22 ARC bolt velocities

[kyotekiller25]

Was looking at the Ruger Predator rifles as a cheap truck gun for coyotes, and came across the 22 ARC. I can't seem to find much, if any bolt gun data/velocities however. Everything is based off the AR15 platform at 52K. Hornady factory shows the 75g bullet going 3075fps from a 24" tube, which I'm assuming was with an AR15. Is it likely to see 3250-3300 fps from the 22" bolt ruger loaded to 60K? Reason I say that is because the Hornady 6 ARC data shows about a 250-300fps increase in velocity with the bolt over the gas data.

I have a LR bolt trainer 28" 223 Wylde that shoots the 75g ELDMs at 3000fps, which isn't too bad out to 1K. But it's also pushing 18# or so.

Love to hear anyone's thoughts or experiences with the 22 ARC!

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Was looking at the Ruger Predator rifles as a cheap truck gun for coyotes, and came across the 22 ARC. I can't seem to find much, if any bolt gun data/velocities however. Everything is based off the AR15 platform at 52K. Hornady factory shows the 75g bullet going 3075fps from a 24" tube, which I'm assuming is at 52K for AR15s. Is it likely to see 3250-3300 fps from the 22" bolt ruger loaded to 62K? Reason I say that is because the Hornady 6 ARC data shows about a 250-300fps increase in velocity with the bolt over the gas data.

I have a LR bolt trainer 28" 223 Wylde that shoots the 75g ELDMs at 3000fps, which isn't too bad out to 1K. But it's also pushing 18# or so.

Love to hear anyone's thoughts or experiences with the 22 ARC!

You just can't compare bolt gun and ar15 data to one another with this cartridge. I've shot 55's at 3800fps, with maybe a tad bit of room to spare, with the right powders...from a custom 22ARC(22 Grendel) BR rifle. YMMV and that's NOT to say that those speeds are safe or not in a different rifle.

It's relatively new and if you want max, you'll probably need to find them in your rifle. Otherwise, there is bolt gun data for several powder/bullet combos from Hornady.

 

[SKWERLZ]

https://static.hornady.media/site/hornady/files/load-data/22-arc-bolt-gun.pdf

 

[Lefty2506]

https://static.hornady.media/site/hornady/files/load-data/22-arc-bolt-gun.pdf

I suspect that those charges are safe, but I don't trust their velocity data to be remotely accurate. FWIW, with a 75gr ELD and a max charge of N540, I get around 2950 fps out of my 20" Service Rifle upper chambered in 223 Wylde. Its a hot charge, and a fast barrel, but it also makes me look at the 22 ARC data (both AR and Bolt) and wonder why (I know the answer is to have factory +80gr mag length ammo). My bolt action 223 runs a 53gr Vmax a little over 3500 fps, and the 75gr ELD right around 3000 fps. The 22 ARC is definitely faster, but only by about 100 fps. Seems like I could probably get that increase by switching to a 223 AI, so I'm back to the why question. Personally, I think the ARC should have a LOT more potential in a bolt gun that what the load data indicates, but I haven't seen enough information to confirm it.

 

[SKWERLZ]

I suspect that those charges are safe, but I don't trust their velocity data to be remotely accurate.

Maybe but the gas gun data they provide was within 15fps for two of the powders I tried (CFE223 & 2000MR) and I was using different brand brass but same barrel length.

 

[LCazador]

I've been working on a 22ARC custom with a friend. It's a custom 8 twist 22 inch barreled suppressed bolt gun. We're at a mystery as to why we can't get to the velocities that Hornady publishes. Yes I know their test barrel is a 24 inch but we're about 200-250 fps slower. It may be possible to cram enough ball powder in there and maybe get closer to their velocities. One thing is for sure it isn't a cartridge for bullets over 70 grains in weight. In my opinion the old 22PPC does a better job.

 

[Lefty2506]

Yeah, the gas data looks about right. Its the bolt data that has me scratching my head. They are getting the same speed for both 75gr and 80gr projectiles, the 75gr projectiles are running the same speed in an AR as they are in a bolt gun, and a 90gr ELD only gives up about 100fps to a 75gr. Something's not right about that.

 

[SKWERLZ]

I've been working on a 22ARC custom with a friend. It's a custom 8 twist 22 inch barreled suppressed bolt gun. We're at a mystery as to why we can't get to the velocities that Hornady publishes. Yes I know their test barrel is a 24 inch but we're about 200-250 fps slower. It may be possible to cram enough ball powder in there and maybe get closer to their velocities. One thing is for sure it isn't a cartridge for bullets over 70 grains in weight. In my opinion the old 22PPC does a better job.

I’m shooting 80’s happily at 2900.
Could be you have a slow barrel?
In a bolt gun I’d definitely look at 6.5 stable
dense powder that give good case fill.

 

[kyotekiller25]

Hmm, doesn't seem to do much over my current 223, maybe 50-100fps or so.

 

[Frankm]

Measure case capacity difference between the 223 and 22 ARC and figure that approximately 1/4 of that increased capacity as a % will translate to velocity increase assuming loaded to equal pressures, equal barrel lengths, etc.

 

[Frankm]

Just pulling numbers for an example, you d need to get actual capacities, but if the 223 will hold 26 grs cap and 22 ARC holds 30 cap then 4 more grs on 26 cap equals 15.3% increase. 1/4 of that is roughly 3.8% so theoretically ARC would get you 3.8%?more velocity. Assuming your shooting a 75 gr bullet in 223 at 2800 fps then ARC would get 2906 fps.

So yes, 100 fps all other variables held constant is probably what you d expect.

 

[SKWERLZ]

Just pulling numbers for an example, you d need to get actual capacities, but if the 223 will hold 26 grs cap and 22 ARC holds 30 cap then 4 more grs on 26 cap equals 15.3% increase. 1/4 of that is roughly 3.8% so theoretically ARC would get you 3.8%?more velocity. Assuming your shooting a 75 gr bullet in 223 at 2800 fps then ARC would get 2906 fps.

So yes, 100 fps all other variables held constant is probably what you d expect.

My useable case capacity with fireformed case with .003 sizing and a 80eld at 2.25” in starline 6.5 grendle case necked to 22 in a nearly minimum headspaced (1.222) chamber is 31.1 grains of water.
Mine 22arc is in a gasser.