.22LR - Other Options for the rifle handloader

[SwaneeSR]

I am looking for a replacement caliber for .22lr

Something that can be used on bunnies and squirrels and not scare close neighbors. I am not in city limits, center fire caliber that I can hand load.

I am sure there are threads discussing options but apparently I am too lame to enter the correct search terms.

Swanee

 

[P.B.Walsh]

Subsonic .223 perhaps? I'm sure there is some load using 77+ grain bullets and a drop of Red-Dot.

T'was my first thought.

What is wrong with a .22lr, unless you're just wanting to have fun reloading, in which case I completely understand.

 

[Coyote3855]

I know this is not in direct response to your request for a reloadable center fire, but have you considered a quality air rifle for your particular situation?

 

[CoalTrain49]

http://www.cci-ammunition.com/products/detail.aspx?use=1&loadNo=0026

We used to call these caps. I'm not sure what the proper name is. They are pretty quiet compared to a LR because they are subsonic. They won't work in some 22 rifles.

I don't know of any centerfire round that isn't going to make a lot of noise.

 

[Berger.Fan222]

Do a google search for light .223 loads with Blue Dot.

You'll find that 4-12 grains of Blue Dot work well in .223 Rem with 40-50 grain bullets. Its been a few years, but if I recall correctly 12 grains give near 2500 fps, while 4 grains gives closer to 1300 fps. The 40 grain VMAX was my favorite bullet for these loads: very accurate and quiet.

 

[Art Eatman]

A long barreled bolt-action .22 with Shorts is fairly quiet; even quieter with CB Caps. I've killed squirrels with the CB Caps out to around 15 yards; head shots.

 

[Plastikosmd]

6gr of unique in my 223 works well for me (not semiauto)

 

[Onward Allusion]

Personally, I'd go with something in 38/357. 38 for the critters and 357 to reach out a bit further.

 

[SwaneeSR]

Subsonic .223 perhaps? I'm sure there is some load using 77+ grain bullets and a drop of Red-Dot.

T'was my first thought.

What is wrong with a .22lr, unless you're just wanting to have fun reloading, in which case I completely understand. í*½í±

Walsh - nothing wrong with .22lr except in these parts - it is just not available for normal prices. It just does not stay on the shelves around here. I have been in conservation mode now for a long time. I actually have not seen any for so long. I check Walmarts and my local Fleet Farm every week. I was allowed to purchase two boxes at my local Fleet Farm about six months ago.

Handloading something would be fun and allow me to control my own destiny.

Swanee

 

[SwaneeSR]

I would think .38 or .223 would be good options. Whatever it would be should be something that makes it out of the barrel and doesn't send the neighbors running for cover.


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[SwaneeSR]

I have nothing against air rifles. I really have not looked at them for years. The good ones must price out like a small rifle. I would like to be able to take up to wood chuck size game and not let them get to the wood pile where they decompose and make a stink.


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[chicharrones]

Well, if you are entertaining the idea of shooting a .22 with slower and quieter ammo, the CCI Quiets out of a 24" barrel are about as quiet as most .22 shorts I've tried. Hardly louder than an 800 fps air rifle going off.

Plus at .22LR overall length, the Quiets put the bullet right up to the rifling in a chamber.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-HFmYKzhx8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B--ZzuG3FF8

EDIT to add, I usually have to shop online for specific .22 ammo.

 

[CraigC]

You can easily assemble quiet pop gun loads in the .25-20, .32-20, .32H&R or .38Spl. Small doses of fast powder like Bullseye.

 

[chicharrones]

Handloading something would be fun and allow me to control my own destiny.

Swanee

The day I get into reloading, I want to try some mouse fart loads in one of my centerfire bolt guns.

What centerfire guns do you already have?

 

[Oldman11]

The .22 hornet comes to mind as a cheap one to reload,maybe even the .22 tcm also. And maybe the .17 hornet .

 

[PO2Hammer]

FWIW .22 ammo is getting a lot more plentiful down here in se-MN. Plenty of SK target ammo for $50/500, still cheaper than handloading (unless you cast your own).

I load quiet .357 loads for my Handi rifle (22" single shot). 125 grain coated cast RN and a minimum charge of Bullseye (or Trail Boss, Unique, or other fast flake powders). No leading, low noise, good accuracy out to 50 yards, plus coated handgun bullets are cheap and plentiful.

Another good one was my old .45 Colt carbine with .454" round balls seated deep in the case and a light charge. That was even quieter than the .357 carbine and very accurate. Probably only about 500 fps.

I think the larger bore volume of handgun caliber rifles allows the pressure to drop more before the bullet exits compared to reduced rifle caliber loads. You do give up range, but that can be a good thing sometimes.

I'm selling my .357/30-30/.410 Handi and looking at replacing it with the Ruger 77/357 for a quiet repeater.

 

[SwaneeSR]

The day I get into reloading, I want to try some mouse fart loads in one of my centerfire bolt guns.



What centerfire guns do you already have?

I have a bolt action Stevens in .30-30 and a Winchester 94 in 30-30. Otherwise several .22 cal rifles and .30-06 and 6.5mmX55 SE.


I would think the .30-30 Stevens model 325B might be a little too powerful?

 

[PO2Hammer]

5 grains of Trail Boss under a 100 grain LFP or 6 grains under a 115 LRN (.30 carbine bullet) are good plinker loads in 30-30, right around 1100 fps.
Other powders like Unique or Red Dot would work well also.

 

[ugaarguy]

There is the Hammond Game Getter that uses offset .22 rimfire nailgun blanks in a centerfire adapter cartridge to push a swaged buckshot pellet -- http://www3.telus.net/gamegetter/index.html . If you can get nailgun blanks at a home improvement store that might be a good option.

 

[db_tanker]

as was mentioned...22 Hornet.

I love mine.


of course you can get a 223 and load it with various powders...even Trail Boss....found a load of 10 gr using a 40 gr blitzking knocking out around 2200 fps. I'd like to try those loads in my 18" contender barrel.

 

[Dr T]

I wonder: Has anyone ever put together a rifle for the .25 Auto. It is about as close to a 22 LR as you can get.

I only mention it since the first thing that came to my tiny mind was the .22 Hornet in a Savage Model 25's (see http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/25LV) or one of those cute (and expensive) little Brown 97D single shots (see http://www.eabco.com/Brown97DRifle.htm)/

 

[Pokajabba]

Marlin 1894CB in .32 H&R Magnum. Load to .32 S&W Long specs and enjoy.

 

[Dan Forrester]

My first question is what kind of a rifle are you planning on? If its something like a single shot like a TC you can go with a custom barrel option.

If this is the case I would look at getting a barrel chambered in .32 S&W. Its like a big center fire .22 short. From my understanding .32 rimfire was used extensively for small game hunting prior to WWII. .32 S&W is like a reloadable version of this. You would be looking at 85 grains somewhere around 700 FPS. I would guess that out of a 20" barrel it would sound quieter than most high power pellet guns.

Other options would be .32 S&W long for more power. .32 ACP since it is semi rimmed and brass and projectiles should be extremely common. Or probably the most practical ;but way over powered for rabbits and squirrel would be the .38 special.

Dan

 

[Grunt]

Back in 2013 when .22 ammo was really hard to get, I didn't want to waste my stash of .22 ammo so I found myself shooting my Rossi 1892 in .38/.357 chambering. Since I cast my own 160 grain lead bullets I was making from free wheel weights, I penciled it out and found that it was cheaper to shoot .38 Special reloads than it was to be new replacement .22 ammo at that time!

 

[SwaneeSR]

5 grains of Trail Boss under a 100 grain LFP or 6 grains under a 115 LRN (.30 carbine bullet) are good plinker loads in 30-30, right around 1100 fps.

Other powders like Unique or Red Dot would work well also.

To start with, I will work up some low power rounds for my old Stevens 325b bolt gun in .30-30. I will look for some lighter bullets, should not be too hard to find.

As to the gun type, bolt action or a lever gun best. However, seems like a single shot handy rifle would be easiest to locate in .38/.357 and in the past, the price was right.

I am not sure the availability of the HR in smaller calibers. Did I see a while ago the Handi rifle was discontinued? I will look into this. I would think something in the .222 to .25 caliber range would be ideal.


Thank you for all the comments. I am looking for something in the opposite direction from the new 6.5mm Weatherby cartridge.