Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats .22-204 load data

I know this subject has been discussed on other sites. I'm putting together a Model 7 (factory .223) .22-204 with 8 twist 22" Brux. The mag has been extended to accommodate longer than factory COAL, should be OK over 2.5". I'm going to be using 75 gr. Hornady Amax and HPBT's, maybe other 75 gr. bullets. The reamer is the Pacific Tool .22-204 with .250 neck and .060 freebore. Reportedly that's adequate for the higher ogive 75's with a COAL of around 2.45", or so.

I'm looking for accuracy loads from those who have experience with the .22-204, especially with heavier bullets. I understand that .223AI load data is a good starting point.

Thanks,

DF

so is 222 Rem Mag data..

And 5.6 X 50 Data.....

Where do you find a source of 5.6x50 data other than a couple of loads in the Hornady book? I use 223ai and 222RM data for starting loads in the 22-204 and just started to load for the 5.6-50.

My 22-204 loves 40gr NBTs so much that I just quit therre and use it for pelt hunting.

Erich

What's the story on your 5.6-50? What gun, etc.?

DF

Just Hornady, although I think Norma or VV powders had some as well.

The 5.6x50 is in a Bernedelli combo rig that I use for calling coyotes out in the heavy sage country. 20ft or 300yrds it is perfect, 1 3/8 oz . Bismuth BB and 52gr Speer HP even the stray duck or pheasant that flushes on the way back from a stand is in mortal danger. I have a 1x4x20mm scope on it and at 1x works well on running and flying critters.

I got a real deal on it as ammo is so hard to find.

Erich

Can you post a picture? Sounds interesting.

I have some "Dead Coyote" or similar name Heavy shot, 3" 12 ga. shells. Not cheap, but reportedly deadly. Have yet to pop one...

DF

I'm on my cell phone and can't do pics with but will send you one when I get back to a real computer, next Monday.

5.6x50 pics



And it works well.



erch

Interesting concept, bad looking dude holding the dead 'yote! The way that varmint is bloodied up, you must have blasted him with the scatter gun. How about the 12 ga. 3", HEVI Shot, Dead Coyote rounds? Have you tried them? I have a couple of boxes, but have yet to pop a cap.

How accurate is the 5.6x50 rifle/ctg., and does this gun have a set trigger on the rifle side? I've read that break action rifles need looser headspace to close easily and function properly vs. a bolt gun.

DF

The shotgun barrel is a fixed choke 2 3/4" so I don't want to take a chance on it by using any hard shot in it, a lot of the places I hunt will require lead free this year for all hunting and in the past I like to shoot an occasional duck on the way back from a stand so need all non toxic for the shotgun.

I use the Hevi shot in my pump when I'm in Shot gun only areas.

Yes the rifle barrel has a set trigger on it and is accurate enought for coyotes out to 300yrd.

Factory ammo and new brass headspace on the rim all my reloads are sized so the die just touches the shoulder the same as my bolt guns and that works well.

erich

What is the little backpack stool setting on top of the boat?

Details, pics?

erich,

That thing kick enough to justify double front scope rings? I was currious how you mounted the rings on the rib, as I doubt it was set up for double fronts, or am I wrong...

DF

Rings were very hard to find for the rifle, it has a taperred rib 11.2mm to 11.3mm and I ended up using a set of steel medium rimfire rings that were cut just small enough to snug down on the rib. The rear ring I tapped from the botton and installed a 6x32 hardenned screw turned to fit the recess in the rib to act as a recoil lug. This worked well for a few months but then it started to shift zero a little, the scope that was on it has been back to Leupold befor and had the errector assembley repaired do to a shifting zero on a light 35Whelen. When I put the new scope on it I added the third ring for insurance. Need to mount the original scope on the Whelen again and see if it was the scope or the rings.

erich