A few months ago Ritch and I discussed wanting a 22 variant on the 6.8. I like horsepower and wanted something to run up in the 3300-3500+ range. A reamer was designed and as time passed we got some barrels done by Black Hole. The idea was light varmint bullets and if it shot the heavies so much the better.
The rifle is a 1:8 24" Black Hole 3P barrel in an Aero upper with a BTE gas block and FF tube and a DPMS BCG. Assembled by Rich's Precision Guns. The lower is one I built with a a Giselle High Speed Match Trigger.
This was the first for the record rounds put down the tube. I had shot two shots previously getting some cases for measurement almost five months ago. Brass was made up using once fired Federal 6.8 that I got from LWRC. I used a single Redding Type S die and four bushings for the neck down operation. I put in 102 cases in the box to be formed and finished up with exactly 102 cases. None were lost and the forming was very quick running one of my turrets as a single stage. I settled on a 251 bushing for the first 55 grain rounds but switched to a 249 for the last batch of 77 grainers. The 251 was OK but I wanted a bit more grab in the long run. Bullets were loaded 0.005 off the lands. Notice the lengths. These are comfortably below any magazine COL out there. Primers were my usual Remington 7 1/2's. Bullets were the 50 grain Hooray ZMAX as I have a large number of those and the 77 Nosler CC's that I got on a production over run deal. They will be my long range go to bullet in 22.
I had this ammunition loaded for well over a month but family calls and the winds have been, shall we say, not helpful this spring. Temperature was a balmy 75-80 thanks to a cold front going through. Range was 100 yards with the winds switch from all angles and gusty. Mirage was running all over the place but when everything calmed down and I remembered to squeeze the trigger it was a rewarding trip.
So enough finger flapping and on with the targets.
First up is what the ZMAX turned up. Fighting the mirage was bear on these. Speeds were OK across the board in the 3500+ range. About 150-175 below what Ritch has been getting but I was being conservative on all these. Certainly PD killing stuff even at these pedestrian speeds. I found that H4895 was liked initially on this one and CFE showed some promise. I'll be shooting more of that anti-copper stuff in the future and also will bump up the RL 15. Lots of powder choices if you can get your hands on it.
Going through and taking my time put me several hours into the testing when I got into the 77's Noslers. Part of the issue was I had a scope that just didn't want to settle in so I lost the first five rounds down range setting it up with a new scope. Did I tell you I HATE swapping scopes out in the field and sighting them in? Ten minutes can seem like an eternity when the weather is god and your trigger is jumping to get something going.
Well I only loaded up two powders in the 77's. Those were CFE and Benchmark. I thought this tube would like the big guys thanks to its 1:8 and I was not disappointed. Speeds were decent as the targets show and for a total of eight groups shot the average was right on 0.8. Considering I was a tad tired and parched at this point I was very pleased. I'll let these show the hint of future goodness. The primers on these were nice and rounded. No swipes and obviously begging for more and there is plenty of boiler room waiting to have coal shoveled in it.
Benchmark has historically done very well in all the 6.8 variants I have shot and it came through again. This one has room to grow.
I tried the CFE on a whim on this one too and was pleasantly surprised to see the bullets snuggle in adequately. Velocity was coming up and it is dense enough that I see maybe 1.5-2 more grains on this one if all is well. I'll consult with Ritch about his pressure tests before I go hog wild on this. I do know that I will be getting a 26" Savage barrel by summers end so I can really wring this one out.
Not a bad day and I had fun getting some brass ready to go for the gusto down the road. The rifle ran flawlessly with the adjustable gas block really making it easy to tune the ejection. I have no doubt this shows up in how the primers look. No swipes or shiny ejector spots. Primers look like they are picture perfect. It doesn't get any better than that.
So go ahead and let me know what you think. As I mentioned these were coaster loads. Next trip I'll be tipping the keg a bit more. Cautious is as cautious does.
Greg
The rifle is a 1:8 24" Black Hole 3P barrel in an Aero upper with a BTE gas block and FF tube and a DPMS BCG. Assembled by Rich's Precision Guns. The lower is one I built with a a Giselle High Speed Match Trigger.
This was the first for the record rounds put down the tube. I had shot two shots previously getting some cases for measurement almost five months ago. Brass was made up using once fired Federal 6.8 that I got from LWRC. I used a single Redding Type S die and four bushings for the neck down operation. I put in 102 cases in the box to be formed and finished up with exactly 102 cases. None were lost and the forming was very quick running one of my turrets as a single stage. I settled on a 251 bushing for the first 55 grain rounds but switched to a 249 for the last batch of 77 grainers. The 251 was OK but I wanted a bit more grab in the long run. Bullets were loaded 0.005 off the lands. Notice the lengths. These are comfortably below any magazine COL out there. Primers were my usual Remington 7 1/2's. Bullets were the 50 grain Hooray ZMAX as I have a large number of those and the 77 Nosler CC's that I got on a production over run deal. They will be my long range go to bullet in 22.
I had this ammunition loaded for well over a month but family calls and the winds have been, shall we say, not helpful this spring. Temperature was a balmy 75-80 thanks to a cold front going through. Range was 100 yards with the winds switch from all angles and gusty. Mirage was running all over the place but when everything calmed down and I remembered to squeeze the trigger it was a rewarding trip.
So enough finger flapping and on with the targets.
First up is what the ZMAX turned up. Fighting the mirage was bear on these. Speeds were OK across the board in the 3500+ range. About 150-175 below what Ritch has been getting but I was being conservative on all these. Certainly PD killing stuff even at these pedestrian speeds. I found that H4895 was liked initially on this one and CFE showed some promise. I'll be shooting more of that anti-copper stuff in the future and also will bump up the RL 15. Lots of powder choices if you can get your hands on it.
Going through and taking my time put me several hours into the testing when I got into the 77's Noslers. Part of the issue was I had a scope that just didn't want to settle in so I lost the first five rounds down range setting it up with a new scope. Did I tell you I HATE swapping scopes out in the field and sighting them in? Ten minutes can seem like an eternity when the weather is god and your trigger is jumping to get something going.
Well I only loaded up two powders in the 77's. Those were CFE and Benchmark. I thought this tube would like the big guys thanks to its 1:8 and I was not disappointed. Speeds were decent as the targets show and for a total of eight groups shot the average was right on 0.8. Considering I was a tad tired and parched at this point I was very pleased. I'll let these show the hint of future goodness. The primers on these were nice and rounded. No swipes and obviously begging for more and there is plenty of boiler room waiting to have coal shoveled in it.
Benchmark has historically done very well in all the 6.8 variants I have shot and it came through again. This one has room to grow.
I tried the CFE on a whim on this one too and was pleasantly surprised to see the bullets snuggle in adequately. Velocity was coming up and it is dense enough that I see maybe 1.5-2 more grains on this one if all is well. I'll consult with Ritch about his pressure tests before I go hog wild on this. I do know that I will be getting a 26" Savage barrel by summers end so I can really wring this one out.
Not a bad day and I had fun getting some brass ready to go for the gusto down the road. The rifle ran flawlessly with the adjustable gas block really making it easy to tune the ejection. I have no doubt this shows up in how the primers look. No swipes or shiny ejector spots. Primers look like they are picture perfect. It doesn't get any better than that.
So go ahead and let me know what you think. As I mentioned these were coaster loads. Next trip I'll be tipping the keg a bit more. Cautious is as cautious does.
Greg
