really is no comparision so if I were go with a fast twist, small caliber rifle, I would step over the 22 cals and up to the 6mm just because they are much more user friendly. They still have their issues but not nearly as many as the big 22 cals.
My current 22-6mm AI is simply a Ruger M77MkII Varminter that used to be a 220 Swift and I rechambered to 22-6mm AI. It has the factory 1-14 twist and as such can only use conventional bullets. I have been using the 55 gr Blistzking loaded to 4250 fps. I do not use this rifle all that much, special occasion type stuff because I know how hard it is on barrels. I have around 400 rounds down the barrel and its still a legit 1/2 to 3/4 moa rifle.
When this barrel is ready to go, I am not sure what I will do. I do not think I will rebarrel with the 22-6mm AI. Not because I do not like the round or because it has not been accurate. Some of my most accurate heavy rifles I have build have been in this chambering and would shoot solidly into the 0.1's so the round is certainly capable of extreme accuracy.
If I go with a fast twist 22 cal it would likely be a 22-250 AI or 22x47 Lapua. FOr a long range small bore, I would step up to a larger 6mm everytime now that I have been able to play with both for many years.
I do not have my load book here, its over in the shop but if I remember correctly I was using RL-22 and RL-25. Would have to look up my loads, again, not a standard rifle that heads to the field with me. Kind of like the hot rod that stays in the garage most of the time!!!
Personally, if you compare this class of chambering to that of the 6mm-284 with heavy bullets there really is no comparision so if I were go with a fast twist, small caliber rifle, I would step over the 22 cals and up to the 6mm just because they are much more user friendly. They still have their issues but not nearly as many as the big 22 cals.
My current 22-6mm AI is simply a Ruger M77MkII Varminter that used to be a 220 Swift and I rechambered to 22-6mm AI. It has the factory 1-14 twist and as such can only use conventional bullets. I have been using the 55 gr Blistzking loaded to 4250 fps. I do not use this rifle all that much, special occasion type stuff because I know how hard it is on barrels. I have around 400 rounds down the barrel and its still a legit 1/2 to 3/4 moa rifle.
When this barrel is ready to go, I am not sure what I will do. I do not think I will rebarrel with the 22-6mm AI. Not because I do not like the round or because it has not been accurate. Some of my most accurate heavy rifles I have build have been in this chambering and would shoot solidly into the 0.1's so the round is certainly capable of extreme accuracy.
If I go with a fast twist 22 cal it would likely be a 22-250 AI or 22x47 Lapua. FOr a long range small bore, I would step up to a larger 6mm everytime now that I have been able to play with both for many years.
I do not have my load book here, its over in the shop but if I remember correctly I was using RL-22 and RL-25. Would have to look up my loads, again, not a standard rifle that heads to the field with me. Kind of like the hot rod that stays in the garage most of the time!!!
brianwinzor
Well-Known Member
Kirby (Fifty Driver) has identified in his post, the main problems associated with .224 centrefires, heavy bullets, and fast twists.
I have been using a 224 Clark for the last 20 years, which is a case that is very similar to the 22/6mmAI. The main difference between the 224 Clark and the 22/6mm AI, is that the Clark uses a 30 degree shoulder, and the 22/6mmAI uses a 40 degree shoulder.
The case capacities of the 224 Clark and 22/6mmAI are very similar, and therefore the velocities achieved are also very similar.
I have mainly used Winchester 257 Roberts brass, but have also used Remington 257Roberts brass, and found like in many other calibres, the Remington brass had about 1-1.5 grains less capacity.
Although I did contemplate using Norma 7x57mm brass, I decided it wasn't worth the extra expense, and also the time associated in the extra necking down steps. I also agree with Kirby in that if you spend several hours on preparation of Winchester (or Remington) brass, the rifle should be capable of delivering excellent accuracy.
Regarding barrel life, I fired about 1600 shots in my first 224 Clark before I had the Shilen 10 twist barrel set back, and rechambered to 22/250AI (28). My second 224 Clark (6.5 twist Krieger) had fired about 400 shots when unfortunately it was stolen about 3 months ago. At that stage the distance to the lands had lengthened only about 005 inches, which is negligible. Ken Clark (who developed the 224 Clark) believed that the use of ball powders rather than extruded powders significantly improved barrel life. However, I have not had the time or resources to verify this.
Regarding bullets. In my second 224 Clark, the 6.5 twist just disintegrated both the 100 grain Wildcat and 105 grain Little. Even the tough 80 grain Sierra MK came apart. Luckily Garry Little, a local Oz custom bullet maker, came to my aid and produced some 100 - 110 grain bullets which held together and were formed from 257 and 277 cal jackets. However, after some further testing we settled on a 100 grain HPBT bullet with a soldered lead core, that had a similar profile to the Sierra Mk. This bullet had no failures, and I plan to use a similar bullet in my next .224 Clark.
I noticed that Berger now also produce an 80 and 90 grain VLD .224 bullet with a thick jacket, which is supposed to help prevent bullet disintegration. I have ordered some and intend to test these to see if they will hold together, but would be interesed to hear from anyone who has already tried them.
As a rough guide for your 22/6mmAI, I have listed below some loads from my .224 Clark (1 & 2).
Rifle 1. Rem 700 SA, Shilen 25.5 inch 10 twist barrel.
Win cases, Federal 215 primer.
69 grain Sierra HPBT
52.0 WW 785 3723
53.0 WW785 3808
54.0 WW785 3853
54.5 WW785 3897 Max
54.5 Reloader 22 3869 Max
51.0 IMR 7828 3619
52.0 IMR 7828 3686
53.0 IMR 7828 3800
54.0 IMR 7828 3900 Max
80 grain Sierra HPBT (naturally didn't stabilise in 10 twist)
50.0 IMR 7828 3557
51.0 IMR 7828 3650 Max
54.0 Hodgdon 1000 3537
55.0 Hodgdon 1000 3629
56.5 Hodgdon 1000 3670 Max
59.0 Hodgdon 870 3516
60.0 Hodgdon 870 3596
61.0 Hodgdon 870 3658 Near Max (sl compressed)
Rifle 2: Rem 700 LA, Krieger 26 inch 6.5 twist barrel.
Win Cases, Rem 9 1/2 M primer.
100 grain Little HPBT soldered core.
49.0 ADI 2225(HRetumbo) 2,991 Mild
50.0 ADI 2225 3,091 Near Maximum
51.0 ADI 2225 3,144 Maximum
53.0 H870 2,975 Mild
54.0 H870 3,042 Mild
55.0 H870 3,089 Near Max
56.0 H870 3,158 Max
53.0 AR2218 (H50BMG) 2,963 Mild
54.0 AR2218 3,014 Mild
55.0 AR2218 3,053 Mild
56.0 AR2218 3,101 Near Max, sl compressed.
Hope the above is of some help. Brian.
I have been using a 224 Clark for the last 20 years, which is a case that is very similar to the 22/6mmAI. The main difference between the 224 Clark and the 22/6mm AI, is that the Clark uses a 30 degree shoulder, and the 22/6mmAI uses a 40 degree shoulder.
The case capacities of the 224 Clark and 22/6mmAI are very similar, and therefore the velocities achieved are also very similar.
I have mainly used Winchester 257 Roberts brass, but have also used Remington 257Roberts brass, and found like in many other calibres, the Remington brass had about 1-1.5 grains less capacity.
Although I did contemplate using Norma 7x57mm brass, I decided it wasn't worth the extra expense, and also the time associated in the extra necking down steps. I also agree with Kirby in that if you spend several hours on preparation of Winchester (or Remington) brass, the rifle should be capable of delivering excellent accuracy.
Regarding barrel life, I fired about 1600 shots in my first 224 Clark before I had the Shilen 10 twist barrel set back, and rechambered to 22/250AI (28). My second 224 Clark (6.5 twist Krieger) had fired about 400 shots when unfortunately it was stolen about 3 months ago. At that stage the distance to the lands had lengthened only about 005 inches, which is negligible. Ken Clark (who developed the 224 Clark) believed that the use of ball powders rather than extruded powders significantly improved barrel life. However, I have not had the time or resources to verify this.
Regarding bullets. In my second 224 Clark, the 6.5 twist just disintegrated both the 100 grain Wildcat and 105 grain Little. Even the tough 80 grain Sierra MK came apart. Luckily Garry Little, a local Oz custom bullet maker, came to my aid and produced some 100 - 110 grain bullets which held together and were formed from 257 and 277 cal jackets. However, after some further testing we settled on a 100 grain HPBT bullet with a soldered lead core, that had a similar profile to the Sierra Mk. This bullet had no failures, and I plan to use a similar bullet in my next .224 Clark.
I noticed that Berger now also produce an 80 and 90 grain VLD .224 bullet with a thick jacket, which is supposed to help prevent bullet disintegration. I have ordered some and intend to test these to see if they will hold together, but would be interesed to hear from anyone who has already tried them.
As a rough guide for your 22/6mmAI, I have listed below some loads from my .224 Clark (1 & 2).
Rifle 1. Rem 700 SA, Shilen 25.5 inch 10 twist barrel.
Win cases, Federal 215 primer.
69 grain Sierra HPBT
52.0 WW 785 3723
53.0 WW785 3808
54.0 WW785 3853
54.5 WW785 3897 Max
54.5 Reloader 22 3869 Max
51.0 IMR 7828 3619
52.0 IMR 7828 3686
53.0 IMR 7828 3800
54.0 IMR 7828 3900 Max
80 grain Sierra HPBT (naturally didn't stabilise in 10 twist)
50.0 IMR 7828 3557
51.0 IMR 7828 3650 Max
54.0 Hodgdon 1000 3537
55.0 Hodgdon 1000 3629
56.5 Hodgdon 1000 3670 Max
59.0 Hodgdon 870 3516
60.0 Hodgdon 870 3596
61.0 Hodgdon 870 3658 Near Max (sl compressed)
Rifle 2: Rem 700 LA, Krieger 26 inch 6.5 twist barrel.
Win Cases, Rem 9 1/2 M primer.
100 grain Little HPBT soldered core.
49.0 ADI 2225(HRetumbo) 2,991 Mild
50.0 ADI 2225 3,091 Near Maximum
51.0 ADI 2225 3,144 Maximum
53.0 H870 2,975 Mild
54.0 H870 3,042 Mild
55.0 H870 3,089 Near Max
56.0 H870 3,158 Max
53.0 AR2218 (H50BMG) 2,963 Mild
54.0 AR2218 3,014 Mild
55.0 AR2218 3,053 Mild
56.0 AR2218 3,101 Near Max, sl compressed.
Hope the above is of some help. Brian.
Petersen
Well-Known Member
I will have my 22-243 win in a few days. I did not want to go with a AI version for a lot of the issues. I researched a 22 long range build and this was the best option for me. I will be shooting the 80 gr. (1:8 twist) You can get the better brass in a 243.
Varmint Hunter
Well-Known Member
+1 on what Petersen said. If you're hell bent on an overbored .224 cartridge there are few that make more sense (overall) than the 22-243 (plain).
High quality brass is easy to find and easy to neck down with no fireforming which wastes barrel life unless you use cream-of-wheat or a similar method. There is also the rule of diminishing returns involved here. You will have to burn a lot of extra powder in a larger case just to see a slight increase in velocity. At the current cost of a new custom barrel with all the machine work done, a thousand round gun is hard to swallow. I've shot out several custom hot rods, and while it was a lot of fun, the fun didn't last long.
A case as big as the 6mmAI or 284 might be a better choice if 100gr bullets and appropriate powders were available and/or desirable. But that's taking wildcatting to the next level.
I'm starting to go back to the basics and life is certainly getting easier and less expensive.
High quality brass is easy to find and easy to neck down with no fireforming which wastes barrel life unless you use cream-of-wheat or a similar method. There is also the rule of diminishing returns involved here. You will have to burn a lot of extra powder in a larger case just to see a slight increase in velocity. At the current cost of a new custom barrel with all the machine work done, a thousand round gun is hard to swallow. I've shot out several custom hot rods, and while it was a lot of fun, the fun didn't last long.
A case as big as the 6mmAI or 284 might be a better choice if 100gr bullets and appropriate powders were available and/or desirable. But that's taking wildcatting to the next level.
I'm starting to go back to the basics and life is certainly getting easier and less expensive.
