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.