.22 grendel test run

[StoneHendge]

Last round of load tests today. Stuck with previous load of 30grs cfe. Pic of ten shots at 500 below. Wind was 8mph from 10 o’clock. I’ll stick with this for now and maybe explore more later. Busy ATM. [ATTACH=CONFIG]11811[/ATTACH]

Stonehenge
I tried the 55 nosler BT and got 3602 fps but accuracy was terrible. I’m with you on needing slower twist for the lighter pills. I only tried one load but it was really bad. Black hole weaponry will build you a 224 grendel in any twist you want for I think mid $400.

That be smokin! I think I'm set for the moment. The 20" 223 BHW barrel I got last fall was really promising at first. But I couldn't get it to do anything with 77s. Tried 6 different powders and all the same. Really promising at 50, opening up to MOAish for four shots at 100 plus a fifth that would take it to 2 moa. And all over the place with the BC getting compromised at 550. Last try was a box of Hornady Steel Match 75s since I really wanted to use it for a carbine class. same result. Realized the twist had to be slower than the 1:8 it's supposed to be. Was going to give up on it and pursue something else with the rifle, but I've got it doing a solid 1/2 MOA at 3150 with the NBTVs and Benchmark. Smacks my clubs 6" diamond at 450 hard enough for me to believe it could induce pdog whirligigs and somersaults out to 500. I've been impressed by BHW barrels (I bought 5 of them last fall from 30-75% off and have 4 up and running) as well as the NBTVs holding accuracy at range. The 223 has to be a 1:9 and I've been doing the 6mm 70s in my 1:10 6x45. I actually went 3 for 3 on an 8" diamond (effectively submoa) finishing up yesterday with the 70s. Barely moved it but I'm kind of in disbelief that a varmint bullet can hold accuracy and remain predictable at that range.

So I think I'm set for varmint guns for now. But you had to send me over to BHWs website so I could see they are now doing 22-250 AR barrels.That 3600 you got with the 55s buys 200 yards. Hodgdons has CFE getting them over 3800 in 22-250. That 450 yard shot is now getting 223s smack at 150. I wonder when BHWs next sale will be.......

[bj139]

Yes, a 22 grendel would chamber in a 6.5 grendel, not sure of exact results but probably a reformed 6.5 grendel case and some jacket material in Barrel would be the result. Same as if you loaded a Valkyrie in an 6.8 SPC.

No a 6.5 grendel won’t load in the 224 grendel.

I shot five 223s in a 6x45 barrel which converted them into 6x45s.
I didn't note if they were accurate or not. There was no problem.

[StoneHendge]

Oh boy:

Hello Stone,

Yes, we can do the 22 LBC. Just call us to order.

Thank you,

Michele Berg
Columbia River Arms
Black Hole Weaponry

[Msalm]

I recently rebarreled a Howa Mini with a Heym 223 unchambered barrel blank from Numrich. 1-11.8 twist or so (30 cm?). Used a standard 224 LBC reamer from PTG. Also did a 6mm LBC using same reamer with 6mm pilot, a .274" chucking reamer for the neck and a 6mm throater as I couldn't find a 6 Grendel reamer available. Both shoot extremely well. The 22 was loaded with 53gr Vmax and 50gr Barnes TTSX and the TTSX took a hog in TX last week at 190 yards, 130lb sow. DRT through the shoulders. Both bullets in the 22 running and even 3500fps. Great little package and I'm pretty enthused with this rifles.

[ricsmall]

Msalm

Welcome to the forum. Good to hear this report. I’ve been thinking of doing the same with a howa mini. Be a great little carry/calling rifle for yotes

[Msalm]

Thanks for the welcome,
I also took one of the Howa Mini's in 7.62X39 and ran a 6.5 Grendel reamer in the chamber to the shoulder. Ended up with an improved version that should get a solid 2600fps with the 125gr bullets. I was using 125 gr Cavity Back Bullets and the .311 Sierra 125's in the standard 7.62 chamber but wanted a better velocity window. Have a Lee 7.62 collet neck size die and need to make a Wilson type in line seater for the grendalized chamber yet. On another positive note, the barrel I rechambered was spun onto a DIFFERENT mini action, and it timed exactly...headspace and caliber engravings.

A bit off topic to this thread though, so back to the 22 LBC...great little cartridge in a VERY light handy platform in the Howa's.

[bj139]

Welcome Msalm,
I sounds like there is a lot we could learn from you.
Thanks.

[StoneHendge]

Welcom Msalm. So you would basically consider your 22 LBC to have a "standard" 22 LBC chamber / throat / leade? I am seriously contemplating ordering one from BHW in a 1:10 twist if they will do the 1:10 twist

I have a 20" BHW 556 barrel that was supposed to be 1:8 but its actually 1:9. Really had me ticked off at first since it won't shoot 77s for a damn, but it is shooting 55 grain NBTVs at 3150 lights out to 450 and as far as I can tell thus far, its holding to 550 (I have to go by 10" plate swing at 550 and they all seem center enough). Anyways, that's giving me 252k RPM for the thin jacketed varmint bullet and a quick and dirty calculation gives me the exact same 252k if they were 3500 out of a 1:10.

A 1:10 twist obviously limits the barrel to light bullets and my concern is that the bullets don't have too much jump and/or sit too high in the case given how relatively short the Grendel case is. I'm seating them at 2.255 in 223. I don't know what the jump is, but I did finally pick up a replacement modified case yesterday so I can check. It looks like seating the 55 gr NBTV with the bottom of the bearing surface at the bottom of the neck puts them at about 2.050 in a Grendel case. They look similar to the 53 gr VMAX. What are you seating those at and what's your jump? I'm pretty sure BHW uses PTG reamers (they do state in their FAQ that they use PTG Go and No Go Gauges) but I could always confirm that. Thanks!

[Msalm]

Yes my reamer is a standard PTG 22LBC. The throat didn’t strike me as terribly long, but I wouldn’t be able to tell you my jump or OAL. I did seat them to fit the mag, the 53’s were shorter than max in order to seat about a caliber into the neck. The 50TTSX were longer and closer to max. If you’d like I could run the reamer into a cut-off bbl piece and send to you and you can measure to your hearts content.

[Popeye212]

Hey guys can’t find much reading on .22 Grendel so I decided to give it a go. Got a barrel from ARP, as they were the most reasonably priced for a test rig. My main goal is to get some data that I trust and maybe build one on a howa mini in the future. I’ll start off with 75 gr eld-m and go from there. Should be a fun round to launch cheaper pills out to maybe 1000 yds. Plus, it’s always fun to try something new. Not sure who designed hornadys amax seating stem, but it doesn’t work. Puts a crimp in the projectile. I polished on a buddies for what seemed like 2 days to get it so-so. So on mine I skipped that and made a collet to hold stem in lathe, bored it out, and bedded an amax chucked in tailstock. Fits perfect now and doesn’t mash the bullet. I’ll update as I get data if anyone is interested. All I have now is a pic of .22 grendel next to a 6.5 grendel.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]11272[/ATTACH]

Don't know if this will help or not but when I called Redding about dies for my Grendel. She specifically asked If I was going to load ELD I said at some point yes. She gave me the number of the 2 die set to buy and a separate seating plug insert to handle the ELD. They may be aware of your problem also. Anyway thought I would mention it. I think you may have affected my bank account looks another build may be in my future. My son just got his .224 Ackley improved and I am watching how this .224 Grendel handles heavier 75 and 90gr. and what velocity you could get from it. Since I already have the Grendel brass seems like a smooth transition. Thanks

[Popeye212]

Hey guys can’t find much reading on .22 Grendel so I decided to give it a go. Got a barrel from ARP, as they were the most reasonably priced for a test rig. My main goal is to get some data that I trust and maybe build one on a howa mini in the future. I’ll start off with 75 gr eld-m and go from there. Should be a fun round to launch cheaper pills out to maybe 1000 yds. Plus, it’s always fun to try something new. Not sure who designed hornadys amax seating stem, but it doesn’t work. Puts a crimp in the projectile. I polished on a buddies for what seemed like 2 days to get it so-so. So on mine I skipped that and made a collet to hold stem in lathe, bored it out, and bedded an amax chucked in tailstock. Fits perfect now and doesn’t mash the bullet. I’ll update as I get data if anyone is interested. All I have now is a pic of .22 grendel next to a 6.5 grendel.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]11272[/ATTACH]

Don't know it this help or not but when I called Redding about dies for my Grendel. She specifically asked If I was going to load ELD I said at some point yes. She gave me the number of the 2 die set to buy and a separate seating plug insert to handle the ELD. They may be aware of that problem also. Anyway thought I would mention it. I think you may have affected my bank account looks another build may be in my future. My son just got his .224 Ackley improved and I am watching how this .224 Grendel handles heavier 75 and 90gr. and what velocity you could get from it. Since I already have the Grendel brass seems like a smooth transition. Thanks

[StoneHendge]

Yes my reamer is a standard PTG 22LBC. The throat didn’t strike me as terribly long, but I wouldn’t be able to tell you my jump or OAL. I did seat them to fit the mag, the 53’s were shorter than max in order to seat about a caliber into the neck. The 50TTSX were longer and closer to max. If you’d like I could run the reamer into a cut-off bbl piece and send to you and you can measure to your hearts content.

Thanks but that would probably be getting in a little over my head! Knowing the 53 gr V-Max works is enough for me - the 55 NBTV is a little shorter but if those don't work, I'm sure the 60s would.

[LRRPF52]

Anyone have any experience with this company?

Tactical Cannon

He's got .224 Grendel barrels, brass, dies, and BCGs ready to go.

[ricsmall]

Anyone have any experience with this company?

Tactical Cannon

He's got .224 Grendel barrels, brass, dies, and BCGs ready to go.

I haven’t dealt with him but I’ve spoke with him a little. Ran across him a bit after I got my22 Grendel barrel. Thought I posted a link for his site for anyone interested. He seems like a good dude. Wish someone had a 6-6.5 twist in the 22 Grendel. Be great for the new heavy pills.

[Dave 173]

I have one of his barrels they are made by white oak 5r rifling
have not shot it yet waiting on cataract surgery so I can see the cross hairs in my scope
have loads with 75gr amax 88gr horn ELD 90gr sierra with both Hex-b coated and non coated to test

[DRandi]

Anyone have any experience with this company?

Tactical Cannon

He's got .224 Grendel barrels, brass, dies, and BCGs ready to go.

Was following him when he started this idea back in January. Spoke with him a few times via email. I backed away after no answers to technical question. Simple stuff like what’s the neck diameter? What’s the chamber freebore length? Is it button or cut rifled. Questions were constantly dodged.... oh hey look at my NRL win, or he claimed he responded on his Instagram. Why would you go to Instagram to respond, which he didn’t, when all prior conversation was back and forth via personal emails. When he held a live video q&a it turned into a watch me build my AR. When asked questions again during the live q@a that was suppose to be about the cartridge, he got agitated and dismissive and flat out said, “I’m just not going to answer you”. When myself and others asked about shooting something other than the Hornady 80 eld he just didn’t want anything to do with it.

Im sorry but as a one off wildcat that’s supposed to be your baby that he’s hand loading for. Wouldn’t you have a basic knowledge of what the chamber dimensions are so you have some clue to what you are doing??? Just a guess, but I think he’s pushing someone else’s project. Just the vibe I got when asking him anything. Seemed like he was a middle man.

That’s the highlights to 4 months dealing with him.

David

[Huckleberry75]

Just my $.02, but the 22Gren running a 69 TMK or 65 SGK would be a really nice little truck rig for the critters and varmints that just need killin'.

[flatland1]

I've been working/playing with Howa Mini actions; have re-barreled one 6.5 G for the 6RAT (original version, not the FATRAT) with a Bartlein 5R light palma finished at 24", pillar bedded into a McM Game Scout stock w/DIP DBM, EGW 20 MOA rail, HACT trigger with the spring cut mod, topped by an Athlon Ares 4.5-27x50 mil scope in TPS TSR rings, with the bbl'd action CeraKoted in Magpul FDE. Followed that by re-barreling a 222 Rem bbl'd action with another Bartlein - this one a 20 cal 1-9tw #2 sporter at 24", chambered in 20 Tactical. This one went into a Boyds ProVarmint, also with DIP DBM, EGW 20 MOA rail, spring cut trigger mod, and an old Nikon 30mm 4-16x50 sfp tactical in TSR rings. Both these rifles shoot very well, and since I left the stock pillars a little long with the extra length protruding out the bottom of the DBM inlet, was able to tune the exact length needed to get smooth & reliable feeding. I like them both very much; only wish I had more time to devote to shooting them.

Have two more Mini bbl'd actions - both with 6.5 G boltface, and considered doing one in 20 Grendel, mostly because I have another 20 cal Bartlein 1-9tw blank in #3 sporter contour. But because I'm very pleased with the 20 Tactical Mini, I've lost interest in the 20 Grendel, and have been thinking about having a reamer ground for a 22 RAT instead. Because I've gotten some gratifying accuracy results with Berger 55 LRHPs out of the 20 Tac & Berger 90 BTHPs out of the 6RAT at 600yds, i'm a believer in the accuracy potential of these little actions, and therefore leaned towards using a 1-7tw bbl to allow the use of 88 & 90gr bullets out of a 22RAT. Contrary to what I'd always believed while shooting JLK 90VLDs out of AR15 service rifles at 600-1000yds, a 1-7tw bbl does a very credible job of stabilizing the 90s - myself & a couple of friends who were shooting the 90s back in 1999-2004 had always used 1-6.5tw bbls. But honestly, even out here in western Kansas where we have a lot of wide open spaces for shooting at distance, I've got plenty of rifles better suited to that purpose, chambered for good LR cartridges from 6 Dasher to 284 Win & 280AI. So, I probably ought not use anything faster than a 1-8tw bbl, so I can load lighter varmint weight bullets when appropriate, yet still be able to handle the occasional 80gr bullet when wanting to shoot 600+yds. So, I'm very interested in reading more about the 22 Grendel....

[Trapper]

Another great source for the .22G barrel is from Baldwin gun works. ( baldwingunworks@gmail.com ). Bart is a pleasure to deal with and does very nice work. I got a 24" 1/7 twist barrel that is threaded and has a +2 rifle gas tube. Takes a type 2 bolt. Here’s the specs
Wilson arms button rifles blank in either 7 or 8 twist , +2” gas system
.875 under the hand guard, .750 block then .730 in front up to 24” threaded muzzle also available .
They are $325 shipped with the gas tube
Got the barrel in, in less than 4 weeks and I am in the process of making brass. I feel it will shoot as well as my 6mm Grendel and 6.5 Grendel. Looking forward to working with this one.
Thanks,
Trapper

[Dead Center Miss]

So you built a 220 Russian IMP? 😋