View Full Version : The .220 Meteorite Rifle-Getting Started.
Wolfram Malukker
03-18-2020, 09:00 PM
Getting started on building the rifle to match the cartridge I worked up with the help of a few internet friends.
https://i.imgur.com/B1jt8yzh.jpg
The bolt is 0.550" diameter, and the bolt raceway was cut with a wire EDM. I'll try to keep this updated as things get done on this-it's been about a year since I started on this.
M-Tecs
03-18-2020, 09:32 PM
Very nice. What materials are you using? Is it pre-hard? If not who are you using to do the heat treat? What is a .220 Meteorite?
swheeler
03-19-2020, 10:09 AM
Sounds interesting, .220 Meteorite, wonder how it compares to the 220 Weatherby Rocket?
Petrol & Powder
03-19-2020, 10:34 AM
I hear the .220 Meteorite is out of this world... :wink:
roverboy
03-19-2020, 11:03 AM
I hear the .220 Meteorite is out of this world... :wink:
Yep, absolutely.
Wolfram Malukker
03-19-2020, 11:42 AM
I do my heat treating, as it isn't cost effective to send out single pieces. I built my own furnace and also have the use of the ones at work, as long as I am not bringing a legal firearm in. The material is 4140 steel, hardened to RC 34-35. The bolt is also 4140, but will be roughed out and then hardened to RC 38-40.
The .220 Meteorite is a .357 mag case run into a .221 Fireball die, that has been shortened 0.110" at the base, and the base polished out. I was going to Ackley the case, but would have had to find a set of .221 Ackley Fireball dies...too spendy.
The initial loading is 16.5gr of IMR4198 under a Speer 46gr jacketed flat point hornet bullet.
roverboy
03-19-2020, 12:32 PM
What kind of velocities are you expecting with different bullet weights?
Win94ae
03-19-2020, 02:39 PM
How cool!
Wolfram Malukker
03-19-2020, 08:26 PM
55gr Hornady #2267B
16.5Gr N-120 , 100% density, 44,597 psi, 2655 fps-16" barrel
17.5gr N-120 , 106.8% density, 53,439 psi, 2794 fps-16" barrel 2910 fps 20" barrel
15.5gr IMR4198, 96.3% density, 38,316 psi, 2514 fps 16" barrel
17.5gr IMR4198, 108.7% density, 54,299 psi, 2818 fps 16" barrel.
46gr Speer #1024
17.5gr IMR4198, 104% density, 43,803 psi, 2853 fps 16" barrel.
18.5gr IMR4198, 104% density, 51,801 psi, 3012 fps, 16" barrel.
19.9gr N120, 110.9% density, 54,950 psi, 3074 fps, 16" barrel.
firefly1957
03-19-2020, 08:35 PM
Never thought of doing that I have experimented with the .223 Remington run into .256 Winchester mag dies it seems to lose about 5 grains of water in capacity so you should pick up the same with your case.
AA 1680 should be a good powder choice for the 22 Meteor might even get away with H-110 if you are using high pressure loads.
Seems I did not like IMR 4198 under 45 grain bullets in my 10" XP-100 in .221 fireball but I did not make any notes on it?
I did make this note -Bullet Speer 52 gr H.P. powder IMR-4198 16.0 grs @ 2330 f/s 17.0 grs @ 2527 f/s (.221 fireball)
357Mag
03-19-2020, 09:40 PM
Wolfram -
Howdy !
Have you thought about trying. “ Blue Dot “ ?
With regards,
357Mag
Wolfram Malukker
03-19-2020, 11:28 PM
Haven't even shot the first cartridge yet. I am taking the chamber reamer to work tomorrow to cut the flutes in.
adcoch1
03-20-2020, 01:44 AM
Very interested! I got a used custom die set the other day that is basically a 6mm 221 fireball. I ran a 357 case in there and the wheels started turning. Waiting to see yours now...
Wolfram Malukker
03-20-2020, 06:57 PM
One of the original cases-the first 10 were 50 thou shorter than the rest, due to forming issues. After adding in a .256 winchester die to the mix, the neck length increased. That's the Hornady #2267B seated to the base of the neck. The revised case forming brings the case mouth up to the cannelure.
https://i.imgur.com/AgLmV2uh.jpg
And a case print:
https://i.imgur.com/1YM7gN5h.jpg
This is the spool for the magazine, although it will need some polishing to operate smoothly. As is, it hangs cases a bit due to the shoulder angle being hugged a bit too tightly. The case feeds fine, but the bolt is a bit stiff until the shoulder pops up out of the spool a bit.
https://i.imgur.com/5O6ADD0h.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/mV72ALZh.jpg
Found a chunk of 4140 for the bolt, it's not as easy as the round, already hardened bit I've got stashed, but it's *just* big enough. And it will sport a one-piece bolt handle, no brazed or threaded connection. I've got a few pieces like this one, so I can screw up once or twice if I have to.
https://i.imgur.com/yn1cIbwh.jpg
More after the truck gets fixed, the lathe tuned up again, and planting season going OK.
roysha
03-21-2020, 11:54 AM
Sounds pretty much like a 22 Jet Improved.
Wolfram Malukker
03-22-2020, 09:08 PM
It isn't far from it. By using the .221 dies, though, it has a 23* shoulder angle, and all I had to do was chop .110" off the bottom of the dies, and hone the base end of the die a bit to get it to stop shaving brass off the cases. Since I already had a set of .221 dies but no .221 rifle, the cost of creation was just a few hours.
Wolfram Malukker
03-24-2020, 07:53 PM
Well, this took a minor setback. I got layed off work today.
Not a major issue on this front, but annoying. Heat treat will be a little slower because I only have the single furnace, so the draw will have to be done after the high-heat steps are done.
It *does* mean I have a lot more time to do things like this, but first I need to fix a few tools, put some time in on the truck, etc.
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