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GA Precision 22 GT

That's pretty badass. A part of me is really curious in a centerfire .22 to shoot 80-90 grain high BC projectiles. I've been debating about getting a 22 BRA barrel spun up for the wife's rifle, but then I talk myself in sticking with 6mm.

Curious to hear how this project goes.
 
Let's get this party started!

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PS - Interested in MV with those 90s 😉
 
@psinclair what does the 22 GT offer that you can’t get in 22 Creed? Genuinely curious as I have an itch to build the ultimate “doe whacker”.
 
psinclair, is the brass readily available at this time? This chambering has my interest but I don’t see brass on GAP’s site or Alpha‘s.
 
I imagine it would be more like a normal 22-250 as the 22 creed data is often taken from 22-250ai data.
With an 85 rdf my 22creed is going 3400, that’s at the top end right before pressure but I’m using 43.5 gr rl26. I don’t see the gt getting there with it’s more limited capacity.
 
my 22LRV (6xc necked down) runs 95s at 3140 with 37.8gr H4350 from a 25" barrel. cruise mode
 
Sharp looking rifle! I'm going to have to try Varget in my 22X47.
 
I'd be surprised if they came out with a 22GT standalone die set. Guessing it will just bushing replacements unless this thing really starts to take off.
I would guess you’re right considering how little noise this is making. I was just looking for something to possibly save some barrel life over 22 creed and run 88 eld’s fairly conservatively. I was looking at 22 br but wasn’t sure How they would feed in axsa mags.
 
I always thought a 22GT would be cool. I did a 22BR on a 20" barrel and have been dissatisfied with the speed. 3000fps with an 88 is top end. I think a 22GT on a 22" carbon would be fun. I might do that.

I wouldn't expect much out of the higher capacity cartridges when running a shorty. I shortened a 223 Wylde barrel (that was a known fast barrel) to 20" and had it rechambered to 22 Creedmoor. My accurate node was 3100 fps with 88s and hit pressure soon after.

If I were to guess you probably won't get more than 30fps with the 22GT over the 22BR with a short barrel since you won't be able to take advantage of the extra capacity as much. I could be wrong but gaining much velocity doesn't seem likely. I'd be happy to get 3000fps with 88s from a 20" barrel!
 
I just bought a 22" proof 1:7". I'm thinking 22-250AI since I already have Lapua 22-250 brass.And keeping it at 3000. Hopefully that's a low node or so.
Yeah, you might be able to run h4831sc in a 22-250ai to get 3000fps and get a smig more barrel life. Then again if you are going to fireform maybe a 22 Dasher or 22BRX/BRA?
 
22BR -39
22 Dasher- 41
22-250 - 44.6
6GT. - 44gr (?)
22-47 - 48gr(?)
22-250AI. - 50.4
22Creed - 52gr

Yeah I saw that but the Dasher is known to be an efficient design. It's very likely that you will get similar velocities (slightly less) with a 22 Dasher in a 22" barrel as you would with a 22-250ai. Although I'm not a fan of Alpha brass you could also just neck down their Dasher brass.
 
I'm not getting the same velocities in my Dasher as I am in my 6GT or my 6 Creed. And I thought that efficient design would work in my current 22BR. It hasn't. It needs more juice. Typical of BR based cartridges actually. Run them at top chamber pressure for what's considered the going rate of MV. Or you could sandbag a big case to achieve 100fps more with less pressure.

Is your 6 Dasher, Creed, and GT all short barrels? I'm only speaking to 22" and less barrels. I think the larger capacity cases become more efficient with longer barrels but if you are going 22" and under I don't think you get as much benefit from the larger capacity less efficient cases.

Not saying you'll get the exact same velocities but not enough difference to give up several hundred rounds of barrel life. This is all based on my personal experience with similar cartridges maybe someone else has had different results.
 
There's no way I'd do a 22 Dasher over a 22 GT. And I'm a huge fan of my 6 Dasher. Its one thing to neck down, or to FF...but to neck down and FF? F that. And I don't think a 22GT has enough juice for what I want.
Alpha makes 6 Dasher brass. Whatever floats your boat though! Let me know how fast you get 88s in your 22" 22-250ai I'm genuinely interested.
 
I have been shooting my 22 GT for a bit now doing some testing on the brass. Its been awesome. Ive been shooting 88g ELD-M and 95g SMKs. I have shot them both well over 3300 without pressure out of a 1:7 twist barrel.

the 95g shot better and thats what ive been playing with. 39.6g of RL26 put me right at 3200 fps. initially that was the load i thought i would run, but just backed it off as the barrel sped up some and i'm averaging just over 3200 fps. Since I'm putting this together as a PRS rifle, it needs to be under 3200, so i just loaded up some more at 39.4g and that should keep me under 3200 fps.

even at that speed, it has less recoil than my 6 dasher and just under 6 mils to 1000, which is pretty amazing. for me the 95g smks are holding at their published BC of .600ish G1. The litz curve had it way less than that, but when i trued out my kestrel i had to put it back up there to not get high hits. still more testing at range to be done. I would like to get some 90g A-tips to test. not sure if the cost will be worth it.

overall i like the 22 GT. I think the advantage over the 22 Creed is really just in case fill. the creed is so overbore that we see people do stupid things with it, like calling and complaining that they are only getting 4-5 firings on brass pushing a 80g bullet at 3700 fps. you don't say? only like 85,000 psi of pressure. We have some guys in testing setting theirs up for hunting and pushing 70g class bullets in the upper 3000 fps. Thats pretty sweet. honestly, its like anything if you have a 22 creed and its shooting well (and your not doing anything dumb) prob no need to switch. If you are getting into the overbore 22, this is a pretty good option, giving better usable case fill for the size bullets.
 
I have been shooting my 22 GT for a bit now doing some testing on the brass. Its been awesome. Ive been shooting 88g ELD-M and 95g SMKs. I have shot them both well over 3300 without pressure out of a 1:7 twist barrel.

the 95g shot better and thats what ive been playing with. 39.6g of RL26 put me right at 3200 fps. initially that was the load i thought i would run, but just backed it off as the barrel sped up some and i'm averaging just over 3200 fps. Since I'm putting this together as a PRS rifle, it needs to be under 3200, so i just loaded up some more at 39.4g and that should keep me under 3200 fps.

even at that speed, it has less recoil than my 6 dasher and just under 6 mils to 1000, which is pretty amazing. for me the 95g smks are holding at their published BC of .600ish G1. The litz curve had it way less than that, but when i trued out my kestrel i had to put it back up there to not get high hits. still more testing at range to be done. I would like to get some 90g A-tips to test. not sure if the cost will be worth it.

overall i like the 22 GT. I think the advantage over the 22 Creed is really just in case fill. the creed is so overbore that we see people do stupid things with it, like calling and complaining that they are only getting 4-5 firings on brass pushing a 80g bullet at 3700 fps. you don't say? only like 85,000 psi of pressure. We have some guys in testing setting theirs up for hunting and pushing 70g class bullets in the upper 3000 fps. Thats pretty sweet. honestly, its like anything if you have a 22 creed and its shooting well (and your not doing anything dumb) prob no need to switch. If you are getting into the overbore 22, this is a pretty good option, giving better usable case fill for the size bullets.


Thank you for your report.
What barrel length do you have on this tested 22GT ?
 
Anyone else doing anything with 22gt? I’ve got one on the way
 
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Since mid-summer been doing extensive work on the 22 GT in different Benchmark Barrel builds for the sole purpose of building an Idaho backcountry wolf gun. Couple observations that are my opinion only based on recent personal experience: in a 1:7 twist barrel, some of the premium 77-85 grain match bullets will blow up especially from a clean or hot gun. Since I don't believe in providing a wolf a warning shot, I've gone to a 1:7.5 twist barrel and have not experienced this with the same load/velocities. BTW, these same bullets shot out of my 1:8 twist 22 Creedmoor perform as well. I didn't start load development until the barrels were broken in and velocities plateaued off. Both guns between 140-150 rounds. Steel barrel gained 123 fps and the carbon fiber barrel 117 fps. Loading was done with Alpha brass on Hornady 6 GT Match Grade dies using .249 & .250 bushings and the 6mm GT seating stem replaced with their 22 cal 75-80 gr. AMAX/ELD-M seating stem. Load data and performance speaks for itself but as a disclaimer, this was from my guns only so start at least 2 grains lighter and work up.

22 GT load results.pngBenchmark Wolf gun.jpeg
 
Those are impressive speeds for the small case! I'm building a 23" 8tw 22 creed to shoot 75-85gr bullets for large predators myself. I will be running H1000 for case fill and to keep ignition temps cool, hoping the throat won't move too quickly. Did Mike build that rifle? Just curious as he uses a lot of those Ibex stocks and he's local to you.
It was mostly Ron who did most of the work on the build. H1000 should work well in your 22 Creed and you should get decent barrel life relatively speaking. Good luck.
 
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Any updates from those running this cartridge? Been looking for a .224 bolt gun for a while and this is sure intriguing. Interested in barrel life mostly. I dont plan on running it hard, looking to push 80-90gr pills in the 3000-3100 range from a 23-24" barrel.
 
I always thought a 22GT would be cool. I did a 22BR on a 20" barrel and have been dissatisfied with the speed. 3000fps with an 88 is top end. I think a 22GT on a 22" carbon would be fun. I might do that.


I did just that but in 6GT. It's still got stupid low recoil, and shoots very well. Only thing that will hurt me in a match is calm wind. Mirage off the barrel is crazy but I have ordered a Mirage cover just in case.
 

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OAL length from tip to base?? Looks fun!
 
Where did you get the pr1-mil 3.6-18x44! I cannot find one anywhere! Oh......good shooting BTW lol

I'm doing a T&E for Leupold on that scope...

That will be another thread...;) And take me several months of using it to complete my data, and thoughts...
 
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Are you running a mag kit with these??
 
Definitely has piqued my interest as a good 22 cal round for my AI. Thank you!