Obsolete Cartridge Considerations.

[AZZA'S HJ47]

Considering purchasing a rifle in a obsolete calibre projectiles are available in every gun shop and very affordable. Brass however is still produced but expensive and from what ive heard can be scarce at times.

Anybody on here shoot "forgotten" cartridges care to add there 2 cents.

For the record the rifle is a 222 Rem Mag im considering. The other consideration is to always rebarrel to a 204 ruger.

My grandfather had a 222 rem mag and loved it obviously we have progressed sine then however i do like "diffrent" things that turn the odd head

Thanks in advance gents

[AusTac]

Nothings obsolete here mate, there's a few caliber connoisseur's among us, some guys i know have all kinds of weird wildcat calibers, show us what you got and somewhere someone will have an idea on what you need and how to do it

[No1Mk3]

G'day AZZA'S HJ47,
I have a number of obsolete cartridges I play with, but most are pre-1900 military. From the few post 1900 sporting cartridges I have played with it has always been a bit of a costly exercise, suited mainly to fun/interesting shooting than actual "use". Cases are always the main issue, so I would suggest you buy a copy of Donnelly's Manual of Cartridge Conversions to go with your copy of Barnes, and plan what you want. The 222 Rem Mag as good a choice as any, brass can be made from 223 Rem or found at gunshows, but I would pull the pills and anneal the cases then reload them, with plenty of load data around. Another one would be the 22 Savage Hi-Power, a neat little number which can be made from 30-30 cases, and has the added cachet of having been taken to Africa to hunt lions! Cheers.

[Tripod]

You can still buy 222 Rem mag brass so I would hardly call it an obsolete calibre. The one I have just finished making brass for is the 25-20 Single Shot which is a completely different cartridge to the 25-20 Winchester and which required me to make a major set of forming dies. I also make a lot of other old/obsolete cases and a lot of my wildcats are very complicated like my 22-44. If you have the skill set and enjoy frustrating and tedious jobs then it is very rewarding, If not get the barrel set back and chambered to 223.

[Tripod]

25-20 Winchester on the left, 25-20 Single Shot centre and a 223 on the right.

[bigpete]

I want to build a 70/150 one day......

[marksman]

you could use the same barrel getting it rechambered to 222 or 223
you could also make 222mag cases from 204 ruger very easy just full length size in a 222mag die

[Tripod]

I just realised where you are, Pop into Rebel as they have 222mag brass in stock.

[Bridgy]

Not really forgotten, more like faded away, but I'll be picking up a .243WSSM very soon. However I've since seen a number of Mausers for sale and am now tempted by them...

[sungazer]

The 243 is known as a barrel burner. That .243 wssm sounds like a wild fire. life must be short.

[marksman]

when the barrel burns out on the 243 wssm best thing to do is turn it into a 270 wssm

[Bridgy]

The 243 is known as a barrel burner. That .243 wssm sounds like a wild fire. life must be short.

It's interesting, I've heard some people have torched them quickly, and I've heard Americans with the WSSM uppers on AR-15s get over 7000 rounds through them before even considering binning them. I think proper care is important with them, like not getting it too hot/shooting too rapidly, but if I keep it, it'll be interesting to see the life I get out of it.

Rebarreling in something easier to get out sounds way better anyway!

[straightshooter]

Considering purchasing a rifle in a obsolete calibre projectiles are available in every gun shop and very affordable. Brass however is still produced but expensive and from what ive heard can be scarce at times.

Anybody on here shoot "forgotten" cartridges care to add there 2 cents.

For the record the rifle is a 222 Rem Mag im considering. The other consideration is to always rebarrel to a 204 ruger.

My grandfather had a 222 rem mag and loved it obviously we have progressed sine then however i do like "diffrent" things that turn the odd head

Thanks in advance gents

Where there is a will there is a way.
The simplest and cheapest solution is to use 223 brass so you will have to be a handloader.
The headspace datum on a 223 is about 29 thou less than a 222 rem mag so a simple expedient would be to fireform 223 brass to your chamber by by using starting loads and having the projectile jammed into the lands to force the case against the boltface. Only drawback will be a slightly shorter neck.
Alternatively you can have a gunsmith set back your barrel and rechamber to 223. Probably a setback of only 1 thread will be required. The drawback is a loss of originality, especially if the rifle is from a desirable maker.
Many of the other suggestions aren't worth considering unless you have plenty of money to throw at that rifle.

[deanp100]

I searched far and wide to eventually find an original Brno 222 mag. Don't you dare rechamber to 223. Cases are always available, buy a couple of hundred and go your hardest. 100 cases should last a long time.

[AZZA'S HJ47]

I searched far and wide to eventually find an original Brno 222 mag. Don't you dare rechamber to 223. Cases are always available, buy a couple of hundred and go your hardest. 100 cases should last a long time.

I wouldn't mate if anything 222 re mag Ackley improved now theres none something you dont see every day
Id imagine it would have simler ballistics compared to a 22 nosler

[COLLECTOR 1]

A Brno in 222mag... you have my attention... never seen or heard of one.... any chance of a photo of the rare beast.....

Coll

[straightshooter]

I wouldn't mate if anything 222 re mag Ackley improved now theres none something you dont see every day
Id imagine it would have simler ballistics compared to a 22 nosler

Ackley improved cartridges are vastly over rated and in my opinion are a wasted effort.
They were developed in the 1950's when chronographs were very rare and people were far more inclined to believe what gun guru's told them.
The reality is that years later when enthusiasts had access to chronographs and performed proper before and after tests they were severely disappointed when their improved cartridges delivered almost nothing over their standard cartridge unless pressures were pushed up to insane levels.
With each new generation of gun enthusiasts the 'something for almost nothing' myth gets reborn.
Sure, you still occasionally see people touting the benefits of an AI chambering, but as is often the case they just happen to have one they are trying to sell.

[RoginaJack]

222 rem Mag; it's a fantastic and still a very potent performer on small game.
I thought the 204 was just a fancy name for the 222 Rem. mag.
A fellow fox shooter had a Mannlicher Rifle in 222mag; shoot flies of pigs at 300yds!

[AZZA'S HJ47]

222 rem Mag; it's a fantastic and still a very potent performer on small game.
I thought the 204 was just a fancy name for the 222 Rem. mag.
A fellow fox shooter had a Mannlicher Rifle in 222mag; shoot flies of pigs at 300yds!

Ideally id use it for hunting trips as opposed to a range gun i always take two just for the sake of being light weight and accurate not that my current 223 isnt accurate it weighs a tone so not really set us for scrub work

[pedro4977]

I have a .222 rem mag sako l461 with a 26" tobler barrel. It is getting over 3550 fps with win748 and 50g pills but that is maximum, but I load down a bit from that. Brass is still fairly easy to find, sako and rem. Best group last time I shot at the range was .292 5 shots. It is a better cartridge than the .223 with a bit more capacity and a longer neck, you won't be disappointed with this old timer, you just have to have fun reloading and experimenting to get the best out of it.

[Blr243]

A few months ago at night in a paddock I ran into a full time shooter useing a 222rem mag I think he said it was a sako 85 I was surprised to see him useing something that I thought was bordering on old/ obsolete. But then I saw him shoot , and he explained why he uses it instead of something else both him and the rifle were amazing and had me feeling like I need to go back to school ....a few times I mentioned that I will just hold the spotlight and he should do the shooting. He was the best I had ever seen. I didn’t want to have a go for fear of embarrassing myself

[AZZA'S HJ47]

Still in the consideration pile i love my 222 and could only imaging that the 222 rem mag would just be a more beefed up 222 with a longer neck for better concentricity than a 223. I have a large work bonus comming my way it may be the next one for my collection.

[deanp100]

A Brno in 222mag... you have my attention... never seen or heard of one.... any chance of a photo of the rare beast.....

Coll

Hi Collector. I only just noticed this post about some photos. Are you still around, I’ll get some if you’re keen.?
Cheers
Deano

[bigrich]

Still in the consideration pile i love my 222 and could only imaging that the 222 rem mag would just be a more beefed up 222 with a longer neck for better concentricity than a 223. I have a large work bonus comming my way it may be the next one for my collection.

i agree with you azza , i like the idea of the long neck being a accuracy advantage with 222 , 222 mag would be a better thing than 223 i think as well

as far as obsolete cartridges, i knew a fella who had a 1903 oberndorf made turk mauser years ago ( this one wasn't remarked ankara on the receiver as most are ) and it was re chambered from 8x57 to 8mm rem mag ! it had to be loaded as a single shot cause the rounds were way too long for the magazine ! 8mm rem mag and 358 norma are interesting old school power houses