Number 1 consideration in my book would be twist rate. With high twist rates like 1:14 or 1:12 you can go light bullet weights of 50grn or less while 1:8 or 1:7 are too fast for such a light bullet and 55grn is about the lowest you can go.
True. Spin can definitely unravel a jacket. My particular .22-243 is a 1-14 twist....24" barrel. That combination is probably limited on the other end. 55's are max....maybe a 62gr short design if I'm lucky. 35's might be fun....a scorching laser definitely above 4000 fps.
One such load from documented at AccurateLoading.com is a 35gr Vmax over 46gr of VVN 140 that shot a .168" 100yd. five shot group at a velocity of 4748 fps! So maybe Hornady Vmax's are a good choice! I seriously doubt my rifle will duplicate that.....theirs was built on a Hall BR action, a Hart fluted stainless #6 barrel, and a tight necked chamber. Mine? Don't even know who made it with what....but it sure ain't fluted stainless! I'm just hoping the barrel's not already shot out.
Hopefully I'll let you all know the earth to TFL reality in a week or two.
skizzims: your 1-7 twist may never shoot little pills well, but your best chance may be Barnes all copper bullets.....why? Because they are longer taking a faster twist to stabilize! Just a thought.
I'm in 603's camp. The Nosler 40 Grain Ballistic Tip might surprise you. My 223 bolt gun is a Komber Longmaster Classic 1:9 twist. It does not like mid weight bullets but loves heavier bullets and the 40 grain BT.
i am very aware that longer/heavier bullets shoot best in my 1:7. i just found some powder stashed away that is more appropriate for lighter projectiles, so i am just experimenting some. i almost exclusively shoot 75gr bullets with 4064 and have great results. thanks for the input
Oh, I was just thinking out loud.....being that those all-copper bullets have to be longer than lead ones of the same weight.....was thinking that they might have a better chance in your rifle, being that the "longer" feature is what creates the need for a faster twist to stabilize.
Take Barnes Varmint Grenade......the 36gr bullet is .697" long compared to Hornady's 50gr lead tipped Spitzer at .652"! The Barnes 50gr V.G. is .858" long. Barnes MPG 55gr varmint bullet is .985" dang near an inch long!
Curious....how does that compare to your 75gr bullet length? Hornady 75gr bullets range from their Boat Tail Hollow Point Moly @ 0.981" long to the A-Max (Litz) @ 1.70" long to the reg. A-Max @ 1.105" long.
cool gun BTW, i really wanna invest in a faster .224 in the future. i always liked the 22-250
Me too....my gun was a free unfinished project, I've yet to shoot. Well...it was free until I bought parts to make it feed and dies to load that wildcat caliber.......and I don't even know if the barrel is shot out yet. If it doesn't work out, I may have to rebarrel it to 22-250 or Swift.
I don't know if I have loaded the same ones twice in a row. Buy the clearance ones or midway dogtowns. So far all have been accurate enough in my 1:9 R15 Remington.