Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Ken.A Question For You..............

Ken,
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<br>Without a doubt,you've diddled and fiddled,loaded and shot,an incredible spectrum of cartridges.
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<br>My question is easy for me to ask,but I'm curious if it might be difficult for you to answer? Looking back in reflection,on everything you've had opportunity to play with,what is your favorite cartridge?
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<br>Just the one cartridge you would most happily tote,to lend you the most satisfaction,in the pursuits you most enjoy. I guess,which one made you grin the most and was simply the most fun?
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<br>I've always been curious in that regard and now that you're cornered,I can lay that question upon you(grin). I couldn't even speculate a diameter you might choose,let alone a specific chambering.
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<br>22long rifle doesn't count(grin)...............

I was with you, Stick, up until that .22 LR thing. That was low! I call foul!
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<br>Rick

Even before I write my answer, it reminds me of how "Ol' Double Nothin'"used a diplomatic answer to slip out from under a tight question. At the dinner celebrating his retirement, this beloved trainer for many of the university's teams over the years was asked to name the best team in the university's history. Looking out over an audience that included alumni from many teams of the past several decades, Ol' Double Nothin' (he always wore jersey 00) grinned and answered,
<br>"Next year's!"
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<br>My favorite cartridge now is one that I designed carefully on the twin bases of (a) things learned with so many cartridges of the last half century and (b) performance desired but not delivered by so many cartridges of the last half century. A lot of careful interior- and exterior-ballistics consideration -- made practicable by recent introductions in slower powders and heavier, more drag-resistant bullets -- went into the design of this cartridge. I have two rifles for it -- an AHR "factory" (in quotes because I bought a special barrel for it before it was built) and a custom job with a Richards bench-rest barrel and H-S Precision stock on a Nesika Bay bolt-action single-shot.
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<br>Say, I'd better name the thing lest I forget to! The cartridge is my .220 Howell.
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<br>BTW, it's one of a dozen cartridges that I designed specifically for the same basic improvements over standard cartridges. Whatever caliber interests you -- from .224 to .400 -- this twelve-cartridge family has a design to tantalize you. They're the .220, .240, .250, .260, .270, .280, .300, .320, .340, .350, .380, and .400 Howell. You can see 'em (except for the .400, I think) at http://www.hunting-rifles.com.
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<br>And before you ask, no, I don't get a dime from any of these cartridges, rifles, or designs -- in any way. So my only interest is in their performance for you and your satisfaction with 'em. For me, that's plenty.

I would have not guessed that.
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<br>I was thinking there was a chambering near and dear to your heart,that you fielded for years,that you were probably sweet on.
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<br>Thanks for taking the time to answer...............

BS
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<br>If you check out the cartridge and what in can do, you will see why he likes it so much. These rifles are set up to air mail long skinny bullets accurately, well past 1000yds. They are the ultimate varmint rigs for the long distance varmint game.

mercedvh,
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<br>I very much savvy the concept,what I'm not understanding is why not utilize what is already available.
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<br>The 22-284 has the capacity,the 22-240Wby has the capacity(though I don't care for the case design)the 22Vais has the capacity and the 22-06/22-06Ackley certainly are of the capacity.
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<br>Reamers are available,dies are on shelves and most enjoy a fair amount of popularity.
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<br>I'm too dense,to savvy what another BIG 22 will do,that the others won't?..................

Supersonic bullets "stagger" when their velocities drop to or below Mach 1 -- from supersonic to transonic. With the .220 Howell's 75- and 80-grain bullets, this occurs at about 1,500 yards.
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<br>(I stagger at a much lower velocity. Would you believe WHILE STANDING STILL?

I believe Ken uses the 25-06 case as a bases to make up his .220 Howell. I don't know why he settled on this. I may have read the reason somewhere, but I can't remember where. CRS strikes again!!!