3031 in the .222/.222M/.223

[Marlin Junky]

Anybody have experience with a case full of 3031 in either the .222, .222M or .223 while using something like RCBS 22-055? According to QuickLoad it looks like pretty respectable velocities are possible at under 40K PSI... looks like most of the 3031 is consumed too.

BTW, I'm trying to select a light weight .22CF varminter and not sure what rate of twist I should be considering for hyper velocity boolits. I'm shying away from the fast twist (1:9" or faster) .223's.

MJ

[stephen perry]

Powders like 3031 and 4064 are good powders for small base cases like .222 and .223. Not as high performing as powders like 4198 and 4895 but care must be taken especially with 4198 to not fill the case. To me every powder if not at full capacity has a spike where if exceed has a rapid ballistic component if reached, don't seek the spike.

For bolt action small base cases like the .222/.223 barrels with 1-14 twist are desireable. This is a good twist that handles the 52-55 grn bullets in the 3000 fps range. If you want more velocity you need to step down in bullet weight to the 45 grn bullets that will get you into the 3300-3400 fps range. One problem today is that gunmakers have gone to 1-10/1-12 twist barrels expecting shooters will go with heavier bullets in th 60+ weight range, fine but for group shooting you can do better with a 1-14/1-15 twist barrel, these now are gunsmith barrels that require chambering, an added cost. But you only go around once so why not have a nice turn bolt gun like .222/.223 in 1-14 twist that will shoot the pants off most any Range guy with a measley Savage, you can see where I'm going here. My build would be a Remington bolt for small base cases like the .222 or .223 Hart/Shilen/Krieger or equivalent barrel 1-14 twist good trigger say a Shilen and a nice scope you could afford like a used Weaver 10x or a Leupold 12x.

This talk on my part is old school but still works. The newer hyper velocity junkies will steer you away from me but I out shoot them for groups everytime at the Range and you end up with a respectable field gun too.

Stephen Perry
Angeles BR

[44man]

3031 was what I used years and years ago in my .222. It was by far the most accurate but I am sorry, I can't remember the load or bullet. I think it was the 50 gr Hornady.

[DLCTEX]

My Speer manual #10 for the .222 lists 21.5-23.5 gr. 3031 with their 50 gr. spitzer and 21-23 gr. with 55 gr. bullet. That and R-7 is what I use in my 722 in .222.

[Blammer]

I've used 3031 in my 223 and love it, but that was with jacketed bullets.

I have no experience with lead boolits in the 223. Sorry.

[Doc Highwall]

I use to use 19.7 grains of 3031 with a 55 grain sierra bullet in my 222.

[lurch]

I used a lot of 3031 in my Sako .233 with the Remington 50gr. PLHP. The initial charge I used is on the stiff side (26gr) and I was getting 3400 FPS at the muzzle with excellent results on target - be it paper or critter. After burning through the first 1k of those bullets I got another 1k. This new lot simply won't hold up and blue streak about 50% of the time with that loading. Backing off to 3200 FPS was the next point where accuracy came back to previous performance. Several other brands of 50gr varmint type bullets I have tried also have problems keeping it all together for the trip down range at 3400 - with several powders. I don't know if something in the gun changed to cause the blue streaking, but 3200 is still plenty fast enough to take care of what needs done.

I have not used this with cast though. If I were to hazard a gues, I say start somewhere around 18 gr and see what happens.

[Marlin Junky]

One problem today is that gunmakers have gone to 1-10/1-12 twist barrels expecting shooters will go with heavier bullets in th 60+ weight range, fine but for group shooting you can do better with a 1-14/1-15 twist barrel, these now are gunsmith barrels that require chambering, an added cost. But you only go around once so why not have a nice turn bolt gun like .222/.223 in 1-14 twist that will shoot the pants off most any Range guy with a measley Savage, you can see where I'm going here. My build would be a Remington bolt for small base cases like the .222 or .223 Hart/Shilen/Krieger or equivalent barrel 1-14 twist good trigger say a Shilen and a nice scope you could afford like a used Weaver 10x or a Leupold 12x.

Stephen Perry
Angeles BR

Therefore, when looking for an off-the-shelf-type used gun, a 722 or something else in the now obscure .222M would be the way to go. I'd like to get into the 22CF game as cheaply as possible in case I don't care for messing around with the tiny boolits.

MJ

P.S. I already bought an RCBS 22-055 and a box of Hornady checks 'cause Midway had both on sale... what an illness, eh? :bigsmyl2: I'm talking almost 30 bucks off an RCBS mold though!