.22 GT

[khuber84]

I need to just quit all these hunting forums. They are going to put me in the poor house. Now I need at 22GT, thanks pal......



Some great looking rigs by the way and shooters.

You could always buy an 8tw Tikka 22-250 and throat it out some and get pretty close to gt performance, the -250 holds around 1.5gr less than the gt. I do love the gt case tho, I've had several 6gt and 2 22gt barrels. They shoot very well.

 

[sierracharlie338]

You could always buy an 8tw Tikka 22-250 and throat it out some and get pretty close to gt performance, the -250 holds around 1.5gr less than the gt. I do love the gt case tho, I've had several 6gt and 2 22gt barrels. They shoot very well.

Y’all are killing me! I just bought a Tikka 243 and I’m already geared up for a 6GT build after that barrel. I have a couple other actions that may be getting a new barrel and a 22GT sure sounds like a whole lotta fun! Otherwise yeah a 22-250 would be money as well.

 

[khuber84]

Y’all are killing me! I just bought a Tikka 243 and I’m already geared up for a 6GT build after that barrel. I have a couple other actions that may be getting a new barrel and a 22GT sure sounds like a whole lotta fun! Otherwise yeah a 22-250 would be money as well.

I'd say a 6cm and 22gt are very similar in performance. Theyll both run heavy for cal bullets efficiently at that 3050-3100 range and do it for around 2k rounds of barrel life. The 6 using 40.5gr powder and the 22 using 36.5 or so. The gt is a great target round and hunts well too but the 6cm having the ability to run thay extra 150-200fps, gives you a lot of flexibility on barrel length without really sacrificing anything.

 

[sierracharlie338]

I'd say a 6cm and 22gt are very similar in performance. Theyll both run heavy for cal bullets efficiently at that 3050-3100 range and do it for around 2k rounds of barrel life. The 6 using 40.5gr powder and the 22 using 36.5 or so. The gt is a great target round and hunts well too but the 6cm having the ability to run thay extra 150-200fps, gives you a lot of flexibility on barrel length without really sacrificing anything.

I don’t disagree but the wife has a 6cm so don’t need another one in the safe not to mention a long throated 243 and a couple of 260s. In all honesty I need to focus on current builds before I start drooling on new ones!!

 

[Hondo64d]

@Hondo64d you running a 169 freebore chamber with the 88s?

Yes.

John

 

[Juan_ID]

I am pretty sure this is going to be my next barrel. Probably another preferred pre-fit, they don’t list what freebore they use so I’ll have to call them and ask a few questions. Thinking a 7.5twist 18-20” prefer 18 to use suppressed but we’ll see. Planning to shoot 88 eldm’s as well. What’s the round count on your barrels at this point?

 

[khuber84]

I am pretty sure this is going to be my next barrel. Probably another preferred pre-fit, they don’t list what freebore they use so I’ll have to call them and ask a few questions. Thinking a 7.5twist 18-20” prefer 18 to use suppressed but we’ll see. Planning to shoot 88 eldm’s as well. What’s the round count on your barrels at this point?

My first match barrel is north of 1k, probably 1200 ish. 26" 7tw 219 bore 169fb. Been running 90 atips at 3080-3110 for vast majority of it's life. Throat is starting to look rough, but still shoots small. Has been running 35.8-36.2gr H4350 depending on lot to keep the velocity where it likes to be. 2nd barrel just got spun, 22" 7tw 219bore 120 freebore, been running 80eldm with 33.5 N150 for break in. It's speed up from 3130-3180 so far after 75 rounds. Shoots great!

 

[Juan_ID]

My first match barrel is north of 1k, probably 1200 ish. 26" 7tw 219 bore 169fb. Been running 90 atips at 3080-3110 for vast majority of it's life. Throat is starting to look rough, but still shoots small. Has been running 35.8-36.2gr H4350 depending on lot to keep the velocity where it likes to be. 2nd barrel just got spun, 22" 7tw 219bore 120 freebore, been running 80eldm with 33.5 N150 for break in. It's speed up from 3130-3180 so far after 75 rounds. Shoots great!

Gotchya, I’m looking to end up around 2850-2900ish. I’d plan to start with H4350 and varget as it’s what I have. Are you just using the n140 for break in or plan to use it on the new barrel?

 

[khuber84]

Gotchya, I’m looking to end up around 2850-2900ish. I’d plan to start with H4350 and varget as it’s what I have. Are you just using the n140 for break in or plan to use it on the new barrel?

I'll be very interested to see where your barrels lands velocity wise with the 88s cut that short. I think 2850-2900 should be doable. N150 was chosen due to its in between burn of varg/H4350 and it's low flame temp. I've used it in 6bra and 6gt so knew how'd it'd perform. 33.5gr seated 45k off shot 0.3moa for 5 rounds. I'll run it up to pressure once barrel is broke in, as well has rl15.5 and H4350 to find the highest velocity limit, drop a grain and start a OCW test. I generally pick a medium charge and choose my planned bullets of use and do seating depths for first 100 rounds then start adding powder last 50. Generally barrel is all sped up/stabilized and load development nearly done by 150. I ran 80 eldm from 10k to 73k off in 007 steps, 10 to 52k off were all 0.6moa or smaller, groups never started opening up till last 3 seating depths, which coincidentally is when it sped up from 3150 to 3180. So it may have just been the velocity change, or in combo with a jump it does like. Target is 1/4" grid at 100y.

 

[Juan_ID]

I'll be very interested to see where your barrels lands velocity wise with the 88s cut that short. I think 2850-2900 should be doable. N150 was chosen due to its in between burn of varg/H4350 and it's low flame temp. I've used it in 6bra and 6gt so knew how'd it'd perform. 33.5gr seated 45k off shot 0.3moa for 5 rounds. I'll run it up to pressure once barrel is broke in, as well has rl15.5 and H4350 to find the highest velocity limit, drop a grain and start a OCW test. I generally pick a medium charge and choose my planned bullets of use and do seating depths for first 100 rounds then start adding powder last 50. Generally barrel is all sped up/stabilized and load development nearly done by 150. I ran 80 eldm from 10k to 73k off in 007 steps, 10 to 52k off were all 0.6moa or smaller, groups never started opening up till last 3 seating depths, which coincidentally is when it sped up from 3150 to 3180. So it may have just been the velocity change, or in combo with a jump it does like. Target is 1/4" grid at 100y.
View attachment 651375

That is quite the process, I won’t chase it that far. I’ll probably find pressure then back it off a bit til it speeds up and call it good. As long as it shoots decent

 

[khuber84]

That is quite the process, I won’t chase it that far. I’ll probably find pressure then back it off a bit til it speeds up and call it good. As long as it shoots decent

Its a lot, but I've even when breaking a barrel in, a lot of data can potentially be acquired.

 

[Bwhntr]

Just ordered a preferred 1:7.5 for a TL3. Going with 20” as it’s going to be a yote/truck type gun.

Planning on running 80-90 gr pills.

Should be interesting. First time messing with 20 cal stuff

 

[Juan_ID]

Just ordered a preferred 1:7.5 for a TL3. Going with 20” as it’s going to be a yote/truck type gun.

Planning on running 80-90 gr pills.

Should be interesting. First time messing with 20 cal stuff

you planning on shooting it suppressed? I go back and forth between 20 and 18, mine will be suppressed 100% of the time. May just order a 20” bare muzzle and see how I like the velocities, if it’s plenty fast I can have it cut and threaded after

 

[Bwhntr]

you planning on shooting it suppressed? I go back and forth between 20 and 18, mine will be suppressed 100% of the time. May just order a 20” bare muzzle and see how I like the velocities, if it’s plenty fast I can have it cut and threaded after

Yeah suppressed probably 100% of the time

 

[Hondo64d]

Gotchya, I’m looking to end up around 2850-2900ish. I’d plan to start with H4350 and varget as it’s what I have. Are you just using the n140 for break in or plan to use it on the new barrel?

The barrel on my hunting rig is 19 3/8” and pushes 88gr ELD-Ms to 2914fps with 35.6gr H4350. Not a mild load, but not a hot load either. Bonus is that it put five shots in .131”, shown in earlier post.

John

 

[Juan_ID]

The barrel on my hunting rig is 19 3/8” and pushes 88gr ELD-Ms to 2914fps with 35.6gr H4350. Not a mild load, but not a hot load either. Bonus is that it put five shots in .131”, shown in earlier post.

John

That’s reassuring on the velocity. What’s the round count on your barrels? Also what twist rate did you go with on your barrels? I’d planned on 7.5 for no real particular reason.

 

[khuber84]

300y group w/ the 22" short freebore 22gt, 33.2gr N150, 80eldm jumping 40k, avg velocity is 3190, load hammers but es is shit.

 

[Juan_ID]

300y group w/ the 22" short freebore 22gt, 33.2gr N150, 80eldm jumping 40k, avg velocity is 3190, load hammers but es is shit.
View attachment 654038View attachment 654039

If it shoots it shoots!

 

[Hondo64d]

Shot a small whitetail doe this evening at 413 yards with a 77gr TMK launched at 2978 fps from my .22GT. Mild load. Impact velocity should have been about 2125 fps. Double lung shot. Bullet hit a rib on the way in and on exit. Damage to lungs was substantial. External exit wound in the hide was about nickel sized. She ran 50 yards, wobbled for a few seconds and called it quits. I didn’t investigate the blood trail because I saw where she fell and went right to her, but she was spraying a significant amount of blood where she fell. Below are pics of internal entrance and exit.

John

 

[Hondo64d]

That’s reassuring on the velocity. What’s the round count on your barrels? Also what twist rate did you go with on your barrels? I’d planned on 7.5 for no real particular reason.

Both of my current .22 GT barrels are 7” twist Bartlein 5Rs with a .218” bore. I went with 7” twist because I wanted to ensure stability with 88gr ELDs. A bunch of folks go with a .219” bore because in flight bullet failures seem to happen less with the .219” bore, but so far, I’ve had no failures.

John