Rifle to shoot Cutting Edge 50 Grain 22LR

[Creedmoor Guns]

This is probably a stupid question and I have never had a custom rifle made, so not sure what can be done. First I will tell what I am trying to do and have done.

We are farming a small lot and are having problems with losses to varmints (crows). Maximum shot range is 200 yards, and we are running 22LR Subsonics because I do not want to alarm the neighbors. I was first using a Ruger 10/22 semi auto, not to good for subsonic. Ejection problems. Switched to a bolt action CZ Jaguar 28.625" barrel, because the long barrel really helps with sound suppression. With subsonics and the long barrel it is almost as quiet as a pellet gun..

However, with the long barrel we are losing some velocity on the subsonics, to an undesirable level. We have just started loading our own 22LR ammo using Cutting Edge 50 grain Bullets. That seems to be working very well as we can get a load specific to our needs. We do not have everything worked out yet, but are very pleased with what we are seeing. Since subsonic loads are on the light side, it is no problem to add powder to get the speed back to just below sonic. velocities.

The problem now is that the Cutting Edge ammo with 50 grain bullets are to long to feed, they have to be single fed. Also, the barrel needs a faster twist to stabilize the bullets.

So now for my stupid questions, could a .22wmr chambered rifle be reworked or made to work with 22LR ammo that is to long, maybe by bushing it? And then have a custom barrel made in a 22lr with the right twist rate attached?

Or could a wmr cartage be trimmed down to get the COL to the correct length for WMR ammo and then loaded with a .22lr bullet. If that could be done, it could be shot though a 22 WMR chamber with a 22lr custom barrel attached?

Thank you for your help, and if you want to tell me me how stupid of an idea it is, I will be ok with it as long is you give a good alternative.

 

[rimfire22lr]

Because you are handloading, you would be better off and money ahead to buy a 22 hornet, or a 17 hornet, in a single-shot or bolt action and reload centerfire ammunition to whatever velocity level you desire. Have the barrel made up with whatever twist rate works best for the projectiles you plan to launch. Thread the barrel for a suppressor. Wack crows. Be happy.

 

[acourvil]

My current plan is to shoot the 50gn CE bullets in 22LR cases with a RimX action and and a 17HMR magazine. I have been told that will work, but I am still waiting for my fast twist barrel.

CE has worked with Manson on reamer designs specifically for the 40gn and 50gn bullets, so if you have a rifle with the right magazine and firing pin to feed and fire the round, you may be able to get a custom barrel chambered for it.

 

[justin amateur]

Silly question time...has anyone posted target results and chrony numbers from a large sample of shots?
I'm not talking 5 or 10 cherry picked results but say at least 50 or 100 shots with the new projectiles.
I can't trust information based on small samples...too easy to draw the wrong conclusion.
Not being a pain in the adze, just would like to see a decent set of data to compare to current match 22lr results.
Even a 50 at 200 target and chrony numbers would be informative.

 

[acourvil]

I haven’t seen anyone claim match-quality results from the CE or other hand loaded 22LR solids. I have good hunting quality results with the 32gn bullets, i.e., roughly MOA at 50 yards and 1-1/2 MOA at 100 yards. While I don’t think that is match quality, it is an order of magnitude better than commercially available non-lead 22 ammo. The loading process is tedious enough, and the cost is high enough, that shooting 50 just to generate a data set is not on my to-do list.

 

[Creedmoor Guns]

My current plan is to shoot the 50gn CE bullets in 22LR cases with a RimX action and and a 17HMR magazine. I have been told that will work, but I am still waiting for my fast twist barrel.

CE has worked with Manson on reamer designs specifically for the 40gn and 50gn bullets, so if you have a rifle with the right magazine and firing pin to feed and fire the round, you may be able to get a custom barrel chambered for it.

acourvil, Thanks, that sounds very cool and on the same line I was thinking. Have you set this up yet?

The 17HMR uses the .22 WMR case, so in my way of thinking it should work. The .22WMR overall length is 1.350" and the CE 50 grain should load out to 1.330". So I would think it should feed OK as long as the magazine or action isn't to critical of the slightly smaller diameter.

I am still working on loads with the CE ammo I have, but it is looking good. So I have not started on putting a gun together to run this setup yet, but am thinking hard on it.

I was thinking of maybe going with a Savage Arms rifle in a 22WMR to be able to feed the ammo, and then replacing the barrel with a 28" long or so with a fast twist and chambered for an extended length 22LR.

Do you think that might work?

 

[acourvil]

I have a RimX 17HMR magazine and did a dummy round and it appears to feed fine, but my current barrel is a 16 twist tight chamber which wouldn’t work for the 50gun CE bullet, so I’m pretty sure it will work but until I get the fast twist barrel chambered I can’t really be sure. At this point, I have only done load development for the 32gn CE bullet in my current barrel.

I’m not familiar with the Savage rifle, but I can’t think of a reason that it would not work if it is set up to feed 17HMR or 22 WMR and the barrel has an appropriate chamber.

 

[Mr. Z]

Look through this.

Think I’ll take a step forward with the Vudoo, well 22lr anyway. Let’s try a Quad

Let’s see what these will do in a fast twist Bartlein on a Vudoo. Had my buddy fit and chamber a 1-5.75 Bartlein barrel. Worked with another friend at Badlands Precision to get this bullet made.

www.snipershide.com

 

[acourvil]

Yes, Geno has posted some good info on shooting .22 LR solids, both in that thread and a few others.

 

[drglock]

Silly question time...has anyone posted target results and chrony numbers from a large sample of shots?
I'm not talking 5 or 10 cherry picked results but say at least 50 or 100 shots with the new projectiles.
I can't trust information based on small samples...too easy to draw the wrong conclusion.
Not being a pain in the adze, just would like to see a decent set of data to compare to current match 22lr results.
Even a 50 at 200 target and chrony numbers would be informative.

A few of the guys that I know that tried this route gave up on it citing the inconsistency of the primed brass which I believe is CCI.

 

[Geno C.]

To the OP, unless there is a reason you are wanting to stick with a rimfire that you haven’t yet stated, or I missed, then there are better tools for the job.

As for loading 22lr with the 50s, I’m surprised you’re getting any stability at all out of a factory barrel and the 50gr CE bullets. Anything slower than a 1-7” twist and I figure they’re shooting all over the place.

Yes a 22wmr or 17hmr can but used in some cases to go mag fed. Ruger, Sako, Vudoo, and RimX have been proofed and work. There may be others but I cannot attest to their viability.

Finally, I’ll just drop this comparison here, Badlands vs CE

 

[hlee]

You do know that standard velocity 22lr ammunition is subsonic and cycles a 10/22 perfectly, right?

I’d buy a kidd supermatch, a few bricks of center X and go to town- figuratively.

 

[Creedmoor Guns]

I have a RimX 17HMR magazine and did a dummy round and it appears to feed fine, but my current barrel is a 16 twist tight chamber which wouldn’t work for the 50gun CE bullet, so I’m pretty sure it will work but until I get the fast twist barrel chambered I can’t really be sure. At this point, I have only done load development for the 32gn CE bullet in my current barrel.

I’m not familiar with the Savage rifle, but I can’t think of a reason that it would not work if it is set up to feed 17HMR or 22 WMR and the barrel has an appropriate chamber.

Sounds good, I have a few weeks more of testing. but think I will be putting in a order for a fast twist barrel as soon as I finish. I think it will work if I can get the bullet stabilized with a faster twist barrel. Started checking barrels though and some are out almost a year to get for the more desired barrels. Anybody use Hart barrels they say 8 to 10 weeks? Never used them, but they sound like they should be decent.

 

[Creedmoor Guns]

Look through this.

Think I’ll take a step forward with the Vudoo, well 22lr anyway. Let’s try a Quad

Let’s see what these will do in a fast twist Bartlein on a Vudoo. Had my buddy fit and chamber a 1-5.75 Bartlein barrel. Worked with another friend at Badlands Precision to get this bullet made.

www.snipershide.com

I read through this, glad to see it is working for you, it encourages me. It looks like we are headed in the same direction.

 

[Creedmoor Guns]

To the OP, unless there is a reason you are wanting to stick with a rimfire that you haven’t yet stated, or I missed, then there are better tools for the job.

As for loading 22lr with the 50s, I’m surprised you’re getting any stability at all out of a factory barrel and the 50gr CE bullets. Anything slower than a 1-7” twist and I figure they’re shooting all over the place.

Yes a 22wmr or 17hmr can but used in some cases to go mag fed. Ruger, Sako, Vudoo, and RimX have been proofed and work. There may be others but I cannot attest to their viability.

Finally, I’ll just drop this comparison here, Badlands vs CEView attachment 7707622

No, not really any love for 22lr. Just feel it may be best for a few reasons the way my mind is thinking in the rabbit hole my mind has started down. We have some parameters we are trying to meet that I feel put 22lr ahead. I will list them, maybe something would be better.

We want quiet, this is by far the most important, that is why we are using subsonic, and a CZ jaguar with a 28" barrel. It is really quiet. And if we want we can reach and and club them for the really quiet hit.

We don't want anything to powerful, we just want to get the range we need and not have must energy left. We do have neighbors and want to stay safe for them and us. We are working now with loads between 1.8 and 2.3 grains. Don't think if we do something wrong we can get hurt to bad with that much powder.

I am kind of a believer in running a case that will be to the full side for the bullet you will be launching. Creedmoor and PRC seem to use that matrix to make good shooting cartridges. With the loads being under 3 grains I think it would get lost in anything else and to much energy would be lost compressing the empty space in the cartridge.

And the last thing I am weighing is I have never made a modified gun before and admit I am not sure of what I am doing. 22s are cheapish and easy to find parts guns you can get cheap. So if it doesn't work I am not out a lot. So for a first trial gun I think it is the best to play with.

Anyway that is all I got for reasons.

You are right I am having problems with stability. We have only shot a few of these 50 grain CE so far, but are able to get the muzzle velocities we want . So feel if we can make it fly right it should do what we want. We are getting keyholes so sure they are tumbling. So now we feel we need a new barrel to stabilize the bullet. And since we are going to put out for a barrel, may as well try to find something we can attach it to so it will feed.

I won't be ordering or making a decision for a couple of weeks, so anything can change now. So any ideas are welcome.

 

[littlesister]

This is probably a stupid question and I have never had a custom rifle made, so not sure what can be done. First I will tell what I am trying to do and have done.

We are farming a small lot and are having problems with losses to varmints (crows). Maximum shot range is 200 yards, and we are running 22LR Subsonics because I do not want to alarm the neighbors. I was first using a Ruger 10/22 semi auto, not to good for subsonic. Ejection problems. Switched to a bolt action CZ Jaguar 28.625" barrel, because the long barrel really helps with sound suppression. With subsonics and the long barrel it is almost as quiet as a pellet gun..

However, with the long barrel we are losing some velocity on the subsonics, to an undesirable level. We have just started loading our own 22LR ammo using Cutting Edge 50 grain Bullets. That seems to be working very well as we can get a load specific to our needs. We do not have everything worked out yet, but are very pleased with what we are seeing. Since subsonic loads are on the light side, it is no problem to add powder to get the speed back to just below sonic. velocities.

The problem now is that the Cutting Edge ammo with 50 grain bullets are to long to feed, they have to be single fed. Also, the barrel needs a faster twist to stabilize the bullets.

So now for my stupid questions, could a .22wmr chambered rifle be reworked or made to work with 22LR ammo that is to long, maybe by bushing it? And then have a custom barrel made in a 22lr with the right twist rate attached?

Or could a wmr cartage be trimmed down to get the COL to the correct length for WMR ammo and then loaded with a .22lr bullet. If that could be done, it could be shot though a 22 WMR chamber with a 22lr custom barrel attached?

Thank you for your help, and if you want to tell me me how stupid of an idea it is, I will be ok with it as long is you give a good alternative.

I'm not going to say your ideas are stupid, but there is an easier way. There are several bolt guns that are capable of crow killing accuracy at 200 yds. A suppressed Anschutz, Vudoo, probably even a CZ shooting around 1070 speed RWS.Lapua or Eley will easily do the job..

 

[IamJoHo]

Vudoo 22mag action and a 22lr 1:6 or 1:7 barrel. I think then you could feed from a magazine. Reach out to AJ Stewart. I think he might be here on the hide and know he is on Facebook. Also the man Mike Bush.

 

[grauhanen]

A scarecrow might work better for what's desired. It's usually very quiet unless you get a voluble one.

 

[MtnCreek]

Dry fieldcorn. Drill tiny holes in them and tie ~12" threads to them.