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Like Brithunter I too have been developing up and testing some loads for my .222 Remington - in my case an Anschutz 1530-34. As I noted in BH's thread I am using the ADI powder AR2206H as from the loading handbook it also can be used in the .243Win.
 
All my loading is done with a Super Simplex 5/8" press, RCBS powder thrower and Redding powder scale. I have noticed that the powder sometimes "sticks" in the thrower - possibly die to the cut sticks hanging up. Looks like tapping the thrower and weighing each charge will be required to ensure consistency and avoid a disaster.
 
I have already tested some 50gr softpoint loads which have shown some promise. This rifle seems to shoot the factory Remington Express 50gr PSP loads quite well so thought that was a good place to start. The results of those loads have already been uploaded to BH's thread.
 
The photos below show the results of the 40gr v-max loads. The 23.0gr loads looks pretty sweet. I still have four 24.0gr loads to shoot but will be hard to beat the 23.0gr results.
 
All shots were taken at 120m using a bipod and home-made sand bag under the butt, set up over a table I dragged out into the paddock.
 
 
 
Marcus

I finished the restoration of the stock on the Anschut .222 last night (I know, Sakorick will probably not approve) and I am really happy with how it came up. I took off all the old stain finish and steamed out the dents - even the deep one uo on the comb. This is the first stock I have steamed and I am impressed with how effective it is. The stock was then finished with 5 coats of Tru-oil which has highlighted some nice grain in the butt.
 
Oh yes, negotiations on price have concluded and I have paid $250AUS for the rifle (without scope and rings) so think I have picked up a bargain. Only transfer into my name still to do.
 
Marcus

My wifes family have a 40,000 acre property in south western NSW - very much the outback for all you non-Aussies out there. We have just returned from two weeks holiday up there. Very relaxing - did a little target shooting with my brother-in-laws CZ550 in .22-250 (nice rifle), and picked up a few rabbits with a CZ .22 while spotlighting. I also picked up a stack of various Australian shooting magazines from the 90's and a few more recent ones.
 
I was interested to read an article about the .17 Ackley hornet that gave a description (supported with photos) of the various stages in forming up brass. The .17 Ackley hornet sounds like it would be a useful little cartrdige for rabbits, hares and foxes, but might be blown around by wind a bit. I then got to thinking about whether it would be a similar process to neck down .22 hornet cases to create a .20 calibre hornet using projectiles used for reloading .204 Ruger cases.
 
If it could work I could look out for a bolt action .22 hornet like an anschutz or Brno Fox with a worn out barrel. The  local gunshop currently has a well worn Brno Fox in .22 Hornet with a stuffed barrel for about $250.
 
So I have a few questions for gitano, Sakorick and all the other experienced wildcatters out there:
 
Has a .20 hornet already been devised?
What would the steps be to form .20 hornet cases?
Could cases be created using existing dies (eg .17 ackley and .204 ruger) or would special dies be required?
What is the potential performance from such a cartridge - muzzle velocity, range, trajectory?

Took the .222 out today to see what it could do. For those who haven't seen the other thread the rifle is a 1534 Anschutz .222 owned by an old school mate. It hasn't been used for 3-4 years because he could never get it group. He didn't reload and had a Nikko Stirling scope mounted on it at the time. I'm trying it out with a view to buying it, and wanted to see how it could shoot to be able to decide on a price (ie replace barrel or not).
 
I fitted a 6x40 Tasco Pronghorn scope and Weaver mounts that I had lying around and gave it a serious going over with Sweets solvent. I headed out this morning with a couple of boxes of Remington 50gr softpoints and set up at 25m then 50m to get it on paper.
 
I then moved back to 100m and shot the three groups in the first photo. I was shooting over a couple of seed bags half filled with potting mix laid on the roof of my little farm ute ( I am about 6'4'' so it is a good standing height).
 
 
While the 6 shot group was reasonable it was nothing special and the other two were fairly poor. It struck me I should check whether parallax was a problem - yep, the moving my eye around caused the cross-hair to descrie a circle of about 3" diameter around the POA.
 
I had a think over lunch and ended up taking a Tasco 10x40AO WC scope off my .17 HMR and putting it on the .222. I then moved a Weaver K8 off my PH .243 and put it on the HMR, and put a 3-9x40 Simmons on the PH. All-in-all probably a better match of scope for all three rifles.
 
Back out to the paddock, I re-zeroed the rfife at 25 and 50m then shot the group in the second photo. Now I'm no crack shot so I was pretty pleased with this group, particularly as with my "bench" set-up I could not hold exactly rock steady - the cross-hair was wavering all around within the black diamond aiming point. I think this rifle will be a keeper - it will be interesting to see what handloading and bedding might be able to achieve.
 
 
 
Marcus.
 
OBTW the background grid is 1/2" squares.
 
Also, does anyone know what the scribed lines on the Weaver K8 scope adjustments are? Are they 1/4" at 100 yards?

I went out spotlighting last night with two old school friends I hadnt seen in years. Of course plenty of fireams discussion, and it turns out one of my old friends has an Anschutz .222 that "won't shoot". He has been told that the barrel looks as though it has never been cleaned. He obviously thought that was the end of the story beacuase he invested in a Ruger M77 MkII .223.
 
I indicated to him that I might be interested in buying the Anschutz, as I have been looking for a Sako, Remington 700 or Anschutz in .222 or .223. He reckons that the stock and bluing are in good condition. My thoughts are that it might just need a serious working over with Sweets solvent or similar, however the price I would pay would have to consider that it might need rebarreling.
 
I understand that the barrels are pinned into the receiver on these rifles. Is it reasonably straight-forward for a skilled gunsmith (ie not me) to replace the barrel, or is it not worth the hassle? These rifles in reasonable condition and in .22 hornet or .222 sell for $800-$1200AUS. I would look at offering $250-350 for this one.
 
What is the verdict from the expert panel?

Has anyone out there bedded and floated a Ruger 77 rimfire? I sent my .17HMR to the gunsmith to get bedded and floated (groups show vertical stringing as the barrel warms up) and he was very reluctant to do it. Apparently he regards the Rugers as different to bedding other actions, and reckons the scope won't be able to adjust down far enough after the barrel is floated (I didn't understand the logic of this, and the explanation was second-hand through my local gunshop who farm out the gunsmithing jobs. I have got the gunsmiths phone number and intend to give him a ring and clarify what on earth he is on about).
 
The gunsmith apparently will do the job if pressed. He did do a very good job on my .243. Alternatively I have bought a Acraglass bedding kit, but would prefer to have a practice on another (less valuable) firearm first.
 
Any thoughts?
 
Branxhunter

I'm have this plan that I would like to pick up a bolt action 22 hornet at some stage. Threads by Kombi and 22hornet have fueled the idea. As it is more of a "nice to have" rather than "need to have" it would depend on being able to swoop on a bargain at some stage. Hence I have a few questions form those of you who know more about these things.
 
I have seen a few Sportcos on various websites that look interesting - what are the barrels and triggers like? Is the trigger a two-stage job, or an adjustable single stage? Are the barrels threaded into the action, or pinned (I seem to remember reading somewhere that they are built on a rimfire action)?
 
A converted SMLE might also be an option - how hard is it to mount a scope, and what level of accuracy could be expected from one of these old workhorses?
 
Another option would be a Brno Fox - what is the verdict on these rifles? Are they a good action? Is it easy to replace the barrel (one requiring rebarrelling recently sold for $350 AUS near here)?

I'm having trouble chambering the last round in my PH safari deluxe .243. I think it dates from the mid to late fifties (oh where are you Brithunter?) The cartridge seems to only rise halfway up into the extractor claw, but then gets pushed ahead of the extractor into the chamber. All preceding cartridges feed properly into the chamber. Does this sound like the magazine spring is weak and needs replacing? Would I be right in assuming that a replacement mauser 98 magazine spring will fix the problem? I see they can be ordered from Brownells in the US.

A few threads I have read recently on the forum inpired me to start this one. It seems that for many of us firearms with family history tend to have special meaning attached to them. I thought we might get some good stories and photos of some nice old arms. Here a couple of mine to kick it off.
 
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This first photo is of a Voere .22 that I learnt to shoot with and have inherited from my father. He bought it as a teenager in the 50's or early sixties with the money he had saved from shooting rabbits with a single shot winchester. Th rifle has been in pretty poor condition for many years. I refinished the stock with Tru-oil (first stock job) as a practice for a PH .243 I recently acquired. The action is quite worn, and the barrel has 2 rings in it, a bulge and a couple of very impressive cracks courtesy of dud bullets 30 odd years ago. Apparently on two seperate occasions the bullets lodged halfway up the barrel, and not realising Dad followed up with another shot. As you can imagine groupings beyond about 30 meters are very ordinary, however I have shot a lot of rabbits with this rifle.
 
It is soon to get a new lease of life as I have found another later model Voere with a very plain stock but action and barrel in very good condition which I will swap into this stock. Classic case of Grandfathers axe, eh?
 
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These other photos are of a side-by-side 122g shotgun made by W Cashmore of Birmingham. The barrel rib has "Donald McIntosh" and "Mac's all-round gun" on it. Apparently Donald McIntosh was an Australian who won a brone medal in the one and only Olympic live pigeon shooting at Paris in 1900. Following the Olympics he put on shooting demonstrations in Australia using these Cashmore guns, one of which my great Grandfather attended in Dartmoor, south-west Victoria. Story goes that after watrching Donald he decided "I have to get one of those!"
 
The gun is in not bad condition - I think it was restocked after the original stock was broken through the wrist. You might be able to see some plain but nice simple engraving of some waterbirds on the side plate behind the hammers. This is what I used when I started shotgunning - mainly fox drives in plantations but also some walk-about rabbiting and spotlighting.

Well I have finally got a scope on the .243 safari deluxe I recently aquired. It is an old Weaver K8 my father used to have on a Anschutz 1515-1516 .22 magnum. The bolt handle just clears the scope. The mounts are leupold on a one piece leupold base.  Attached photo shows the set-up. The weather forecast for this weekend is fine ( very wet last weekend) so should get a chance to see how it shoots.
 
I am still yet to confirm the manufacture date, but I am assuming it is from the early sixties. I'm sure Brithunter would know the details - has anyone heard from him lately?
 
 
My brother now has the Anschutz mentioned above and is having it rebarrelled to .17 HMR. Has anyone out there rebarrelled a .22M to a .17 HMR? I quite like the shape of the 1515-1516 stocks, but am not so keen on the current Anschutz .17HMR models. If an old Anschutz could be picked up for $400-500 I reckon it would be a good option.

Hello all. As a new Parker Hale owner this forum has provided a wealth of knowledge. I hadn't heard a great deal about PH rifles, but based on all your comments it seems like they can be quite good firearms.

I have recently been given a bolt action .243 safari deluxe. While there seems to be no model number stamped on it the transfer papers stated that it was a model 1100.

Seeing how it shoots may be a little while off at the moment as upon squeezing the trigger no shot is fired. The firing pins falls OK but doesn't even touch the primer on the chambered cartridge. I checked with the previous owner (a friend) who said that although it has been a while since he has used it he has put a few hundred rounds through the rifle.

Another issue is that the safety doesn't seem to work as expected. It seems that on closing the action ready to fire the ccocking piece is not held back far enough for the safety to be rotated from the left hand position into the straight up or right hand position. I can get the safety to rotate around to the other positions if I remove the bolt from the action and pull the ccocking piece back further.

Having read up on this and some mauser forums it seems that PH rifles use a K98 action - does this mean for the safety the left position is fire, straight up is maintanance (firing pin blocked but bolt can be worked) and the right position is firing pin and bolt blocked? On my rifle the straight up and right hand positions are around the other way.

I have a few photos that would show this - what is the best file size to attach?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.