Deciding on a 22 and is the ARC really that great?

[FredH]

Thanks for all the input. Really appreciate the discussion. I like the idea that the ARC ammo is pretty comparable to the 223 IF you are buying factory heavies. If that is indeed true, I can make a better case for the ARC.

For those with more experience and probably have even read more (I did see the AK Moose vid)... I kill virtually all of my animals at 40-150 yards. Hunt timber almost exclusively and sometimes I'll get a chance at something at 150. There are places I could shoot 400+, even 800 or whatever, but honestly, have not had that opportunity come up. So, I'm in the woods and the bull is 75 yards... any diff 'Really' in penetration and deathing between these three guns, all with their heavies?

Notice the moose kill took more than one shot. If a lot of your hunting is in timber there are many better cartridges to carry than the 223 or 22 ARC. None of the newest plastic tipped wonder bullets give the penetration say a 7-08 or 308 can give with properly constructed cup and core bullets. Also at virtually any range the 223 and 22 ARC do not make as wide or as deep a wound channel as similarly constructed bullets from 7-08/308 class cartridges. Shot placement is very important, meaning placed perfectly through the lung/heart area from broadside. I am a big fan of both the 223 and 22 ARC but they have limitations.

 

[justin davis]

The arc was made for semi auto platform. If your going bolt gun then I’d go 22 creedmoor

 

[The Guide]

The arc was made for semi auto platform. If your going bolt gun then I’d go 22 creedmoor

In that same line of thought, so was the 223/5.56 so no need for the RSS bolt guns either...

If you load a 22 ARC to bolt gun pressures (go from factory gas gun pressure @55k psi to bolt gun pressure @65k psi) you have a cartridge that rivals the 22CM and will shoot the 75gr to 90gr bullets with the 7 twist barrel SAAMI calls for. While the 22 ARC does require a non-typical bolt face it does very well as a bolt gun and will get longer barrel life based on the overbore of the case when comparing it to the 22CM.

Jay

 

[z987k]

Notice the moose kill took more than one shot. If a lot of your hunting is in timber there are many better cartridges to carry than the 223 or 22 ARC. None of the newest plastic tipped wonder bullets give the penetration say a 7-08 or 308 can give with properly constructed cup and core bullets. Also at virtually any range the 223 and 22 ARC do not make as wide or as deep a wound channel as similarly constructed bullets from 7-08/308 class cartridges. Shot placement is very important, meaning placed perfectly through the lung/heart area from broadside. I am a big fan of both the 223 and 22 ARC but they have limitations.

Its pretty rare for a moose to not need a follow up shot. 375 h&h or 223. You shoot until it goes down. Absent a cns hit they take some time to drop that blood pressure enough to turn the lights off.
In that video the first shot was fatal. But no one no matter the gun sits there and waits. I've seen moose shot with much larger diameter bullets take as long or longer.

 

[justin davis]

In that same line of thought, so was the 223/5.56 so no need for the RSS bolt guns either...

If you load a 22 ARC to bolt gun pressures (go from factory gas gun pressure @55k psi to bolt gun pressure @65k psi) you have a cartridge that rivals the 22CM and will shoot the 75gr to 90gr bullets with the 7 twist barrel SAAMI calls for. While the 22 ARC does require a non-typical bolt face it does very well as a bolt gun and will get longer barrel life based on the overbore of the case when comparing it to the 22CM.

Jay

Yea makes sense. Just the same as the 6 arc. I have a family member who has a bolt gun 6 arc. He really likes it. It will have a longer barrel life than my 6 creed. But my 6 creed is shooting same weight bullets 300 fps faster. The trade off is less barrel life.

 

[nm.otter]

I have a family member who has a bolt gun 6 arc. He really likes it. It will have a longer barrel life than my 6 creed. But my 6 creed is shooting same weight bullets 300 fps faster. The trade off is less barrel life.

FWIW, .22 GT splits the difference in overbore between those two.