22 ARC & 95 SMKs

[Cearbhall_Sponaugle]

Does anyone have any reloading experience with the new 22 ARC cartridge and the 95 grain SMKs?

It would seem that this would be an ideal rifle load for a competition rifle, but I haven't seen much information on it.

 

[Potsy]

I’ve ran them in my .22BR. I’ve only ran them with 6.5 Sta-Ball and RL-16.
They shoot well, but after running through a couple hundred, I kind of feel like 6.5 Sta-Ball is a bit too slow. RL-16 was better, but now $80/lb if you can find it.
About to give 85.5’s and Bi Game a whirl….

 

[Cearbhall_Sponaugle]

What did your velocities looks like?

And how close were your powder charges in the 22BR to 22ARC?

 

[Cearbhall_Sponaugle]

I'd imagine TAC powder would be closer to ideal, no?

 

[Potsy]

I haven’t ARC’ed yet, though eyeballing one pretty hard. BTW, I’m assuming you’re running a bolt gun. The cases are close BUT THE ARC IS A SMALLER CASE.

Velocities in a 24” .22BR ran 2800-2850. I’d look for 2700 or so in an ARC Bolt Gun with the same length barrel.

Hogdon has ARC data for the 95, albeit at gas gun pressure.

I’ve got some 95’s left, but I’m going to try 85.5 Bergers and Big Game. Just kinda feel like the 95’s are a bit bit for the case and 6.5 Sta Ball is a bit too slow.

FWIW, for 95’s in the ARC, I’d look for something slower than TAC.

 

[padom]

22 ARC isnt going to have enough powder in the case for the 95smk AND you'll need a throated barrel or LONG freebore reamer.

I shoot 22br heavily and 22GT and I wont even shoot them in my 22br.

In my 28" 22GT 38gr H4831sc I get 2952 SD 6 and 0.5moa accuracy.

Gonna be slowww in 22 ARC

 

[abn31c]

Yer not gonna get near enough rl16 in an ARC case to do any good. I tried. Highly compressed to get 85.5 berger to 2550. H4350 gets me 2650.
18" barrel.

 

[Cearbhall_Sponaugle]

Very interesting.

Would 2850 fps be possible with some of the faster powders in a 26inch tube with bolt gun pressure?

Hornady's own 22 ARC bolt gun load data has RL15 at 28.4 grains of powder for 2900 fps in a 24 inch barrel with the 88 eldm bullets.

I realize that the SD and accuracy potential is not as great as the go to Varget/H4350 powders but the PRS loads seem to be right around that velocity.

 

[padom]

Very interesting.

Would 2850 fps be possible with some of the faster powders in a 26inch tube with bolt gun pressure?

Hornady's own 22 ARC bolt gun load data has RL15 at 28.4 grains of powder for 2900 fps in a 24 inch barrel with the 88 eldm bullets.

I realize that the SD and accuracy potential is not as great as the go to Varget/H4350 powders but the PRS loads seem to be right around that velocity.

95smk @ 2850 in ARC with a 26" barrel? Not even close.

 

[Cearbhall_Sponaugle]

So it seems that the 88 ELDMs are actually the ideal bullet for the 22 ARC at bolt gun pressures?

 

[padom]

The ultimate question...why? Why would you even waste time and money on trying to get a 95smk uo to those velocities in a bolt gun? ARC was created to feed from a mag in an AR.

There are multiple bolt gun calibers with excellent brass and loads established to do what your asking. If you want to shoot 95smk in a bolt gun, go right to 22GT for a nice happy medium of barrel life and good velocity and accuracy.

 

[Cearbhall_Sponaugle]

Great question.

It boils down to those of us (myself) who don't have the depth of knowledge and experience to jump to the correct cartridge.

More of a thought process to test the waters before investing the time and money to end up at a dead end.