Does anyone have a 223 load that mimics a 22 WMR? I looked at the price of 22 mag and thought I could reload an equivalent cheaper if I tried. I was thinking something with a 50-55 grains soft point at 1500-1700 fps. It will probably be faster than the same weight in a 22 mag, but I was just thinking about getting close. This was inspired by my moms neighbor hunting groundhogs with a 22 mag lever action. The area makes a full power 223 a little much.
22 Magnum Clone in 223
- Thread starter DMW1116
- Start date
I’ve been eyeing a bolt action 223 and this seems like something I’d try if I got one. I think I could load it for a shade less than 22 mag with a 55 grain soft point. There is a local supply of 45 grain 0.224 hollow points meant for 218 Bee also. Those seem like a good option too.
2ndtimer
Member
Seasonal Request, Blue Dot & 223 Loads
with varminting season getting here, I get the usual Blue Dot 223 requests start rolling in again.. so from previous years...here ya all go again for those that desire it... have fun Per requests: This is for academic reference only and no claims are made... Disclaimer: use at your own...
I tried some of the listed Blue Dot loads in my Weatherby Varmint 22” barrel and settled on 8 gr for around 2100 fps with the 40 gr Sierra HP. YMMV
41 Mag
Member
So being home from work one year from knee surgery and with time on my hands snd squirrels in my attic, I came up with something that worked for me.
This chambers in my 14" 223AI Contender. Just using a Mag primer, it does the job to about 30ft. It's just a 22cal pellet. I played with the neck sizing so that I could just shove it in the outer part of the neck but it would stop before going all the way inside. Sorta like using an M die.
Thought was, if the primer alone wasn't enough, a touch of Bullseye would help it along. Didn't need it.
This chambers in my 14" 223AI Contender. Just using a Mag primer, it does the job to about 30ft. It's just a 22cal pellet. I played with the neck sizing so that I could just shove it in the outer part of the neck but it would stop before going all the way inside. Sorta like using an M die.
Thought was, if the primer alone wasn't enough, a touch of Bullseye would help it along. Didn't need it.
Hooda Thunkit
Member
I've been planning to do something similar but to 22 Hornet velocity with a soft point jacketed.
I have a plague of various varmints around here trying to eat livestock. Nothing larger than coyote size, so my idea is something around 45 grains at maybe 2000 fps max. I even found some bullets claimed to expand reliably at that speed.
If I lower the velocity range I may try some cast.
I have a plague of various varmints around here trying to eat livestock. Nothing larger than coyote size, so my idea is something around 45 grains at maybe 2000 fps max. I even found some bullets claimed to expand reliably at that speed.
If I lower the velocity range I may try some cast.
NuclearMeltdown
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I think the reduced H4895 is the way to go here. I did this once (maybe 16 grains or so?) and it was much quieter than full power loads. Hit about a foot lower at 100 yards too. I think I used Speer 50 grain HPs or 55 grain SPs. Not sure what velocity was, but it might have been a little higher than what you want like BBarn said. Seemed about like what I'd imagine a .22 Hornet to be.
I posted in the trading post a box of 55 grain Hornady soft points, but I have about half a box already open. I tried a load with Tactical Rifle that will cycle my 20” A4 with just 17.5 grains of powder pushing a 55 grain FMJ. Since Hornady lumps bullets with the same weight into the same charge ranges, I bet this would work with the soft points too. It would be quite a bit spicier than 22 mag, but it would also run in my A4 copy.
In my files, somewhere, is an article from Handloader magazine that has cast and cheap jacketed bullet loads the writer developed during the rim fire drought a few years back. If I can locate it I will share.
I bought, as a result, both a Lyman single cavity and a Lee eight cavity mould for gas check 22 bullets and duplicated several of these loads. 22 long rifle, 22 mag, and 22 Hornet velocities were easy to produce in my 223. I used a Contender carbine and a Savage 11. Accuracy was pretty good.
I bought, as a result, both a Lyman single cavity and a Lee eight cavity mould for gas check 22 bullets and duplicated several of these loads. 22 long rifle, 22 mag, and 22 Hornet velocities were easy to produce in my 223. I used a Contender carbine and a Savage 11. Accuracy was pretty good.
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Yes shooters world tactical rifle load does work. I use hornady 55sp. Had fun with tactical rifle and 7.62x39 in the same way
oncewaslost
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- Mar 6, 2006
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- 63
To Bee or 223, Is that the question?
(first printed in Varmint Hunter Magazine October 1995)
By James Calhoon
(first printed in Varmint Hunter Magazine October 1995)
By James Calhoon
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I've heard that claimed many times but the math never seems to add up. Usually folks looking at the absolute cheapest .223 bullets they can find, which are usually FMJ and only good for paper or plinking and comparing them to whatever .22Mag ammo they saw in a big box store. I ordered 500rds of .22Mag a year ago and it was $10/box of 50rds. How much more does the .223 rifle cost than a .22Mag? How long will $50 worth of .22Mag ammo last? Pays to look at the whole picture. Get a .22Mag if you want one. Get a .223 if you want one. Just don't get a .223 to save money over .22Mag.
CoalCrackerAl
Member
I load 223 light loads with shotgun powders. Right now with green dot. I have a lot of it on hand. Lymans cast 3rd has loads for it.
I don’t remember the edition but the Lyman Cast Bullet Manual I bought a couple of years ago has at least Red Dot.
As far as cost, I’m comparing the local pricing for local pricing. 22 Mag LRN was $15/50. I can definitely beat that, but not by much. If one looks at premium bullets, the game changes but I’m not sure by how much.
As far as cost, I’m comparing the local pricing for local pricing. 22 Mag LRN was $15/50. I can definitely beat that, but not by much. If one looks at premium bullets, the game changes but I’m not sure by how much.
CoalCrackerAl
Member
The 4th cast don't have a lot of the dot loads listed. They should have listed them. Along with the new powders they put in.
GeoDudeFlorida
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This probably doesn’t help but I’ll put it out there anyway: when I was looking for a central fire, cheap to reload .22WMR replacement I bought a .22RemJet barrel for my Contender. The cases are made from .357Mags and the projectiles are .222” jacketed or pretty much anything you would load in a .222Rem - which I also loaded at the time - in .223” cast. I have seen single shot H&R and NEF rifles rechambered to .22RJ and the few I got to try were real gems. It’s an obsolete round which just makes it better IMO.
CoalCrackerAl
Member
I just checked the 3rd and 4th have green and red dot listed. You have to take consideration of jacketed will be a little slower than cast. I looked at notes. 8 grains of green dot i was running an average of 1850 FPS. From my Savage axis.
Quite a while back, around 1016, I loaded some Beartooth Bullets cast 45 gr. RN over some WC 820 in .223 brass (WC 820 is close to AA9 and 10% below H1100). Didn't have a chrony at the time but a Castboolits member, beagle, used 10-13 gr for 22 Magnum equivalents
Necessary_Nutrient
Member
Since you can get 22 WMR at about 26 cpr right now (target sports has Federal 50 grain in stock for that, Armscor is even cheaper), it looks like you're going to spend nearly that on components. I don't see it making any sense
I had two 22 Magnum handguns back then, but no 22 Magnum long guns (Contender barrels were not in my budget at that time), but I did have a Handi-Rifle in .223. Also I like reloading and experimenting. I was able to assemble handloads that were cheaper than reloading .223. A bit quieter and very accurate out to about 50 yards. Sometimes my loading doesn't need to make any sense, as my reloading education/experience is often greatly improved. Last reason is I like reloading and I'll often try something just because I wanna...
denton
Member
CCI 450 primer, 7.5 grains AA#5, 55 grain bullet, 1800 FPS.
