As quickly as any new cartridge hits the mainstream market, handloaders begin tinkering with it, making wildcat variations. The now tremendous common Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor case is no exception to that rule. The primary of these wildcats to make it to the large league was the 6mm CM, however there’s one other one which shortly gained widespread reputation: the 22 Creedmoor, aka 22 Creed.
Revisiting the 22 CM: Not a Wildcat! This text initially ran through the summer season of 2020, earlier than SAAMI acknowledged the 22 Creed. Should you’ve had any opinion-making experiences since then, particularly now that it’s SAAMI acknowledged and much more frequent, tell us within the feedback under!
I’ve rifles chambered in each 6.5 and 6mm Creedmoor (CM), however the 22 CM captured my consideration. I first heard of it from a buddy who mentioned the 22 CM got here within the prime 3 in a first-round hit functionality research he had learn.
Nicely, I’m all the time a bit skeptical of research and statistics since they will simply be swayed relying on what’s included or excluded within the research or how the research course of is carried out. Nevertheless, after working primary ballistic numbers on the 22 Creed, my curiosity was piqued.
The 22 CM has been making waves in predator looking and varmint looking circles since earlier than 2014 and has gained reputation since. A fast improve in reputation of the cartridge led to widespread business assist, with brass, dies, and ammunition in the marketplace.
22 Creedmoor Cartridge Growth
The next is from the unique report. Bear in mind, this was written when 22 Creed was a Wildcat cartridge.
Take a look at what SAAMI has to say about it.
Based mostly on the 6.5 CM cartridge case, the 22 CM runs in short-action rifles and feeds easily from SA magazines produced by many producers. The one factor wanted is a fast-twist barrel to stabilize the lengthy, excessive BC bullets: 1 x 7 – 7.5 twist.
I had a rifle constructed by Meredith Rifles, utilizing a Defiance motion, Bartlein barrel, Manners inventory and Nightforce scope. The primary rounds I loaded had been made by necking down available 6mm CM instances earlier than 22 Creedmoor head-stamped brass was out there.
The method for making that brass was straightforward sufficient, however nonetheless, considerably time-consuming. The excellent news is that Hornady, Peterson, Gunwerks, Atlas Growth Group (ADG) and Alpha Munitions are all promoting manufacturing unit brass now, so no extra necking down the 6 CM for me.
Equally, there are not any big-name ammunition corporations loading for the 22 CM (as of this writing), however there are a number of smaller corporations providing ammunition, so that you don’t should reload in any respect. Cooper Creek, Gunwerks, and Spark Munitions have a wide range of choices relying on what goal you’ve got for the gun.
The out there ammunition is priced in keeping with high-quality looking and match ammunition, which is taking the 22 CM a step past the realm of a wildcat requiring hand-loading, and getting nearer to that of being a manufacturing unit product.
Specs
Bullet diameter .224
Shoulder angle 30 levels
Shoulder diameter .462
Rim diameter .468
Case size 1.92 inches
Primer sort Giant and small
22 Creedmoor Ballistics: the Huge Image
The efficiency of the 22 CM with 75 – 80 grain bullets makes it an excellent varmint cartridge. I’ve seen claims of 80 grain Bergers @ 3500 fps out of 26” barrels, which might be devastating on any varmint. Loaded ammunition is on the market with bullets within the 70-75 vary leaving 24” barrels at velocities round 3400+ fps, a bit extra conservative than private hand-loading, however nonetheless making it a really flat taking pictures, low recoiling spherical delivering spectacular outcomes.
A part of the fantastic thing about the 22 CM is that it shoots customary .224 caliber bullets, which can be found nearly in all places for hand-loaders and value lower than bigger caliber bullets. The heavier bullets used within the 22 CM vary from 75 to 95 grains.
With a big selection of bullets and manufacturing unit brass out there, all that’s wanted is reloading dies to place all of it collectively, and with reloading dies now out there from main sources comparable to RCBS, Hornady, Redding, and Whidden, the 22 CM’s appears on the rise.
The rationale this cartridge stood out within the first spherical hit research, is as a result of these heavy for caliber bullets have comparatively excessive ballistic coefficients, and might be launched at quick speeds leading to much less wind and elevation corrections being required.
I’ve to say, one of the best half about taking pictures the Meredith 22 CM is that it’s simply enjoyable to shoot. The gun has NO recoil, and is downright straightforward to hit targets with as a result of flat trajectory and excellent wind-defeating bullets.
The dearth of recoil ensuing from utilizing comparatively gentle bullets makes it doable to look at your personal impacts or misses if the terrain permits. This permits for quick and correct second spherical corrections, which is a giant benefit whereas looking or competing.
I constructed the 22 CM to be a dual-purpose gun, or really a 3-purpose gun. The primary was for the predator looking and varmints beforehand talked about. The second was for taking pictures PRS (Precision Rifle Sequence) type matches every so often, and the third was for looking deer sized sport. As with every multi-purpose instrument there tends to be compromises.
For this mission, my sacrifice was within the barrel size. It’s an excellent high quality barrel, however the one profile out there on the time was far heavier than I might have appreciated, so to be able to preserve the general weight of the gun down I had the gunsmith make it a shorter barrel, giving up some velocity to realize mobility afield.
PRS matches usually restrict bullet speeds to 3200 fps, which coincidentally works effectively since Copper Creek presents the 22 CM with a 95-grain SMK at 3160 fps primarily based on a 24” barrel. This makes an excellent spherical with solely 7.1 mils drop at 1000 yards, and 1.7 mils of wind drift for a 10-mph wind at that distance. For PRS you don’t really need all of the pace the 22 CM has to supply from longer barrels.
Taking a fast take a look at how the 22 CM compares to another cartridges will shine a light-weight on its potential. Utilizing 1000 yards as a distance benchmark, the 6mm CM drops 8.1 mils, and the 6.5 CM with the Hornady 147 ELD-M drops 8.7 mils. Each these rounds are thought-about implausible for long-range taking pictures. In comparison with the 7.1 mils of the 22 CM it’s straightforward to see why the 22 CM has a excessive hit likelihood. On unknown distance targets, that flatter trajectory would lead to extra hits.
All of those Creedmoor cartridges are actually nice long-range rounds when in comparison with the outdated army/police customary 308.
22 Creedmoor vs 308
The business customary 308 a great deal of a 168-grain Sierra Match King bullet at 2650 fps is not any match for the extra fashionable excessive BC cartridges. The outdated customary would have dropped a rainbow-like curve of 12.6 mils on the 1000-yard mark.
For the third goal, looking deer sized sport the 22 CM will definitely shoot far sufficient flat sufficient to get correct hits. The lengthy slender bullets have good sectional density, so they’ll simply get the penetration wanted to achieve the vitals of thin-skinned medium sport. Nevertheless, the large query for looking, is that if the small diameter bullets have the power wanted to make clear kills.
So how a lot bullet power is required for medium sized sport? Nicely, it appears opinions are combined, and you realize what they are saying about opinions. Analysis exhibits that suggestions vary from 800 ft-lbs to 1300 ft-lbs. Whereas some assume that power is just not the all-important issue and cite archery and sub-sonic hog looking for example; actually can’t argue that both.
Nicely, the excellent news is the 22 CM appears to have all of the power wanted for the duty. The outdated deer looking go-to 30-30 caliber 150 grn bullet drops under the 800 ft-lb mark at about 225 yards. The 22 CM drops under that 800 ft-lb threshold at between 600 to 775 yards, relying on the bullet and muzzle velocity of Copper Creek’s completely different choices.
Leaning towards the extra conservative variety of 1300 ft-lbs, the identical 22 CM bullet mixtures are good out to 300- 400 yards. In actuality, I feel that quantity is method over what’s wanted with good shot placement.
I ran the numbers on the 45-70 I carried to Africa final 12 months. The Hornady 250 grn FTX labored effectively on a big Black Wildebeest at 296 yards, the primary shot took it down, the second ensured it by no means acquired again to its ft.
The power of the 250 grain 45 caliber bullet at that distance was solely 630 ft-lbs. I’ve used the identical spherical on whitetail deer and within 100 yards it takes them off their ft they usually by no means know what hit them. So, it’s undoubtedly extra than simply the power numbers that’s essential.
With all that being mentioned I don’t assume the 22 CM could have any issues making clear kills on deer measurement sport out to 400-450 yards with stable shot placement. A extremely correct, straightforward to shoot rifle with a flat trajectory will make for assured looking.
The one actual challenge that is still on the 22 CM rifle is simply how lengthy the barrel goes to final. I’m working the heavier bullets, usually 88 or 95 grains. These bullets have the upper power ranges, carry out higher within the wind, and will have an extended barrel life than the sooner lighter bullets.
Compounding the issue although is the actual fact it’s so enjoyable to shoot, and that its 22 caliber makes it less expensive to shoot than my bigger calibers as effectively. I feel the barrel will give me a great barrel life primarily based on spherical rely however not primarily based on time as a result of I actually get pleasure from taking pictures it and letting others attempt it.
You may additionally be thinking about: Hornady Unveils the 22 ARC.
Remaining Ideas
So, was a 22 CM price spending the money and time to construct? I feel so, the 22 Creedmoor is a superb taking pictures cartridge and the Meredith rifle shoots superb. The cartridge and rifle carry out effectively with my handloads or the manufacturing unit out there ammunition. The truth that a number of distributors are manufacturing 22 CM brass actually makes handloading easier.
If I used to be to do it over once more, I might construct a lighter looking weight rifle, which in actuality would imply only a slimmer barrel and dropping all the way down to a Nightforce NX8 2.5- 20x scope. Then the 22 CM can be proper at dwelling within the subject the place it belongs. .
Take a look at the small print and run the numbers your self and contemplate one on your subsequent rifle construct.