Any tc contender guru"s?

[coyotekilla]

I have a tc contender 222 with a super 14 barrel. Had some old hornady super performance 50gr vmax loads, and some 55gr handloads i just put together.

Super performance chrono'ed at 2900
Handloaded 55's @ 2400

Factory shot well, about an inch. Handloads shot terrible ( 3-4").

Berger twist calculator says I'm marginal at best with the 50's and terrible with the 55's

Anyone here mess with 222 pistols?

 

[Cherokeeguide]

I went through a Contender phase. I had a Super 14 in .22 LR, .22 Hornet, .223 Remington, and 7-30 Waters, and a Carbine in the same chamberings.

You should be able to get 2,700+ with a 55 grain bullet from .222 in a 14" barrel. You can handload .222 in 55 grain to get over 3,000 fps from a 22" barrel. The .222 has greater accuracy potential in the Contender because of its slightly lower combustion chamber volume relative to the .223 Remington. You should be getting closer to 2,700 fps from a 55 grain handload in .222, and when you do that, and do it with a 55 grain bullet that isn't a military style FMJ, you should see those groups improve.

But if you REALLY want to drive tacks with it, look for the old Sierra Bullets Contender-only .222 loads with flat-base 52 grain bullets popular with bench-rest shooters of that caliber. That's what friends with .222 Contenders used to shoot tiny groups with.

 

[coyotekilla]

Thanks Cherokee,
Initially I thought i was having a bullet stability issue, further measurements say it is a 1:12 barrel, which helps with the 50 & 55 gr. My initial load was some 55 btsp hornady that my 223 rifles tolerate well. Gonna try some flat base and see how they do. Don't have any 52's or 53's. Ideally I'll get a few woodchuck with it, and a doe. I have good opportunity for early season doe hunting when rifles feel like cheating.