.22 BRA

[NFshooter150]

Alright everyone let's start a .22 BRA thread to keep the BRA load talks out of the .22 BR thread

 

[bar_n]

Excited to hear what people have to say. Neat little round.

 

[NFshooter150]

Ya me too I'm new to the cartridge doing a build with it now and looking forward to sharing load development and seeing other people's results

 

[NFshooter150]

Bat machine hammerhead and bartlein barrel all done and ready to go! Big thanks to blagg rifles for the 1 week turnaround time!

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

Bat machine hammerhead and bartlein barrel all done and ready to go! Big thanks to blagg rifles for the 1 week turnaround time!
View attachment 8378164

Awesome!
What'd you do for a reamer?

 

[NFshooter150]

I borrowed one from a buddy on here with a .165 freebore.

 

[NFshooter150]

here is the completed build just waiting on an element theos to top it off!

 

[longrange772]

View attachment 8378507
here is the completed build just waiting on an element theos to top it off!

Very nice setup. What are your thoughts on the stock dampeners?

 

[NFshooter150]

Honestly I don't know I never shot it without them they are easy to install and this chassis feels way more dead then my mpa does which I guess it means it's doing its job lol

 

[NFshooter150]

This is both of my builds the mpa is a 223ai and then the 22bra

 

[NFshooter150]

Finally my build project is complete!
Bat hammerhead action 22BRA
Bartlein MTU 7.5t 28"
Element Theos 6-36
MPA BA mount
MDT ACC Elite
TT Diamond Pro Curved
Accutac FC5
EcTuner Next Gen brake

Huge shout out to Blagg Rifles, Matt at 1791, TylerN, and SCR for helping me get everything I needed!

 

[TylerN]

Finally my build project is complete!
Bat hammerhead action 22BRA
Bartlein MTU 7.5t 28"
Element Theos 6-36
MPA BA mount
MDT ACC Elite
TT Diamond Pro Curved
Accutac FC5
EcTuner Next Gen brake

Huge shout out to Blagg Rifles, Matt at 1791, TylerN, and SCR for helping me get everything I needed!
View attachment 8384242View attachment 8384243View attachment 8384244

Gotta report back now it shoots soon.

I'm watching out for in stock notifications for Lapua 6BR brass to start fire forming a new batch of brass.

 

[NFshooter150]

Ya I'm at the range right now I'm gonna keep an eye out for lapua as well.. idk I'm fire forming alpha right now and 80elds with 28.5 varget is at 3000 which is alot more then I thought it would be. Also I've got a little bit of heavy lift and a slight mark

 

[NFshooter150]

This alpha brass is weird. So on my SAC comparator for the 40 degree shoulder 22cal the go gauge measured 1.109. I created a false shoulder on the brass and it measured 1.116 so that it would maintain contact with the bolt face. Which is felt like it did and had a hard bolt close but idk about that method because if you do chamber one and then take it out (which I had to do because it wouldn't fire) and then measure it again and it measured 1.104. I think probably the best way to fireform this is to jam the bullet in the lands and pray it fires so I don't make a huge powder mess in my action. Also a fired piece of brass is now measured 1.115. It seems weird to me how a fired piece of brass is now measuring .006 longer then the go gauge. And trust me I checked the go gauge I couldn't get the bolt to close on the go gauge with a piece of tape on the head or with a standard 6br gauge which is .004 longer. Anybody else had issues like this with alpha bra brass?

 

[NFshooter150]

I a really just got 2 boxes of Lapua BR brass. I'm curious Tyler when sizing down the lapua to 22 do you also leave a slight false shoulder to where it's like .004 longer headspace than the chamber?

 

[TylerN]

I a really just got 2 boxes of Lapua BR brass. I'm curious Tyler when sizing down the lapua to 22 do you also leave a slight false shoulder to where it's like .004 longer headspace than the chamber?

I didn't understand the 22 BRA reamer on my first batch of brass and I didn't leave a false shoulder. I incorrectly assumed fireforming 22 BRA was like fire forming 6 BRA where the neck-shoulder junction will already have a slight crush fit on the brass. So I fireformed my first brass all wrong and ended up stretching the base of the brass and having all sorts of pressure issues because of that. Here's an example of some of that brass I ruined, if you look at the base you can see a "belt" like a 300WM where the weakened base wall of the case is budging out with a charge that shouldn't be doing this.

Whoops... lesson learned. NFshooter150 knows where I went wrong here, but for everyone's benifit.... There is no standard 22 BRA reamer of course because it's a wildcat, but I think a common reamer design places the neck like this. First the original 30 degree shoulder of a 6 BR is projected down to the new 22 cal shoulder diameter, and this moves the start of the shoulder-neck junction forward. Then starting from that new-forward neck-shoulder junction the Ackley Improved 40 degree shoulder is drawn. The result is the shoulder is pushed out more compared to a 6 BR to 6 BRA fireforming. The key to fireforming the 22 BRA following this reamer design is to jam it or crush fit it good then fireform it out.

@NFshooter150, next time I fireform for my 22 BRA I'm going to crush fit the shoulder by not necking down the 6mm neck very far. I've had good success fireforming 6 Dasher from 6 BR this way. And I never measured with calipers how far out my false shoulder is from the new shoulder but it's a lot more than 0.004". I set this false shoulder distance by backing out my die 1 revolution. The result is a very forgiving false shoulder. Here's an example of 6 BR being fireformed out to 6 Dasher, expanded out with a 25 cal. mandrel, sizing die backed out 1 rev then resized to 6mm.

I'm going to follow that same process for 22 BRA once I get some new 6 BR brass, I'm watching out for Lapua to come back in stock.

 

[NFshooter150]

Dang I probably should've waited before starting to size down this lapua brass lol I left like a .005 false shoulder which it is a really tough bolt close.. maybe I will also jam them into the lands too

 

[NFshooter150]

So I went out today to fireform lapua br brass and had 75 of them and they ran flawlessly no pressure signs all of them formed out to headspace of 1.113. And just ran great I'll share the target pic but man I'm so much more pleased with lapua then I was the 6bra alpha brass. On the alpha I had 11 of them not fire and they ranged from 1.113 to 1.118. And had alot of pressure signs and everything.

 

[Thawkins9]

Has anyone tried 95smk? I ran them at around 27gr of varget with pretty good results but only running 2780. With test loads I found anything above 28gr had constant signs of pressure. Really would like to see if there is another node around 2850.

 

[NFshooter150]

Has anyone tried 95smk? I ran them at around 27gr of varget with pretty good results but only running 2780. With test loads I found anything above 28gr had constant signs of pressure. Really would like to see if there is another node around 2850.

What was your coal how close to jam and your case capacity I could check in GRT and see what it says for pressure

 

[Thawkins9]

With hornady gauge my bto is 2.005. Roughly .050 jump. Using jam method it varies for me + or - .003 on my jam measurement. I have a .150 freebore but I still am seating way down in the neck.

 

[NFshooter150]

GRT uses COAL not CBTO so what's that measurement

 

[Thawkins9]

2.365

 

[NFshooter150]

2.365

What about your case capacity in h2o? Probably around 38-39

 

[Thawkins9]

Probably high 38 to 39 even the neck capacity would be the only difference vs 6bra and I think it’s around 39.5

 

[NFshooter150]

GRT is saying for the 90s they don't have the 95s in their database but for the 90s at 2.365 with 38.5 case capacity that 29.5 is right at max pressure so 95s probably max is 28.8ish maybe 29 but every chamber can be different. If you have data on the projectile length and sectional density and then also chronograph speeds I could true it and it gets very accurate with pressure

 

[Thawkins9]

Sectional says .27 and projectile length it’s 1.290 +- . Last data I have is 70* with varget 27.6 yielded really good numbers at 2845.

 

[Redman87]

Tagging along

 

[NFshooter150]

The more the merrier! Especially since we can't post in the .22br forum. I finally got 100 pieces of lapua and 100 alpha fire formed now it's time for the development to begin! Gonna start with n150 and the 85.5

 

[NFshooter150]

In fireforming I had some awesome groups with the vld 80 jammed and varget

 

[NFshooter150]

What is everyone's recommendation for a freebore length for the 80vld to 85.5 lrht? I currently have mine done in .160 but to get the 80vld close to the lands it's barely in the case. It should be good for 88s and 90s but for the 80s I'm thinking maybe closer to .100

 

[NFshooter150]

Hey guys so I'm having some issues that I can't seem to figure out.. so some shots that have been fired once and resized with the sac modular die are firing and the bolt lift is very light almost like nothing is in there.. then the cases have carbon down the case and all around usually have of the case head I will attach some pics. Thanks in advance

 

[NFshooter150]

Finally got my new 22bra reamer! Only 5 months later

 

[XP1K]

I don't want to pollute this thread too bad but I've got a couple questions. A br variant has been on my shortlist for a while, and after messing with one at the range this past weekend, I've got the bug again. Still back and forth whether or not I want 6bra or a 22bra.

What's the velocity of the 22bra like compared to a 223ai ? Powder capacity is about the same correct, slight edge to the bra?

I ask because I've got a spare small face 700 bolt and a pile of 223 brass already. Just need an ai sizing die.
I don't compete at any level and I will hunt with whichever one I decide to go with. I will most likely stay with 75-80gr bullets.

 

[Kentucreed6]

I don't want to pollute this thread too bad but I've got a couple questions. A br variant has been on my shortlist for a while, and after messing with one at the range this past weekend, I've got the bug again. Still back and forth whether or not I want 6bra or a 22bra.

What's the velocity of the 22bra like compared to a 223ai ? Powder capacity is about the same correct, slight edge to the bra?

I ask because I've got a spare small face 700 bolt and a pile of 223 brass already. Just need an ai sizing die.
I don't compete at any level and I will hunt with whichever one I decide to go with. I will most likely stay with 75-80gr bullets.

22BRA has a much more capacity if you want to run fast or heavier bullets. 223ai would be perfect for 75-80 grain and run up to or around 3000 fps.

 

[XP1K]

22BRA has a much more capacity if you want to run fast or heavier bullets. 223ai would be perfect for 75-80 grain and run up to or around 3000 fps.

Thanks.

 

[NFshooter150]

I have a 223ai with a 7 twist and pushing the 85.5 bergers my max velo was around 2750 maybe up to 2800 max. In my 22 bra I've pushed the 85.5 up to 3050. My comp load is 2930 with n150. So almost 200 fps more. The huge difference that I have found though is that the SD is so much more consistent in the bra and it is very easy to tune. The one drawback I think people say the most about the br variants is they can be finicky on mag feeding. I use a bat hammerhead action and the gray ops aw mag and it runs flawlessly.

 

[bodhisafa]

I have a 223ai with a 7 twist and pushing the 85.5 bergers my max velo was around 2750 maybe up to 2800 max. In my 22 bra I've pushed the 85.5 up to 3050. My comp load is 2930 with n150. So almost 200 fps more. The huge difference that I have found though is that the SD is so much more consistent in the bra and it is very easy to tune. The one drawback I think people say the most about the br variants is they can be finicky on mag feeding. I use a bat hammerhead action and the gray ops aw mag and it runs flawlessly.

What kind of comps do you shoot your 22 BRA in and what are your thoughts ?

 

[NFshooter150]

What kind of comps do you shoot your 22 BRA in and what are your thoughts ?

Shorter range prs like up to 1000 and then I shoot it in benchrest also. I love it with the 85.5 going 2950 at 1000 my speed is still supersonic and the dope is like 7 mrad

 

[bodhisafa]

Shorter range prs like up to 1000 and then I shoot it in benchrest also. I love it with the 85.5 going 2950 at 1000 my speed is still supersonic and the dope is like 7 mrad

Any difficulty seeing splash or hits on target?

 

[Matt_3479]

I love the 22BRA, I built a hunting purpose 22bra but have been strongly considering doing another barrel in a heavy steel pipe as well.

Im looking at testing a few more bullets over the next few months but ive been shooting 85.5’s at 3100-3130fps range for this past year.

I shot ladders with alpha 6br brass, necked down and formed to 22bra with 85.5’s with n140, n150, varget and 8208 xbr. I ran the 85.5’s from 2935fps up too 3309 fps in the different ladders.

Love this little cartridge.

Build specs;

- lonepeak fuzion
- ibi carbon tactical 26” 1:8 twist
- manners lrh back in black
- Hawkins dbm
- mdt mags
- tt diamond flat
- apex rival 4-32x56
- alpha 6br brass
- arc m-brace rings

 

[NFshooter150]

Awesome stuff man I never pushed mine past 3100 but am kind of curious now. What primers do you mainly use? Also what about barrel life? I'm still on my first bartlein barrel but I'm at like 1400 rounds and I've been seeing some flyers here and there. It still shoots sub half moa consistently but the flyers I never had before

 

[Matt_3479]

Awesome stuff man I never pushed mine past 3100 but am kind of curious now. What primers do you mainly use? Also what about barrel life? I'm still on my first bartlein barrel but I'm at like 1400 rounds and I've been seeing some flyers here and there. It still shoots sub half moa consistently but the flyers I never had before

I’ve spent the most time with varget and tested varget to 3250 in my set up and while I didn’t feel I was at any dangerous pressure it was where I decided to call it max. I believe I could of squeezed more out of it but didnt see the point.

when I did a comparison ladder N150 I found the slowest of the powders and n140 matched varget quiet closest with my lowest charge of n140 being 2993 and varget being 2988 and the high charge was 3226 for n140 and 3214 for varget. I believe n140 might be another really great option and want to explore more with this powder.

IMR 8208xbr was the fastest by far and hit 3309 with the same grain charge as the others. I recommend working up at a lower charge in comparison to the other 3 powders.

All 4 powders showed potential though.

I use cci br4’s almost exclusively as I stumbled across a bunch at an amazing price when primers were hard to get. As far as barrel life I’m unsure where it will go but I’m expecting no less than 2000 to be honest and 2500 I believe should be doable. Reason being is I have 1 friend with 2300 on a 22br and it still shoots .2’s, and a guy at the range has 3900 on his and it’s still .5’s most of the day. I believe his to be a fluke or maybe miss count on rounds.

 

[NFshooter150]

Nice ya this is mine at 1400 rounds

 

[Matt_3479]

Nice ya this is mine at 1400 rounds View attachment 8513690

Hard not to like this round!

 

[NFshooter150]

Absolutely