New Build small bore

[Retired shooter]

Again Hello to all.
Opening a big can of worms. Looking @ a new build.
Thinking .223 , .223AI , .224 Valkyrie. 22 ARC . Long range steel. 1760 yards. Either gas gun, or chassis mounted bolt rifle.
already have 6 ARC gas gun.

Your thoughts, or opinions, and why. Based on experience. with.

Thank you. , let the flood gates open.!

 

[B23]

1760 is getting out there pretty good and I'd imagine you'll want to use heavy for caliber bullets in the 75gr and heavier range so of the four you mentioned I'd go with the 22 ARC because it not only has the most case capacity of those four to launch those heavies the fastest but if this is in a gas gun you'll have plenty of room in the magazine to stretch those long heavies out.

Alpha Munitions makes very good brass and they make 22 ARC brass so get yourself some of that load it up with something like a 75 or 80 grain ELD-M and start sending them wayyyyyy down range to their 1760 yard destination.

I've have a 223AI that shoots amazingly well but for what you're doing and of the four you listed I'd take the one with the most horsepower which is the 22 ARC.

 

[357Mag]

Again Hello to all.
Opening a big can of worms. Looking @ a new build.
Thinking .223 , .223AI , .224 Valkyrie. 22 ARC . Long range steel. 1760 yards. Either gas gun, or chassis mounted bolt rifle.
already have 6 ARC gas gun.

Your thoughts, or opinions, and why. Based on experience. with.

Thank you. , let the flood gates open.!

Retired shooter -

Howdy !

What… will you be shooting at, at any given distance….if I might ask ?

With regards,
357Mag

 

[Woollybugger]

22 ARC in a gas gun.
If a Bolt gun, a 22 br/brai would be a better choice.

 

[Retired shooter]

1760 is getting out there pretty good and I'd imagine you'll want to use heavy for caliber bullets in the 75gr and heavier range so of the four you mentioned I'd go with the 22 ARC because it not only has the most case capacity of those four to launch those heavies the fastest but if this is in a gas gun you'll have plenty of room in the magazine to stretch those long heavies out.

Alpha Munitions makes very good brass and they make 22 ARC brass so get yourself some of that load it up with something like a 75 or 80 grain ELD-M and start sending them wayyyyyy down range to their 1760 yard destination.

I've have a 223AI that shoots amazingly well but for what you're doing and of the four you listed I'd take the one with the most horsepower which is the 22 ARC.

Thank you for the reply. I have done th 1760 yds with my 6 ARC.
The gunsmith I work with is concerned with the bolt lugs in the 22 ARC, they are same as 6 ARC..
I loaded the 6 ARC pretty heavy to get 110 A tips out there. I do believe my ballistics were better than what was figured. Never got back to the range to run that test
Thank you for the Brass information about suppliers.

I agree use the most available horsepower.

 

[Retired shooter]

Retired shooter -

Howdy !

What… will you be shooting at, at any given distance….if I might ask ?

With regards,
357Mag

Steel @ 1760 yards

 

[357Mag]

Steel @ 1760 yards

Retiredshooter -

Howdy !

Thanx for the info.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[RegionRat]

A modern chamber and twist version of 22-250, 22 GT, or a 22 CM didn't make the list. Just curious why not?

223 AI 32.0 gr H2O
224 Valk 34.5 gr H2O
22 ARC 34.6 gr H2O

22 BR 36.0 gr H2O
22 Dasher 41 gr H2O

22 GT 42.0 gr H2O
22-250 44.6 gr H2O
22 CM 52.6 gr H2O

The energy level of the last two give the velocity of the 90 SMK a significant boost compared to those early choices, so I'm just wondering if the bullet selections will be limited or if there is some other reason not to start with the larger size 22 designs?

A 22 ARC is roughly a 1100 ft*lbs design, and a 22 CM is roughly a 1850 ft*lbs design.

Those launch a 90 SMK at roughly 2600 fps for the 224 Valk, 2750 for the 22 ARC, versus 3000 fps for the 22 CM.

Granted the 22 CM is overbore compared to the rest, and will have a shortened bbl life as well, but if we are launching little bullets to a mile, do we really care about bbl life?

Good brass is another consideration. The Valk doesn't really show up in terms of really good brass choices, while the other candidates have very good choices.

When striving for LR or ELR, one of the requisites includes excellent MV stats, which mandates great brass. YMMV

 

[boltfluter]

Personally, if my goal was shooting steel at 1 mile I would choose anything bigger than a .22 or 6mm centerfire. Good choices would start at 7mm and go up from there. It's no fun if the steel will not ring! Good shooting to you.
Paul

 

[Retired shooter]

A modern chamber and twist version of 22-250, 22 GT, or a 22 CM didn't make the list. Just curious why not?

223 AI 32.0 gr H2O
224 Valk 34.5 gr H2O
22 ARC 34.6 gr H2O

22 BR 36.0 gr H2O
22 Dasher 41 gr H2O

22 GT 42.0 gr H2O
22-250 44.6 gr H2O
22 CM 52.6 gr H2O

The energy level of the last two give the velocity of the 90 SMK a significant boost compared to those early choices, so I'm just wondering if the bullet selections will be limited or if there is some other reason not to start with the larger size 22 designs?

A 22 ARC is roughly a 1100 ft*lbs design, and a 22 CM is roughly a 1850 ft*lbs design.

Those launch a 90 SMK at roughly 2600 fps for the 224 Valk, 2750 for the 22 ARC, versus 3000 fps for the 22 CM.

Granted the 22 CM is overbore compared to the rest, and will have a shortened bbl life as well, but if we are launching little bullets to a mile, do we really care about bbl life?

Good brass is another consideration. The Valk doesn't really show up in terms of really good brass choices, while the other candidates have very good choices.

When striving for LR or ELR, one of the requisites includes excellent MV stats, which mandates great brass. YMMV

Region Rat
Thank you for your reply & information.
That was what I was needing. This idea has been in the back of my old brain for a while, and quite frankly I had not researched any other calibers, or projectiles.. This is all just pondering right now. Trying to think of something different , & unique. Will have to be in contact with my gun builder & pick his mind.

Thank you to all that have replied.

 

[Retired shooter]

Personally, if my goal was shooting steel at 1 mile I would choose anything bigger than a .22 or 6mm centerfire. Good choices would start at 7mm and go up from there. It's no fun if the steel will not ring! Good shooting to you.
Paul

I understand, been to some ELR matches. Watched the big boys shooting their miniature howitzer.
Rifles with barrels taller than the shooter. Some shooters struggled to carry the weapon to the firing line.

I figure anybody can shoot a mile or so with the big projecles ( we'll not just anybody) however it's more of a personal challenge for me to do it with the smaller projectile. 95 % I talked to told me 6 ARC would not make it to a mile, First trip to the long range, my son on spotting scope, we started @ 300 yds, walked it out to 1400 yds, then cranked it up for 1761, 5 rounds downrange, then 3 consecutive hits on 1 moa steel. With 12 / 15 mph winds.
Really addictive for me.. I do enjoy the ringing steel at closer ranges.

Thanks

 

[Tommie]

Trying to think of something different , & unique

Just my experience:
Been down the different & unique road. Adds hassle and expense that may or may not take the fun out of doing something “cool”.

 

[Retired shooter]

Just my experience:
Been down the different & unique road. Adds hassle and expense that may or may not take the fun out of doing something “cool”.

Yip. Have thought about that, & have been there, done that.
Whatever caliber I decide on will be a SAMMI spec, no wildcats. Availability of all required componets, and tooling. are priority.