.14 Cal Project ?

[shoots100]

I bought a .14 cal 1-9 twist barrel from Van Horn on the premise of building a .14 cal rifle chambered in .14-.222 before my wife's health issues brought everything to a halt.
Wife is on the healing path now and on another sight a post about a .14 caliber rifle rekindled the .14 caliber itch.
I'm looking for some help in finding .14 caliber build components.
I found everything but reamers available in the .14-.222 , but would be open to other .14 chamberings if reamers are available, except the very small chamberings like the .14 Dart, as I don't want to lose fingers trying to reload such small cartridge's with my big mitts.
Thanks,
SJC

 

[Tommie]

How will you clean the bore?

 

[450BM]

.14 Caliber products – Reed’s Ammunition & Research

 

[shoots100]

3.5mm brush and a 1/8" or 3.5mm carbon fiber rod.
Let the ammonia cleaner work on the copper, Kroil on the rest and viola, clean bore.
That's if I can find a reamer.
SJC

 

[TRSR8]

I bought a .14 cal 1-9 twist barrel from Van Horn on the premise of building a .14 cal rifle chambered in .14-.222 before my wife's health issues brought everything to a halt.
Wife is on the healing path now and on another sight a post about a .14 caliber rifle rekindled the .14 caliber itch.
I'm looking for some help in finding .14 caliber build components.
I found everything but reamers available in the .14-.222 , but would be open to other .14 chamberings if reamers are available, except the very small chamberings like the .14 Dart, as I don't want to lose fingers trying to reload such small cartridge's with my big mitts.
Thanks,
SJC

Well, FWIW, with 14 cal experience I would opine that is a major overbore to the point of problematic.
I shoot a 14 Walker hornet which IMO ideal for that bore….14-15 gr slugs.

 

[shoots100]

Well, FWIW, with 14 cal experience I would opine that is a major overbore to the point of problematic.
I shoot a 14 Walker hornet which IMO ideal for that bore….14-15 gr slugs.

I'm not looking for a P dog rifle, just a woodchuck rifle that'll be used on the farm when needed and another rifle to add to the wildcat build list.
I was looking into the .14/.222 cartridge as I have .222 brass, but I also have .22 hornet brass too, so I'm willing to try another .14 cartridge if a reamer becomes available.
The project was delayed for awhile, so if it happens it happens.
SJC

 

[extremeaccuracy]

Shoots100, I would never try to tell anyone not to build whatever they really want. Having said that (and I know you didn’t ask and I apologize in advance if this is advice you do not want but) If you do decide to build a 14 caliber I HIGHLY recommend a chambering smaller than the 14-222.

I find with shooting the eight to ten 14 caliber rifles that we utilize here for testing, depredation hunts and target shooting the 14-222 chambering is overbore for the 14 caliber.


I run four (14/221 Walkers and 14/221 Fireballs) here and even they are somewhat overbore for the majority of the shooting and testing we do, To each is his own on what he wants but if you start small you can always re-chamber to the overbore 14's later without the need to cut the chamber off in the future.


I do love my 14 Hornets as well but finding good actions for the rimmed Hornet brass is getting harder and you can't really full throttle them to peak speeds in my opinion. (I have a couple 14 Hornet Extremes cartridges that do really well but you will lose a fair amount of brass fire forming to the 30 degree shoulder on them with the thin Hornet brass.)

I do have a couple new 14 cartridges that I have designed ( 14 TCM Extreme and the 14 TCM Extreme +) that are going through testing now. I personally think they will be better matched to the sweet spot of case capacity for the 14 caliber but only time and testing will say for sure. It definitely would not be the first time the 14 calibers have baffled me or proven me wrong....

I’d love to hear more about the 1 in 9 twist barrel you have. I originally ordered six of them to get the barrel manufacturer to make them for us. Do you mind sharing with me the land groove configuration and blank material of your barrel? Would you happen to be open to doing bullet testing for us on specialty runs of bullets in your rifle when completed? Finding 1 in 9 twist rate 14 caliber barrel shooters is challenging.


I still have several new 14 caliber PTG reamers for sale if any of them fit your interest. (14 Jet Junior finish reamer, 14-218 Bee Finish reamer, 14-221 Fireball finish reamer, 14-221 Fireball re-sizer reamer.


I wish you the very best of luck on your project if you decide to pursue it.
As always stay on target,

Carl C.

Extreme Accuracy
www.14caliber.com

 

[shoots100]

After I logged off I reread my post and must've had a brain fart, as I don't have a rifle available to chamber the 14 walker hornet cartridge.
Carl,
I sent a message to you earlier after doing research on my 14 build and am thankful you replied.
I'm open to any 14 cal cartridge, but since you have reamers in 14/221 fireball, it looks like my cartridge choice was just made.
Looks like my wallet is going to be crying sooner than expected.
I'm sending you a PM and appreciate you replying.
SJC

 

[Woodchk]

I shoot a .14-221 Walker for woodchucks in a XP-100 pistol have had a lot of fun with it .

 

[extremeaccuracy]

Shoots100, I sent a PM as well and have set aside a set of Pacific Tool and Gauge 14-221 F.B reamers (finish reamer and Resizer reamer) if you're still in the market for them. I can easily place them back into inventory if you're on a different route, but I wanted you to have first chance at them since I posted to you earlier.

Wish you the very best of luck on your 14 caliber project what ever path you take.

Carl C.
Extreme Accuracy
www.14caliber.com

 

[reed1911]

IF you need blanks we have 1:8 and 1:7 blanks on the shelf. We have a bunch of Contender barrels ready to go. I'm too grouchy to loan out my reamers though. PTG, Manson, and JGS all make fine reamers. For cleaning I've gone to all chemical and just pulling patches through on piano wire. It works wonderfully.

 

[extremeaccuracy]

Shoots100, I know you didn’t ask and I probably should just mind my own business but I’m very concerned you’re going to get a lot of bad advice on your 14 caliber project. There is WAY, WAY more misinformation on the 14 calibers out there then there is good information. I can count on 1 hand the people that I would trust to give you good guidance on the 14 calibers and half of them have passed on now.

Again, I know you didn’t ask for information, but I’m cringing when I hear people talk about cleaning a 14 caliber barrel. The talk of ammonia and chemically cleaning a 14 caliber barrel sends shiver up my spine. People often think that cleaning very small caliber rifles should be done like you would a big caliber rig. I can assure you it is not and doing so will critically damage them.

You did not ask, but I cannot stress enough the importance of doing a proper initial barrel break in for the type of 14 caliber barrel you have and what you plan to shoot through it. It will be critical in your success from what I know.

From my experience, I would have to assume that if you’re looking at a 14-221 Walker or 14-221 Fireball with a 1 in 9 twist rate barrel your looking to run very light bullets at very high speeds or very heavy bullets at moderate speeds for long range work. I’d really like to know a lot more about your 1 in 9 twist barrel. (Land/Groove configuration and barrel blank material). (Sadly I’m not familiar with the 14 caliber Van Horn barrels.) I’d also like to ask what bullet coatings do you plan to use with it and what finish length barrel do you plan on using?

I apologize greatly for meddling where my opinions and advice were not asked. I would just really like to see you have great success with your 14 caliber project. They are insanely fun to work with when they are set up correctly. It will amaze you, surprise you and really astound you if done correctly.

I wish you a great time and a lot of success with your project,

Carl C.

Extreme Accuracy

www.14caliber.com