AusVarmint

Saw an post that sparked an old interest on AHN the other day, bloke asking if you could size 250 Myra factory brass back down to 222. For anyone who hasn't heard of this little compact round, it was developed and loaded by the late Arthur Langford of Myra firearms from Broken Hill fame, it is also known as the 250 Copper Head in the USA.
He developed the 17 HMR, his version was the 17 Vixen, way before Hornady ever decided to make it a factory round, his version was built on modified Sako L461 cartridges using 17 cal air rifle barrels, a 25gn projectile doing around the 3100 fps, using the 22 Magnum case which he purchased primed but unloaded from somewhere, he even shot it in the 1974 ? super shoot at Canberra, he ended up with a group of around an inch at 200 yds, which apparently was pretty good considering the conditions that day were reported as disgusting. He also had 17 cartridges that were based on the 22 short, 22lr, 22 ratshot case, cant remember the order they go in but 17 Tiny Mite, 17 Mini Mite and I think the 17 Mity Mite, memory is a bit vague on those names. He used rimfire actions for the smaller 17 cartridges, typically Brno Mod 1 and 2.
He also developed the Extruder range of cartridges, 5mm and 17, he mostly made them on either Brno mod 1 and 2 actions as well as the Norinco copy of the mod 1, I think he would do most 22 rifles if you sent him yours to convert.
Another one of his pet ideas was necking up 222 brass to 6mm and 25 calibre, mainly in response to professional kangaroo shooters wanting a bit more bullet weight, remember in those days there was no where near the variety available today. Enter the 243 Myra and the 250 Myra.
I have very little interest in 6mm stuff, its only a stepping stone up from 22 calibre to where the real interest starts at 257 calibre, so I sent this fella a pm asking if he would be interested in selling some of his couple of thousand new, headstamped 250 Myra brass, a price was settled on and a couple of hundred of them "Just followed me home mum".
The last is a quick snap of some of the 222 family of cartridges, left to right 250 Myra with 100gn projectile seated to the bottom of the neck, 222 with a 50gn Zmax bullet, 20/222 with 32gn Zmax and 17/222 with one of Karl K's 22gn HP offerings.

Whats next, hmmmm, dies available from Simplex or I could just use my 222 neck bushing die with a new bush and a 222 body die, 257 light sporter chrome moly barrel, reckon 22 inches would suit a nice light hunting rifle, 75gn HP or SP projectiles, and finally one of those rare as rocking horse shit reasonably priced Sako L461 rifles in 222 to convert. Am going to contact Sprinter Arms in South Aust to see if they have a barrel and reamer, they did a lot of work for Arthur over the years, and I reckon it would be about as close to an Arthur Langford rifle as you could get these days, without finding one of his originals.
If I cant find a Sako, I will probably get a barrel chambered and threaded for one of my Zastava M85 actions, but that is only a second option.

Thanks for the write up Camel,
The time he must have spent just making dies / reamers and other tooling is just staggering. Anyone who has tried to build their own tooling would appreciate the effort.

Bill

Sounds like an awesome little round Mark.

I was going to build a 223 necked up to 6.5 so the 222 -257 sounds pretty fun that is for sure! Love you have them head stamped correct too for when the authorities check your stash

I would love to have been given the tour of his workshop and safe.

My great uncle was playing with a few cases similar to Arthur but using the 310 cartridge.

6.5mm is so ho hummm

Cases are believed to have been made by the Super Cartridge Company. Sprinter Arms in Hahndorf S.A. will do a light sporter chrome moly 1-12 twist barrel, chambered and delivered for just on 400 bucks.

DD in Wagga has one,I had the use of it for a while,many years ago,it was a Sako L461 action and a Sprinter re bored barrel,they don't do re bores these days.I
I liked it,no powerhouse,but accurate and mild mannered.Shot a lot of lead gas check loads for rabbits,with jacketed rounds,the 87 Sierra's were very good.The only thing I remember is that the Sako is a very short action,try and stretch the cartridge length and feed problems occur.It didn't
like more than two GC loads in the magazine,they had a flat point however.I have thought about getting one,or one similar,for years,I would like a 25/223,but in my opinion it would need an action with a longer magazine.I reckon you are on the right track.

Last time or the time before that I was talking to DD I think he said he had a rather abused sako

You have his number give him a call

Interesting little cartridge sort of like a suped up 25/20

Flash Gordon wrote:DD in Wagga has one,I had the use of it for a while,many years ago,it was a Sako L461 action and a Sprinter re bored barrel,they don't do re bores these days.I
I liked it,no powerhouse,but accurate and mild mannered.Shot a lot of lead gas check loads for rabbits,with jacketed rounds,the 87 Sierra's were very good.The only thing I remember is that the Sako is a very short action,try and stretch the cartridge length and feed problems occur.It didn't
like more than two GC loads in the magazine,they had a flat point however.I have thought about getting one,or one similar,for years,I would like a 25/223,but in my opinion it would need an action with a longer magazine.I reckon you are on the right track.

Hmmmm, interesting, haven't had a yarn with the old bugger for a while, I may just have to accidentally like hit his number.

MISSED wrote:Last time or the time before that I was talking to DD I think he said he had a rather abused sako

You have his number give him a call

Interesting little cartridge sort of like a suped up 25/20

Hmmmm, yeah, maybe I should. That last line is probably the worst presented bait that I have ever seen.

No Bait iif I wanted to bait Iwould have said 256 Win mag.

Been making a couple of enquiries, rang Sprinter arms, can have a sporter weight chrome moly barrel, supplied chambered and delivered for just over 400 bucks, didn't commit just yet but I think I will ring him in the next couple of weeks. Dies, well Simplex don't have them listed, so Ill just use my Redding 222 neck bushing die and if ever needed my 222 body die. Will have to jump on Google and find some projectile prices, either 70gn 75gn or 80gn preferably soft point or hollow point, need to keep the length down to a max of 2.3 inches to fit in the magazine.

In the US they call this cartridge the 257 Copperhead, apparently two blokes were working on the same idea at roughly the same time, at least Arthur's 250 Myra did make factory status. RCBS did make dies for it at some stage, probably other makers as well, some would probably still make them as a custom option.

Marcus, thanks for the email magazine articles I am sure they will come in useful, just what I needed......... more encouragement

Awesome idea,
I have to drop into Magnum sports probably next weekend if they have any projectiles you want and can bring them to Vic with me They have 75gr HP Hornady and 75gr Vmax as well as Nosler BTs and Partitions listed on their website

bimbo wrote:Awesome idea,
I have to drop into Magnum sports probably next weekend if they have any projectiles you want and can bring them to Vic with me They have 75gr HP Hornady and 75gr Vmax as well as Nosler BTs and Partitions listed on their website

Thanks mate, Ill have a look and let you know

I'm often not far from Magnum Sports as I am usually in Sydney at least once a week. Small shop with lots of gear in it!

So this is what we talked the other week.. sounds interesting camel

Bill my last job i work at a tool making factory making all kind of drill cutters and remmers..