Im indecisive, what barrel next?!

[Matt5266]

I know we see them all the time but what else are we going to talk about for the next couple months until hunting really starts kicking off?

I cant decide what to put together next. I currently have my bolt rifles down to 3 guns.
Tikka .223
Tikka .243 1:8 twist
Winchester model 70 300WSM

Ill forsure never sell the 300 or 223. The 300 I've had forever.

My question is what next? I do reload so ill get that out there. I have a second fast twist 243 in the safe that I plan to pull the barrel for when the other one is shot out. But now what to screw on the end? Im leaning toward 22 creed. Id like something that will hold 1800 fps a little further. I'd like to keep the same bolt if possible as well.

What you guys think? I kinda feel like ive got the low, middle, and high end covered already.

 

[Taudisio]

I know we see them all the time but what else are we going to talk about for the next couple months until hunting really starts kicking off?

I cant decide what to put together next. I currently have my bolt rifles down to 3 guns.
Tikka .223
Tikka .243 1:8 twist
Winchester model 70 300WSM

Ill forsure never sell the 300 or 223. The 300 I've had forever.

My question is what next? I do reload so ill get that out there. I have a second fast twist 243 in the safe that I plan to pull the barrel for when the other one is shot out. But now what to screw on the end? Im leaning toward 22 creed. Id like something that will hold 1800 fps a little further. I'd like to keep the same bolt if possible as well.

What you guys think? I kinda feel like ive got the low, middle, and high end covered already.

Hold 1800fps a little further….. further than what? Further than the 243, 22cm or a certain yardage?

It’s a tikka with a standard bolt face, so you could swap out the bolt stop and magazine to a long action if you think you need more gas in it.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

@Formidilosus is playing with a 22-06ai to launch a 85gr+ bullet at Mach Jesus in a 20" barrel. Bolt stop and magazine swap would be needed but that's easy.

Post in thread 'The 22UM'

Dec 5, 2025

@Formidilosus has there been any forward progress on this? Possibly landed on a new parent cartridge to try out?

Not really. I will try a straight 22UM or 22UM-30° next, probably along with a 22-06 or AI version. The real issue is optimum bullets. The 88gr ELD-M is finicky enough that depending on it isn’t the way. A 90gr or 95gr SMK with nose ring may work. The is also a potentially new bullet going to be about this year. Right now, I would still choose the 77gr TMK.

• Formidilosus

• 

 

[bojangles808]

22cm or 6.5cm

 

[Matt5266]

Hold 1800fps a little further….. further than what? Further than the 243, 22cm or a certain yardage?

It’s a tikka with a standard bolt face, so you could swap out the bolt stop and magazine to a long action if you think you need more gas in it.

Sorry to clarify. Where i am my 223 hits 1800 fps at about 500 yards and the 243 about 625 yards or so. Not a requirement just looking to stretch the gap in calibers. My 300 wsm basically sits now. Its heavy.

 

[Matt5266]

@Formidilosus is playing with a 22-06ai to launch a 85gr+ bullet at Mach Jesus in a 20" barrel. Bolt stop and magazine swap would be needed but that's easy.

Post in thread 'The 22UM'

Dec 5, 2025

@Formidilosus has there been any forward progress on this? Possibly landed on a new parent cartridge to try out?

Not really. I will try a straight 22UM or 22UM-30° next, probably along with a 22-06 or AI version. The real issue is optimum bullets. The 88gr ELD-M is finicky enough that depending on it isn’t the way. A 90gr or 95gr SMK with nose ring may work. The is also a potentially new bullet going to be about this year. Right now, I would still choose the 77gr TMK.

• Formidilosus

• 

That sounds like a beast!

 

[ResearchinStuff]

What are the statuses of your suppressor collection and ammo hoard?

 

[Castle Rock]

I know you said that you are heavily invested in the 300WSM but to really optimize long range performance the 7mm is about as good as it gets before recoil becomes intolerable.
A newer version of the 7 WSM is probably the best option with throating and barrel twist modernized, however the 7 PRC is the easy button.
Super fast 22s and sixes are more shootable, but the really heavy bullets have too many issues as of yet.
The huge jump in bc with the 180 ELDM and 190 alloy tip in particular is the game changer.

 

[wind gypsy]

I know you said that you are heavily invested in the 300WSM but to really optimize long range performance the 7mm is about as good as it gets before recoil becomes intolerable.
A newer version of the 7 WSM is probably the best option with throating and barrel twist modernized, however the 7 PRC is the easy button.
Super fast 22s and sixes are more shootable, but the really heavy bullets have too many issues as of yet.
The huge jump in bc with the 180 ELDM and 190 alloy tip in particular is the game changer.

Generally agree.

In order to get much more than a 243 you've got to go heavily overbore in a 6mm or step up to 156 EOL or better class BC.

 

[tim tarras]

257 Roberts AI

 

[Huntnpack 2]

Since you’re leaning 22CM, go for it.

 

[Deere_Man]

What is the 243 rifle that you are considering for the conversion?

 

[Taudisio]

Sorry to clarify. Where i am my 223 hits 1800 fps at about 500 yards and the 243 about 625 yards or so. Not a requirement just looking to stretch the gap in calibers. My 300 wsm basically sits now. Its heavy.

Like 750 yards sound good?
What elevation would you say is your minimum when you’re out hunting?
What style bullets do you prefer? ie TMK, Eld-m, TTSX….
Preferred barrel length/suppressed?

 

[Matt5266]

What is the 243 rifle that you are considering for the conversion?

Its a twin to my other Tikka t3x superlite

 

[Matt5266]

Like 750 yards sound good?
What elevation would you say is your minimum when you’re out hunting?
What style bullets do you prefer? ie TMK, Eld-m, TTSX….
Preferred barrel length/suppressed?

Yes id be happy with 750. Minimum is about 2300 ft and max is about 9000 ft

I prefer tmk eldm style bullets.

My others are 18 inch. I prefer 16 to 18 inches. Always supressed

 

[43.6N]

I’ve got a 6.5.creed barrel that’s about due for a swap. So I’m sort of in the same boat.
I’d vote for something 25 cal.
25 creed, 25x47 Lapua, 257 Roberts ai. Just decide how exotic you want to be with your brass.

With today’s density altitude, a 135tmk at 2700fps at the muzzle stays above 1800fps to 800yds. That’s fills a pretty sweet spot in your lineup.

 

[shomi]

I’ve got a 6.5.creed barrel that’s about due for a swap. So I’m sort of in the same boat.
I’d vote for something 25 cal.
25 creed, 25x47 Lapua, 257 Roberts ai. Just decide how exotic you want to be with your brass.

With today’s density altitude, a 135tmk at 2700fps at the muzzle stays above 1800fps to 800yds. That’s fills a pretty sweet spot in your lineup.
View attachment 1084988

What’s the barrel length on those numbers? I’ve been dreaming about a 25-6.5PRC but a 25CM or 25CM +Peak sounds nice.

 

[43.6N]

What’s the barrel length on those numbers? I’ve been dreaming about a 25-6.5PRC but a 25CM or 25CM +Peak sounds nice.

I was figuring between an 18-20” barrel for those numbers.

Based on what other people are posting for their 25creeds, I’d expect a 20” barrel to hit 2700fps without killing brass.

These are pretty much the numbers I’m working off of:
26” 2870
24” 2820
22” 2770
20” 2720
18” 2670

If someone with 25creed experience wants to provide some first hand velocities, I know I’d appreciate the info.

 

[Taudisio]

Yes id be happy with 750. Minimum is about 2300 ft and max is about 9000 ft

I prefer tmk eldm style bullets.

My others are 18 inch. I prefer 16 to 18 inches. Always supressed

By my rough guess-timations for MV, the 88gr tmk at 2700fps falls short at around 600 yards. I don’t know exactly how fast a 16”-18” 22 creed can push them. I’ve seen 2700-3000.
2900fps MV gets you to 750.
The 116gr out of a 6creed at 2700fps hits 1781fps at 750 yards. That seems nearly attainable with an 18” barrel.

Edit to add, all of that is for your minimum elevation.

 

[Harvey_NW]

I was figuring between an 18-20” barrel for those numbers.

Based on what other people are posting for their 25creeds, I’d expect a 20” barrel to hit 2700fps without killing brass.

These are pretty much the numbers I’m working off of:
26” 2870
24” 2820
22” 2770
20” 2720
18” 2670

If someone with 25creed experience wants to provide some first hand velocities, I know I’d appreciate the info.

My 25 Creed new pressured out around 2675 with 39.5-40gr H4350 and a 133EH in new Peterson brass. Tikka action, PBB .75" taperless, ordered as a 20" but they informed me the Gov goes by total OA length, so it was actually more like an 18.5" of action forward barrel. I'd say depending on variables like action, brass, potential barrel speed up, etc., you might be a bit generous or spot on with your assumptions.

*ETA* Just remembered my chamber was cut with the 131BJ reamer and was not optimal for the 133EH, it was seated pretty deep @ .010" off lands. If a guy had his properly throated to jump, it might give some buffer for the pressure curve and a bit more velocity.