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.22 br

Yes, 22 br
Interesting. Those charge weights seem really low, hard to believe one would get adequate case fill (I don't think N540 is a particularly high-volume powder). VV's site has the 224 Valkyrie at a max load of 23.8gr N540 under a 90gr Berger VLD, and the 6mmBR with a max load of 30.4gr N540 under a 105gr Scenar. It's been my (limited) experience so far that 22BR powder charges are much closer to 6mmBR when running at the heavy end of bullet selection for the cartridges; for example, my Varget load that I worked up started to pressure out at 28.2gr with an 88gr ELDM, less than 10% below the common charge of ~30-31gr for 6BR running heavies.

Those velocities are also really slow. My instinct is that either N540's not really suitable for the case, or something is off about that data; I suspect it's the latter. But perhaps I'm wrong, wouldn't be the first time.
 
Interesting. Those charge weights seem really low, hard to believe one would get adequate case fill (I don't think N540 is a particularly high-volume powder). VV's site has the 224 Valkyrie at a max load of 23.8gr N540 under a 90gr Berger VLD, and the 6mmBR with a max load of 30.4gr N540 under a 105gr Scenar. It's been my (limited) experience so far that 22BR powder charges are much closer to 6mmBR when running at the heavy end of bullet selection for the cartridges; for example, my Varget load that I worked up started to pressure out at 28.2gr with an 88gr ELDM, less than 10% below the common charge of ~30-31gr for 6BR running heavies.

Those velocities are also really slow. My instinct is that either N540's not really suitable for the case, or something is off about that data; I suspect it's the latter. But perhaps I'm wrong, wouldn't be the first time.
the latest sierra book is similar with varget. lists a max of 24.8 @ 2600
here's an older edition: http://www.6mmbr.com/f/sierra_22br_data.pdf
22 should take slower powders than 6, ceteris paribus.
 
Those velocities are also really slow. My instinct is that either N540's not really suitable for the case, or something is off about that data; I suspect it's the latter. But perhaps I'm wrong, wouldn't be the first time.
Your guess is accurate. I ended up testing different charge weights up to 30.5gr. I'll check my log later and post the results. That book data I'd guess is just being extremely extremely safe. Unfortunately it seems like a lot of book data is so understated these days that it's worthless and instead of having professional guidance on loads we are left having to figure it out on our own.

Anyone ever shot n150 with heavies in a 22 BR or 22 BRA? How did it work and what charge weights worked for you?
 
Hey so I did reach out to Manson and jgs about getting a reamer made, jgs said 10-12 weeks and Manson said 4-6 months.. any chance I could rent your 22bra Manson reamer from you?
It’s just a straight 22BR reamer, not the Ackley chamber, but if you still want it then sure! GAP has it right now while my barrel waits in their queue though, so lead time is probably 6-8 weeks 😅
 
It’s just a straight 22BR reamer, not the Ackley chamber, but if you still want it then sure! GAP has it right now while my barrel waits in their queue though, so lead time is probably 6-8 weeks 😅
O I thought you had an ackley one. What would you guys say is the best specs for a bra reamer with the alpha bra brass?
 
O I thought you had an ackley one. What would you guys say is the best specs for a bra reamer with the alpha bra brass?

Please start a new thread for your 22BRA build/questions

This is a 22BR load thread. We are getting pages deep with non 22BR data.

Thank you
 
Your guess is accurate. I ended up testing different charge weights up to 30.5gr. I'll check my log later and post the results. That book data I'd guess is just being extremely extremely safe. Unfortunately it seems like a lot of book data is so understated these days that it's worthless and instead of having professional guidance on loads we are left having to figure it out on our own.

Anyone ever shot n150 with heavies in a 22 BR or 22 BRA? How did it work and what charge weights worked for you?
im curious about your n540 loads especially the velocity at 30.5 gr
 
im curious about your n540 loads especially the velocity at 30.5 gr

This was for a 22 BRA. I wouldn't recommend pushing it that hard but here's the data I recorded. 26" PVA Osprey barrel with 90gr SMK's and CCI 450's in Lapua brass.

29.5gr 3048.6 fps
29.6 3067.2
29.7 3075.5
29.8 3090
29.9 3095.7
30.0 3117
30.1 3127.7
30.2 3150.8
30.3 3160
30.4 3167 (cratering in the primers starting.)

I stopped at 30.4. The "30.5" I mentioned earlier was inaccurate, I didn't remember i stopped at 30.4gr until I just checked my logs.

I wasn't seeing obvious pressure signs but I personally wouldn't push the load that hard again above 30.0gr. I'm happy to stay at 3000 to 3050 FPS.
 
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Hey guys so I'm looking at seating dies.. I really wanna do the le wilson with an arbor press but they said they are too backlogged to take any custom orders. I was wondering though couldn't I get the 6bra micrometer die and a 22 cal seating stem?
 
Hey guys so I'm looking at seating dies.. I really wanna do the le wilson with an arbor press but they said they are too backlogged to take any custom orders. I was wondering though couldn't I get the 6bra micrometer die and a 22 cal seating stem?
You probably could, but that’s not what I’d recommend. A big benefit of modern seating dies is controlling the orientation of the bullet as it’s seated, and you give that up with your plan. On the other hand, if that’s keeping you from running the cartridge, I say go for it and order the correct thing also. You won’t struggle to sell a 6BR seater later.
 
You probably could, but that’s not what I’d recommend. A big benefit of modern seating dies is controlling the orientation of the bullet as it’s seated, and you give that up with your plan. On the other hand, if that’s keeping you from running the cartridge, I say go for it and order the correct thing also. You won’t struggle to sell a 6BR seater later.
I use the same exact rcbs matchmaster seating die for my 65 Saum, 65 prc, 25 prc and 6saum. Uses the same 6.5mm seating stem whole time, seats all bullets very straight. I'd totally get a 6bra seater and install a vld style 22cal stem, that's as close to custom match fitment as he can get.
 
Hey guys so I'm looking at seating dies.. I really wanna do the le wilson with an arbor press but they said they are too backlogged to take any custom orders. I was wondering though couldn't I get the 6bra micrometer die and a 22 cal seating stem?


Not with LE Wilson Micrometer Inline seating dies, no. I actually called Wilson with this very question as I already owned their 6BR inline micrometer seater. They told me no, you cannot simply put their 22cal stem in their 6BR die, it wont fit. So I just bought a 22BR inline seating die..

Now, Im not saying you cant use a 6br seating die to seat 22BR bullets, from others posting, that sounds like it works but I never tested it. I use all caliber specific LE Wilson Micrometer inline seating dies with excellent results.
 
Not with LE Wilson Micrometer Inline seating dies, no. I actually called Wilson with this very question as I already owned their 6BR inline micrometer seater. They told me no, you cannot simply put their 22cal stem in their 6BR die, it wont fit. So I just bought a 22BR inline seating die..

Now, Im not saying you cant use a 6br seating die to seat 22BR bullets, from others posting, that sounds like it works but I never tested it. I use all caliber specific LE Wilson Micrometer inline seating dies with excellent results.
I had similar experiences with Redding non-inline dies. I thought I could drop a 22 cal stem in a 6 Dasher die. I quickly found out the O.D. of the stems were different so that didn't work.

If a 6mm seating stem is deep enough for VLD bullets with long tips it may work for 22 cal projectiles. I ended up trying a Forester 6mm Dasher die I had and found the stem was deep enough to seat 22 cal 90gr SMKs without mashing up the tip of the bullets.
 
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Question, is a .253 neck reamer going to be large enough for brass resized from alpha 6br? I ordered the brass but unfortunately it won’t be here before I leave. Was hoping to ship a few dummy rounds with my barrel to check chambered and make sure it won’t have any issues.

I do have lapua 6br brass if the neck thickness is the same between alpha and lapua.

Thanks for any help.
 
Question, is a .253 neck reamer going to be large enough for brass resized from alpha 6br? I ordered the brass but unfortunately it won’t be here before I leave. Was hoping to ship a few dummy rounds with my barrel to check chambered and make sure it won’t have any issues.

I do have lapua 6br brass if the neck thickness is the same between alpha and lapua.

Thanks for any help.

No clue about alpha.. but most reamers are .255 or .256
 
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Question, is a .253 neck reamer going to be large enough for brass resized from alpha 6br? I ordered the brass but unfortunately it won’t be here before I leave. Was hoping to ship a few dummy rounds with my barrel to check chambered and make sure it won’t have any issues.

I do have lapua 6br brass if the neck thickness is the same between alpha and lapua.

Thanks for any help.
I know for a fact .253 you will have to neck turn. I have a .253 reamer. I’ve shot some unturned brass to fire form and it still easily hold a bullet after firing.
 
Tagging this
hey Mr. F, I finally had a chance to try staball match yesterday. I would say it's like Varget, so it's a bit too fast to get max velocity. I started with the 22 ARC max load that was listed on hodgdon's site at 27.6 gr. dropped it straight from a lyman brass smith powder measure.

GRT predicted:
2758 fps @ 52.8k psi

Actual Results (20 shots):
Average velocity 2754 fps
sd 13.79 fps
es 47.52 fps

GRT predicts you could go up to 29 gr @ 61.2k psi and get 2865 fps. I might work it up and see but I also just ordered staball 6.5 to try which should be a more appropriate burn speed and possibly hit closer to 3k fps at max case fill/same pressure.
 
Hey guys does anyone have experience ans advice on where to start for fireforming for 22bra with alpha 6bra brass? I think I'm gonna fireform with the Berger 80.5 and either varget or n150. Any advice helps thanks everyone
 
what is your best heavy bullet for LONG RANGE (600y+), to get best group and best water line ? If you test more than one of them.

95 SMK
90 SMK
90 VLD
90 ATIP
88 ELDM
85.5 HYBRID ??

I am loading 223rem, but I am intersted in those bullets.
thx

22BR my go to favorite is still 90smk. Stupid accurate to 1000yd.

This was a waterline test after truing my Kestrel at 800yd with this 4166/90smk load. I input 400yd into the freshly trued kestrel and dialed what it said. Doesn't get much more dead on than this.


 
what is your best heavy bullet for LONG RANGE (600y+), to get best group and best water line ? If you test more than one of them.

95 SMK
90 SMK
90 VLD
90 ATIP
88 ELDM
85.5 HYBRID ??

I am loading 223rem, but I am intersted in those bullets.
thx
I really like the 85.5 in my 223ai. At 800 yards with around 2850mv I was using 19.5 moa elevation which my true bc was around .310 g7
 
I'm probably going to answer my question with "you will just have to shoot them at see".
I've got a 1-8 22 BR barrel, and as most of you'll know , when a new rifle / barrel comes through the door all your other rifles move back one notch as far as being taken to the range. I think the 88 ELD M is about as long a bullet as the 1-8 twist will stabilize ??
What say you'll
 
Thank you, this evening I'll review the old posts looking for load data using the 88's , I'm thinking RL 16 or H 4350 ?
i havent tried h4350 yet because other people badmouthed it pretty hard in this thread. I have been using RL16 recently and I think it's great in terms of case fill, velocity, and velocity spreads. Sierra book max is 29.5 gr for the 90 gr sierra match king @ 2.280 coal and 2800 fps. It seems like you should be able to go a good bit higher than that but obviously work up and not every chamber/barrel is the same.