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22 ARC

20" Craddock RTR 1:7"

29.5gr CFE223 75 ELDM @ 2.240 = 2950fps
.6" for 5rds, .6" for 5rds, .74" for 5rds, .63" for 5rds, and .76" for 5rds. Two groups would've been .42" and .34" except for first and last round fliers. This load shot 3030 ft per second at about 1.5" in a 22" Baldwin gun works 22 Grendel barrel.

26gr 8208, 75 ELDM @ 2.280 = 2899fps
most accurate at .37" for 5rds

26.5gr 8208, 75 ELDM @ 2.280 = 2950fps
.46" for 5rds

27gr 8208, 75 ELDM @ 2.280 = 2999fps
least accurate at .74" for 5rds and showing pressure

Used my old 22 Grendel brass and just ran it through the new Lee 22 ARC dies. I still had 60 rounds of 22 Grendel(CFE load) loaded up. I shot 30rds of it to help get zeroed, set the gas block, and run some rounds through thru the barrel before testing the 8208 loads. Everything functions fine but headspace on the 22G brass and ammo was 1.174 and fired brass from the Craddock 22ARC is 1.181. Same BCG and rifle parts; just pulled the 22G barrel and replaced with the 22A barrel. Used the Hornady headspace comparator and .400" insert to measure the shoulders. I'm looking forward to trying some TAC and maybe even some StaBall 6.5.

Hoping I can get sub .5" consistently at 3000fps plus once the barrel speeds up and brass is sized correctly. Hopefully TAC can get me there. If it doesn't work out, I at least have 8208 at mid 2900s was excellent accuracy.
 
Ramshot TAC, 75gr ELDM, 2.280"

27gr 2901
27.5gr 2954
28gr 3000
28.5gr 3060
 
Midsouth has 100ct bags of Hornady 6.5 Grendel for $50 each
 
Accuracy?
No luck today. I loaded the 75's at 2.250" and shot some 1 - 1.8" groups. Definitely got the velocity I wanted but accuracy lacked. I will try some more seating depths but as of now TAC doesn't look promising. Which is a shame bc I like that powder and have a lot of it. I might try Varget, 6.5 StaBall, or N150 next.
 
No luck today. I loaded the 75's at 2.250" and shot some 1 - 1.8" groups. Definitely got the velocity I wanted but accuracy lacked. I will try some more seating depths but as of now TAC doesn't look promising. Which is a shame bc I like that powder and have a lot of it. I might try Varget, 6.5 StaBall, or N150 next.
Try the 75 eldm @ 2.30 OAL. Mine didn't tighten up until I got down to 556 velocities. 🤷‍♂️
 
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27.8gr TAC 3000fps
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TAC still isn't doing great for me. 2.230" definitely opens up. 2.240" seems to be the sweet spot. I shot the last 10rds of 22 Grendel ammo I had loaded up. 29.5gr CFE223, 75ELDM at 2.240. Still shoots good with that load. Think I'm done with TAC.
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I cut little boxes out of the paper bc I ran out of pasters. There's two rounds inside the little cutout in group #2.

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How many gr of CFE to get the 80 to 3100? What about the 53?

I'm testing the 62gr ELD-VT. Factory ammo is running 3200 from my 20" .


Curious to see your results on how yhe factory ammo groups. I used to have a 22 grendel and sold it out of necessity at the time. Thinking it might be time to get back into one. It would be great to not have to do all the brass prep and handload again.
 
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I have stocked up on all the 22ARC components waiting for a factory bolt gun to hit the market. I have a fair amount of CFE223 from my 556 loads but was wondering if anyone has tested the waters with Reloder TS 15.5. It sits only one ranking slower than CFE223 and well within the range of powders in the published load data for the 22ARC.
I have used Reloder 16 for years in my 6.5C and 243Win loads with great results. Both 15.5 and 16 are touted as very temp insensitive, whereas I have read several posts concerned with CFE223's temp sensitivity. Thank you in advance for any words of wisdom from this experienced group.

P.S. My primary expectation is to shoot coyotes with the 62gr ELD-VT, but possibly move up to the 80gr ELD-X for hogs and whitetail if the opportunity presents itself.
 
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‘16 is great in my .22BR w/88’s. I suppose it would be the same in the Arc.

I couldn’t find a node I liked with ‘16 and 80.5’s, which led me to think I needed something a tic faster with lighter bullets.

LVR is magnificent with 75’s, but yes, it is a bit temp sensitive.

With 62’s, I’d try StaBall Match. A friends .223AI love it with 69SMK’s.
 
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Thanks for the info. I would love to use RL16 as I have about 12lbs of it, but the charts show H4350 as compressed, so RL16 would likely be the same. Your logic is what made me think of RL15.5 since it is a little bit faster. Thanks again.
 
Thanks for the info. I would love to use RL16 as I have about 12lbs of it, but the charts show H4350 as compressed, so RL16 would likely be the same. Your logic is what made me think of RL15.5 since it is a little bit faster. Thanks again.
I am pretty sure RL16 takes up a lot more space than 4350 in a case. I'm betting it would be too slow combined with it's bulk for the ARC case
 
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It’s a case full in a .22 BR.
I’m not crunching, but I’m slowly tapping it in the case via a 6” drop funnel.
 
Going thru old supply of 3 gun bullets. Came across 1000 rounds of sierra 69 gr BTHP match. Did some load work up with the Hornady 62 gr and found my barrel likes that 3260 area with. 30.6 of Lever.. Hornady load data for their 68 gr BTHP has max charge of 29.5 of Lever. Do you think this is a good max reference for the 69 gr. for load development.
 
Got my new Ruger American Ranch 22ARC to the range yesterday for some initial powder tests with the Hornady 62gr ELD-VT. CFE223, H335, Varget and Reloder15.5. Looks like my limits are in the 3100-3200 fps range with the 16" barrel. Started to see some primer cratering at the top end, but no flattening of the primer, ejector marks or stiff bolt lift. My firing pin hole may just be a little too big. Using CCI450's so it is not a soft primer issue.

Reloder 15.5 was too slow at 30.0gr. (100% filled case), only got up to 2900fps. It may be good for heavier bullets like the 80gr ELDX though. The gun, however, would not feed for sh**. It's going back to Ruger on an RMA to check the feed ramp or something. It is not field ready. Disappointing since I have been waiting for this rifle to make it to market for months.
 
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Did you get to shoot it enough to get an idea how it would group?
Since I had so many powders and range of charge weights, I only did one round per charge so the POI moved around quite a bit.

Now that I have a much smaller window to consider, I will do progressive 3 shot groups and chart the POI changes.

Based on more research, I think I am going to introduce Win Stabal Match to the mix. I am really looking for temperature stability and low SD/ES.

Now I will just have to wait to get the rifle back from Ruger due to the feeding issues before I can do any more load development.
 
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‘16 is great in my .22BR w/88’s. I suppose it would be the same in the Arc.

I couldn’t find a node I liked with ‘16 and 80.5’s, which led me to think I needed something a tic faster with lighter bullets.

LVR is magnificent with 75’s, but yes, it is a bit temp sensitive.

With 62’s, I’d try StaBall Match. A friends .223AI love it with 69SMK’s.
What velocities are you getting? I really want to do another MK12 but in 22 ARC. Even gave thought to just swapping barrel and bolt on my MK12.
 
How long is your barrel? And have you tried any other powders with that 85.5?
18" craddock RTR
Yes tried RL16, Staball Match, Staball 6.5, TAC, cfe223, n540....
Only rl16 was close on es/SD. I'm fine with the velo. My main issue is the chamber is wholly shit long. Have to create a false shoulder of 12k on new brass. Kinda a pain in the ass, but works ok.
 
Only rl16 was close on es/SD.
Since RL16 was a close contender. I wonder how it would compare to H4350 in a temp stability test. 5 shots at ambient summer temps and 5 shots out of a cooler. In other calibers, I have found RL16 to be more stable than most. Staball Match is also touted as being very temp stable (no experience with it yet though). When I hunt coyotes, it could be 33 or 103 degrees.
 
Since RL16 was a close contender. I wonder how it would compare to H4350 in a temp stability test. 5 shots at ambient summer temps and 5 shots out of a cooler. In other calibers, I have found RL16 to be more stable than most. Staball Match is also touted as being very temp stable (no experience with it yet though). When I hunt coyotes, it could be 33 or 103 degrees.
I've found RL16 to be very temp stable, just can't get enough in the arc case to get any velo. Staball match has been very good temp wise in 556 loads with 77 smk and 55 blitz for me.
I admit to not being a big gas gun guy, but the instability of cfe223 and Lever are a nogo for my uses.
Also of note is that my es on 5 shots with 16 and 80 vld was 4. But only 2600 fps.
 
I've found RL16 to be very temp stable, just can't get enough in the arc case to get any velo. Staball match has been very good temp wise in 556 loads with 77 smk and 55 blitz for me.
I admit to not being a big gas gun guy, but the instability of cfe223 and Lever are a nogo for my uses.
Also of note is that my es on 5 shots with 16 and 80 vld was 4. But only 2600 fps.
Another option is RL15.5, I was able to get 30.0gr in the case but with the 62gr ELD-VT is only at 2,900. Still might not get you the velocity you are looking for. RL15.5 (not RL15) has the same temp stability as 16 but is a bit faster. If Staball Match does not work for me in the 62gr, I will move over to AR-Comp, supposed to be another temp stable powder from Alliant. I sure wish you could get 1/4lb samples and not drop $50-75 just to put it on the shelf for perpetuity.
 
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