22 Wildcat

Southpaw · Member Joined: Sep 12, 2005 Posts: 51 Location: Saskatoon

I just whant to know if anyone has any info on a 22-06 round. A gunsmith has a Savage rifle that is wellused and cheep. It is a 270. win, I have an 06 so I thought I might rebarrel it to a .22 cal for coyote. An -06 base case seems logical here, but I can't find any info on one. I sure it has been done before, as new bore sizes have to be invented for any more -06 rounds to be made.

Handloader · Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 8:04 pm Post subject: Re: 22 Wildcat

Even with today's slower powders such a cartridge would be relatively ineffective when compared with other 22 caliber wildcats. There will probably be others that comment similarly to your proposed chambering.
There is a silver lining, however, to such a cartridge.

Ken Howell (former editor of "Handloader" and "Rifle" magazines) developed a series of cartridges based on the 06 case. His 22 Howell uses the 06 case, however, with some modifications. Ken's operational theory was that a larger capacity case at moderate pressures could develop the same velocities of smaller cases using higher pressure while extending barrel life. In fact, it works.

My Ruger No1 in 22 Howell is loaded to 22.250 max velocities but at far less pressure. The 55gr Noslers leave the 26" barrel at 3,733 fps. Now, with over 3,000 rounds through the barrel, there is far less erosion of the throat than a comparable 22.250 or 220 Swift. Accuracy is sub MOA. It is an easy wildcat regarding case forming, although, I start with 25-06 brass and neck turn after forming.

Perhaps, an easier conversion would be to 22 Middlestead, basically, the 243 necked down to 224.

There is a website that delves into the Howell series with load data and sources for reamers. Just put "Howell Cartridges" on a search engine and enjoy.

SwampFox · Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:02 am Post subject: Re: 22 Wildcat

Southpaw,
You might also take a look at the Hawk series of cartridges.

www.z-hat.com/HawkCartridges.htm

I would imagine that the 224 version of all the 06 cats is pretty much the same, regardless of who makes it.

The Middlestead will give you all you can use in a 22 centerfire and more.
Ed

Southpaw · Member Joined: Sep 12, 2005 Posts: 51 Location: Saskatoon

There is a smith here that makes Middlestead rifles, I've seen one on a xb-100 action, It rocked. One holeing at 100 yards and the guy was only fire forming cases. He was bouncing. I thought I would havre trouble with a short round in a long action, sloppy feeding with all that play.

SwampFox · Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:35 pm Post subject: Re: 22 Wildcat

Southpaw,
No problem, actually that is what you want for long bullets is a long action, so they can breathe.... Smile

By the by, there is a Middlestead finish reamer on ebay, right now at 76.00 with a floating pilot. The reamer should retail new at about 150.00
Ed

TomTalker · Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 7:09 am Post subject: Re: 22 Wildcat

I have just finished setting up a rifle very simular to the /06. It's a Turk mauser witha heavy Remington drop off barrel that I turnrd back the threads and rechambered in 22/284. Purty much the same powder capacity as the /06 case. I have had velocities @ 4600 fps but I found best accuracy @ 3900 with 55VMax out of a 23" barrel. Pressure signs begin @ 56gr of IMR 4350. The 3900fps load is 53gr of the same powder. Hopefully the Howell idea of lower pressure will sufice and that barrel will last.
I intended to build a Middlestead on this action but the reamer was nowhere to be found when I went to my friends shop to cut the chamber. Billy said "how about trying this one" Laughing

. Had to do it. Sometimes I wonder if Billy hid that other reamer

SwampFox · Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 12:25 pm Post subject: Re: 22 Wildcat

Hey Tom,
You might take a look here for some load ideas:

www.reloadersnest.com/...0Matchking

Then if you would post your load data back to this site as I note we are short of 22-284 loads.

That fella has a 1-7 or 1-8 twist barrel to be running Sierra 80s.
Ed

TomTalker · Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 3:23 pm Post subject: Re: 22 Wildcat

Just waiting for a skif of snow and I'll ttry 'er out on a coyote. The rifle is short and quick pointing. Should ought to make for a calling rifle from heck Cool

. Some feeding problems from that stout straight walled cartridge in the Turk but she gives Swift or better velocities with way less barrel. The barrel was a .22/250 originaly so twist is most likely 1/12. Zero @ 100 she is 9" low at 330yrds.. Coyotes that want to hang up at the other end of the field BEWARE Cool

I started out loading 55 gr RL22 with the same bullets but the short barrel just couldn't get it all to burn. I may even try some faster powders like Varget down the road to see if I can get a bit more before acuracy falls off but what the heck the way she's working now I might just leave well enough alone. If I shoot it just at coyotes it will likely last a long time where as I get adventurous the barrel will likely not hold up/tt

SwampFox · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:15 am Post subject: Re: 22 Wildcat

Hey Tom,
I decided to run your figures on one of my ballastics tables. If I ran the figures correctly, based on 55 gr .224 with BC of .250 at 3900, a zero of 1.25 inches high at 100 meters will give you impact within 1 inch out to 250 meters. The impact at 300 meters would be 1.5 inches low. The figures are based on a 1.5 inch scope height, center optic to center bore.

In other words, out to 300, you would have a "hold on" sight setting for a yote chest.
Ed

TomTalker · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 7:06 am Post subject: Re: 22 Wildcat

Yup! In a heap of trouble aint they Very Happy

Here's the numbers run online here
www.huntingnut.com/ind...lankOnline
When you get out that far you realy should be thinking twice anyway. Wind effect for one and also range gets harder to judge correctly the farther out it gets. Dips and knolls add to the confusion and there's unseen brush etc. Good rest off of the bipod or sticks is a must
How many times have we seen the question asked on forums as to the best sudgestion for a 400yrd coyote rifle. The question is nearly always asked by a novice My sudgestion is that there aint no such thing! However there are a few and a very few 400yrd coyote rifle shooters. All the flat trajectory and high end scopes will not miraculously knock those coyotes over at that range. I then use the "Football Scenerio"
The football is roughly the same size as the vitals on a coyote. Take that football out to 400yrds and practice untill you can hit it everytime. Not that hard for most of us varmint guys. Now take that football and get it going at 15mph over uneven ground in a typicaly high winter wind with brush and grass shoots. Hmm is that 400 or is 450. Even from a super flat shooter your bullet can drop another 5 inches out there and that's enough for a miss or worse yet a wounded coyote out where it's even harder to wack him with another one to put him down. Best to get closer to 'em
Hopefully they get it Very Happy

. Sure is nice to be able to remove as much margin of error as we can though

SwampFox · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:17 am Post subject: Re: 22 Wildcat

Yes,
If someone wants a Middlestead and has a 22-284, I would think he probably knows which end goes bang... Very Happy

I like shooting crows at distance. There is a 50 yard incriment click adjustment list taped to the bell, on all of my distance rifles. The Nikon 800 then tells the tale.
Ed