Need some help on a new gun build and choosing a caliber. So I’ve got a custom 338 on a defiance action, custom 6.5 creedmoor on a defiance action, 6xc on defiance action, 7prc on a defiance and a rimx .22. Now I’ve been looking into the 22gt or 22creedmoor with some interests in those. I reload for all my calibres so I don’t have a problem reloading a new one. Would love for some input?
New gun build
- Thread starter Pcaps
- Start date
Pointdexter
CGN Regular
- Location
- Lower Mainland
Apparently defiance actions are good.
- Location
- Western Canada
I am also interested in .22CM. Curious to see if anyone has any info on it, seems to be a pretty sweet cartridge
- Location
- Western Canada
Yes I know. That's part of what piqued my interest haha
- Location
- Western Canada
Jealous! That's awesome
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For just plinking on a private range to 1000 yards why not go .223 or .223ai? I load a 85.5 Berger to 2840fps and it matches my dasher almost to a .1 for elevation and windage deflection. Will also have a way better barrel life than the 22 Creedmoor.
Out of the two you’re looking at I’d go 22 Creedmoor just for the ease of mag feeding. But I believe there are better options for your goal.
Out of the two you’re looking at I’d go 22 Creedmoor just for the ease of mag feeding. But I believe there are better options for your goal.
Small calibre rounds that burn large volumes of powder are always hard on barrels. I would guess you’d see accuracy degradation around the 1250-1400 round count if you run it full throttle. I had a 223 WSSM and it was very fast and accurate for a very short time. You want performance, it usually has a price. Good luck with the new build.
Yes. Most people report just over 1k on a 22 creed. I’ve got two going at the moment for varmint / yotes. Slings the 85’s at 3200fps. I’m expecting 1200 rounds before she’s toast. They are used mostly for this role due to being a laser of a cartridge. Fast and flat. Which is not usually what you would want in a plinker. I’m expecting 1200 rounds before she’s toast.
Now a 22 br would serve you better for this role as well. There should be no reason you couldn’t get 2500+ on a barrel. The 223 or 223ai should do 3k+ on a barrel.
Hope that’s helpful!
Now a 22 br would serve you better for this role as well. There should be no reason you couldn’t get 2500+ on a barrel. The 223 or 223ai should do 3k+ on a barrel.
Hope that’s helpful!
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Yeah, I mean, you have most of the bases covered with .338, 7mm, 6.5, 6... I'd just build a nice .223. Super cheap to shoot and tons of barrel life. I run 75gr BTHPs or ELDMs and no issues hitting 2950fps in a 26" barrel. With the ELDs at that speed you have 6.5 Creed ballistics (for wind, elevation is much flatter) out to 600ish yards. It's not ideal for 1000yds but totally doable, plus it's just for plinking so why not? You'll use maybe 60% of the powder you'd use in a Creed case and get about 5x the barrel life (all my .223 barrels have gone to 7600 or so rounds where they start getting flyers that open groups up to 1 moa).
The downside of 223 is the weird, atypical boltface and cartridge shape. Now you need a special bolt, special magazines, special cartridge holder for reloading equipment... Easier to just go with a 308-based .22cal (22 creed, 22 BR, 22 BRA, 22 dasher...).
Good point adamg! But the OP did mention he has no issues reloading for a new cartridge and is looking to build a new rifle. So that would be moot if he’s buying a new action.
If the OP is looking to use an existing action I’d agree with you 100% just on the merit of cost saving. The great thing with defiance is bolt can be order direct from them and shipped to your door depending on which action you have. So the juice may be worth the squeeze for a .223
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That is a good point with the 223 bolt face. Also this just gave me an idea, I could get a prefit for my 6.5 action and shoot a .22cal with the 308 bolt face. I’ve never dealt with a prefit before always with a smith is there any disadvantages to them?
Any good Smith can make a prefit for you, doesn't have to be ordered off the shelf either. The only difference is you have measurements from the action manufacturer (of which can hold tight tolerances) published for the Smith to chamber a blank with, as opposed to the Smith needing your action to measure headspace off of. If you are going off the shelf, buy a barrel from a reputable manufacturer and you won't have any problems either.
For 1000, 22creedmoor/gt, 25creedmoor/gt would do the work easily if you want to have a different Caliber family.
If you want to try a different action, could consider something can do easy barrel swap like AI ATX or Terminus Zeus, so in the future you only need to get a new barrel
