22 PDK Info, Advice?

[cowboyarcher]

Hi Guys,

I am in the process of acquiring a 22 PDK upper to use for LR (600+ yards) practice and for Antelope and Deer hunting. I'm looking for advice on bullet bullet and powder selection. If anyone is unfamiliar with this round, it is a necked down and improved 6.8 SPC.

The barrel will be a 20" WOA with a 1:8" twist.

Any thoughts on bullet selection? I'm looking at using something in the 80 grain weight range. Which bullet is most likely to shoot well jumping to the lands from an AR mag length? SMK, A-max, Berger, Nosler CC? Will any of these offer a substantial gain in performance on game animals? I have no problem going to the 75 grain Swift for hunting, but they will be too pricey for a lot of practice. Since this is going to be primarily used for practicing at LR, a cheap bullet that performs almost as good as an expensive one would be preferred.

Also, which powders should I concentrate my efforts around? The case capacity is right at 36 grains, and again, I'll be looking at the 75-82 grain bullets.

This will be my first wildcat and my first fairly dedicated LR rig, so I am looking forward to this build!

Thanks guys and God bless,

Adam

 

[treeman]

Adam, for target shooting I would go with the hornadys. 75 hpbt magazine fed and 75 amax for single feed. For animals I would go with the barnes tsx 62 or 70gr.
regards,Darrell

 

[jscandale]

The .22 PDK was the only cartridge I just could not get to shoot regardless of what powder/bullet combo I tried. I had a reamer made with a longer throat to accommodate the 90 gr bullet in a 7 twist bbl. It may have been just a random mishap, but I ended up rechmbering the bbl in .223 and sold it as a used bbl in which the new owner claims shoots great.
Today, I use a .220 Thunderbolt which is slightly larger and has produced some 1/4 moa groups with 77 gr bullets and reliably produces 1/2 moa or less with everything else.
If you would like to buy a long throated .22 PDK reamer, let me know. I'll sell it cheap.

JS

 

[cowboyarcher]

The nice thing with this is that it will feed even the 80's and 90's from the magazine. The case is shorter and bigger than the 223, so it allows such a seating depth. I just wasn't sure whether or not they would be worth the extra BC and cost since they can be driven significantly faster in the PDK. In the 223 it seems that it is hard to see a difference in the 75 gr bullets and the 80 gr bullets downrange.

Also, the upper I am getting is not an unfired upper. Thankfully it has been shown to shoot 1/2-1MOA very consistently.

 

[jscandale]

I am glad to see that you are getting one that is a proven performer. Mine may have been a fluke, but I'll still sell the reamer cheap if you want it. I also loaded 80s in the mag expecting great results, but sadly I had no luck with the project.

Please keep us posted with your project.

JS

 

[FroggyOne2]

Before I started my 22BR project, I really considered going with a"22 Hagar".

 

[jscandale]

Before I started my 22BR project, I really considered going with a"22 Hagar".

I can honestly say that it is by far the most accurate cartridge in an AR I have ever had. It's freakishly accurate and dependable. I wish I can say that I designed .220 Thunderbolt that way, but let's face it, wildcating is a bit of a crap shoot. This just happens to one that works well.

JS

 

[cowboyarcher]

I'm already committed to the 22PDK, but who builds 22BR uppers? Any info on how they do with 75-82gr bullets?

 

[FroggyOne2]

I have no clue as to builds BR uppers, except I know at one time Bill Walters was dabbling with it. The trick is in the magazines and getting them to feed properly if my memory serves me right.

John,


I may still do it, the concept is still in the back of my mind, esp since Hornady is making Hagar brass.

Randy

 

[jscandale]

Randy,

You would not regret it.

JS

 

[cowboyarcher]

Got some preformed brass today from Roy at 20pdk.com. Just waiting on the upper now. . .

Here is a 75gr Berger seated to mag length next to a 556 w/69gr Nosler seated to mag length:

 

[FroggyOne2]

I will be interested in seeing how it works out.

 

[jscandale]

Here is the .22 PDK next to the larger .220 Thunderbolt. If you care to rechamber to the .220 Thunderbolt after feeling the same lackluster appeal that I did when trying the .22 PDK regarding its performance, it can be done very easily and economically.

The .22 PDK uses Silver State brass which is very hit or miss as far as quality control. In short, I wouldn't use an Silver State brass under any circumstances after the last go round I had with them. If you haven't already bought the brass, I would strongly suggest that you pick up some much higher quality Hornady 6.8 SPC brass and run it through you sizing die. If you need a .22 PDK sizing die, I'll sell one for the cost of shipping. The .220 will allow you to use Hornady 6mm Hagar brass which has proven to be about as good as Lapua in every way.

JS

 

[jscandale]

Here are some of the heavy bullets that you can get in either cartridge.
The Barnes 85 is a mag length bullet.

JS

 

[FroggyOne2]

John,

Since Hornady bought Silver State, maybe the quality will improve.

 

[jscandale]

John,

Since Hornady bought Silver State, maybe the quality will improve.

Nosler bought SSA. Hornady used to make Nosler brass, which is probably why Nosler bought SSA. SSA made every piece of PDK bass until they cut Roy off about 3 or 4 years ago.

JS

 

[FroggyOne2]

Thanks John.

When ya get older, it is easier to get things wrong.

I knew that someone bought them, just was thinking of the wrong outfit.

 

[AP2020]

This is not a 22PDK, but its big brother the 6PDK. I got this 20" Krieger barrel chambered by John Holliger, (275) pieces of brass, dies, and loaded rounds for $400 from a gentleman here on 6mmbr.com.

At the time, I was looking but not willing to wait for 9 months to a year for a 6mm barrel/bolt combination for my AR15, I found this deal and could not pass it up last year!

I use 1st Gen PRI 6.8SPC Mags = 2.305" COL Max.

I neck turned the brass prior to loading's.


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0nBwN31z-U[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81pMVGZNGi0[/youtube]

 

[cowboyarcher]

The brass I got from Roy is 20 PDK headstamped Starline that he necked up for me. How is the quality of the Starline brass?

Thanks for all the input guys!

 

[AP2020]

The brass I got from Roy is 20 PDK headstamped Starline that he necked up for me. How is the quality of the Starline brass?

Thanks for all the input guys!

I had spoken with Roy last Fall; not sure on the Starline, last he told me he had SSA brass.