Originally Posted by 223Randy
be interested to see how it works out. and recoil umm yeah a springer air rifle has more recoil in my opinion. lol
Went to my new local range July 1st and tested 6 loads.
4 of the 6 loads got ≤0.5 MOA, which is my passing grade.
Cases: Lake City Commercial Once Fired; Primers: CCI No 400 Small Rifle
1 x 0.477 MOA - Pass (40g Arms - TG 5.4g)
1 x 0.455 MOA - Pass (30g BVG - TG 5.2g)
1 x 0.402 MOA - Pass (30g BVG - TG 5.4g)
1 x 0.223 MOA - Pass (50g TNT - TG 4.9g)
2 x > 0.5 MOA - Fail - (36g BVG TG 5.3g; 40g Arms 11.4g LG)
Results - All 50 yards; TG =TiteGroup; LG = L'Il Gun
(Highlight and copy this post, this is the entire story in a nutshell)
Special Thanks To: Larry Trotter, Jed Moskwa, Shane Hayes, George Arredondo Jr., Randy Hutton, GBO Members who provided valuable feedback/input and those that just dropped by and followed the project, GBO Forum Moderators, and GBO Founder Bill, GBO, Saubier.com, Savage Shooters.com
You all have my sincere thanks on helping me make this journey, I could not have done it without you.
223 Short v1 Part 1: Project Summary - Took long enough to get here, that's what you get when you have very little money and no deadlines.
Design Goals:
Cheap Parent Brass - 223 Remington √
Small Powder Capacity - 14gr L’Il Gun = 22 Hornet √
Design: Modern High Pressure √
Performance: 22 Hornet + 50% = 225 yd Coyote Kill √+ (275+yd MPBR)
Simple Savage 223 Rem. Barrel Setback & Rechamber √
A list of loads that may give the best starting place for the adoption of the 223 Short v1, all loads produced <0.5MOA at 50 yards. I only shot for accuracy. We know the round can be hot rodded and I'll leave that up to others.
Parent Cases: Lake City Commercial Once Fired
TiteGroup
30gr Barnes Varmint Grenade COAL 1.475" - 5.2g
30gr Barnes Varmint Grenade COAL 1.475" - 5.4g
40gr Armscor COAL 1.400" - 5.4g
50gr TNT COAL 1.615" - 4.9g
Benchmark
36gr Barnes Varmint Grenade COAL 1.595” - 12.6g
36gr Barnes Varmint Grenade COAL 1.595” - 12.8g
36gr Barnes Varmint Grenade COAL 1.595” - 13.3g
36gr Barnes Varmint Grenade COAL 1.595” - 13.4g
53gr V-Max COAL 1.615” - 13.0g
L'Il Gun
40gr Sierra Varminter COAL 1.500” - 13.2g
50gr V-Max COAL 1.596” - 11.2g
50gr TNT COAL 1.65” - 11.6g
53gr Nosler Varmageddon COAL 1.700” - 11.8g
THE HARDWARE AND TOOLS I USED TO GET THERE
Test Rifle: Savage Axis I Left Hand
Private Sourced Accutrigger
Cut Down & Reinforced Forearm to Accommodate Heavy Barrel
Green Mountain 1:9 Very Heavy Barrel Blank
Cut down to 17" with 11º Target Crown
Chambered by Larry Trotter
PT&G Reamer Print # 51121
Added 3.75lbs Lead Shot to Stock
CenterPointe 4-16x40 Scope
V-Life 6-24x50 Scope
Total Rifle Weight 11.5lbs
Case Prep: Formed in custom CH4D FL Sizer/Forming die using Lee Challenger Breech Lock press with extended breaker bar for extra leverage in a single stroke, Hornady Case Lube Spray
Neck cut off using Proxxon KG-80 Mini Mitre Saw in modified Squirrel Daddy 300 Blackout Jig
Neck trimmed to length using Little Crow Gun Works custom trimmer chucked in cordless drill/driver - have upgraded to Trim-It II
Neck chamfer and debur using Lyman Case Prep Multi-Tool Ends chucked in cordless drill/driver
Flash hole debur using Lyman Flash Hole Uniforming Tool chucked in a cordless drill/driver
Primer Pocket crimp removal using Lyman Primer Pocket Reamer by Hand
Frankford Quick-N-EZ Vibratory Case Tumbler, Lyman Tuff-Nut Media
Neck Only Resize: Upgraded to Lee 223 Collet Die Unmodified with Custom Case Holder
Neck Expanded using Lyman Neck Expander M-1 cut down to 2.5255” body length
Decapping: Lee Universal Decapper unmodified
Primer Seating: On-Press Lee Breech Lock Challenger Press
Primers: CCI No 400 Small Rifle
MTM Universal Loading Tray
Powder Delivery: Lee Safety Powder Scale, Lee Powder Dippers, Frankford DS-750 Digital Powder Scale, Lee Powder Funnel, Lee Perfect Powder Measure, Lee Perfect Powder Measure Deluxe
Bullet Seating: Lee Challenger Breech Lock, Lee 221 FB Seater base cut down 0.275” & body stem cut down 0.250” to total body length 2.07”, 22 TCM Seater Will Work, Lee 223 Rem Factory Crimp base cut down to 2.2040”, Hornady Cam-lock Bullet Puller Unmodified, No-Name Dial Calipers x 2, Upgraded to Husky Digital Caliper
The second part of the project is the development of the 22 Mamba.
Brian Lewis
Being a dedicated wildcatter/hand loader I just couldn't not comment. Last year I fabricobbled up 2 pistol caliber barrels for my Axis. One in 7.62 X 25, 1 in 10 twist. Excellent for deer and pigs, inside 150 yards. About 450 FPS faster than my CZ-52 (< 1 MOA ADL.)
The other is a 22 TCM, My TCM seems to duplicate your results, without all the work. I worked up a .22 reed express, for a hand gun, (Functional, but disappointing) but never tried it in a long gun. I have friends that shoot the Reed, but envy the simplicity and case capicity of the TCM. I purposely lengthened the throat so I can seat longer/heavier bullets, just touching the lands, works well with heavy bullets and fast powders.
Can you tell us more about the "mamba"?
BTW, I think that summary is a really nice addition, thank you.
RED
With 5.5gr of Titegroup and a 22 TCM 40gr bullet, the 223 Short is a 150 yrd DRT coyote killer.
The 22 Mamba version adds 10% powder capacity over the 223 Short version.
With a High BC Bullet and 13+ gr of L'Il Gun, the Short produces 3000 fps+ and software says 275 yds with 300+ ft/lb. and operates at 55k+ psi.
The 22 Mamba Finish Chamber Reamer and the FL Sizer/Former die reamer have arrived.
The 22 Mamba - Here is what we can now do:
Rechamber Barrels
Make FL Sizer/Forming Dies
Make Go-Gauges
Make Case Headspace Gauges
Make Custom Shell Holders and Modified Decap Pins for Lee 223 Rem. Collet Neck Sizing Die
Just add a 22 TCM Bullet Seater!
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