Does anybody shoot the 220 thunderbolt?

[Kingweb50]

I recently received my 220 thunderbolt barrel from keystone accuracy. I need to order the rest of the components and wondered what people have had success with. I also have never used bushing dies before and wanted to know what size to order to neck down the 6 hagar cases? I was probably going to order RE15 and 77 sierra tmk's but have been hesitant cause I have so much varget on hand. Has anyone seen a difference in re15 vs varget in the thunderbolt?

 

[xswanted]

*raises hand*

What is the 220 thunderbolt? It sounds too cool.

 

[17VLD]

*raises hand*

What is the 220 thunderbolt? It sounds too cool.

Looks neat,just what the AR shooters want.https://www.keystoneaccuracy.com/the-220-thunderbolt.html
Matt

 

[Kimber.204]

@Kingweb50 any update on your 220 Thunderbolt? Did you get it all set up and running?

 

[TMiller]

I shoot a .220 Thunderbolt built by Keystone in an AR-15 based match rifle for across the course matches. I use 6mm Hagar brass and neck it down. Varget works very well with 77's and 90's.

 

[Kimber.204]

Thanks for the comment @TMiller I'm considering another match rifle - a bolt rifle in either 220 Thunderbolt or 224 Grendel. A little more umph than the .223Rem, but not much in the recoil department. Also, bullets and powder would be cheap.

How many reloads are you getting on the 6mm Hagar brass before you trash it?
Thanks,
Ross

 

[TMiller]

Some of the brass has been fired 6 times, with no issues, primer pockets still snug. I had Keystone chamber a new Krieger Barrel and I replaced the original barrel after about 2K rounds. It was still shooting good at the short lines but I felt like it was giving up some at 600, so i put the new Krieger on. Being able to shoot 90 grain bullets at almost 3000FPS is a real bonus when the wind is blowing at 600.

 

[flatlander]

Kimber.204 - I just finished a Bartlein 1-6.8tw 5R bbl in 22 Grendel for a Howa Mini. Don't have a stock for it yet, and am waiting on proper neck bushings to arrive so I can load for it. I bought a Redding 6.5 Grendel FL Type-S sizer, and am using a .268" bushing, then on down to .251" or .250" (these are the two bushings I'm waiting on) to finish necking down Starline 6.5 Grendel brass. I'll probably be another month getting it up & running - depending on what this crazy winter weather does to us.

 

[Rocketvapor]

The 220 Thunderbolt holds more powder than my 22 Nosler but they both suffer from mag length limitations (AR) when shooting the heavies. That's why everyone got so dang fired up about the 224 Valkyrie.
Heavy bullets at mag length, but a lot less powder. Loading long on a slow fire line and mag length is not a limitation.

The Hagar 6mm brass necked down, bumped, and trimmed for a 22N (I bought from the previous lot not the latest) is heavier and holds a grain or so less of most powders than a rebated rim 22N.
Necking down from 6mm to 5.56 is nothing.
Keeping the case length of the 6mm and just necking down gets most of the capacity back.

Out of the 3, loaded long, the 220 Thunderbolt is going to be the hottest.
The brass availability is what kept me out of the Hagar in either 6mm form or 220 TB form.
A little slower and the 22N can shoot Nosler brass (with a 5.56 bolt) or Hagar brass (with a 6.8 bolt), and now Dogtown (Nosler) bargain brass.
But, if you have neither right now, the 220 TB would be a better choice, maybe, probably, sort of.
This is a 6mm Hagar case sectioned, compared to a 22N.
SeeMoorBrass