22 Caliber Weight

[B R Shooter]

Using a J4 .704" jacket, what is the heaviest bullet that can be made and maintain accuracy? 52 grain is kindof the standard.

[303british.com]

That depends on what ogive you decide for your bullets. I make 65 grain bullets, but have the dies and accessories for several ogives. If you were to have a larger, exposed lead tip, you could make something a bit heavier.

[B R Shooter]

My point die is a 7 ogive. I'm looking for the best balance of jacket and core weight for accuracy. I shoot benchrest and want the most accurate out of the bullet. I have a 12 twist barrel right ow, so a little heavy won't bother me. I started with a 52.2, just because the cores I cut ended up that way. I just made some 51.5 and some 53.0 just to try. There is a magical balance somewhere with the jackets you have.

[303british.com]

Well, at the risk of sounding like a smart Alec, I think that you're going to have continue to make bullets of increasing weights and see what works best in your rifle. As far as I'm aware, there is no way of determining which weight is best, only what the maximum weight is, for a given velocity.

I would go up in smaller increments, given that it is a .224 though. 0.5 grains for the sake of testing. From there, if you really want to get crazy, make some of 0.2 of a grain lighter and heavier than what shoots best for you at a given velocity.

[Utah Shooter]

I would stick between 50 and 53 grains with a .704-.705 jacket. I make 52's. They have been such a successful projectile that shoot so well I do not see a need to change a 50+ year history. If you change the jacket length I would then suggest changing the weight.

[B R Shooter]

Steve, Joe, Thanks for the input. I know the 52 is the "standard" for 22 benchrest bullets. And the 52.2 I made do shoot well. Just looking for, and testing to see if things might be better given my jackets and dies. Maybe this weekend I'll get a chance to shoot the ones I just made. I doubt I'll go over 53 in these jackets.

[303british.com]

You can try. I have always believed that more bullet shank is better for accuracy. With a 7 ogive, if you wish to retain much of a point, I doubt you'll get much more than 55 - 57 gr.

What cartridge it is for?

[B R Shooter]

22PPC, 12 twist.

[Lizard333]

That depends on what ogive you decide for your bullets. I make 65 grain bullets, but have the dies and accessories for several ogives. If you were to have a larger, exposed lead tip, you could make something a bit heavier.

So why only 3200 FPS? I personally haven't found a velocity or twist that my 224's haven't been able to do. Is this just a blanket CYA? Not trying to start a huge debate, or start anything, just curious.

[303british.com]

There's nothing to debate. It's a blanket CYA. I have sold 308, 313, 6mm and 224 bullets. I also write books. I do not know how well (or poorly) constructed a buyer's reloads are. I do not know if he's used the correct charge or primer. I do not know his experience level.

Sadly, we live in a litigious society. It is very rare these days for anyone to accept responsibility for what they've done. They will try and blame another person or company for their own stupidity. That is done either to prevent being labeled an idiot or to make money off the back of someone else. One only needs to check the newspaper. Examples of this are everywhere.

When you sell any DIY product, you have to assume that only 1% of the population will know how to use it. The rest are idiots.