Will the 22 Nosler succeed?

[toysoldier]

The July issue of American Rifleman has a big article about yet another new cartridge. Designed as the "most powerful .22-caliber cartridge that would reliably function in the AR platform," it uses a unique case, not derived from an existing case. It does offer increased performance over the .223, with advantages in reloading over the 22-250, but will this be enough to offset significantly increased ammunition cost and reduced availability? Or will it, like other seemingly great cartridges, wither away in competition with popular military cartridges?

 

[The Preacher]

My opinion; Not a chance....

The Preacher

 

[DGW1949]

Not a chance. At best a flash in the pan.

DGW

 

[Cholo]

Wow, something else I didn't even know I didn't need

 

[WIL TERRY]

Will all of you folks predicting the new cartridges future kindly accompany me to the race track.

AND so it goes...

 

[SAJohn]

When I was a lad, U.S. calibers were pretty simple. For rifles it was basically .22, .25, .27, .28, .30, .32, .35, and .45. For handguns it was .22, .25, .30, .38, .41, and .45. Now they go to .001 differences (as if it were significant) and 50fps added velocity at a given bullet design.

I do concede that bullet designs have taken great strides starting with Nosler partition and later polymer tipped bullets and their many copycats.

My .44 magnum Super Blackhawk with Keith 250 grain cast bullets have always dropped big mule deer in their tracks.

I have heard that the .30-30 has taken more deer than any other cartridge and it is not what we would consider state-of-the-art.

 

[kmoore]

Only time will tell. My opinion is if no one else makes ammo, brass or rifles chambered for it but Nosler or a Nosler partner. It will have a limited following.

 

[Trucker]

In my opinion, and it's not worth much, the .22 Nosler is a rich man's play thing. The attainable velocity and pressures will wash out a barrel in no time. A great varmint cartridge ... for those with the money to afford it. And a great conversation piece ... for those who can afford it. If you're not going for the attainable velocities then why go for the expense of the extra upper or barrel and so on .... unless you just have a lot of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ to play with??

But waddaIknoooooo!

 

[Mobuck]

While the 22 Nosler has some advantages, I don't think those advantages will keep it in the market.
It's not that costly to give it a try but I've already passed on the early worm test. I figure if I need more than the .223 offers in the AR platform, I'll use a bolt action .223 with a 24" barrel or just switch to one of the 22/250's on the rack.

 

[Ol'Freak]

I like the 22 Nosler. They already have a 20 Nosler in the works and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a 6mm soon enuf. I’d love a custom bolt gun swap barrel build to shoot the thangs. Sinclair has in stock Redding dies and two sources of decent brass for loading the 22’. Don’t care ‘bout an AR or for any factory ammo.

 

[krw]

I like the 22 Nosler. They already have a 20 Nosler in the works and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a 6mm soon enuf. I’d love a custom bolt gun swap barrel build to shoot the thangs. Sinclair has in stock Redding dies and two sources of decent brass for loading the 22’. Don’t care ‘bout an AR or for any factory ammo.[/qu
In a way, I think your kinda missing the boat. The 22 Nosler is the undisputed king of the hill in a 22 cal for AR platform rifles. If you start loading it in a bolt rifle it does not fill a niche that's not already occupied. With that being said I will not get one, but would be a HotRod in a AR varmint rifle. 400 extra FPS aint no slouch!

 

[427mach1]

If you want higher velocity/flatter trajectory out of an AR, you could buy one chambered in 204 Ruger. Ammunition is available from several sources. I have a bolt-action (Savage model 12 VLP) in that caliber and absolutely love it. It has the trajectory of the 22-250 yet uses less powder, minimal recoil (you can see your bullets impact through your scope) and it is very difficult to get the barrel hot. While it doesn't have the energy of the 22-250, it will still take out game up to the size of coyotes.

 

[Jeepnik]

Sadly, what the folks who invent this stuff never realize is that the wheel has already been invented.

 

[Valmet]

I see it ending up in the realm of the Win SSM cartridges and the 17 Rem Fireball, etc...not technically dead but on life support for years with 1-2 companies making 1-2 loads for it.

 

[Ol'Freak]

I like the 22 Nosler. They already have a 20 Nosler in the works and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a 6mm soon enuf. I’d love a custom bolt gun swap barrel build to shoot the thangs. Sinclair has in stock Redding dies and two sources of decent brass for loading the 22’. Don’t care ‘bout an AR or for any factory ammo.[/qu
In a way, I think your kinda missing the boat. The 22 Nosler is the undisputed king of the hill in a 22 cal for AR platform rifles. If you start loading it in a bolt rifle it does not fill a niche that's not already occupied. With that being said I will not get one, but would be a HotRod in a AR varmint rifle. 400 extra FPS aint no slouch!

What current factory .22 caliber cartridge running on the .378” bolt face is going to outperform the 22 Nosler, or whatever else based on the 22 Nosler case simply necked up or down? What’ll work on the best of the best AR platform will shoot even better on an as equally well thought out and put together bolt action.

 

[Jeepnik]

I just had a thought. Two of the more recent handgun cartridges . 40 S(hort) & W(eak) and the .357 sig really offer no improvement, and are IMHO less effective, over a couple centenarians the 9x19 and .45 acp. Yet there are always some folks who think new is better.

Oh well, what do I know, my newest handgun cartridge is the .380 acp, or maybe the .25 acp, whichever came last.

 

[RSIno1]

... .22 Nosler .... attainable velocity and pressures will wash out a barrel in no time. .

220 Swift for the modern autoloader.
From their website (I predict 1/2 their number before you see the effects):
Barrel Life with all barrels, it really depends on how they are treated but one should see approximately 2,000 rounds as used in competition and as many as 4,000 rounds if used as a plinking rifle.

 

[Flyfisher66048]

Not that interested in the 22 cal version. When they come out with a 24 or 30 cal version, I'll be more interested.

 

[krw]

I like the 22 Nosler. They already have a 20 Nosler in the works and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a 6mm soon enuf. I’d love a custom bolt gun swap barrel build to shoot the thangs. Sinclair has in stock Redding dies and two sources of decent brass for loading the 22’. Don’t care ‘bout an AR or for any factory ammo.[/qu
In a way, I think your kinda missing the boat. The 22 Nosler is the undisputed king of the hill in a 22 cal for AR platform rifles. If you start loading it in a bolt rifle it does not fill a niche that's not already occupied. With that being said I will not get one, but would be a HotRod in a AR varmint rifle. 400 extra FPS aint no slouch!

What current factory .22 caliber cartridge running on the .378” bolt face is going to outperform the 22 Nosler, or whatever else based on the 22 Nosler case simply necked up or down? What’ll work on the best of the best AR platform will shoot even better on an as equally well thought out and put together bolt action.

But when you take the AR platform out of the equation, What will a 22 Nosler do that a 22-250 won't do more better?? I see it as a boutique cartridge in AR platform. When out of that what niche does it fill that's not already occupied??? I have a 20" 6.5Grendel upper. For a AR platform is a good round, but I wouldn't consider building a bolt rifle in Grendel because it will not do anything my 260's won't do better. A 6.5 Grendel is a boutique AR platform cartridge.