Any 19-223 Calhoon shooters?

[ShootNSteel]

Me and my buddy are entertaining the idea of taking a trip west to do some varmint hunting, which means I need a serious varmint gun. I was wanting to go with a 22-250, but it's looking like I may be falling into a deal on a 19-223 Calhoon with lots of ammo, fire formed brass, and dies.

My initial research is telling me that with good glass it should well suffice for any prairie dogs within 500 yards, as well as dime size groups at 100 yards all day. Anyone have experience to back this up? Also people that do shoot the .198" bullet, do any of you shoot cast loads? I'm thinking long range, high velocity precision would be difficult, but not impossible to achieve. Let alone find a mold for it.

[ShootNSteel]

Anyone even heard of this cartridge? I hadn't until a few days ago.

[27judge]

Jim Calhoon has put this rd and other 19 cals out for some years, i have a 19 calhoon (22 hornet necked down and fireformed) .Virgin Valley built it for me for a contender action using a pac-nor 22 inch barrel , it is a real shooter. i shoot a very light load into 1/2 inch at 75 yards a perfect squirrel gun . if you get a chance to talk with him jim is a nice guy and knows his 19 cals tks ken.

[badgeredd]

I'm just curious but how does the 19-223 Calhoon compare to the 204 Ruger?

And as for casting for a .198 bore...are you a masochist? 22 caliber can be a pain to load with light boolits,but I can't say I've ever thought about casting anything smaller without getting heartburn.

Edd