Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Thoughts on the 220 Russian/220 Beggs

I’m in the imagining stage of a rifle build. I’m considering a switch barrel on my left handed mini Mauser in 7.62x39.

The 220 Russian has my interest as one of the chamberings. I know I could go 22 PPC but I have to be a bit different.

Anyone have a 220 Russian they use as a varmint rifle, primarily as a fur gun?

Any thoughts guys? Thanks.

FWIW, the guy that ramrods the big range south of me (where I’m a member) fireforms .220 Russian brass to .224 Grendel.

He runs 88’s on steel way out there, so his application would be different, but still a cool round.

Feeding in a mini Mauser though, you may not want to change case dimensions (beyond the neck) any more than you had to.

I only have (7) 22 PPC AFI's (224 Grendels). (3) Turnbolts and (4) Krunchentickers and 88's,are of course where it's at. Pass the 7" RPM and hold the Fluff. Hint.

Tough to beat a Howie Mini Carbon,wearing a dupe at 19". Hint.





Just sayin'................

Howa minis are great but sadly not offered in left handed. Hence the mini Zastavas lefty.

No matter the parcel,the 22PPC AFI is the chambering. Hint....................

I have only used the 220 Russian for fire forming to an alternate cartridge. In my case this was 6mm ARC. My experience was , what's not to like other than the additional work required to fire-form. Made sense when 6mm ARC was in short supply. This is no longer the case, since Starline stepped up to the plate & is now offering 6mm ARC brass.

Is Starline 6mm ARC brass, better than the 220 Russian Head-stamped stuff I had fire formed? No! While the Lapua brass is superior to any brass on the market, Ill prefer to avoid the fire forming process when I can. Starline is good. Lapua is better.

224 Grendel,6 ARC and 243 Grendel are all EASILY realized in a single pass,via Lapooey 264 Grendel Virgins. Headspace the false shoulder and bask in the splendors. I shoot them all,in both Turnbolt and Krunchentickers,no fire forming required. Hint.

Lapooey 7.62x39's are viable,if you WANT to 'form. Hint.



Just sayin'..................

There is nothing wrong with the Beggs, except for reloading dies. Only one source and that is iffy, unless you also get your own resize reamer and make your own. Go with the 22PPC or Grendal. Personally, the 22PPC is awfully accurate, dies are easy to get, you will be pleased.

224 Grendel ALL the way. Killer brass abounds,dies are easy and it's a one pass affair. Hint........................