22 Grendel 40? IMP

[Es 350]

I recently chambered a take off Ruger 14 twist barrel and a 7 twist blank for this cal.

Posted on another forum with not much interest... a member of this forum messaged me saying would be more interest here.

Anyways , last summer was at a 1000 yd range having a blast pinging steel out to 1000 yds with my 75 and 80 gr handloads but sucked having to single load my 223 AR.
While there found a 6.5 Grendel case on the ground...... thought ...man this would work great necked down to 22 cal ....

Research after returning home with 6.5 case in hand..... i found 224 Grendal, LBC and Predator already existed..... almost pulled the trigger on a Predator barrel and dies....

Having lathes and mills in my garage i decided i wanted to take it up a notch to basically 40 turbo /Ackley IMP version.

Last month a Kidney Stone allowed enough time off work between severe pain and pain meds to machine the needed reamers and size die as well as barrels for this new to me exciting caliber.

Less than 50 rds through each barrel but very pleased with outcome, shot the 27" 7 twist at 575 yd this past weekend .
Was getting around 3" 3 shot groups on steel in 6-10 mph winds with a 75 BTHP at 3023 av fps , which is first starting load tried in this barrel.
Both barrels seem precise with any load i have tried lending from their PPC heritage.

Only thing i plan to do yet is rebuild uppers with heavy walled upper recievers and compare accuracy to the Areo enhanced they are in now.

Will post pics if/when i figure out how.

Thanks and let me know what you think , i read there was atleast one other guy out there that used to have a 22 fat rat......

[VASCAR2]

Very interesting and neat you have the ability to build yourself! I’m interested in seeing your pictures, did you use Stainless Steel barrel blanks!

[Es 350]

Both barrels are chrome moly as is what i had on hand.

Do you need to have a certian number of post to post pics?
I dont see an option anywhere ..... posting from phone.

[Es 350]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/9ZJ8UCpwpUzqzMD38

[Es 350]

I think this will work, some pics of loaded ammo, my 40 deg fireformed case vs necked down 6.5 Grendel some groups @ 100 yds and size die... i did not machine the lockring on die , it is from an old set of dies i picked up used.

[VASCAR2]

Looks good.

How to post pictures
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Your link worked to google photos but you can also hot link to photos using a web hosting site. I use Flickr which is free, copy BBC code into narrative of your post and pictures appear.

[Es 350]

Ok , thanks ..... must be where i am a new member but my screen has changed is a lot more user friendly and makes more sense now!

I have an 8 twist blank also and thinking i may chamber it and fit to a Savage action to see what it will do from a bolt gun.

The plan from start was to be able to feed 75-90 grain bullets from mag of AR 15 and some added velocity over 223/556,
which the 22 Grendel/IMP will do nicley.

Now, i am seriously intrigued with the Grendel case and have all kinds of ideas/plans for future builds off the Grendal.

[A5BLASTER]

Ok , thanks ..... must be where i am a new member but my screen has changed is a lot more user friendly and makes more sense now!

I have an 8 twist blank also and thinking i may chamber it and fit to a Savage action to see what it will do from a bolt gun.

The plan from start was to be able to feed 75-90 grain bullets from mag of AR 15 and some added velocity over 223/556,
which the 22 Grendel/IMP will do nicley.

Now, i am seriously intrigued with the Grendel case and have all kinds of ideas/plans for future builds off the Grendal.

From what I could find on the web last night. The 22 grendel out runs 224V with same length barrels and same weight bullets.

So I think your 22 grendel/40 deg/alk should be a lil bit faster then all three of the other chambers.

[Es 350]

From what I could find on the web last night. The 22 grendel out runs 224V with same length barrels and same weight bullets.

So I think your 22 grendel/40 deg/alk should be a lil bit faster then all three of the other chambers.

The AR bolt will be the limiting factor in that platform and is one ithe reasons i am thinking of chambering a barrel for bolt gun.

During my initial load ladder in the 22.5" 14 twist barrel i hit 3840 fps with a 53 gr bullet with no excess pressure indicators. Im sure this was a high pressure load and do not plan to shoot loads this hot.
Part of going this high was CFE , with its high temp stability factor, i was shooting ladder loads that had been in 31deg. For quite some time. I then loaded 3 more at 2 tenths progressively , the first .2 higher than previous was 100 fps faster!
The 3 hottest loads showed no signs of pressure on primer and primer pockets measured same as new brass.

So in a bolt gun should work great with not having to worry about bolt strength.

Have asked on other 224 Grendel sites about case capacity,
with no reply..... necked down Hornady brass before fireform
Vs my fireformed brass = 1.7 gr more H2O. Have several 224V range pick ups , have not measured volume but is easily seen the normal Grendel has more capacity.

Also have .4 gr (53gr) and 1.5-1.7 gr (75 &88gr) more H2O capacity than 22 Nosler according to Nosler data.

[ricsmall]

This is an interesting thread to me. I had my .224 Grendel upper for sale a while back but have recently ordered a varmint caller, so the 224G is about to come out of the safe. I was pushing 75 eld at 3100 IIRC out of a 20” pipe. It’s opening the pockets after three firings but I’m also using some of my oldest Hornady Grendel brass with at least 4 firings on them. 22 creedmoor I built my cousin is sending the 80gr Berger full bore at 3300 out of a 22” barrel so not that much of a gain respective to recoil and muzzle blast. That cartridge needs a little longer barrel IMO, but he wanted portability in a vehicle.

[Es 350]

Coyote hunting is the main reason this come about.....
Several times a group of 3 or 4 came in to call.
Used to hunt with a single shot 22 250 then a bolt action and last summer when 3 cototes showed up i killed 1 and missed 2nd shot because time i got bolt worked and back on target coyote was 350 yds and full tilt ahead.

From what i have seen on net all Grendel case variants are precise shooters, from what i have seen so far from my 2 barrels ... i love it!

Im sure i am a little bias since i machined the reamers/my design but is my favorite caliber as of now.
Hope to get a load worked out with the 7 twist/88 gr ELDM ...possibly tomorrow if i can stand the bitter cold!

[Es 350]

22 creedmoor I built my cousin is sending the 80gr Berger full bore at 3300 out of a 22” barrel so not that much of a gain respective to recoil and muzzle blast. That cartridge needs a little longer barrel IMO, but he wanted portability in a vehicle.

Plus the Grendel should have better barrel life shooting less powder even of at same pressures

[Caleb]

Es 350,
I been following you on the f.b. page, hope all is well, waiting for more info.

Caleb

[Es 350]

Not much in the way of updates other than i shot the 14 twist to fireform some more brass and shot a ladder with 53 gr nosler ahead of 8208XBR.

At 3626 fps it was shooting in the 3's for 3 shots @ 100 yds.
2 tenths more (3666) opened up to .4".

Amazingly , which i would guess is due to the 14 twist rate, my fireform loads was shooting in the 1's & 2's !!! for 3 shots with CFE and BULK 50 gr Rem. HP's! Velocity was only 3350 for the fireform loads .... but precise enough for anything i might do at shorter ranges under 350 yds.
Amazed at the precision from an AR platform!

[VASCAR2]

Those are 22-250 velocities out of basically 6.5 Grendel case. Pretty impressive and economical to boot.

[Es 350]

For sure, i am tickled with velocity and precision i am getting out of both barrels!

Plan to shoot it some more this weekend , will chrono some of the light bullet out of 27" just as a better comparison to my 26" 22 250.
Of course we all know barrels are all different some fast and some slow, but saw some #'s online from guys shooting 20" and 22" 22 250's @ 3450 - 3650 IIRC .

[Kswhitetails]

Sounds about right. 3800ish from a 26in Redpad One. For the light stuff. That's what grandpa's data says. (1972, 50gr something sp. Dupont. Can't read details...)

[Es 350]

Shot the 27" yesterday with the light bullets loads to see what velocity gains the longer tube would provide.

My fireforming load picked up 233 fps from 3350 to 3583 fps!

The 53 gr/ 8208 was right at 100+ fps at 3720's- low 30's

I then shot 2 53 gr/CFE loads , these loads were right at 3700 fps in 22.5".... first one roared over chrono @ 3897 fps! While contemplating shooting another i inspected the fired case, primer was not flat in fact looked like unfired primer except for firing pin dent. Was S&B primer which are rather soft and should show pressure sooner than a harder cup primer. Case looked good as well so shot 1 more to confirm velocity... 3929 fps!!

Enough was enough as i know they have to be high pressure !

After returning to my shop i deprimed the to fast loads and measured case and primer pocket..... all was in line , primer pocket where measure with pin gauge and is same as new Hornady 6.5 brass!
This is still part of the first 50 pieces of brass and already had 4-5 firings before yesterday

At any rate those 2 loads had to be high pressure and will reduce load considerably!

[Lemonaid]

What are you using to compare load data with? The 22 BR Remington looks to be somewhat similar and it's load data might be of use.
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle
3900 fps sounds like you should be getting a speeding ticket!
3900 fps = 2,659.0909 miles per hour
speed limit = 2600 fps = 2,454.5455 MPH
200 miles per hour over limit. $5.00 per MPH over limit
$1000.00 ticket!

[Es 350]

I compare load data mainly with 22 Nosler as my 40° case has .4 more H20 capacity with 53 gr bullet and 1.5 to 1.7 gr. More with 75-88 gr bullets. 22 Nosler is also an AR round so pressures are inline with AR platform .
22 BR is loaded to higher pressures but i also ise load data for it as reference , my case is .5 gr less capacity with 53 gr bullet.

The above post #'s are from a 27" barrel which works out to 50.8 fps faster per inch of barrel over Hodgdon and Nosler 24" data.

The pressure signs i am seeing on brass , i would definetly mot be afraid to shoot the 3900 fos loads from a good bolt gun , if same signs were present.

I know loads are to hot for AR bolt life but also know pressure are not crazy as Hornady brass is not known for it toughness from what i hear (my first rodeo with it) and as many firing ls i have on this batch primer pockets would be loose and not even hold a primer let alone measure same as a new case.


I def. Dont need any speeding tickets!!!!! Lol i liked that!!!!