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.224 Laser

• Basic Interior-Ballistics Fact — to increase the muzzle velocity of a given bullet from a given length of barrel, use more powder.

• Basic Interior-Ballistics Fact — to decrease the maximum average peak pressure, increase the capacity of the case.

• Basic Interior-Exterior-Ballistics Fact — the longer the powder gas propels the bullet toward the muzzle, the bullet exits at a higher velocity.

• Basic Exterior-Ballistics Fact — bullets with higher ballistic coefficients travel faster at long ranges, with “flatter” trajectories, than bullets with lower ballistic coefficients.

The .224 Laser, a scientifically engineered varmint cartridge, is designed on the basis of combining these fundamental facts of small-arms ballistics — specifically
(a) to propel the 75-grain Hornady A-Max (or similar bullet) to its maximum muzzle velocity,
(b) at or slightly below the maximum average peak pressure of 50,000 pounds per square inch,
(c) with the net capacity of the case filled to 90%–100% (with no excess air space, and the powder never compressed or tamped tight, for the best possible burning).

As results of optimizing these criteria in the design of the .224 Laser, about 56–58 grains of a very slow powder propels the 75-grain Hornady A-Max bullet from a 26-inch barrel at more than 3,400 feet per second, at an average peak pressure of about 50,000 pounds per square inch or slightly less. This bullet, though it exits the muzzle faster than lighter bullets from .220 Swift factory loads, travels faster and faster than the lighter Swift bullets beyond about 200 yards. And of course, since it's up to 50% heavier, it delivers a good bit more energy at every point along its way.

Increasing the maximum average peak pressure to 60,000 or slightly more pounds per square inch produces very little more muzzle velocity. And until bullet-makers make 0.224 bullets with stronger jackets, this is the fastest that this bullet can travel without coming apart just a few feet from the muzzle.

There is, of course, no factory ammo or brass with the head stamp “.224 Laser” — a negligible concern for the dedicated wildcatter. Brass for this wildcat is easily formed from good .25-06 brass (Winchester, Norma, Hornady, Federal, or Nosler, for example) by either of two methods —
• with form dies and loading dies from such makers as RCBS, Hornady, or Redding
or
• with this procedure —
(a) using an 8x57mm Mauser sizing die to swage the outer (lower) ring of the shoulder back to the body-shoulder junction of the .224 Laser
(b) using a 7x57mm Mauser sizing die backed-off about an eighth of an inch to swage the inner (upper) shoulder back far enough for the .224 Laser sizing die to complete the conversion. (Once the dimension of this back-off is determined, a precise spacer may be a big help for ease and consistency if resetting the lock ring on the 7x57mm sizer is undesirable for some reason.)
(c) then full-length forming the case in the .224 Laser sizing die
— then trimming the case to 2.400 inches long, reaming (or turning) the neck, and chamfering the mouth, as necessary.

The resulting neck will be formed from a lower part of the original .25-06 case, which is slightly harder and slightly thicker than the .25-06 neck, so it's probably wise to anneal the neck and shoulder before re-forming the case by either of the above methods. Can't hurt.

Varmint-shooters can have their barrels chambered and fitted by
• Greg Cameron in Sierra Vista, Arizona (he has the original .224 Laser tooling),
or by
• any other qualified rifle-maker who has or can get the .224 Laser reamers and headspace gauges

The designer's detailed specification drawing (for ordering reamers and gauges) is available free of charge, for a self-addressed postage-paid business envelope, from Ken Howell, Box 28, Quemado, NM 87829.

I thought so. I hear of lots of people running them 3400+, that's why I bought them. Should be good coyote medicine. The SMK is so dang accurate in my rifle though I have a hard time making myself try other things. Good problem to have.