MtnMan wrote:I have been playing with a reduced load in my .222rem which consists of 20gr of AR2206H (H4895 in American speak) behind a 40gr JHP used in .22wmr ammo, for 2550fps. I bought 250 of these bullets loose.
Groups nicely, with a 3 shot group of about 3/4" at about 80m but it's 4" left of where my standard full power load shoots. Full power load is 22.8gr of AR2206H behind the Sierra #1330 50gr soft point for 2950fps.
Any reason these would shoot so far left? Just barrel harmonics? it can be accounted for but it would be nice if it shot the same windage.
animalpest wrote:The 40gr bullet from the .22mag will hold up well at that speed. Many, many shooters used them in .22 Hornets and they worked well (including for me).
It really isn't unusual for different bullets and different loads to shoot to a different point of impact and it can be quite marked. Hence we always resight rifles when any ammo components change.
MtnMan wrote:ADI data suggests 23gr of AR2208 as a starting load. I'm going to try that and see what happens. I'm starting to think that chasing a reduced load is an act in futility. Took my a while to realize that these .22wmr bullets are about the only thing that will expand at the lower velocity. But now find that POI is so different. If it was just elevation it wouldn't bother me.
I'll try a few starting loads and work up and see if the windage error changes. I have some win748 powder to try too.
MtnMan wrote:Ok, I tried 23gr of AR2208 and the group was great and shot 2" left at 100m. 24gr the group opened up.
24.5gr of Win748 had one flyer and also shot about the same to the left.
will try 23.5gr of AR2206H next. That's almost as much as what will fit in the case. Listed max is 25gr but there is no way that will fit in the case.
Might just be that these .22mag bullets shot to the left for whatever reason.
yet to do the same with the speer 46gr flat nose I have. I'm trying to find a velocity high enough to get them to be more expansive. at the moment at 2550fps they are lacking. No 'bang flop' effect.
Think I'm abandoning the idea of reduced loads. The only bullet I've found that will expand at reduced load velocity are the .22mag JHP's but they are hard to get (once this supply I have runs out I expect to never be able to get them again) and shoot to the left.
MtnMan wrote:Getting pass thrus on foxes with exit no bigger than my little finger with the 46gr FN.
MtnMan wrote:Getting pass thrus on foxes with exit no bigger than my little finger with the 46gr FN.
Oldbloke wrote:MtnMan wrote:Getting pass thrus on foxes with exit no bigger than my little finger with the 46gr FN.
Is that front to rear?
Bang flops?
Barrel length in inches pls ?
bladeracer wrote:MtnMan wrote:Getting pass thrus on foxes with exit no bigger than my little finger with the 46gr FN.
That's not really unexpected for reduced loads, but I wouldn't consider a 46gn bullet at 2550fps to be "reduced" at all. I have these bullets but have never tried them on live targets. It sounds like they're acting much like subsonic .22LR, in which case brain shots only would be the goal. Are these results at close-range? They have atrocious BC so even launched at 2550fps they're only doing 1650fps at 100m, which is probably about their limit for deformation. I would be surprised if they'll deform much further than maybe 100m or so max.
The website does say controlled expansion rather than explosive to minimise pelt damage so perhaps they do have a very hard jacket?
https://www.speer.com/bullets/rifle_bullets/varmint_soft_point_bullet/19-1024.html
MtnMan wrote:That velocity is actually bang on a 218 Bee factory load for which this bullet is actually made. Flat nose for tubular magazine lever actions popular in 218 bee chamberings. It's the ADI data starting load, so yes, not exactly reduced.
getting pass thru inside 50m. minimal expansion unless major bone is hit.