Author Topic: .222/223 is the best caliber for bullet shooters on a budget! (Read 9587 times))

Jim Holmgren · « **on:** June 12, 2019, 12:36:17 PM »

Hi all!

I have been speculation a bit and I think that the .223 may be the easiest and cheapest option for someone who whant to get into bullet shooting!

So here are a list of advantages!

1. There are plenty of cheap .22lr liners in lenghts up to 28" for some tens$

2. The twist rate is commonly 1-16 which is good for bullets in 30-40gr range.

3. The grove dia is commonly .223 (some are .222) and there are cheap ammo available and some bullets molds exist too and sizing bigger .224 bullets should not be a problem if needed.
(Link 250 bullets for 8$ https://northamericanarms.com/shop/parts/cbb3/)

4. Full bore porting in .22 is easy and possible in almost all production airguns!

5. The hammer energy need to open the valve should be possible to get easily in production airguns.

6. Most stock parts will work fine, as example the bolt probe and some magazines from .22 airguns.

7. The lower Fpe level needs a smaller plenum, which is common on cheap pcp guns and it also simplifies the construction in a regulated setup.

Start with airrifle with 200bar/3000 psi fill pressure or a cheap co2 rifle with a pcp conversion.

So for a airrifle in the 60-100fpe range, the .222/.223 cal whould be great choice for a minium of head scratching and weight reduction of you wallet

.

StevenG · « **Reply #1 on:** June 12, 2019, 12:53:03 PM »

Test your hypothesis and build one.

I think everyone would learn a lot.

rsterne · « **Reply #2 on:** June 12, 2019, 01:08:38 PM »

Jim, I have long been a proponent of .224 as the caliber of choice for long range airgunning where over 100 FPE is not needed.... The SD of a .224 cal bullet is lower than the same shape bullet in .257 cal, so less pressure is needed to achieve the same velocity.... Conversely, for the same pressure and SD, a .224 cal bullet is proportionately longer and slimmer, so can have a better BC.... Since wind drift is proportional to BC, what's not to like?....

I haven't played around with .22LR barrels, the only .224 cal I have used is the 14" TJ's barrel (and more recently I had Mike make me a 9" twist for long, heavy bullets)…. However, what you say makes sense, and most of the .224/.225 bullets can be sized down to .222/.223 without issue.... The venerable Lyman 225107 is a wonderful bullet, and NOE make them under the number 225-39 (formerly #225-37) and they have some moulds with a Lyman HP pin in one cavity, and it weighs 37 gr....

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=24_117

I am trying to convince Al that he need to make them in RG2 and RG4 moulds with (optional) HPs in all cavities.... They work perfectly in a 14-16" twist, and should even be OK in an 18".... All your points in your post are right on the money, IMO....

Bob

rkr · « **Reply #3 on:** June 12, 2019, 01:31:07 PM »

.222 Rem and .223 Rem barrels are also reasonably priced while providing faster twist rates needed for longer bullets. Here's my build, a 2003 BSA Hornet heavily modified with LW .222 Rem barrel. Makes 100 fpe with 47 grain 225420s when all wound up:

224-br by abbababbaccc, on Flickr

Jim Holmgren · « **Reply #4 on:** June 12, 2019, 02:35:05 PM »

Thanks for you opions!

I did this post as there seems to be a great interest in bullet-shooters these days and this is the easiest diy setup that I could come up with.

I'm actually doing a .224 build with 1-12"twist as I want to test bullets up to 55grains, I will post the results when it's done.

Beautiful rifle RKR!! Looks great in that benchrest stock!

KnifeMaker · « **Reply #5 on:** June 12, 2019, 10:50:08 PM »

That Rifle looks good Ric!

Tofazfou and I discussed and played with the idea of a .224 years ago. He and i went in different directions. While both went with the .257, I still want to go .22. Tof. Went with the 172 HmAir, and man, what a shooter it is!

I've long been a proponent of the North American Arms black powder .22 bullets. It's a deal that can't be beat!

Knife

JayV21 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 11, 2020, 09:56:28 AM »

This is an old topic but one that I’m sure lots of people are interested in. I’ve been interested in having a .223- .224 build and those slugs from northamericanarms are are indeed very well priced. Has anyone had anything feed back on a build that sings those slugs?

moorepower · « **Reply #7 on:** February 11, 2020, 01:50:47 PM »

My suggestion is start out with a PCP and not a conversion. There's enough entry level guns out there, that you will be many $$ ahead. It's also going to take a lot of power to push the 55 grain bullet that hard in a .22. Your probably looking at a single shot for a 55 grain bullet. You must make sure the magazine will handle the length of the bullet, 55 grain that is, if going .22. I know Bob has made some beast's out of a Discovery platform, and they have aftermarket parts to make them howl.

JayV21 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 11, 2020, 03:04:38 PM »

I have more PCPs right now than under wear. Was just wondering on a .223/.224 build if anyone has had luck with the Northamerican arms slugs. They are .224 and weigh 30 gr. I have shot them out of a steroid AR6 that Will Piatt tuned for me. Don’t remember how they did but with the 32 grain EunJins it’s a 70 FPE beast (and very accurate with the EunJins). I like to take things to the next level.

rsterne · « **Reply #9 on:** February 11, 2020, 03:09:22 PM »

It's not that difficult to get into the 80 FPE range in .224 cal, which means up to 40 gr. slugs.... and they are short enough to function in many mags.... If you make that next step up to the 47 gr. 225420 or heavier, the slugs are over 0.500" long, and you need more pressure and/or a longer barrel to get decent velocity with them.... It can certainly be done, but you need to think about the entire process and requirements before you commit to that next level of bullet weight and FPE....

Bob

KnifeMaker · « **Reply #10 on:** February 11, 2020, 03:10:39 PM »

One of the slug barrels in my Little Mini Raptor is a .223. It acutally mic's to .2213 and is deadly accurate.

I have some of the NNA bullets here, but have not used them in this build yet. so far, I hve been using slugs from two different molds from NOE that I decked to get te weight I wanted.

One is 29 gr. and one is 39 gr's. Both are accurate.

Odd thing happened in testing. I bought these barrels from Brownells. the are Liners that I pressed into heavy walled CF tubing.

One is 1 in 16, the other 1 in 20. The one in 16 is supposed to be the best for the slugs Iam using. Oddly enough, the 1 in 20 out shoots two different 1 in 16's regardless of the length or weight of the slug. Odd!

Odd indeed!!!

Knife

JayV21 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 11, 2020, 04:27:56 PM »

Maybe in the future a .223 Raptor will be added to the heard. From what it looks like, everyone and their grandmas are trying to unload their PCPs, most likely to collect enough bubble gum money for a Raptor. Hence, the lower than expected resale value of ones’ beloved AGs. Knife, have you tried the .224 Northamericanarms bullet in your .223 Raptor? If you’d like, I’ll send you some from my pile for you to try out. N/C. Just curious to see how they would do.

PakProtector · « **Reply #12 on:** February 11, 2020, 07:00:21 PM »

hey-Hey!!!,
The TJ 1 in 14" .224 barrel shoots the NAA swagings very well. I built a marauder around that barrel, and ran it well over 100 FPE with 46 gr cast from a 225353. What I discovered I want is a '353 with a gas check shank. The flat base does not leave cleanly, and thus accurately.

That rifle is now 30 cal, and it does 1000 fps with 50 gr JSB quite easily. The .224 was more fun to play with, as there were more issues to solve...

When casting .22 and other small stuff, you will need new sprue plates for Lyman molds; their hole is too big, and it deforms the back of the bullet when it cuts. More like bend and tear. I found some folk on CastBoolits who made me some new ones from 3/16" 4140 and man are they nice.
cheers,
Douglas

JayV21 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 11, 2020, 08:23:09 PM »

Thanks PakProtector. V

Quote from: PakProtector on February 11, 2020, 07:00:21 PM

hey-Hey!!!,
The TJ 1 in 14" .224 barrel shoots the NAA swagings very well. I built a marauder around that barrel, and ran it well over 100 FPE with 46 gr cast from a 225353. What I discovered I want is a '353 with a gas check shank. The flat base does not leave cleanly, and thus accurately.

That rifle is now 30 cal, and it does 1000 fps with 50 gr JSB quite easily. The .224 was more fun to play with, as there were more issues to solve...

When casting .22 and other small stuff, you will need new sprue plates for Lyman molds; their hole is too big, and it deforms the back of the bullet when it cuts. More like bend and tear. I found some folk on CastBoolits who made me some new ones from 3/16" 4140 and man are they nice.
cheers,
Douglas

ery

Thanks for the info. What internals did you use for that monstrous .224 MRod you had? (or still have as a .30).

Sbak · « **Reply #14 on:** February 11, 2020, 11:00:09 PM »

I made a .224 sentry. It has a 1:14 TJ's barrel, it shoots everything from 39gr to 62gr cast slugs very accurately. I haven't found a round it doesn't like yet, very forgiving barrel

KnifeMaker · « **Reply #15 on:** February 12, 2020, 04:14:59 AM »

Quote from: JayV21 on February 11, 2020, 04:27:56 PM

Maybe in the future a .223 Raptor will be added to the heard. From what it looks like, everyone and their grandmas are trying to unload their PCPs, most likely to collect enough bubble gum money for a Raptor. Hence, the lower than expected resale value of ones’ beloved AGs. Knife, have you tried the .224 Northamericanarms bullet in your .223 Raptor? If you’d like, I’ll send you some from my pile for you to try out. N/C. Just curious to see how they would do.

I appreciate it! I do have some on hand. If it will ever stop poring down rain, I will test them in this new barrel.

rkr · « **Reply #16 on:** February 12, 2020, 08:41:21 AM »

To make an easy .224 bullet shooter conversion, I would suggest starting with a Winchester 70/35. It can make the power needed and magazines are long enough for almost all cast bullets. It also has airtube that matches medium size bottles. It's just a matter of rebarreling, new bullet probe + sleeving the magazine.

Sbak · « **Reply #17 on:** February 12, 2020, 09:37:05 AM »

If I were to do it again I would start with a M10, its pretty much ready to go with all the hammer energy you'll need and still a pretty cheap starter gun

rkr · « **Reply #18 on:** February 12, 2020, 10:13:57 AM »

Quote from: Sbak on February 12, 2020, 09:37:05 AM

If I were to do it again I would start with a M10, its pretty much ready to go with all the hammer energy you'll need and still a pretty cheap starter gun

Can you fit .52" bullets in the magazine? http://arsenalmolds.com/bullet-molds?product_id=165

JayV21 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 12, 2020, 10:16:18 AM »

Quote from: Sbak on February 12, 2020, 09:37:05 AM

If I were to do it again I would start with a M10, its pretty much ready to go with all the hammer energy you'll need and still a pretty cheap starter gun

I remember when MRod Air had the M10s for dirt cheap once upon a time. To this day I still kick myself in the butt for not pulling the trigger. Duy here in the GRT currently has one of my RSII in .25, for a .257 conversion. Will start a post once I get it back. Going to finally pull the trigger this week, or maybe next, to start thinning the heard. Will start with a Travis tuned Kral Puncher breaker, maybe some Hatsans. Once the heard thins out, then the wife won't notice new additions

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.222/223 is the best caliber for bullet shooters on a budget!

Author Topic: .222/223 is the best caliber for bullet shooters on a budget! (Read 9587 times))