224 Clark

Historical Notes:

Timothy Clark of Madera California, wanted a long range varmint cartridge that would buck wind better than any existing cartridge, have a flatter trajectory, and be harder hitting with greater retained bullet energy. He experimented for 15 years following World War II, and in 1962 finally settled on the design he named the 224 Clark. Clark used the 257 Roberts case necked down to 22 caliber with a steeper shoulder angle and expanded body. He designed and made special .244 inch bullets which were both longer and heavier than any available bullets of this caliber at that time. While it may seem easier to start with 6mm Remington brass, rather than going through the trouble of reforming the 257 Roberts cases, Clark found the 257's to be much stronger. Clark hand swaged his own .224 inch hollow point bullets weighing 80 grains. This had to be a labor of love. Bullets of lighter weight tend to be less accurate in the 224 Clark due to the fact that a long throat is necessary for the heavier numbers, causing the lighter projectiles to "jump" before contacting the rifling lands. Clark also designed bullets of 85 grains knowing that some hunters may have chosen to use his cartridge on deer or antelope size game.

General Comments:

There is no doubt that the 224 Clark is a very specialized cartridge. In areas where wind is a concern and ranges are long, this cartridge would be ideal for varmints. However, the small bore and relatively large case capacity are a combination which can lead to very short barrel life. Though an excellent round, the 224 Clark has a very narrow and specialized use. This cartridge requires faster than normal rifling twists, 8 or 9 inches, to stabilize the unusually long standard bullets.

Source: Cartridges of the World

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