22 ARC Opinions.

[Raptor]

Is yours an AR or Bolt gun?

Bolt gun...

 

[806guns]

So I have a shorter freebore 22 arc ar15 20" and now a ruger american 22" 22 arc. Going to start with 50 gr tnt and go up. I know the 75gr eld shoot amazing and drop yotes in my ar.

 

[LBEdgin]

Loving my 22 arc in a Howa mini action with Berger 80.5 full bore with AR Comp or Berger 85.5 hybrids with RL15.5

 

[mike mccormick]

The bolt face is the only bummer. If you can't just slap a barrel on the action you have, its going to be a niche thing. You can have your .223 bolt opened up, but then you can't go back.

7.62×39 (ppc) bolt face. Not a biggie

 

[CA48]

So I have a shorter freebore 22 arc ar15 20" and now a ruger american 22" 22 arc. Going to start with 50 gr tnt and go up. I know the 75gr eld shoot amazing and drop yotes in my ar.

Where did you find a shorter freebore reamer and what freebore is it? I spoke with jgs about drawing up a 60 freebore reamer for me last week.

 

[makethemdead]

This is out of 22 ARC 26" Bartlein Savage action very minimal load work up. Mainly shot a ladder to make sure pressure was fine. Info out of Sierra online manual for N540 28.2gr and 77gr TMK with GM205M for primers and Alpha Brass COL 2.20 was book spec. The temperature 96 in the shaded, "real feel" was 114 the mirage was boiling!! started shooting, cloud come over and it felt like the A/C was turned on, the group shifted right, was like it was two 5 round groups. Wrapped the barrel with a damp towel set the timer on the phone for 6 minutes, a thunder storm was on the way, shot the last 10 round group "slow and smooth". Mad rush to get packed up before all heck broke lose and didn't really look at the target until i got home. It was cool to me how the group shifted from very heavy mirage to none and the first was shot a lot more "deliberate" and the secound was lets get done before lighting turns me into stir-fry. A very short 20 minute range trip was very educational in many ways even for a 58 year old that has fired rifles his whole life.

 

[806guns]

Where did you find a shorter freebore reamer and what freebore is it? I spoke with jgs about drawing up a 60 freebore reamer for me last week.

Pva makes a barrel.

 

[806guns]

Where did you find a shorter freebore reamer and what freebore is it? I spoke with jgs about drawing up a 60 freebore reamer for me last week.

Osprey AR-15 - 22 ARC

office@patriotvalleyarms.com

patriotvalleyarms.com

 

[OFFSHORE]

I’m not a frequent poster to this forum, but a long-time reader, and I wanted to add to this post about the little 22 Grendel (yes, Grendel). About 10 or so years ago there was a fella at a range I shoot at who was a massive gun tinkerer with an awesome machine shop. He built a 22 Grendel on a Sako action fitted with a 24” med. sporter barrel in a 7tw. to shoot 80 grain pills. . .and it was an absolute killer!!! I was instantly in love, but never had the time nor the extra cash to put an experimental one together. Fast forward to two years ago, at an outdoor expo here in Florida and I what do I see at a both. . .none other than the most pretty little Howa 1500-Mini chambered in 22 ARC (yes, I had heard and read of Hornady’s creation by this time) with a 22” 7tw. barrel and a very nice fancy wood stock! Yup, it came home with me for $600.00, and another stop on the way home came 300 Starline 6.5 Grendel pieces of brass. There was searching online for dies that evening and I managed to source and put components together. . .rather pricey in my route of doing things, but I made it work.

I ended up glassing and pillar bedding the action in the wood stock and replacing the plastic bottom trigger guard/mag well with an aftermarket actual aluminum bottom metal. I would give almost anything to get rid of the gaudy magazine that Howa supplies with these rifles, but I’m stuck with it until a better mousetrap surfaces. To my surprise the accuracy of the 22” pencil barrel was quite good, although after a five-shot group it got pretty heated. After several powders tested I was able to settle on two, VV N540 and 2000-MR to give the best ES/SD, accuracy and velocity. I tried MANY brands of bullets from 77 to 88 grains as well; Sierra 77TMK/80SMK, Hornady 80ELD-M/88 ELD-M, Berger 80.5FB/85.5LRHT, Swift 75BT and Barnes 77LRX-BT. With some load development I was able to achieve 1 MOA or better with most all of them. On my radar is the Speer Gold Dot/Fusion 75 grain bonded bullet, wish it came in a 85 grainer.

Now on to my purpose. . .let the flaming begin-LOL!!! I LOOOOOVE bullet testing, just so you know. This thread here has been the talk of coyotes, and I kill everyone I get a crosshair on, but I’ve built my loads for mostly wild hog deprivation on crop fields and golf courses around where I live, and hunting deer. Yes, .224 centerfire cartridges are legal to use in Florida for deer as well as in Georgia. I am blessed to have locally a target rich environment and an unlimited supply of the BEST bullet test media there is – wild hogs! As many of you know, male hogs when they get a couple years on them turn into well built 35 gal. barrels with stubby legs and with their hide/hair, bone structure and gristle layer over the ribcage. . .what could show a bullets integrity any better! For testing purposes, I’ve kept my shots 100 yards to 250 yards respectively, chest/vital shots only, and to date with the Lil 22 Grendel/ARC I have dispatched 40+ hogs (80 to 200 lbs.) and 7 bucks (140 to 180 lbs.) between FL and GA, and ALL of which have dropped within sight – less than 30 yards with many bang-flops. Now I’m not stating this is the greatest whizz-bang Hammer of Thor, this is the ONLY cartridge you need to rush out and buy to any means, because it is far from that. I’m testing bullets/cartridges on live game at respectable distances on broadside or marginal quartering shots – I’m picking my shot placements – within a distance I feel comfortable with the bullet/cartridge performance, and wanting to share my experiences with others.

On to the meat and potatoes of my rant. I have RARELY experienced a pass-thru shot on these animals unless the bullet has not come in contact with a rib or other bone. Smallish hogs and one buck I did get a pass-thru on, and the only time sign of a blood trail if one had to follow – which is a down side. Exit wounds are good, when it happens. There is not even much if at all blood on the entrance hole. And if the animal has been eating a lot of acorns or in someone’s corn pile, it plugs things up instantly due to the internal mess inside. The internal damage is amazing, like if you were to insert a 5 gal. paint mixer bit into your drill and then the chest cavity, then mash the trigger. . .total Hollywood freak show inside! This is the reason I believe for my kill ratio/recovery distance with the .224 bullets.

Here is my load data for the two bullets I feel have given the best on-game performance. I have not shot any animals under 100 yards or over 250 yards, so these are the parameters I’ve worked in. I use a Leupold BX-4HD range finder to confirm distance and a Garmin Xero-C1 chronograph for load data. My shots have been off rests over my truck hood, on a tri-pod, or out of a shooting house – basically everything is rock steady. The Hornady 80gr. ELD-M and the Berger 85.5gr. LRHT have performed the best for me. I manly stick to the Hornady due to the ease of availability, but both bullets are damn near equals with all my criteria for my hunting.

** These loads are stout and shot from a bolt action rifle – my rifle. I would NOT try them in a gasser without dropping down in powder charge, your bolt head will suffer!!! **

Howa 1500-Mini 22' 7tw. barrel glass/pillar bedded
Talley rings/bases
Leupold VX-5 3.5-15x44
Timney Trigger at 2.4 lbs.
Jefferson Outdoors aluminum bottom metal

Hornady 80gr. ELD-M 2.3030 COAL
Alliant 2000-MR at 30.3gr.
Starline 6.5 Grendel brass sized to .224
Federal GM205MAR primer
Ave. velocity 2917fps. ES/SD 6-13

Berger 85.5 LRHT 2.3087 COAL
Alliant 2000-MR at 30.0gr.
Starline 6.5 Grendel brass sized to .224
CCI BR4 primer
Ave. velocity 2870fps ES/SD 9-17

I have on the shelf, a Shelin 7tw. mag sporter .224 barrel that I have plans for if I can find a gunsmith who would like to take it on. . .there are visions of a 24" 22 Grendel 40*-Improved dancing in my neanderthal smooth-brain!!!

 

[STOMP442]

The 22 ARC intrigues me but what stops me is the bolt face. I really wish they used a standard bolt face so I could rechamber to pretty much anything I wanted instead of being stuck with ppc based cartridges. I know I could use an action like the origin and swap bolt faces easily but that's another $1000 bucks I have to spend. That just makes me stick with the 22-250 which is just fine by me. Speaking of, the 52gr Berger never gets mentioned when coyote bullets are discussed and I haven't seen a bullet work better. I run them in my AR as well as my 22-250 and haven't had an exit yet. I have even shot a couple Bobcats with them and haven't got an exit on them either. Fantastic bullet.

 

[OFFSHORE]

The 22 ARC intrigues me but what stops me is the bolt face. I really wish they used a standard bolt face so I could rechamber to pretty much anything I wanted instead of being stuck with ppc based cartridges. I know I could use an action like the origin and swap bolt faces easily but that's another $1000 bucks I have to spend. That just makes me stick with the 22-250 which is just fine by me. Speaking of, the 52gr Berger never gets mentioned when coyote bullets are discussed and I haven't seen a bullet work better. I run them in my AR as well as my 22-250 and haven't had an exit yet. I have even shot a couple Bobcats with them and haven't got an exit on them either. Fantastic bullet.

The 22-250 is a great round. I had a Tikka T3 8tw. that shot the Swift 75gr. like nobodies' business and many a critter has fallen to it. My niece killer her first buck with it several years ago. . .and I've never got it back! Although I've seen it out with us several times and receive many text photos with it next to her. She is worth it though.

The 22GT uses the .473 bolt face and if I ever decide to do another nifty .224 that will be my next barrel.

 

[STOMP442]

The 22-250 is a great round. I had a Tikka T3 8tw. that shot the Swift 75gr. like nobodies' business and many a critter has fallen to it. My niece killer her first buck with it several years ago. . .and I've never got it back! Although I've seen it out with us several times and receive many text photos with it next to her. She is worth it though.

The 22GT uses the .473 bolt face and if I ever decide to do another nifty .224 that will be my next barrel.

That's what I have decided too.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

In a good bolt rifle, I can't see any difference between a 22 arc and a PPC or any other PPC based cartridge. To me...end of story...but I'm still testing. Ya can't prove this kinda statement in a match, or a single bbl, or even 6 bbls. The undisputed king(6PPC) doesn't get unseated that way. Really, it may never happen at all, even if something else is potentially better. The kinda proof it takes these days is DOMINATION over existing great cartridges. Well, that ain't happening, that I can see.

 

[KMW 1954]

The 22 ARC intrigues me but what stops me is the bolt face. I really wish they used a standard bolt face so I could rechamber to pretty much anything I wanted instead of being stuck with ppc based cartridges. I know I could use an action like the origin and swap bolt faces easily but that's another $1000 bucks I have to spend.

I have been shooting an informal local bench league using a 223. Most others were firing some form of 6mm and when I was finally ready and financially able to move out of the 223 everyone hammered the idea of a 6BR of some sort. That was great. I was intrigued by the 6ARC. And was told by all it was stupidly wrong.


One of the main reasons was as you put it Bolt Head, available brass and restricted powders. In spite of all the ridicule and poo poos I built the ARC anyways. Built it on a Model 110 Savage action I already had. Added a Shilen 28", Heavy Bull profile, 4 groove, 7.5:1 barrel from NSS. Only other thing I needed to add was a bolt head. Which I found in stock for the ARC at Gun Shack for under $30.00.

While I was waiting for the parts to show up I was able to collect 300pcs of brass, 200 Hornady and 100pcs of Starline.

Now this league normally has 20 members shooting it. With the 223 I was finishing in the middle of the pack. Normally around 11-13th. First year shooting the ARC I moved up to 7th. and with a few smarter moves along the way or eliminated known mistakes, I could have moved up 3 more positions.

I am now contemplating re-barreling the 223 to 22ARC. And yes, once again based on a Savage action. Also, BTW, I now have bolt heads for the Savage to cover 223, ARC/Grendel, 308 family.

 

[Walt Krafft]

The 22 ARC intrigues me but what stops me is the bolt face. I really wish they used a standard bolt face so

Depending on what extractor your action has, the ppc case will work just fine in a .475 bolt face.

 

[charlie b]

The 22 ARC intrigues me but what stops me is the bolt face. I really wish they used a standard bolt face so I could rechamber to pretty much anything I wanted instead of being stuck with ppc based cartridges. I know I could use an action like the origin and swap bolt faces easily but that's another $1000 bucks I have to spend. That just makes me stick with the 22-250 which is just fine by me. Speaking of, the 52gr Berger never gets mentioned when coyote bullets are discussed and I haven't seen a bullet work better. I run them in my AR as well as my 22-250 and haven't had an exit yet. I have even shot a couple Bobcats with them and haven't got an exit on them either. Fantastic bullet.

Buy a Savage Easily swapped barrels...and bolt faces. I have a spare sitting in the drawer so I can switch between .223 and .308 class. Will get a PPC soon cause I am considering a .22PPC or ARC.

Yes, a 22 or 6BR are really nice as well depending on what you want to do. I also have a 6BR and love that cartridge.

 

[Flatlands_Outdoors]

I pieced together an upper last year with one of PVA's 20" offerings. I never shoot factory ammo but I grabbed a handful of boxes to tinker with until I have time and everything to reload for it. 62s, 75s & 88s all shoot just under an inch... sufficient for factory fodder. Hoping my reloads will better that.

My daughter shot a big whitetail buck with it in early December and I took it out lastnight to fill a couple doe tags. This nice Tom happened to stroll by at 160yds and just before he went behind the pond dam I whistled at him and got him to stop and sent a 75eldm into his chest. No nasty exit... perfect!

I'm having so much fun with the AR that I sent parts to my gunsmith to build a heavy steal plinker. I've never owned a "heavy" rifle and always thought I would do a .223ai but the 22ARC made sense since Alpha is making brass for it now. Mack Bros SS Evo, Muellerworks 1:7 26" M24 barrel, KRG Bravo (for now) & TT special. Plan on slinging 88ELDMs... Not sure on scope yet...

 

[Lefty2506]

On to the meat and potatoes of my rant. I have RARELY experienced a pass-thru shot on these animals unless the bullet has not come in contact with a rib or other bone. Smallish hogs and one buck I did get a pass-thru on, and the only time sign of a blood trail if one had to follow – which is a down side. Exit wounds are good, when it happens. There is not even much if at all blood on the entrance hole. And if the animal has been eating a lot of acorns or in someone’s corn pile, it plugs things up instantly due to the internal mess inside. The internal damage is amazing, like if you were to insert a 5 gal. paint mixer bit into your drill and then the chest cavity, then mash the trigger. . .total Hollywood freak show inside! This is the reason I believe for my kill ratio/recovery distance with the .224 bullets.

I think you've accurately assessed the 22 ARC. Accuracy wise, there's no reason it shouldn't be just as accurate as anything else out there assuming you are starting with good components and good equipment. Performance wise, factory ammo is limited by the strength of the AR15 bolt. It can feed the heavier bullets which is a big plus for shooting distance with an AR, and it can push them just a little faster than a standard 223/556, but that bump in speed is really hard to notice and could just as easily be obtained from a 223ai which would have a MUCH cheaper supply of brass but would still be limited by the AR15 mag length. Moving to a bolt action, and rolling your own starting with quality 6.5G brass, and you're looking at a noticeable step up from a 223 bolt gun. IMHO, its a ballistic twin to the 22BR in a bolt gun, both of which make excellent midrange hunting cartridges.

The biggest problem as a hunting cartridge for larger animals is projectiles. Either they are so tough that they don't expand well, or they expand and don't reliably exit which can often lead to poor blood trails (more so with the .224 entrance wound). This applies to all 224 centerfire cartridges including the 22CM. They kill just fine. Its just a question of how big the animal is and how badly do you want a good blood trail. If I were still shooting NRA Highpower, I probably would have bought a 22ARC barrel just as soon as I could lay my hands on one. I try to do a PD hunting trip every year now, and I think it would be a good midrange option for that in a bolt gun, but I opted for 22BR instead because of all the available load data for it. While its now legal to use 224 cartridges in Indiana for deer, I won't personally go down that rabbit hole because I've seen too many fluke occurrences over the past 35 years to be willing to sacrifice a consistent pass through. Turning the chest cavity into a blended bowl of jello is an impressive thing, but they don't die any faster than they do with a regular wound cavity through both lungs and out the other side. I'm not bashing anyone who chooses to use a 22 ARC (or any other 224 cartridge) for deer. Its just not for me just like I have no interest in shooting one with a 50 S&W Magnum.

 

[GetReal]

22 Arc?

I have a friend who bought a 6 Arc barrel for his AR. He had to delay working with it for a few months, as he couldn't get brass for it. Once he did, I wasn't all that impressed.

But that's a single user (and not the brightest shooter I know); YMMV.

My mileage varied. (Grins)

I've built two 6 arcs, 1 at 20 inch & another at 12" and both shoot the exact same load like a house on fire....0.35 moa with low sd/es. Wwwaaayy better that I ever did with 223. I run both suppressed.

Never had trouble finding brass, but I stocked up on it just in case. Even grabbed some 6.5 Grendel.

I thought about 22Arc, but already have a 224V bolt gun that shoots great... out to 1k..

 

[OFFSHORE]

Our season is winding down here in my area of Florida and a friend of mine has a 3500ac. tract of land he manages pretty tightly. Towards the end of the season he invites a group of us over for a Culling Weekend Get-Together. This buck didn't meet his criteria and had to go. He popped out at 136yds. from a palmetto gallberry bayhead swamp and when he turned broadside I settled the crosshairs and let one fly. He spun and went back into the swamp and a few seconds after that you could see small trees swaying where he had crashed and died. at the scene of the crime there were chunks of lung and bone shards. . .I had an exit wound!!! The blood trail was very good but only went about 50ft. and fizzled out. In total he traveled approximately 40yrds. and was done. The landowner keeps records of deer harvests from the property and when we got him back to the shed we went to work. On the hoof he weighed 133lbs. and jaw bone check put him in the 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 age class. After opening him up and removing the stomach and intestines, you could see the 80gr. ELD-M took out half a rib on entrance, the right lung and right side of the heart, large hole through the left lung and center punched a rib on exit. The shot was a little higher than what I would have usually placed one, and that was on me. I had it dialed at 180yrds. when I settled into the stand which is the furthest distance I could see at this spot and I didn't remember to dial back down. Needless to say, the Lil Grendel did another fine job for me. I recently was able to get two boxes of the .224 Speer/Fusion Gold Dots in 75gr. I'm very curious to see how these bonded bullets will perform in this cartridge. If I can work up an accurate load in time, I have two more hunts coming up in the Panhandle and I will report on their performance should I get lucky.