22GT load data

[Krob95]

Starting this thread as there is no real data for the 22GT out of there. This will be a culmination of my data and hopefully others data that way we can have sort of a reference of powder choices and charge weights with given bullets, twist rates that work, etc.

This being said I am working with 3x fired OG Alpha 6GT brass necked down in a Whidden FL sizing die with a 0.249” bushing and then running a 0.222” SS expander mandrel through it for 2 thou neck tension.

Going to be running CCI 450’s, H4350, and 95gr SMK’s in a 6.5 twist kreiger barrel. Starting low at 33gr and working up to 35.7gr and will go higher if bullets stay together and speeds are good and lack of pressure. Planning on testing tomorrow through a brake since I don’t want to blow up bullets in my can.

I know folks are running 37gr of H4350 in a 6GT but didn’t want to start too high as this is my first time with a wild cat that has virtually no load data. Hopefully everything goes well and regardless I will be posting results tomorrow after the range day.

 

[Krob95]

So I have slowly worked up from 33gr of h4350 and ended up at 37.8gr of h4350. No signs of pressure. Running 3220+ with 37.5-37.8gr with the 95gr SMK’s.

Going to play around in the 37.5-37.8gr range and see what I can find for a flat spot and hope for the best. 122 rounds down the barrel. Don’t think it’s sped up yet. Going to find out eventually though lol

 

[Coltonlrs]

So have you thought about trying varget or xbr or 4166 powder for the 22gt

 

[Krob95]

Nope. I’m just running 36.2 gr of H4350 at 3150. It’s shooting well and I can’t complain.

 

[Birddog6424]

My shooting partner is on his 2nd barrel in the 22GT. He's running Shooters World Long Rifle, which is similar to 4166. Kinda right in between Varget and H4350.

He is running a 90gr Atip at 3130fps for PRS matches in a 7.5" twist. He runs the 88gr ELD on the same load for local stuff and saves the Atips for big matches.

He got 2500 rounds out of his first barrel.

 

[huntnh]

Thinking of having a 22gt spun up any more load data out there thinking of running the 88eldms over varget or h4350. Any help would be appreciated! Are you guys using the .249 neck bushing?

 

[Krob95]

I’m still running h4350. I’m using a .249 bushing as well with a .222 expander mandrel.

 

[huntnh]

@Krob95 what weight bullet and how many grains of 4350? Velocity?

 

[Krob95]

95gr SMK’s, 36.2gr h4350. Getting 3150 in a 26” kreiger with a TBAC ultra 9.

 

[Hollywood 6mm]

Has anyone played with lighter weight bullets? I'm thinking about setting back an old 223 trainer barrel to 22GT and running lighter bullets for coyote and hog hunting.

 

[Birddog6424]

Has anyone played with lighter weight bullets? I'm thinking about setting back an old 223 trainer barrel to 22GT and running lighter bullets for coyote and hog hunting.

There's a lot of old information floating around out there. The 22BR got its start as a wildcat for varminters.

 

[Hollywood 6mm]

There's a lot of old information floating around out there. The 22BR got its start as a wildcat for varminters.

22BR load data isn't going to be much of a starting place for load data, though. Hence why I asked here.

 

[Birddog6424]

22BR load data isn't going to be much of a starting place for load data, though. Hence why I asked here.

My bad, I just saw 22 and thought we were on the 22BR thread. I post on that thread all the time and didn't realize this was the 22GT

I have a good friend running a 22GT in PRS, but he hasn't played with lighter bullets.

 

[Hollywood 6mm]

My bad, I just saw 22 and thought we were on the 22BR thread. I post on that thread all the time and didn't realize this was the 22GT

I have a good friend running a 22GT in PRS, but he hasn't played with lighter bullets.

Fair enough. If needed, I will run heavies, but I'd much rather run a 60-70 grain bullet at higher velocities to try to flatten out thet sub-500y trajectory.

 

[orkan]

With lighter weight bullets you're going to need to head down to varget territory to get best results.



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[Hollywood 6mm]

With lighter weight bullets you're going to need to head down to varget territory to get best results.



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Thankfully, I have Varget and SW Precision on hand, and a small mountain of N150.

 

[Danrobberg]

I’ve been having some issues with rl16. I’m at 34.4 grains shooting 85.5 Berger’s out of a 7 twist barrel. Speed is right around 3030.
Barrel had around 400 rounds on it and had been cleaned twice after break in. I think I developed a carbon ring while shooting today. Out within 5 rounds it went from shooting great to shooting .5 mills high. And the brass has a lot of carbon build up on it. I’ve heard rl16 can cause some issues with the 22gt. Thinking of switching to varget.

 

[Sbenc]

Any new progress on loading for these? Thinkin of building one up using a PVA barrel on an Origin. Is 7 twist going to be enough for the 95smk?

 

[CaptArab]

There's some data floating around in here- I'd copy and paste it but that seems like peak-internet-reloading-stupidity.

GA Precision 22 GT

Waiting for dies.... 16" Bart carbon 1-6.5" Mack EVO Throated for 90gr Atips

www.snipershide.com

Look at Pat's pics.

I hope this thread stays dedicated to load data and is a centralized resource.

Still waiting on my barrel from straight jacket

 

[Krob95]

7 twist should be fine for the 95's. Especially at the speeds you can get them to in a longer barrel

 

[Emc_2015]

*Edited...Reamer found*

 

[4O6shootist]

Figired id post up a thread pertaining to my 22gt experience. Rifles an origin with a 26" 7tw 219 bore hawkhill hvy varm cut to Alpha reamer spec by Manzella Precision.

90 atips 2.575 oal, -10k cci450 H4350

34.6 3008,004
1 34.8 020,022
2 35.0 018,025
5 35.2 046,051
7 35.4 062,067
9 35.6 084,082
11 35.8 3101,098
13 36.0 120,113
15 36.2 117,135
17 36.4 141,137
19 36.6 158,164
Shot later in day, same target no wind
21 36.8 xxx,175
23 37.0 196,195
25 37.2 205,212
27 37.4 235,236
No bolt lift found, very light crating on primer and shadow of ejector ejector slot. This is first firing so maybe the ejector would not be there on formed brass. Growing 003-004 first firing.

There was an obvious node from 3082-3115 so I loaded 35.8gr and shot groups at -10 -20 -30 -40, everything was well under half moa at 300y with -20 being best. Loaded 100 rounds, shot 5 rounds at 1060y and the g7 310bc at 3100fps trued up for very good waterline. Shot my match tied for 3rd place with a new barrel new scope new chassis, whole system ran flawless. I had 4 rounds left after the match and ran them on chrono ans velocity had upped to 3150s. So I'm now at 240 rounds on barrel and it should be all sped up. Pics below are laddee and seating depth test. I shot 100 rounds of 88eldm seated -25k over 34.5gr H4350, these went 2950 first, and were sped up to 3000 by last of the 100. These grouped very well, sub moa 15 shot groups! All in all this has been stupid easy to shoot well.

 

[Krob95]

Looks good man!

 

[4O6shootist]

Looks good man!

Its shooting good. 1k yards in cold conditions last weekend was 5.9mil. Wind drift was minimal, most the day was a 5-10mph @ 8 o'clock. I was only leaving plate with wind holds on targets past 600y. I was very impressed. You get a hot 6cm ballistic from 6br recoil. This things like a cheater round. Gaming at its finest!

 

[patscrazy]

Is H1000 way too slow to work for this cartridge?

 

[Birddog6424]

Is H1000 way too slow to work for this cartridge?

I've used it to good effect in a 22 Creedmoor.

Only one way to find out.

 

[4O6shootist]

I've read/heard rl23/H4831sc is good w/ 88gr or heavier in the 22gt. Full case fill with velocity well above 3k fps.

 

[Sportin Wood]

Bump. Just bought 22 GT brass and looking to do a build on an ARC Archimedes action. Looking for more real world data.

 

[Krob95]

what kind of real world data?

 

[4O6shootist]

Theres a 22gt Facebook page, quite a bit of data on there.

 

[patscrazy]

I was able to get lucky and scored 500 95 grain SMK on GB. Other than that, those bullets are absolute unicorn tears, nowhere to be found right now. 88 ELDM‘s are everywhere and cheap. Certainly a good bullet.

But you don’t hear too much about anybody using the 90 grain matchkings in 22 GT and they’re available. Would seem like a solid choice for this caliber. Great BC not much off from the 95s. On paper it’s better than the 88s and the 85.5s Anyone having success and have any good load data for that bullet? Probably very similar to any 95gr loads. Thanks

 

[4O6shootist]

I was able to get lucky and scored 500 95 grain SMK on GB. Other than that those bullets are absolute unicorn tears, no where right now. 88 ELDM‘s are everywhere and cheap. Certainly a good bullet.

But you don’t hear too much about anybody using the 90 grain matchkings in 22 GT and they’re available. Would seem like a solid choice for this caliber. Great BC not much off from the 95s. On paper it’s better than the 88s and the 85.5s Anyone having success and have any good load data for that bullet? Probably very similar to any 95gr loads. Thanks

@padom and a few other run the 90smk with great success in the 22br. I have some 90s on order to test against the 88eldm.

 

[Sportin Wood]

@padom and a few other run the 90smk with great success in the 22br. I have some 90s on order to test against the 88eldm.

I have 1k 88 eldms and have been keeping my eyes open for 90gr atips or Berger 85.5's

 

[Birddog6424]

I have 1k 88 eldms and have been keeping my eyes open for 90gr atips or Berger 85.5's

Atips aren't hard to find. 85gr LRHTs are a bit dried up at the moment, but they'll be everywhere after they make another run of them.

 

[Krob95]

I'm gonna start stocking up on 85's for my next barrel. I scored almost 600 more 95's thankfully but the supply has all but dried up.

 

[Birddog6424]

I'm gonna start stocking up on 85's for my next barrel. I scored almost 600 more 95's thankfully but the supply has all but dried up.

Sierra sucks at making the bullets they need to. Their management doesn't seem to grasp supply and demand.

When every other bullet weight is available and on the shelves, make the one that isn't. That's the one that's selling.

 

[Krob95]

Oh I agree. But realistically. Out side of a very very small percentage of shooters, what is the actual market for a 95gr SMK?? I can understand why they aren't running millions of them compared to the 168's and 175's and what nots. But to wait two years to do a run is annoying. Atleast ATips are here every once in a while lol

 

[usmc45]

Ok, so clearly I'm doing something wrong. Finally got my 22GT barrel back from GAP and ran to the range to break it in. After reading everyone's experience with this round and the different loads i grabbed some H4350 and 88eldms, dropped in 35.0gr and set them 0.030" off the lands. Thinking i would start somewhere in the "middle" of what you guys have running the first round was "HOT" pressured right up, flat primmer and ejector swipe mark, ran another 10 or so and gave up, sticking bolt lift and all. This is with brand new first load 22GT Alpha brass. The barrel is a prefit for my AI that GAP spun up. All dimensions look correct, everything feeds and chambers just fine. Just cant figure out why 35gr of H4350 is so hot and causing so much pressure. Any ideas or thoughts would be great. I really hope this round is what i have been reading it it. Thanks everyone.

Happy shooting.

 

[Krob95]

Awfully bold to start at 35. Start lower like 32 or so and work up. Also. Deprime a case and measure a fired one vs a virgin case. I know headspace can cause these issues which is why I try to wait to fire form brass to the chamber before doing any substantial load dev.

 

[4O6shootist]

@usmc45 can get get a bullet into the neck of a fired case? What's your velocity? Barrel specs, 218 or 219 bore? 35gr is a lil warm to start at, my working charge with 4350 is 36.2 @ 3130fps, 219 bore 26" hawkhill. A 218 bore will def bring up the pressure. My break-in load was 34.5gr going 3000 fps.

 

[usmc45]

Thanks guys, yeah clearly that was to much for a starting load. i'll drop down to 32 and give it a go again. Barrel is a 218 bore Bartlein 24" not sure of the speed as they were the very first rounds down the tube so i didn't have the crono set up. I can slide a bullet into the neck of the fired case, although a few of them are on the snug side. Loaded rounds chamber really smooth and easy.

 

[nrspence]

218 bore could be part of the problem.

 

[Krob95]

FWIW I am running a 218 bore with 95's and having no issues. At 3160fps

 

[usmc45]

I talked though all of that with Bartlein when i ordered the barrel and they didn't seem to put a lot of stock in the whole 218/219 thing. Sure it could help but they talked much more about RPMs than anything else. I thought it could be something to do with brand new virgin brass as well but not sure. I'll slow things down and see if the problem persists.

 

[nrspence]

FWIW I am running a 218 bore with 95's and having no issues. At 3160fps

Haven’t lost any jackets?

 

[Krob95]

Haven’t lost any jackets?

Nope. Have 800rds on the barrel and not a single issue with blown up bullets

 

[nrspence]

Nope. Have 800rds on the barrel and not a single issue with blown up bullets

Good to know. I have heard a few folks with fast 224s complain about loosing jackets and slower speeds with the .218 bore.

 

[CaptArab]

Sierra sucks at making the bullets they need to. Their management doesn't seem to grasp supply and demand.

When every other bullet weight is available and on the shelves, make the one that isn't. That's the one that's selling.

No joke- the bullet they really need IMO is the 95 TMK. That bullet at creed or GT velocity would be an absolute hammer on game.

 

[Birddog6424]

I

No joke- the bullet they really need IMO is the 95 TMK. That bullet at creed or GT velocity would be an absolute hammer on game.

I ran a 22 Creedmoor in PRS for a season using 95gr SMK. It was a barrel burner, but man it shot flat.

I did have some trouble popping bullets and had to slow it down to at or under 3100fps. That was in a 7 twist .219 bore Hawk Hill. I've switched gears since then and run 7.5" twists in my 22 Dasher and 22BR. That twist pretty much keeps the rpms at a more user friendly sub 300k speed. And there's a lot of proof out there that a 1.4 stability factor plays out no differently than Litz's 1.5. A 95gr SMK at 3080fps still has full BC out to subsonic distances. I see a verified BC of .308 to .312 from a 7.5" twist barrel at 1.41 stability factor.

For a yote/wolf rifle I would build it on an 8" twist and smoke the 95 grainer out of there at 3200 to 3300fps..

 

[patscrazy]

Any one have any load data using 6.5 staball with 90 or 95 grain match kings? Using virgin Alpha 22 GT brass. Hodgdon has 6 GT data using 6.5 staball with the 95 TMK pill in 6mm. Starting is 37.8 with a max of 41.8. I know most guys are using H4350 somewhere in the range of 35 grains to 36.6 grains with success for 22 GT. But I didn’t think I would be jumping up this much with the 6.5 staball. Thanks