AusVarmint

Anyone have any loads for 222 and 35gr vmax's?

its for my 222 rimmed martini I have been using 2207 with good enough results to hit things Sean sent me some 35's though and want to test them out. Was going to just start .5 grain higher than I would with the 40's and go from there. MY slow arse 1:16 barrel should be happy with them too so they should shoot well.

Anyway if anyone has been using them in the 222 would love to hear about it

I loaded some yesterday with 24 grains of Reloader 7. Loaded Barnes Varmint Grenades too with the same load. Work up to it with the .222 Rimmed. What brass do you use? I am thinking of building a Martini but dont know what calibre to do it.

I will be heading off to Cooma tonight to try them out. I tried the Varmint Grenades once before and couldnt hit a thing as I didnt re sight the rifle and they are a different point of impact to the 55 grainers I was using.

Jeff

I use the Bertram brass made here in AUS. To be honest it has performed fine for my needs so far, however my 1:16 barrel has just meant most of the nice fancy plastic tip's are too long, but the 35 should be fine. Do you know that your barrel is stabalising the grenades? there a long bastard. I have found my martini to be almost spot on 1 grain less than the bolt guys are using for most loads, don't load them hot either so they don't get stuck with the weak extraction.

As far as calibers go a 218 Bee would be nice in the martini, off the shelf ammo etc more brass or the hornet I spose. Then there is 17Hmr or 22wmr. Also neck the 222 rimmed down to 20cal would be nice too, using a shortened 204 ruger die, then I could get rid of my slow twist barrel .

My great uncle actually played around with the 310 cartridge before he passed and necked it down to 17 and 20, maybe 22 as well can't recall but I think a 17/310 would be sweet with modified neck and shoulders.

I think Cranky Bugger seems to have/ know of alot of options for the old martini's If I had the money the 310 for sale in the sale section at the moment wouldn't be for sale anymore

I heard that Bertram brass is not too good after only a few firings. I thought of a wildcat based on the .357 Maximum necked down to .20 or .22, like the .224 R-C Maxi.

http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/w224rc.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The brass is plentiful and cheap, but I dont know how strong it would be like this. Or I could try the Snapps rimless extractor, not heard good or bad stories about them.

Jeff

Used the 35gn V Max in my K Hornet but wasn't impressed . Reckon the 40gn V Max and Nosler BT are much better .

Thanks Bushchook, you wouldn't have any 40 vmax's you can measure there length for me could you?

Jeff, not sure why could be the 222 is easy on brass but mine are all fine, the old super brass I got with my rifle is the stuff, all over the place, different size flash holes, quite nasty the bertram I have is alot more consistant.

stinkitup wrote:Thanks Bushchook, you wouldn't have any 40 vmax's you can measure there length for me could you?

Jeff, not sure why could be the 222 is easy on brass but mine are all fine, the old super brass I got with my rifle is the stuff, all over the place, different size flash holes, quite nasty the bertram I have is alot more consistant.

No sorry .

I measured the 40 grain v-max I had on my bench. I had 25 of them, I measured all of them.

The shortest was 17.57 mm and the longest was 17.67 mm.

Thanks Dary that works out to be .695 of an Inch or there abouts, bugger all between them and the 40gr Nosler BT's they are .7, well thats what nosler quotes.

Thanks Again

I had 10 Nosler 40 grain BT's left over on my bench also. I measured them and they were either .689" or .690". Much more consistant in length than the V-Max. Your question made me courious.

Awesome, thks Dary, Interesting the noslers are shorther but have higher bc? might have to get a box of both and see how they go and maybe some 40gr blitzkings too.